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Realtek RTD1195 / RTD1295 based Android media players violate Kodi's GPL license!
#1
I don't know how many different Android media player boxes and sticks powered by Realtek 1195 / 1295 have been announced so far, anyone here know more about availability and price?

Could this be the Raspberry Pi killer at a budget we bargain hunters have been looking for?

I mostly interested in knowing if anyone here got an Android media player based on Realtek 1195 (RTD1195) / 1295 (RTD1295) platform and if so how is your experience with it and XBMC so far?


Based on Realtek past history with multimedia chipsets any boxes using this SoC are likely to have a better video and image quality than the other ARM SoCs used by current Android boxes. As Realtek and Sigma Designs was previously the two main semiconductor companies that dominated this segment of the market, and both companies are historically famous for making cheap yet high quality MIPS based chipsets for media player and set-top box hardware, and for those who haven't read up on the RTD1195 yet it is Realtek's new value SoC and its second entry into the ARM architecture platform after its high-end RTD2995, with the RTD1195 featuring Dual-Core Cortex-A7 series CPU running at up to 1.5 GHz and ARM Mali-400 MP2 GPU.

http://www.cnx-software.com/category/pro...altek-rtd/


While the CPU and GPU specification in RTD1195 is almost at the low-end by today's standard and its raw computing power performance will thus be greatly inferior to the much higher priced application processors like Amlogic S802/S805/S812, Rockchip RK3288, and Allwinner A80, the RTD1195 from Realtek does look to more than make up for with a cheap price and excellent VPU playback capabilities including 10-bit H.265 / HEVC decode and 4K video output, as well as internal SATA port, USB 3.0, GigaBit Ethernet, 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.0, with a very competing price this might be the SoC platform for XBMC / Kodi users who want to replace their Raspberry Pi with a dedicated media player for less.

The most interesting thing about RTD1195 from XBMC / Kodi and media playback functionality point of view is that it features VPU hardware video decoding for 4K2K (4Kx2K/3840X2160) 8-bit H.264 and 10-bit H.265 / HEVC, and 1080p Blu-ray 3D MVC (Multiview Video Coding) videos decode, including support for Frame Packaging 3D (frame-packed 3D output), and audio output support for Dolby Digital Plus / True HD and DTS Master Audio pass-through. No official fact sheet from Realtek however if this SoC will support HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.X output at 4K Ultra HD (3840X2160) resolution at 60 fps or if RTD1195 will be limited to HDMI 1.4 and its maximum specifications. The SoC also natively supports Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 host and a SATA 3 harddrive.

So once readily available and the firmware have matures a little I would suspect that RTD1195 based devices will be the go-to SoC as an entry model for many first-time XBMC / Kodi beginners.


The announced Realtek 1195 based Android 4K media player boxes from semi-reputable manufactures I found so far to be "coming soon" are these:

- Eweat EW902, also sold as OEM model "W902" under other brand-names or no-name http://chinagadgetsreviews.blogspot.ro/2...v-box.html
- Egreat A-series http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/05/11/u...d1195-soc/
- MeLe Mele G09 (G39/G29) Extrenal SATA and internal 2.5-inch SATA bay http://blog.minipcdb.com/mele-rtd1195/
- MeLe Mele M11 (M23) internal SATA 3.5-inch bay http://blog.minipcdb.com/mele-rtd1195/
- MeLe RTD1195 small-form-factor entry-model with unknown model name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMxOCdj-E5s
- Bluetimes BT-3584D (3584D) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh2uI5yLhdk
- EC-U6D by EC Tech (EC Technology), also sold as OEM model "U6D" under other brand-names or no-name http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/09/20/6...-ethernet/
- Unipro M-195, also sold as OEM model "M-195" or "M195" under other brand-names or no-name http://www.geekbuying.com/item/M-195-Rea...33627.html
- KDLinks A200 http://www.kdlinks.com/index.php/popular...board.html
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#2
They are available in USA under KDLinks brand however how well they work with Kodi is another matter. You can see some basic impressions from August here, using (then) XBMC.

Although the Realtek chip may support things like H.265/HEVC and 3D Blu-ray Kodi only supports decoding those in software (so decent PC CPU needed) so those may not work at all with Kodi.
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#3
The EC-U6D players are now available to order from EC Tech (EC Technology) in China on AliExpress for as little as $61.39 (US) including shipping
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-Newe...62265.html

This U6D model from EC is also available as noname OEM but surprisingly for a little higher price
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/U6D-HDMI-...70870.html


Still, for that price it's a amazing good deal for a 10-bit H.265 / HEVC capable 4K Android media player, but have anyone tried actually tried one yet?


