Over the past few months Chinese android media players based on the Amlogic AML8726-MX processor (G-Box/DroidTV etc.) have begun to sell in significant volumes. Matricom estimates that they had sold in excess of 500000 units by the end of November 2013. This is still well below the number of settop boxes sold by Apple and Roku over the same period but Amlogic has recently launched a new range of more capable quad core processors which appear to be selling very well in the US, Europe and the Far East. Many customers are starting to look more carefully at Chinese cell phones, tablets and settop boxes due to the obvious cost benefits and recent firmware and manufacturing quality improvements.
This article provides more details about the new range of Amlogic processors.
http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/04/25/amlogic-stb-socs-comparison-aml8726-mx-s802-s805-and-s812/
Both the S805 and S812 processors support the h.265 video standard which could have a significant benefit in terms of streaming quality if the major streaming services choose to support these new devices. Netflix is currently streaming several series in 4K at 15.6Mbps using h.265 but there should be large quality improvements even at the slowest bitrate of 235kbps provided that the content has been suitably encoded.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/breaking-bad-4k-netflix,news-19005.html
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Netflix-Launches-4K-Streams-128454
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding
Both the S805 and the S812 are claiming gigabit ethernet speeds which should also improve networking throughput tremendously.
It appears that several local distributors/retailers are getting ready to launch new devices based on these processors in the coming weeks. If anybody is considering purchasing one of these new models please post any comments or suggestions so that the importers have a better idea of the possible demand for these new products. Personally I am still very happy with the stability of the older AML8726-MX but the S802, S805 and S812 devices should offer significant speed, resolution (4K) and networking advantages once all the outstanding firmware issues have been resolved.
This article provides more details about the new range of Amlogic processors.
http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/04/25/amlogic-stb-socs-comparison-aml8726-mx-s802-s805-and-s812/
Both the S805 and S812 processors support the h.265 video standard which could have a significant benefit in terms of streaming quality if the major streaming services choose to support these new devices. Netflix is currently streaming several series in 4K at 15.6Mbps using h.265 but there should be large quality improvements even at the slowest bitrate of 235kbps provided that the content has been suitably encoded.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/breaking-bad-4k-netflix,news-19005.html
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Netflix-Launches-4K-Streams-128454
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding
Both the S805 and the S812 are claiming gigabit ethernet speeds which should also improve networking throughput tremendously.
It appears that several local distributors/retailers are getting ready to launch new devices based on these processors in the coming weeks. If anybody is considering purchasing one of these new models please post any comments or suggestions so that the importers have a better idea of the possible demand for these new products. Personally I am still very happy with the stability of the older AML8726-MX but the S802, S805 and S812 devices should offer significant speed, resolution (4K) and networking advantages once all the outstanding firmware issues have been resolved.
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