Kontron Launches AMD Ryzen Embedded Mini-ITX Board for Graphics Applications

AMD Ryzen Embedded mini-ITX Board

We’ve seen several AMD Ryzen Embedded boards launched over the last couple of years, but the only one we covered here that happens to follow the mini-ITX form factor was iBASE MI988 motherboard powered by a choice of Ryzen Embedded V1000 processors. But there are others including Sapphire IPC-FP5V 10GbE embedded mini-ITX motherboard, and Kontron has just announced the D3713-V/R mITX motherboard with AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000/R1000 processor and aimed at “demanding graphics applications” such as kiosks, infotainment, digital signage, professional casino gaming systems, medical displays, as well as thin clients and industrial PCs. Kontron D3713-V/R mITX specifications: SoC (one or the other) AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B dual-core/quad-thread Zen processor @ 2.3 GHz / 3.2 GHz (Boost frequency) with RADEON VEGA 3 graphics; 12W to 25W TDP AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B quad-core/octa-thread Zen processor @ 2.0 GHz / 3.6 GHz (Boost frequency) with RADEON VEGA 8 graphics; 12W to 25W […]

Boardcon Idea3288 Android SBC is Made for Digital Signage, Smart PoS, and Vending Machines

Boardcon Announces the Idea3288 SBC Boardcon Idea3288 targets the commercial market with a variety of applications for its latest SBC, utilizing a Rockchip 3288 CPU module. The company says the Idea3288 is customizable for whatever commercial application that can be had, such as digital displays, vending machines, intelligent POS, automotive, IoT, and even access control systems. Idea SoC RK3288 and Interfaces The SBC is comprised of a Rockchip RK3288 quad-core Arm Cortex A17 processor with a Mali-T764 GPU, 2GB RAM, and 8GB eMMC flash. The interfaces include GbE, mDP, HDMI, 3x USB2.0 Host ports, one USB OTG port, audio, battery, MIPI DSI/CSI, UARTs, RS485, CAN, POE, Micro SD, PCI-e (for 4G modem), M.2 slot (for SSD), SIM slot, and more. The SBC is made up of a carrier board and a CPU module The SBC runs Android 7.1.2 operating system and is built to handle 4K video playback. The Idea3288 […]

Zidoo M9 Mini PC Review – Part 1: Unboxing & Teardown

Zidoo M9 Review

Over the years, Zidoo has made TV boxes for the consumer market, and digital signage players for businesses. The recently announced Zidoo M9 aims at both markets, plus other applications such as IoT, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Zidoo M9 is either sold as a board or a complete TV box reference design with a case, as it exposes all the usual ports of a TV with HDMI, USB, and Ethernet. But you can do more with internal connectors for cameras, PCIe interfaces, SIM card slot, MPI DSI and eDP connectors, and so on. The company has sent me a review sample, so let’s first check out the accessories provided with the box, and have a look into the hardware design today, before testing the Android firmware in the second part of the review. Zidoo M9 Unboxing The package makes it clear Zidoo M9 “mini PC” looks like a TV box, […]

Rikomagic MK25 Amlogic S922X TV Box Supports Digital Signage Features

Rikomagic MK25 Digital Signage TV Box

Here’s another Amlogic S922X TV box. Rikomagic MK25 TV box & digital signage player comes with up to 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, HDMI 2.0 output, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual-band WiFi 5. Rikomagic MK25 specifications: SoC – Amlogic S922X hexa-core big.LITTLE processor with 4x Arm Cortex A73 cores @ up to 2.0 GHz, 2x Arm Cortex A53 cores, Arm Mali-G52MP6 (6EE) GPU; 12nm manufacturing process System Memory & Storage Configurations 2GB LPDDR4 RAM + 16GB eMMC flash, microSD card slot up to 32GB 4GB LPDDR4 RAM + 32GB eMMC flash, microSD card slot up to 32GB Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 60 Hz, 3.5mm AV port (composite) Video – AVE-10 engine with 4K UHD H.265/VP9/AVS2 video decoding up to 60 fps, Dolby Vision, Advanced HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and PRIME HDR high-dynamic range support Audio – Optical S/PDIF, digital audio via HDMI, stereo analog audio via 3.5mm […]

