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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 22 Comments on Zidoo X9S Android Media Center Review – Part 2: Android Firmware & OpenWrt (NAS Functions)

Zidoo X9S Android Media Center Review – Part 2: Android Firmware & OpenWrt (NAS Functions)

Zidoo X9S is more than a simple Android TV box, as it supports NAS function via OpenWrt running simultaneously with Android 6.0 and its USB 3.0 and SATA ports, as well as HDMI input function capable of recording and broadcasting videos, and supporting Picture-in-picture, so I find “Android Media Center” better fit the description for this device. I’ve already taken pictures of the Zidoo X9S and its board in the first part of the review, so I’ll test both Android 6.0 & OpenWrt firmware, and the most of the features in the second part of the review. Initial Setup and First Boot I connected the usual accessories and cables to the box including a USB 3.0 hard drive, HDMI and Ethernet cables, USB RF dongles for MINIX NEO A2 Lite air mouse and Tronsmart Mars G01 gamepad, and a USB keyboard to take screenshots. I also added a 1TB SATA […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments on KM8 Pro Amlogic S912 Android Box Sells for $49.99 (Promo)

KM8 Pro Amlogic S912 Android Box Sells for $49.99 (Promo)

We’ve seen several Amlogic S912 octa-core TV boxes for under $60 in the past such as Beelink GT1, but KM8 Pro is the first one I see sold for less than $50, as it’s now offered on GearBest for $49.99 shipped with coupon KM8Pro. I’ve been told there are 200 units at this price, so it’s a stock limited promotion. Videostrong KM8 Pro TV box specifications: SoC – Amlogic S912 octa-core ARM Cortex A53 processor @ up to 1.5 GHz with ARM Mali-820MP3 GPU System Memory – 2GB  DDR3 Storage – 16GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot up to 32GB Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0 and AV ports Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, dual band WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports Misc – IR receiver, power button Power Supply – 5V DC Dimensions –  98x98x21 mm Weight – 108 grams The device […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments on Rikomagic MK22 Octa-core Android TV Box Review – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

Rikomagic MK22 Octa-core Android TV Box Review – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

Rikomagic became a much better known company when they launched MK802 TV stick in 2012, and over the years they’ve kept introducing new products, and I’ve just received a review sample of their latest Rikomagic MK22 octa-core Android TV box powered by Amlogic S912 processor. I’ve posted photos of the device and its accessories, and check out the hardware design in the first part of the review, before testing Android 6.0 firmware in the second part in a few weeks. Rikomagic MK22 Unboxing I received MK22 in its black and white retail package. The back of the package details the main features, and the hardware specifications. Instead of printing a user’s manual that anybody will hardly read, the company instead printed a QR Core to MK22 user’s manual download link. The TV box ships with a 5V/2.5A power supply, an HDMI cable, and an IR remote control that looks the […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 28 Comments on Review of R-Box Pro OTT TV Box with 3GB RAM – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

Review of R-Box Pro OTT TV Box with 3GB RAM – Part 1: Unboxing and Teardown

R-Box Pro is just another Amlogic S912 TV box, except it comes with up to 3GB RAM, against 2GB for most other models on the market. Kingnovel sent me a sample with 3GB RAM to check it out, and today I’ll start by taking photos of the devices, and perform a teardown mostly to find out how the 3GB memory design is implemented. R-Box Pro Unboxing The retail package is minimal black box with “OTT TV Box Amlogic S912” and “R-Box Pro” markings and Kodi logo. A sticker on the side will also indicate whether you have received to 2GB or 3GB RAM version. The device ships with an IR remote control with learning function, a 5V/2.5A power supply, an HDMI cable, and a user’s manual in English. The day I received the sample the top cover looked to have many scratches, but after removing the plastic film on the […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 51 Comments on Rockchip RK3399 Benchmarks Appear on GeekBench