Eweat EW902 4K media player is available too from China on AliExpress and is currently being sold for $99 (US) including shipping
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-newe...83437.html


Based on previous reports my bet is unfortunately that that you will not receive any support from the manufactures whatsoever regardless.
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#4
For the Eweat EW902, there are impressions from a member at AVSForums. Read here.
[H]i-[d]eft [M]edia [K]een [V]ideosaurus
My Family Room Theater
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#5
M-195 is a also new Realtek 195 (RTD1195) media player that looks like it might be OEM of Eweat EW902

M-195 is however being sold for as little as $58 (US) on AliExpress
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/H-265-And...66212.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/M-195-Rea...53399.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/M-195-Rea...42234.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/M-195-Rea...85361.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/...98462.html

and as low as $40 to $50 each if you order 5 devices on Alibaba
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/M-...88350.html

GeekBuying is a more reputable Chinese reseller that is selling these same players for $68 (US)
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/M-195-Rea...33627.html
or for only $63 with this coupon that they posted on Freaktab forum which expire today
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1...ini-TV-Box
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#6
(2014-09-22, 17:05)Starstream Wrote: They are available in USA under KDLinks brand however how well they work with Kodi is another matter. You can see some basic impressions from August here, using (then) XBMC.

Although the Realtek chip may support things like H.265/HEVC and 3D Blu-ray Kodi only supports decoding those in software (so decent PC CPU needed) so those may not work at all with Kodi.
I don't think that KDLinks A200 is just an OEM version of any of the others mentioned above.


KDLinks A200 is marketed high-end Realtek 1195 based media player with a large front display, and unlike Chinese manufactures KDLinks claim that official codec licenses for Dolby and DTS are included, and it is therefore a more expensive product.

http://www.kdlinks.com/index.php/popular...board.html
http://www.amazon.com/KDLINKS%C2%AE-A200...B00J90X0RC



As Starstream noted someone have posted a review of it on avsforum.com here
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/39-network...eview.html
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#7
(2014-10-21, 13:23)hdmkv Wrote: For the Eweat EW902, there are impressions from a member at AVSForums. Read here.
Very interesting! Read these parts about "Rtkplayer" from these two threads about EW902 and M-195 on AVSForum:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/39-network...ing-2.html
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/39-network...layer.html

"I used the provided EWEAT XBMC player (Rtkplayer in XBMC, the one that they put in their version of XBMC). But for some reasons BDMV files wont play at all. And even that I have to re-install the firmware update because XBMC was too bugged after all those tests... "

"XBMC : in fact there 3 ways to play the files. dvdplayer, Rtkplayer (defaut), and Eweat Player 4k. I can play normal files with either player no problem. But the Rtkplayer will not play WMA files. So no sound at all when playing movies with WMA. I dont have that problem If I use dvdplayer ( It's the XBMC player ). When playing with the Eweat Player 4k it's the same result that with Rtkplayer. With no WMA sound and you are playing the file with the internal media player. When the movie is finished you are kicked out XBMC. You have to re-enter to continue. And it's the only way to play 4k files."

"Bluray ISO and 3D BD ISO in XBMC : they are playing fine only if you use the defaut Rtkplayer. But you don't have the normal XBMC menus. In fact you are using the internal media player in XBMC. With the only options in the menu of : subtitles, audio, 3D and aspect ratio. That's it ! If you use Eweat Player 4k same options but when the movie is finished you are kicked out of XBMC. If you are trying to play 3D BD ISO, ISO, BDMV , and videos that are 720p or more the playback si poor, like in slow motion. And dont try to use BD menu navigation thing got worse..."

"I can play 3D BD ISO in XBMC with the optimyzed player ( Rtkplayer ) but without the XBMC playback options ( FF, REW, sound, subtitles, chapter, ect ). In fact it plays the files with the same options that you have when you are not in XBMC. I can choose to play them with the XBMC player ( dvdplayer ) but things got ugly. Slow motion, freeze and Bluray menu make things worse. But YES YOU CAN ( Thanks Barrack ! ) with the integrated Rtkplayer and only if you connect your hard drive to the player. You just can t use the dvdplayer that XBMC has built in. I am pushing it since 2 days and it doesnt like it very much. XBMC freezing a couple of times. Need definitively some tweaking in XBMC. But so much fun to work with it. "

"XBMC:To play 3D ISO:You need to select a different player(In my case the on player that works with 3D ISO was DVDPlayer....Am just wondering on how to change the default from rtkplayer to DVDplayer."

"3D BD ISO : The internal Rtkplayer (DEFAULT) is the one that only work with 3D BD ISO. dvdplayer work for NON HD titles. Otherwise the playback is non watchable. And Bluray Menu only works with dvdplayer..."

"Select Rtkplayer if you want to play 3D BD ISO good playback. But forget the bluray menu."