AOPEN Chromebox Mini is Designed for Digital Signage and Kiosks

ChromeOS Digital Signage

Most ChromeOS devices are designed for either the consumer or educational markets, but Google’s operating system can also be used for commercial applications such as digital signage. A cheap way to set up a ChromeOS based digital is to get a ChromeBit (around $100 used) and install one of the Digital Signage apps for the OS. But as I checked out Linux 5.4 changelog, I came across AOPEN Chromebox Mini (codename Fievel) powered by a Rockchip RK3288 processor and described as an “enterprise-ready” Chromebox for 24/7 operation as digital signage or kiosk. AOPEN Chromebox Mini specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3288C quad-core Cortex-A17 processor @ up to 1.8GHz with Arm Mali-T764MP GPU clocked at up to 600 MHz System Memory – Dual-channel 4GB LPDDR3 Storage – 16GB eMMC 5.0 flash Video Output – HDMI up to 1080p60 Audio – 1x combo jack with Line out/Line in Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi […]

Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller Outputs HDMI Input to 16K+ LED Video Walls (Crowdfunding)

Pixblaster Video LED Controller Pixblasters, a company focused on LED signage and video display, have started a Crowd Supply campaign for their MS1 Video Controller. The Pixblaster MS1 controller can be attached to any laptop or computer with HDMI output (think Raspberry Pi SBC) and control 16,384 LEDs without any programming, physical modifications or soldering. Extreme Scalability The market the MS1 video controller is aimed at is small business and makers, who hadn’t before had a controller with this much scalability.  The company is saying that the MS1 can be daisy-chained together to control hundreds of thousands of LEDs and act as a full video monitor across hundreds of meters of LED strips. Programming The unit can easily and with little technical knowledge connect WS212B-Based addressable LED strips together for a complex output of digital displays, even mirroring a video display in some instances. Target Users The ability to use […]

Raspberry Pi 4 Digital Signage Solution Supports 4K HEVC Video and Dual Display Setups

Raspberry Pi 4 4K Digital Signage

4K H.265 & dual-display digital signage for Raspberry Pi 4 The Info-Beamer, the company that started as a for-fun project at a hacker conference and turned into a now growing business has developed the first Raspberry Pi 4 OS that can use the HEVC (H.265) decoding system and support dual-display setups. The latest info-beamer hosted version 11 (aka hosted 11) is designed for 4K video quality digital signs, and the two HDMI ports on the Raspberry Pi 4 can be used simultaneously for mirrored output on two displays or span two video displays on digital signs. The company has reported that this solution can work on a video wall, like the info-beamer magic video wall. Previous Info-Beamer Previously there was an info-beamer hosted 10 released in February 2019 and that version is still applicable if wanted.  All versions of Raspberry Pi are still supported but the OS 11 release focuses […]

IBase IBR210 i.MX 8M SBC Targets Multi-Display Digital Signage

The latest release from IBase is a single board computer that seems to be designed for the mass business markets, especially in signage. The IBR210 is a 3.5-inch (147 x 102 mm) low-power multimedia SBC based on the NPX ARM Cortex-A53/Cortex-M4 i.MX 8M processor that comes in either a dual or quad-core running in the 1.3 GHz to 1.5 GHz frequency range.  The unit was announced on August 1, 2019, but as of yet there is no pricing information. The GPU is a Vivante GC7000Lite/GC7000VLX, and an integrated Cortex-M4F real-time core, in the i.MX8M. Although for the i.MX8M Mini is a faster and newer SoC, the i.MX8M supports 4K video and HDR. The system runs Android 9 or Yocto v2.5 Linux, with up to 3GB soldered LPDDR4 and up to 64GB eMMC. The video output supports 4K via HDMI 2.0, while there are 2 USB 3.0 ports. The board supports […]