Same as Kogan but $55 cheaper.
Essentially it allows you to run Android 2.2 on your tv, so all the apps and internet browsing.
It has a usb input to play files and plug in a keyboard and mouse. Not sure if you can plug a mic or camera in so could use it for Skype calls.
Apparently even though youtube works, ABC iView doesn't.
Link to kogan:
http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/agora-internet-android-tv/
Video of what it looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue0YiRNrVtE
Just buy one from DealExtreme for next to nothing.
You might want to check your home and contents insurance policy before you do that. If your not-tested-to-Aussie-standards power supply starts a fire, you might find the damage isn't covered by your policy.
OTOH, $20 will get you a Jackson power supply from Woollies, that should fit this (and anything else you might buy).
There are demos of the device playing back x264 compression in 720p. 1Ghz can't do this, but hardware decoders can. I think the device has a hardware decoder in it, this is a good deal.
'set top box' is misleading…it doesn't have a DTV tuner.
Can it handle a usb tuner?
its kinda like apple tv for people that hate apple
…or want 1080p playback.
This thing won't play 720p, let alone 1080p. Apple TV 2 jailbreaked to run XBMC for $100, million times better than this.
Hmm it seems you're right. The product page claims it outputs up to 1080p, but the kogan page suggests only DVD quality playback.
Mind you last I checked the Apple TV2 doesn't do 1080p either.
As much as I hate Apple, theirs is actually the cheaper option…
Plus thanks to the idroid dev team (Google them), we may be getting android on Appletv2g's soon! So, yeah, awesome!
Apple TV can suck the Roku XDS bawls…native 1080p support
more channels albeit it is restricted in Oz
For people with more knowhow the Roku SDK is available for people to do pretty cool stuff.
That said I rather buy the old Apple tv HDD units and put Boxee on them
Hmmm this looks pretty awesome. makes me have to decide between xbmc and this
I think you'll struggle to find anything around this price range that will run XBMC + do 1080p output.
No way in hell a Cortex A8 does 1080p, even clocked at 1GHz. 720p would probably only barely work, and would stutter at that.
You'd be better off picking up a second hand PC from OCAU or something an turning it in to a HTPC.
it depends on the codec and container used
Precisely, and that's without even going into A/V bitrates etc…too many variables to make sweeping statements!
I have a 400Mhz xtreamer which can playback 3D 1080p with DTS in x264 compression - its not about processors these days. It's about the hardware decoder built into devices. Same reason the iPad can't do flash, but can do 720p video for 10 hours on a single charge with the screen at 50% brightness.
yeh same, my seagate freeagent theatre+ with a 400Mhz (Realtek 1073) plays 1080p with DTS and x264 compression just fine
it's not that the ipad can't do flash, it's just not supported officially.
Except for the fact that the Cortex A8 (Which I've used on multiple devices) just doesn't have the grunt to do it. Assuming its a Samsung A8, the most they ever shipped with was a PowerVR SGX540, which doesn't support 1080p video in any codec at any reasonably nice speed.
It is about processors these days, especially when the processor in question is a general purpose one, not a dedicated decoder like the Xtreamer or the Seagate freeagent.
That all aside, there is no reason you couldn't use a transcoder and stream video content at 480p, but why on earth would I do that when I could build a HTPC (or buy one) for $200 that'd run 1080p without breaking a sweat?
EDIT: There is another option I suppose, grab a Panda Board and throw Android on that, not only would it be able to decode 1080p, and have far more grunt than this, but the price really isn't much different:
I mean sure, it's a dev board, but doesn't that just make it cooler?
It's almost always better value to get a small-form factor PC/HTPC from OCAU.
Get a shuttle PC and add a 1080p capable AGP card yourself. Add a wifi/bluetooth dongle and you would have something that not only surfs the net but also plays your movies and best of all you can add a hard drive inside, something that all media players are lacking these days.
thats like comparing a Mercedes to a Hyundai Getz.
you do realise you can get second hand shuttle PC for less than 50 bucks and then buying a second hand AGP that can do H264 should cost you at most $30-40. Get a cheap DVI to HDMI adaptor for $~15.
