Category Archives: Android on PC Hardware

Mini TV Android PC Jesurun

Jesurun Android PC has nice specs (for USD 66)

Another dual core Cortex A9 RK3066 based Android Mini PC emerges from the chinese hardware churning factories. Quite similar to earlier reviewed RK3066 models, it reads as a solid performer.

Mini TV Android on PC Jesurun

As we find out, the “brand” Jesurun comes with some tradition behind, as there have been -rather obscure- earlier models purposing Android 2.2 onwards OS over different hardware bases, over this last year. Their latest iteration on Android Mini PC solutions includes Android 4.1 preinstalled, the usual 3D and 2D graphics and video performance and expansion ports.

Anyway, the guys responsible for the Jesurun line of Android on a Stick PCs did surely place their efforts on the right path by embracing a -by now- proved RK3066 based Android solution.

What’s inside the Jesurun Mini TV Android on PC ?

At the risk of being repetitive, we can find the usual stuff inside this nice Android on PC stick. For a start, it includes a Mali quadcore GPU 400, which enables almost any game to run smoothly enough. It comes with 1 gb of DDR3 ram and 8gb of flash ram for storage purposes, accepting up to 32 Gb of extra flash ram through it’s microSD slot. On the network side, you will find a b/g/n WIFI adapter (capable of up to 150mbits /s on its N mode). You can plug an USB hub into the USB port included, and connect through it a standard USB mouse, keyboard, webcam, etc.

In order to connect this small Android on a Stick PC to your TV, you will use the Mini HDMI female host port. As the chinese brochure infers, the Jesurun comes with Google Play Store access.

MK803 Mini PC for Android

MK803 Android mini PC is here

MK803 Android Mini PC

The MK803 is a yet another new version of Android Mini PC from the guys at Miniand, apparently based on the success of the earlier MK802 model. At the time of this writing, we are quite confused with the MK8XX family of Android Mini PC. Are they all from the same OEM place ? Do they actually share any kind of parenting lineage ? Or is it just a marketing move, to name them as successors of a particularly known Android Mini PC as it was the original MK802 ?

Just in case you are wondering, at first it was the MK802. Then an MK802 II model surfaced from remote chinese waters. After that, and jumping into the bagon of the RK3066 dual core procesor, we announced the MK806 model. Now we are getting acquainted with the MK803 model, which seems to suffer from a rather odd model numbering scheme. At  USD 79, it seems to be on the price range for these kind of Android Mini PC, maybe a bit on the upper side of such scale.

Inside the MK803 Mini PC

This new MK803 Android Mini PC model is based on the Amlogic AML8726-M3 Cortex A9 processor which throws some light into linux compatibility, although it cames with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich preinstalled. This by no means there is actually a Linux version for this new device, but at least there is hope (as in REAL hope). The MK803 processor runs at a nice 1.5 Ghz clock speed.

The amount of ram is rather mundane, 1Gb of RAM, accompanied by 4Gb of flash storage available for storing apps and games. It also includes a microSD slot which can be used to expand the storage capacity. On the video side, the MK803 includes an HDMI output port, an USB 2.0 port. On the connectivity side, the MK803 includes a built in 802.11 B/G/N wifi adapter.

Minix NEO G4 Android PC

Minix NEO G4 is a nicely rendered Android PC

According to some knowledgeable opinions, the Minix Neo G4 is a quality, second generation dual core based Android Mini PC. this recently introduced Mini PC has already been praised for it’s low heat output and consistent fast performance, ease of rooting procedure and elegant hardware design which includes bluetooth connectivity, something rather scarce to find on the Android Mini PC scape.

Minix Neo G4 Android Mini PC

 Inside the Minix Neo G4 Android PC

The hardware specs of the Minix Neo G4 are the ones we’ve come to expect from a Rockchip RK3066 processor based Android Mini PC. Accompanied by a Quad Core Mali 400 graphics processor, the Dual Cortex A9 type processor is capable of 1080p video and even Flash hardware assisted decoding by it’s exclusive FTR technology.

On the memory side we got 1gb of DDR3 RAM for our running apps and games, coupled with 8gb of FLASH RAM for storage purposes. Connectivity is present in wireless mode by  802.11b/g/n WIFI capability and Bluetooth.

The Minix Neo G4 also includes an HDMI video output port accepting HDMI v1.4a enabling 3D movie file format support. It is also compatible with all audio and video formats we come to expect (pretty much “everything”).

As I/O options, the Minix Neo G4 comes with one USB 2.0 port and a Micro USB OTG port, an IR receiver and a TF card reader supporting SD 3.0 up to 32Gb capacity).

The Minix Neo G4 needs an (included) AC adapter which provides 5V 3A power, but the Android Mini PC itself uses less than 1A to operate.

