[HH] CuBox

[Tom Metro]

Kurt Keville wrote:
> I know CuBox is shipping already...
> http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox

I hadn't heard of this one before.

Any other open hardware platforms aimed at multimedia
playback/set-top-box market?

According to:
http://www.solid-run.com/store

you can only pre-order it (@$135).

http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox

  CuBox Developer Platform is a highly energy efficient and miniature
  open source development platform for different applications, like
  multimedia, set-top-box, NAS, automation and other applications.

  Named by combining the words 'Cube' and 'Box' and while being less
  than 2"3 in size, the platform can stream and decode 1080p content,
  with desktop class interfaces, all in less than 3 Watt (*) and less
  than 1 Watt in standby.

  The platform is based on Marvell Armada 510 SoC and includes the
  following key features

  # Linux based distributions like Ubuntu, Debian and others
  # Android
  # 800 MHz dual issue ARM PJ4 processor, VFPv3, wmmx SIMD and 512KB L2
  cache.
  # 1080p Video Decode Engine
  # OpenGL|ES 2.0 graphic engine
  # HDMI 1080p Output (with CEC function)
  # 1GByte DDR3 at 800MHz
  # Gigabit Ethernet, SPDIF (optical audio), eSata 3Gbps, 2xUSB 2.0,
  micro-SD, micro-USB (console)
  # Standard Infra-red receiver for 38KHz based IR controllers.

  CuBox delivered package will include:
  1- CuBox system inside an all-black plastic enclosure.
  2- Universal power supply: 5V/2A DC Output, 2.1mm/5.5mm standard
  connector.
  3- 2GByte microSD with Ubuntu pre-installed.


So unlike the Pi you get an enclosure, power supply and 1 GB RAM instead
of 256 MB. Plus 800 MHz dual-core ARM instead of 700 MHz single-core
ARM. Not a substantial upgrade for $100 more.

Yet for $65 more, plus the cost of some RAM (or repurpose some SODIMMs
you have lying around) you could get a more powerful (AMD E-350 APU,
1.6GHz, Dual-Core) Zotac ZBOX NANO AD10, which is probably a bit bigger
and will use nearly 30 watts under load - 10 times the CuBox (but
probably half what your cable company box uses).

 -Tom