The analogy I prefer would be comaparing a Nissan Skyline souped up to the cost of a new mazda 3. Sure the mazda is new and shiny and takes less space, but the thrill of using the skyline with more performance is justified to me.
All I'm saying is if you don't mind the space it takes up HTPC are way better alternatives to any of these media players. A lot of people think they need a smaller form factor player but if it's only going to hide inside the entertainment unit, DIY HTPC is the better alternative.
A shuttle/PC is huge compared to these devices. If your looking at these things, your after something tiny.
I've read reviews and people have confirmed that it plays 1080p fine, only drawback is that you need to wait for it to Cache. Regardless, just ordered one myself. Apple TV and HTPC setup does not offer the app store experience.
Can you provide links to these reviews?
Apple tv 2 struggles playing 1080p with xbmc without dropping frames and this is lower specced and no N wireless dont waste your money the thought of running droyd apps on my tv sounds appealing but I know most would next to useless without a touch screen
Wireless N will struggle to stream a 1080p movie (compressed with x264), especially if you don't have dual band wireless N &/or if you have ANY G only devices connected to the same network. Wireless N will throttle to G rates, regardless what your icon at the bottom of the screen says…
If the 1080p movie is a raw blueray stream, wireless N will NEVER support the bandwidth required. You must run a cable (like I have for my set-up).
Also, if you're going to spend the money required for apple TV, why not just get an Xtreamer instead? Sounds like you didn't get the right solution for your requirements… You shouldn't need to hack something to make it do what it was meant to do…
"You shouldn't need to hack something to make it do what it was meant to do…"
Not true - the xbox I bought too many years ago for $50 that was running XBMC was the most awesome media PC equivalent for the money (at the time). Not only that - I could STILL play Halo 2 when there was nothing to watch!
Wireless N will struggle to stream a 1080p movie (compressed with x264)
BS… I've run multiple HTPC setups, over wireless G and N, and they all manage to play 1080p rips without issue. Average bitrate of a BR rip is around 5mbps, which G is capable of with a decent signal.
Wireless N has no issues streaming native 1080P let alone compressed version.
Bargrin, nice find! I have an xtreamer which I purchased for $189 and it can't do apps, or web browsing with flash support.
This device is the same as the Kogan unit - there are videos on youtube with it, it can do 1080p, and it browses the web & even angry birds.
No Apple device offers -anything- close! It has a side SD card reader, web browsing, Flash support, an app store which rivals the apple store, it offers google services such as Places & widgets (like weather, calendar), does more than 720p, it has a RF remote (not just IR, so you can use it from another room)and get this, it has a CURSOR! (Apple dazzles me sometimes with lack of completion of the products they release).
Also don't forget the dealextreme version has blutooth, accepts USB flash devices, almost any media format under the sun, does not require a credit card to use (itunes), or another computer on the network to stream medit (itunes), and its cheaper!
I've had my say now…
Enjoy the freedom of Android! And if you want to hack away at it -
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1679431&p…
and read about its other names…..
Its a good partner to my old popcorn hour media player but does not replace it, yet.
it's pretty cheap for a HTPC/boxee clone….although I must say a boxee box for $50 is probable with it
it's not a clone…
would be better if we can install android froyo or honeycomb onto our htpc. Just saying.
edit: the sdk developer package might do the trick? but i don' know why anybody would do that…
$149 is MORE than $145.
But Welltech may deliver faster than DX (can anyone comment from experience ? DX can be pretty slow)
Mine took 7 days from China
Very keen on these. Looks like they will be very cool in about 12~18 months time when they mature.
Precisely what I've been thinking! :)
The power supply needs consideration, maybe an adaptor?