"Update : 4k files can be played in XBMC with Rtkplayer but files were on my 1 TB Seagate external HDD connected to the player and XBMC are taking them directly from there."


I hope that the existence of "Rtkplayer" might mean that Realtek have written their own player core for XBMC/Kodi that works like the old AMPlayer (now replaced by AMcodec)?

And if so the pressing question will now be, where is the source code for this "Rtkplayer"? As if it part of XBMC/Kodi it must be open sourced under either GPL or LGPL.

Or perhaps this "Rtkplayer" is just an external player that is launched? If so then that just sucks and we can only hope that Realtek improves in the open source area!
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#8
Re: the KDLinks A200, I wonder if you can play 3D BD-ISO's via XBMC? If so, is it using a different/external player? Can you skip chapters, show/disable subs, etc.?
[H]i-[d]eft [M]edia [K]een [V]ideosaurus
My Family Room Theater
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#9
BlueTimes entry-level OEM model Realtek RTD 1195 media player promotions and pre-orders have now been announced
http://ebluetimes.com/en/NewsView.asp?ID=270&SortID=21
http://ebluetimes.com/en/NewsView.asp?ID=269&SortID=21

Samples are available as from $30-60 depending on quantity ordered directly from BlueTimes via Alibaba and eBay
http://www.ebluetimes.en.alibaba.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/Bluetimes-Tech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9FreHTbdQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh2uI5yLhdk
I'm in no way affiliated with BlueTimes or any sellers/resellers for them, nor for any other media boxes for that matter.

I'm just hoping that this will lead to cheaper XBMC/Kodi boxes and that SoC manufactures begin to respect the GPL
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#10
Where is the link for Realtek 1195 version on eBay?
MY CURRENT MEDIA PLAYER | MY HOME THEATER
MINIX NEO U22-XJ COREELEC v19 MATRIX | EGREAT A10 | NVIDIA SHIELD | LG 75 NANO90 DV/HDR+ | Sony 43 Android TV HDR
XBOX SERIES X  | PS4 PRO 4K | JBL 9.1 System 5.1.4 DTS:X/ATMOS 
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#11
SPMC 13.3.3 for Android have been released and it includes HEVC / H.265 hardware video decode for media players that uses MediaCodec API and libstagefright, which should include those based on Realtek 1195 (RTD1195) SoC

http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/11/01/s...v-support/

http://spmc.semperpax.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...erpax.spmc
http://www.amazon.com/Semperpax-SPMC/dp/B00MK49LL8/

SPMC in an unofficial fork of XBMC available on Google Play Store and Amazon AppStore, and it is known for having experimental tweaks for new hardware before they make it upstream into mainline XBMC http://kodi.wiki/view/SPMC

Chris Browet (Koying), one of XBMC team developers who develops SPMC on the side, have a relevant thread discussing SPMC here http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=201783

(2014-10-30, 14:53)movie78 Wrote: Where is the link for Realtek 1195 version on eBay?
Looks like BlueTimes just have not updated their eBay Store yet, maybe try messaging them if you're interested.
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#12
CNXSoft have now posted a short guide on How to Flash Firmware to Realtek RTD1195 Media Players:

http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/11/03/h...a-players/


M-195 model is the one CNXSoft tested as Realtek recently released stock Android 4.4.2 firmware for it

http://chinagadgetsreviews.blogspot.se/2...442_3.html
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#13
(2014-11-03, 13:18)Hedda Wrote: CNXSoft have now posted a short guide on How to Flash Firmware to Realtek RTD1195 Media Players:

http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/11/03/h...a-players/


M-195 model is the one CNXSoft tested as Realtek recently released stock Android 4.4.2 firmware for it

http://chinagadgetsreviews.blogspot.se/2...442_3.html

Thank you for this one.

I should be getting my M-195 this week,I can wait.

Do you know what the update firmware include?
MY CURRENT MEDIA PLAYER | MY HOME THEATER
MINIX NEO U22-XJ COREELEC v19 MATRIX | EGREAT A10 | NVIDIA SHIELD | LG 75 NANO90 DV/HDR+ | Sony 43 Android TV HDR
XBOX SERIES X  | PS4 PRO 4K | JBL 9.1 System 5.1.4 DTS:X/ATMOS 
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#14
The KDLinks A200 is currently going for $200 on amazon for the US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J90X0RC/
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#15
(2014-11-04, 01:28)Topken Wrote: The KDLinks A200 is currently going for $200 on amazon for the US http://www.amazon.com/KDLINKS®-A200-Andr...00J90X0RC/

What does that have to do with this thread? That model uses a Telechips SoC, not the Realtek 1195.
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Realtek RTD1195 / RTD1295 based Android media players violate Kodi's GPL license!0