Tag Archives: tv box

Beelink i68 Decodes H.265 Videos with No Issues

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Beelink i68 01

While most people thought that creating larger and larger data storage formats was the perfect solution for adjusting to ever-increasing bitrates, it turns out that increasing the compression rate works equally fine, as long as the hardware is capable of decoding it.

Beelink i68 is a TV box that can successfully handle the High Efficiency Video Coding compression format, mostly because of its very capable chipset. Not so long ago, video playback couldn’t have possibly been a demanding task, but better compression and increased resolutions are taking their toll on CPUs and GPUs. With that in mind, this particular TV box can play 2K and even 4K videos smoothly, while computers from less than a decade ago would be brought down to their knees.

Under the hood, the Beelink i68 sports a Rockchip RK3368 that integrates an octa-core 64-bit CPU, along with a PowerVR G6110 GPU. Brought together, these two can play any popular media format you might throw at them, without any glitches. The TV box comes with either 1 or 2GB of RAM and 8GB of ROM, which surely doesn’t sound like much, if you also take into consideration how much Android 5.1 takes up. However, the product features a microSD card slot that can be used for expanding the storage by up to 64GB. In addition to that, there are 3 USB ports (4, if you’re also counting the OTG one), as well as Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi, in case you’re planning to stream your videos over the network.

It wouldn’t be wrong of you to think of the Beelink i68 as a mini PC. After all, you can use Bluetooth 4.0 to connect a keyboard and a mice wirelessly to it, and along with a TV or monitor (to which it connects via HDMI 2.0), it would make a compact replacement for desktop computers. The audio part wasn’t neglected, and if you decided not to carry the sound over HDMI, you can use the SPDIF port for optical output. The KODI home theater software (formerly known as XBMC) provides a convenient interface for the playback of video and audio files.

GearBest currently sells the 1GB RAM version of Beelink i68 for $66.35 ($65.18 with coupon code USPC), while the 2GB RAM one has a price tag of $81.68 (or $80.91 with the coupon TVBOX).

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UBOX Amlogic S12 4K TV Box Mirrors Mobile Devices

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UBOX Amlogic S12 Android TV Box 02

Most manufacturers of Android TV boxes assume that all the content you want to watch or listen to is already in the internal memory of the product. If you’d rather mirror your smartphone or tablet’s display, UBOX Amlogic S12 might be the best solution for you, as it also integrates Miracast and DLNA technologies.

UBOX Amlogic S12 (named so after the SoC it’s based on) packs plenty of horsepower to run 4K videos smoothly, and this feature is even advertised on the product itself. The chipset includes a quad-core Amlogic S812 CPU running at 2Ghz, and an octa-core Mali-450 GPU, which coupled with either 1 or 2GB of RAM (depending on the model) can offer a video playback experience for a fraction of the price of other TV boxes. The internal memory is of 8GB for both versions, and it’s almost a certainty that you will run out of space, especially if you are going to watch 4K videos on this TV box. However, U Box included a microSD card slot that enables you to expand the storage by up to 32GB. If even that proves insufficient, users have the option to add flash drives, external hard drives, or even access network storage.

Just in case Miracast, DLNA and 4K video playback weren’t enough, the Amlogic S12 runs xmbc or Kodi (as it is known now). Hence, it can handly all of the popular video file formats you might want to throw at it, not to mention that it will organize your video library so you can easily find your movies at a later point in time.

When it comes to connectivity, U BOX Amlogic S12 does not disappoint, as it includes HDMI, USB 2.0, SPDIF for digital audio, and AV output. As for the wireless connection, the TV box rocks Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n. Connecting peripherals or network storage using these options should be a breeze.

Both versions of UBOX Amlogic S12 are currently available on GearBest, where they sell for $70.60 and $80.47, respectively. However, applying the coupon code UBOX1 will get the price of the 1GB RAM version to $63.89, while the coupon UBOX2 will get you the 2GB RAM version for $71.89. The presale on both models ends on June 1, and orders will be shipped soon after that.

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UBOX Amlogic S12 4K TV Box Mirrors Mobile Devices

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UBOX Amlogic S12 Android TV Box 02

Most manufacturers of Android TV boxes assume that all the content you want to watch or listen to is already in the internal memory of the product. If you’d rather mirror your smartphone or tablet’s display, UBOX Amlogic S12 might be the best solution for you, as it also integrates Miracast and DLNA technologies.

UBOX Amlogic S12 (named so after the SoC it’s based on) packs plenty of horsepower to run 4K videos smoothly, and this feature is even advertised on the product itself. The chipset includes a quad-core Amlogic S812 CPU running at 2Ghz, and an octa-core Mali-450 GPU, which coupled with either 1 or 2GB of RAM (depending on the model) can offer a video playback experience for a fraction of the price of other TV boxes. The internal memory is of 8GB for both versions, and it’s almost a certainty that you will run out of space, especially if you are going to watch 4K videos on this TV box. However, U Box included a microSD card slot that enables you to expand the storage by up to 32GB. If even that proves insufficient, users have the option to add flash drives, external hard drives, or even access network storage.