Samsung Smart Dock

Galaxy Note 2 + Samsung Smart Dock = Android Mini PC

Samsung unveils its Samsung Smart Dock, which is a multiport docking station for your Samsung Galaxy Note II, including a full size HDMI output port, three full sized USB ports a microUSB (on the back, for charging purposes) and even a standard 3.5 mm audio jack output for you to use your favorite amplified speakers with it. Not all Kudos go for Samsung: The “Smart Dock for an Android phone” concept is not new: The Samsung Smart Dock seems to be a new concept rendition of an earlier (now defunct) product from Motorola, called WebTop.

Samsung Smart Dock

At the rather hefty price of U$S 99, the Samsung Smart Dock may anyway be of certain appeal for the -also fat wallet priced- Samsung Galaxy Note II owners. Interestingly enough, their current flagship product, the Samsung Galaxy SIII is not compatible with the Samsung Smart Dock. This single fact reminds me of the -by now oldie- Android fragmentation topic, on the hardware side. One would expect that the best exponents of Samsung Galaxy line would be compatible, expansion port wise, but such accessories-sharing capability seems not possible at this hardware-software integration level.

Is the Samsung Smart Dock capable of converting your Galaxy Note II into an Android Desktop PC ?

Certainly, it seems to be so, given the nice computing muscle specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note II processor, an Exynos 5 dual core Cortex A15.  Such a workhorse carries more than enough processing power for any internet based work. We can certainly envision the Samsnug Smart Dock being released as companion to other Samsung models in the future, but evidently on this down to earth bussiness world, such dream would require first plenty of embracing from current Samsung Galaxy Note II owners of this first Samsung Smart Dock.

MK806 Android Mini PC

MK806 may be an accomplished successor of MK802 ?

A new Android Mini PC, the MK806, was introduced by the specialized webstore “KIMDECENT” from China. The succesor of the MK802 has arrived, jumping into the RK3066 processor wagon and running Android 4.1 while purporting  a decent price of about U$S 67.  The plastic casing is till on the “Android on a Stick” size, with no visible venting holes, which makes me wonder about heat again. Thankfully enough the dual core RK3066 Rockchip processor seems to be more resilient to heat, as we have yet to read about any heat running trend on rk3066 based Android mini PCs.

MK806 Android Mini PC

Inside the MK806 Android PC

The dual Core Cortex A9 based processor inside the mk806 runs at 1.6 Ghz and it is coupled with a Mali 4500 graphics subsytem chip, both feeding from the hefty 1 gb of RAM available, while the Apps and games may be stored in the 4Gb flash ram included in the MK806. There is a full size USB PORT wich may accept an USB hub with a standard keyboard and mouse, a micro USB port for slave USB connection and power purposes, a microSD slot and a full HDMI.

The MK806 is also marketed as the MK802 III. It includes also a 3.5 mm earphone port, in order to extend the audio output in case you connect it into a PC Monoitor with no audio, then you can hook your PC Speakers into your MK806 and still enjoy audio output.

As it happens with RK3066 based Android PC devices, the MK806 has no Linux support at the time of this writing. Hopefully Rockchip opens up their system specific data into the open source, allowing not only the MK806, but all Mini PC based on its processor to accomodate the necesary drivers into Linux ARM releases.

 

Uhost2 Android Mini PC

Uhost2 is a nice Android Mini PC

A new Rockchip Rk3066 dual core ARM chip processor based Android Mini PC has arrived, the UHost2. It is a bit bigger than your averaga Android mini PC, which might be good news, heat dissipation wise. We already told you about the -at that time inminent- wave of rk3066 based “Android on a Stick” computers that would wash over us. The new iterations of the rockchip workhorse are getting more and more refined, and this new Android Mini PC is a perfect example of it. Final pricing is yet to be announced, but we may think about U$S 65 for the entry level version (4gb Flash ram).

Uhost2 Android Mini PC

Inside the Uhost2 Dual Core Android Mini PC

The Uhost2 Android on a Stick computer comes with the usual stuff that we come to expect from any Android Mini PC, and then some: We get a nice GPU, Mali 400mp4 based graphics engine, the RK3066 ARM Cortex A9 dual core working at maximum speed (1.6Ghz),  dual OTG USB ports, a micro USB port, an HDMI port, 1Ghz of RAM, Wifi b/g/n connection, and may be purchased with 4,8,16 .. up to 32Gb of internal flash ram. Of course, we get also a microSD expansion slot that will accept up to 32 Gb of extra storage memory.

The Uhost2 comes packaged with a nice remote control and an HDMI cable, as a Plus. The Uhost2 comes with Android 4.04 installed inside, but there is an option for upgrading into Android 4.1 in the near future. There is also a Bluetooth version, but it is yet to be seen if it will be offered. Actually, at the time of this wrtiting, the whole Uhost2 is yet to be offered to the general public, altough some test units have been distributed around into different tech blogs for reviewing purposes.The Uhost2 is promised to get into market on early November this year.