Anybody with experience with an android media player?

[lapa321]

Price is about $66

http://www.cdrking.com/?mod=products&type=view&sid=13874&main=167



CPU: RK2908, 1GHz
GPU: Mali 400
Android 4.0 upgradable

The Mali 400 is a good performance GPU but i've only seen it on multicore cellphones. Will it retain the decoding performance on an RK2908 single core?

Maybe i can even use this as a fileserver if i can run android apps on it. Like android torrent apps, ftp apps, DLNA server app, 300GB laptop harddrive in a USB case?



On a PC. Even something as weak as an Atom can decode 1080p if it's paired with a good GPU (My netbook can do 1080p and it's just got a 3200HD GPU), all the CPU does is audio decoding. Do things work the same on an ARM chipset? My Galaxy Nexus has a supposedly inferior SGX540 and it's already got impressive hardware decoding capability (Better than a Tegra2), a Mali400 should work for all non-10bit anime right?

[kitamesume]

there was a discussion about a tablet decoding a Hi10P 1080p with an ARM processor, i forgot which tho, so yes its possible that it can manage.

CD-R KING FTW!

[halfelite]

Dont buy a no named brand. and yes the mali 400 is cabled of decoding 2160p. The main issue is not all the android players are using it yet. and the audio portion is still not fully working. If you want an android player look at the mele A2000 it has the newest ICS release with working hardware decoding and xbmc is also working on a version for it.  It has the most support and you will find the best answers on it.

They are still a tweak and play player not a plug and play. if you are looking to just play 1080p and stuff you are better off looking at the popbox v8, or another tried and true hardware player.

[lapa321]

@kitamesume
That discussion was having a ARM CPU powerful enough to do 10bit in software, i don't think the RK2908 is in the same league.

@halfelite
Oh good. From all the articles and lack of emphasis on the GPU, i was getting the impression that the video acceleration was tied to the CPU chipset and the GPU only handles 2D/3D. So i can split the functionalities in the phone reviews between the CPU and GPU, like i do on PC reviews then?


CDRKing is basically a mock gadget store. If you see something in their store, chances are, it's a china ripoff of another product. That media player is likely a cut down version of something else. I'll just need to look for it if it's available locally. Thanks.


EDIT:
http://dx.com/p/1080p-hd-android-2-3-network-media-player-w-2-x-usb-optical-audio-r-l-video-lan-hdmi-sd-107622
Layout and specs seem awfully close. There's no mention of the GPU tho and not sure how that version of android will work with the apps i'm currently using (Does it even have an apps store?). Price is twice that of the one from CDR King.

[halfelite]

The video acceleration is tied to the MALI which is the GPU it can offload video to it. But the hard part comes into finding what decoders it has and what is currently being used by whatever product you have.