Just in case Miracast, DLNA and 4K video playback weren’t enough, the Amlogic S12 runs xmbc or Kodi (as it is known now). Hence, it can handly all of the popular video file formats you might want to throw at it, not to mention that it will organize your video library so you can easily find your movies at a later point in time.

When it comes to connectivity, U BOX Amlogic S12 does not disappoint, as it includes HDMI, USB 2.0, SPDIF for digital audio, and AV output. As for the wireless connection, the TV box rocks Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n. Connecting peripherals or network storage using these options should be a breeze.

Both versions of UBOX Amlogic S12 are currently available on GearBest, where they sell for $70.60 and $80.47, respectively. However, applying the coupon code UBOX1 will get the price of the 1GB RAM version to $63.89, while the coupon UBOX2 will get you the 2GB RAM version for $71.89. The presale on both models ends on June 1, and orders will be shipped soon after that.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the PIPO X8 Windows TV box, or the MeeGoPad T02 computer-on-a-stick.

Beelink i One Brings Kodi and 4K Playback to Your Living Room

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Beelink iONE Android TV Box with Kodi 01

Kodi (previously known as XBMC) and 4K playback are only two of the elements that help this Android TV box stand apart in a sea of seemingly similar devices.

Smart TVs are often a lot more expensive than their regular counterparts, and they are nowhere near Android TV Boxes in terms of flexibility. Besides, it’s far more convenient to get a TV and change the TV box every now and then, supposing that the hardware becomes morally obsolete, than to spend thousands upon thousands to change smart TVs periodically. Fortunately, the Beelink i One packs plenty of great features to make sure it stays with you for a long time.

The manufacturer points out in the promotional images that the i One (model number i826, for the technical freaks out there) comes with XBMC, a media player that has changed its name to Kodi in August 2014. Assuming that the TV box really comes with a XBMC, it will surely get updated to the latest version (and name) soon after.

More important than the name of the software, however, is definitely the functionality of Kodi. With this open-source media player, you no longer need the decoders you would usually install on a Windows machine, as it’s capable of playing all the popular audio and video formats. Besides XBMC, the TV box also packs Eshare, Airplay, DLNA, all of which are useful technologies in this day and age.

As far as the technical specs are concerned, the i One comes with an Amlogic Cortex-A9 S812 quad-core CPU clocked at 2.0Ghz, which is paired with a Mali MP-450 octa-core GPU running at 600Mhz. While these may not be exactly the latest CPU and GPU out there, they are more than capable to offer a seamless experience. In terms of memory, the Android TV box includes 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage that can be furthermore expanded via flash cards or USB drives and hard disks.

If you want to stay connected, the i One media player comes with 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz 5.0GHz dual band WiFi MIMO (which can connect to multiple devices at once without interferences), Bluetooth 4.0 and 100Mbit Ethernet. It should be noted that besides HDMI Out, this Android media player (unlike many other similar products) also packs an HDMI In port, enabling you to connect other devices

Beelink i One is currently $106.99 on GearBest, but you can get it for $99 by applying coupon code BI826GB during checkout. The product can be ordered either with an EU or an US plug, depending on where you live.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Uhost3 TV box running Android, or Nvidia’s Shield set-top box.

Motorola launches 10 new set-top boxes at IBC 2012

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Motorola launches 10 new set-top boxes at IBC 2012

Motorola may have held a fancy event for the launch of its 2012 RAZR line up, but it's saved the unveiling of its new raft of set-top boxes for the IBC show floor. No fewer than 10 models running Moto's KreaTV OS are on display at the event, possibly putting a dampener on rumors of Google selling the business off. Four of the set-tops are earmarked for IPTV services, with the different options accounting for variations in storage capacity and processing power. An additional four bear the Microsoft Mediaroom branding, and are distinguished by their differences in HDD capacity, wireless performance and feature set. Two cable boxes round out the selection, offering cost-effective simplicity and DVR capability, respectively. If you'd like more info on the ins and outs of each model, check out the PR below for the family newsletter.

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Motorola launches 10 new set-top boxes at IBC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini X Android TV Box

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Mini X Android TV Box

Online store Brando has started offering the Mini X Android TV Box. The gadget uses the AllWinner A10 CPU and the Google Android 2.3 operating system to convert your TV into a Smart TV. The Mini X Android TV Box supports Google Chrome internet browser, a wireless networking access, a USB OTG Interface, a USB external hard disk, a 4GB of NAND memory, an HDMI output and a 1080P video decoder for high resolution display on your flat screen television. The Mini X Android TV Box retails for $89. [Brando via RedFerret]