Mass-production of pre-built set-top-box with XBMC for Linux to sell as retail?

Mass-production of pre-built set-top-box with XBMC for Linux to sell as retail? - Printable Version

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- yuvalt - 2008-09-18

Worth checking this out (and possibly starting a porting project)...

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/19/high-def-coming-to-neuros-osd20-platform/

- Gamester17 - 2008-09-18

Well it must be driver issues as people reports that XBMC for Mac have no problems with 1080p output on the Mac Mini with its Intel GMA950 graphics.

- Gamester17 - 2008-09-18

yuvalt Wrote:Worth checking this out (and possibly starting a porting project)...

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/08/19/high-def-coming-to-neuros-osd20-platform/

@YUVAL, see these two related discussion threads:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=35139
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=34562

Kind of off-topic for those wanting something soon though Rolleyes

- topfs2 - 2008-09-18

Gamester17 Wrote:So forget about HDMI 1.3 and audio over HDMI, I am sure that the majority of potential buyers would be happy with DVI out (with a DVI to HDMI adapter included) and SP/DIF optical out for audio.

I can say from my new X4500HD that I have trouble using DVI -> HDMI and from what I've read many Intel GPU's have these problems. So HDMI is probably good to have.

I see more use of having HDMI, VGA and Component than DVI even if it contains the VGA usually. It should look set on top box aswell Wink

- CASHMON3Y - 2008-09-18

Plus, having HDMI built in looks more professional than having converter cords all over.

- zxcd - 2008-09-18

Gamester17 Wrote:This thread is really going off-topic as you are all discussing building custom and niche HTPC boxes (where there already are hundreds of other threads about).

This thread was really started to discuss building a set-top-box style box in bulk for the masses which XBMC could be pre-installed onto and sold in at retail, sure it could use some standard computer parts, but you can not expect it to meet all your dreams and desires for the price that you can sell such commercial boxes for.

You have to apply The Law of Diminishing Return "the majority of the effort should be invested in implementing features which have the most benefit and widest general usage by the potential users".

So forget about HDMI 1.3 and audio over HDMI, I am sure that the majority of potential buyers would be happy with DVI out (with a DVI to HDMI adapter included) and SP/DIF optical out for audio.

Now back on topic:
iBase MI940 looks a motherboard that you has the potential of building a powerful enough system for 1080p is the price is right and since it is a Mini-ITX board it could easily fit a set-top-box:
http://www.ibase.com.tw/mi940.htm

Mmm ibase M1940 would make it, If we then press in "LEADTEK WINFAST PXVC1100" are we probably home free.

http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-6364-view-Leadtek-winFast-pxVC1100.html

- Gamester17 - 2008-09-18

zxcd Wrote:If we then press in "LEADTEK WINFAST PXVC1100" are we probably home free.

http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-6364-view-Leadtek-winFast-pxVC1100.html

XBMC does currently not support GPU video decoding acceleration (an any platform), see:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Hardware_Accelerated_Video_Decoding
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=GSoC_-_GPU_Assisted_Video_Decoding

So adding that card today would only add cost, not value.

- rockstar1o9 - 2008-09-22

An early INTEL (not power pc!!) Mac Mini can be had starting ~$450 for a used 1.5 GHz Core Solo. And a brand new Core 2 Duo starts $599 and you get Intel GMA 950, a 60-120 GB HD, 512MB/1GB DDR2, built in 802.11g, built in bluetooth, 10/100/1000 ethernet, Apple remote, slot-loading DVD drive (possible DVD-RW), analog/digital audio out, DVI/VGA out (HDMI via $4 adapter from monoprice), plenty of usb 2.0 ports, and a firewire port. You wipe the sucker clean, load up linux, install XBMC, and it seems like you'd have a beautiful little x86 package for under $500. (I suppose you could stick with OSX but I'm guessing a XBMC setup under linux would be faster?)

The processor, hard drive, and ram can all be upgraded. Hell, the audio, wireless ethernet (to 802.11n), and optical drive (external blu-ray via usb enclosure) can all be upgraded as well through usb. There's no worries about noise (almost nonexistent), no power supply to buy, no case that everything needs to fit inside. Tell me if I'm missing something but how does any custom build beat those features at that price point?

- icekiller - 2008-09-22

faster is relative.. it seems that mac os needs 'less' cpu power to play the same 1080p movie then a linux pc needs..

but in theory the linux (stripped) should be faster

- icekiller - 2008-09-22

CASHMON3Y Wrote:Plus, having HDMI built in looks more professional than having converter cords all over.

you let it sound like its a hell..

http://www.mnm-computers.nl/images/Kabels/HDMI/HDMI_M-DVI_F-24_374606.jpg

you wouldn't even notice it..

- reise - 2008-09-23

I think that if someone with the right contacts in Asia could build a think similar to the popcorn hour it will be a top seller. The material needed:
A G45 board as this already has hardware decoding of HD videos and all the possible ports.
A lower wattage processor.
A micro-atx or mini-atx case.
A remote.
And price under 200€.

- icekiller - 2008-09-23

again.. no gpu vid decoder means = high power cpu..

you can only 'dream' about that setup when xbmc support GPU decoding so.. start programming?

- reise - 2008-09-23

icekiller Wrote:again.. no gpu vid decoder means = high power cpu..

you can only 'dream' about that setup when xbmc support GPU decoding so.. start programming?

I'm not good at programming in Linux but in this link there is already talk about gpu video decoding, maybe with the help of intel it can me made.

- lymwuwu - 2008-09-24

ultrabrutal Wrote:I'm not interrested in anything that doesn't do 1080p24 over HDMI1.3a with DTS+Dolby HD formats. This is already supported by my Tvix which uses the Sigma chipset but lacks a good mediacenter like XBMC. So until a box exist that does this a good with XBMC exist, I'm not buying.

I agree, in order to make XBMC main stream or at least cut into the HD media streamer market currently dominated by TVIX or NMT based players, bitstream of advance audio is a must.

I think the only solution here is someone would make a customized HDMI 1.3 motherboard and write a special version of ffmpeg for this MB to enable the HD audio bitstream or even off load the video decoding.

Of course, if someone could port XBMC to SoC such as Sigma Design 8654/8644, that would be perfect also.

But I doubt 500Mhz 8654 would be fast enough for XBMC UI engine.

Honestly, I don't see a market for put together box using off the shelf component.

- lymwuwu - 2008-09-24

icekiller Wrote:again.. no gpu vid decoder means = high power cpu..

you can only 'dream' about that setup when xbmc support GPU decoding so.. start programming?

I am not worrying about GPU based decoding.
CPU will get fast enough and I just don't see >50Mbs H.264 HP@L4 or >50Mbs VC1 AP@L3 for the consumer market in the next 5-10 years.

E8400 could already decode 99% of the bluray titles, is it?

The area worth effort is

1:
Smooth co-op between ffmpeg/XBMC UI egine and HDMI driver on mainstream MB to outpout 1080p23.97/24/25/30 and 1080i/50/60 based on source frame rate or user force choice.

2:
Bitstream of the next generation audio or at least decoding them into 5.1/7.1 LPCM and pass via HDMI untouched.