Rasberry Pi/Android media player

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wvubeerme

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Dec 27, 2012
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I have been looking into grabbing a couple of these media players and am looking for some input. I like the look of the android players which can also be flashed with Linux and run XBMC to stream all your video files. The Raspberry pi looks like fun but very involved<--dose not bother me. I need something that is silent i am tired of hearing my Xbox every time i am watching a movie with someone:eek:. If anyone has any advice before i start shellin out the bucks lemme know.
 
Raspberry PI is O.K. but in my searches I've found something that is way better and is completely open source, including the CAD files.

https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/A13/A13-OLinuXino/


From the page:


FEATURES
A13 Cortex A8 processor at 1GHz, 3D Mali400 GPU
512 MB RAM (2 x 256Mbit x 8)
6-16VDC input power supply, noise immune design
3 + 1 USB hosts, 3 available for users, 1 leads to onboard pinout
1 USB OTG which can power the board
SD-card connector for booting optional Linux image
VGA video output
Battery option and connector
LCD signals available on connector so you still can use LCD if you diasble VGA/HDMI
Audio output
Microphone input
4 Mount holes
RTC PCF8536 on board for real time clock and alarms
5 Keys on board for android navigation
UEXT connectorfor connecting addtional UEXT modules like Zigbee, Bluetooth, Relays, etc
GPIO connector with 68/74 pins and these signals:
17 for adding NAND flash;
22 for connecting LCDs;
20+4 including 8 GPIOs which can be input, output, interrupt sources;
3x I2C;
2x UARTs;
SDIO2 for connectinf SDcards and modules;
5 system pins: +5V, +3.3V, GND, RESET, NMI
Dimensions: 120 x 120 mm (4.7x4.7'')
 
I've read that the MK802 can be installed with linux. Has pretty much the same specs as above (cpu, memory, etc) And its like only 70$
 
You should really check out the Pivos Aios Android player. I got one for my sister and I was quite impressed with it right out of the box and there seems to be good support for semi-official firmware on their forums.
 
I was looking for the same thing and just purchased a Pivos XIOS DS the other day, it is fantastic for XBMC. I had no issues playing back 1080p content with hardware acceleration enabled. The Aios by Pivos also looks nice too.
 
yeah,good info, I've found something that is way better and is completely open source, including the CAD files.
 
wvubeerme said:
I have been looking into grabbing a couple of these media players and am looking for some input. I like the look of the android players which can also be flashed with Linux and run XBMC to stream all your video files. The Raspberry pi looks like fun but very involved<--dose not bother me. I need something that is silent i am tired of hearing my Xbox every time i am watching a movie with someone:eek:. If anyone has any advice before i start shellin out the bucks lemme know.
Click to expand...

If your looking for a project, then I absolutely agree with going with something like this. However if you are just looking for something that will play movies and is quite, unassuming, and has all the features related to playing movies/music, why not look at a dedicated media player device?

By the time you buy the Raspberry Pi, case, power supply, wireless, and the remote and put all the time into it are you going to be any better off then just buying something that is purposefully built for the task? There are lots of good ones out there in the $70-$100 range. I have experience with AppleTV, which is $99 and plays local movies and music from an iTunes server with no problem. The UI is smooth and the remote is simple. Its greatest limitation is that it is limited to Dolby Digital 5.1 (does stereo obviously) and only plays H264. Which wasn't a problem for me since I am ripping the movies myself and can make them exactly how I need them. Some of the other units out there can play higher grade audio if that's what you want or mkv files.

But again if you're looking for a project, man I totally get that and I am guilty of the same thing. But in the long run, these little streaming devices are a fantastic value and they work right out of the box. Plus they have native apps for playing Netflix and Hulu and Youtube and all that. The AppleTV also has Airplay which is pretty nice if you have an iOS device (and an iOS device can act as a remote control).
 
Roku/Apple tv would work for about $99 but its not as fun as the Pi... I personally like feeling acomplished putting something together and having it work. That being said, ive had my pi for about a week and im having a lot of fun with it.

if you like to mess with stuff... get a pi
if you just want it to work without anything... Roku/Apple tv type box\

pi with xmbc does airplay btw both video/audio
 
I use a gboxmidnight mx2 and I find the included version of Xbmc works great the only thing it will not do smoothly is networked over the air 1080p tv, it will play back a 1080p file just fine though. You can also flash Linux to it and the forums and developers seem active in regards to this box.

If you want a project I would just built a mini itx htpc, in my opinion once you plug in a Roku/Apple tv/android box you immediately want it to do something an htpc could do easier.
 
Sinker said:
I use a gboxmidnight mx2 and I find the included version of Xbmc works great the only thing it will not do smoothly is networked over the air 1080p tv, it will play back a 1080p file just fine though. You can also flash Linux to it and the forums and developers seem active in regards to this box.

If you want a project I would just built a mini itx htpc, in my opinion once you plug in a Roku/Apple tv/android box you immediately want it to do something an htpc could do easier.
Click to expand...

HTPC with Media Portal is still king IMO, esp with XBMC themed skins. But I can stream OTA TV hook into hulu etc. Just a bit harder to setup than XBMC but tons of plugins for it!
 
I love my Raspberry PI i have it all setup with XMBC my own skin and scrappers for my movie info.

I got a Wireless n usb doggle for 25$ and a remote and that thing is still killing it.
 
Mk808b. I just got one and with my Lenovo mini wireless keyboard/mouse works out of the box.
It's $50 and with bubble upnp I can stream from xbmc or my NAS. It has full access to the Play Store and can do almost anything an android tablet can do. Ill probably install Finless 1.7 this weekend and see how that goes.
 
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