Rockchip RK3399 Benchmarks Appear on GeekBench

Rockchip RK3399 hexa-core processor with ARM Cortex A72 and A53 cores and a Mali-T860MP GPU will soon be found in TV boxes, development boards, tablets, Chromebooks, virtual reality headset and more, and is widely expected to offer a significant performance boost against previous Rockchip processors, including RK3288, and outperform SoCs from competitors like Amlogic and Allwinner. We can have a first clue about the performance as Rockchip RK3399 boxes and one tablet are now showing up on GeekBench. The box is clocked at 1512 MHz, while the tablet is limited to 1416 MHz, but overall single-core score is about 1350 points, while multi-core score hovers around 2,550 points. I’m not that familiar with GeekBench so number don’t tell me anything. Let’s compare it against RK3288 which CPU-wise is the fastest processor I known of from Chinese silicon vendors targeting TV boxes. There’s a significant single-core performance boost (+73%), and lower […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments on LeEco Le Pro 3 Snapdragon 821 Smartphone Sells for $270 and Up (in China)

LeEco Le Pro 3 Snapdragon 821 Smartphone Sells for $270 and Up (in China)

Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 is possibly the fastest mobile application processor available today, and a few smartphones have started to launch with the processor including Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe selling for about $575 in Taiwan, and the phone I’m going to cover in this post – LeEco  Le Pro 3 – has just launched in China starting at 1799 CNY ($270) with 4GB RAM and 32GB flash, and up to 2999 CNY ($540) with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. LeEco Le Pro 3 smartphone specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad core Kryo processor with Adreno 530 GPU and Hexagon 680 DSP System Memory/Internal Storage – 4GB/32GB, 4GB/64GB (Zhang Zimou Edition), 6GB/64GB, or 6GB/128GB (Zhang Zimou Edition); Storage devices are all UFS 2.0 flash. Display – 5.5″ FHD (1920×1080) LCD display Cellular Connectivity 2G – GSM：2/3/5/8; CDMA: BC0/BC1 3G – WCDMA: B1/2/4/5/8 TD-SCDMA: B34/39; EVDO:BC0/BC1 4G – FDD-LTE: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20; TDD-LTE:38/39/40/41 2x […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 23 Comments on YUNDOO Y7 Amlogic S905X TV Box comes with Faster DDR4 Memory

YUNDOO Y7 Amlogic S905X TV Box comes with Faster DDR4 Memory

Most TV boxes on the market comes with DDR3 memory, but YUNDOO Y7 TV box based on Amlogic S905X processor instead comes with 2GB DDR4 memory, with the company claiming 50% higher bandwidth compared to DDR3 memory. YUNDOO Y7 specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905X quad core Cortex A53 processor @ 1.5 GHz with Penta-core Mali-450MP GPU @ 750MHz+ System Memory – 2GB DDR4 (bandwidth up to increased 50% compared to DDR3) Storage – 16GB eMMC flash + micro SD port Video Output – HDMI 2.0 with HDR and CEC support up to 4K2K @ 60 Hz, AV port Audio Output – HDMI, AV, and coaxial S/PDIF Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 2 x USB 2.0 port Misc – Power button, IR receiver, LED screen Power Supply – 5V Dimensions – TBD (metal housing) The device runs Android 6.0, and is said […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments on Qintaix Q912 Android Box Review – Part 2: Android 6.0, Kodi 17, Benchmarks, etc…

Qintaix Q912 Android Box Review – Part 2: Android 6.0, Kodi 17, Benchmarks, etc…

Qintaix Q912 is one of the many octa-core Android boxes based on Amlogic S912 processor. I’ve already shown photos of the device and its internal design in the first part of Qintaix Q912 review, so today I’ll report the results of my testing with Android firmware, video & audio capabilities in Kodi 17 Alpha 3 (pre-installed), features supports, benchmarks, and other comment. I will also be interesting to find out how it compares to M12N TV box, also based on Amlogic S912 processor. First Boot, Settings, and First Impressions I’ve connected all necessary cables including HDMI and Ethernet, added some USB devices including two 2.4 GHZ USB dongles for my air moues and wireless gamepad, a USB keyboard to take screenshots, and a USB 3.0 hard drive to the USB 2.0 ports of the device. Once you apply power, the LED is turn red, and you need to press the […]