2015-03-31, 03:06
Not sure what the process is, but at least for the RPi/RPi2 it looks like there is some software to install (osmc-installer) on a Linux desktop that can then image the SD card. I don't know if that uses/downloads the images mentioned before or what (I don't like installing items on my desktop that are only used to install something on an SD card). Perhaps it is similar for the Vero? I personally find the process with something like OpenELEC much easier where there is SD card creation script included in the download itself that creates the correct SD card filesystems.
I'm sure I'll be told that I am once again commenting on hardware(Vero) and software(OSMC) that I haven't seen/used yet, but... It would be extremely helpful to detail the *exact* hardware in the Vero just like what SolidRun has done for the Cubox-i platform at http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox-...ifications
Based on the Vero OSMC image I was able to download, the device tree file looks like the Vero is an i.MX6 Dual Lite which is also what is in my Cubox-i2. The Vero does come with 802.11 and bluetooth. Looking on the SolidRun store, an i2 with the 802.11 and bluetooth options is $99 and includes a power adapter and an 8gig microSD card. The only other hardware the Vero has which the Cubox-i2 does not is the nifty little remote. Guessing that is worth $20, that leaves ~$80 for the 3 years of OSMC support. A little more than $25/year isn't bad. The cost to OSMC may even be lower by buying so many devices in bulk.
If the hardware is, as I've guessed, and i.MX6 Dual Lite then I would expect it to perform similar to my i2. It works great for most local (NFS/SMB) shared content, especially if the content is progressive with a constant frame rate. For over-the-air digial HD and/or Cable and Satellite that is interlaced and complex with periodic frame rate changes (most often during advertisements) it might not do too well.
I just recently provided a sample from a program recorded off of my HD Homerun Prime that was giving OMXPlayer on the RPi2 fits. The developers are looking at it and already commented that different advertisements switched audio from 5.1 to 2 channel and vice-versa as well as some strange progressive vs interlaced changes. Hopefully Kodi will be improved by analyzing such a stream.
If the goal of the Vero is to be a great local file media player, it's probably already mostly there. If the goal is for it to play almost anything thrown at it (within reason, it doesn't have H265 hardware decoding for instance) then it is my opinion it will ultimately fall short.
Just my (unwanted) 2c.
I'm sure I'll be told that I am once again commenting on hardware(Vero) and software(OSMC) that I haven't seen/used yet, but... It would be extremely helpful to detail the *exact* hardware in the Vero just like what SolidRun has done for the Cubox-i platform at http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox-...ifications
Based on the Vero OSMC image I was able to download, the device tree file looks like the Vero is an i.MX6 Dual Lite which is also what is in my Cubox-i2. The Vero does come with 802.11 and bluetooth. Looking on the SolidRun store, an i2 with the 802.11 and bluetooth options is $99 and includes a power adapter and an 8gig microSD card. The only other hardware the Vero has which the Cubox-i2 does not is the nifty little remote. Guessing that is worth $20, that leaves ~$80 for the 3 years of OSMC support. A little more than $25/year isn't bad. The cost to OSMC may even be lower by buying so many devices in bulk.
If the hardware is, as I've guessed, and i.MX6 Dual Lite then I would expect it to perform similar to my i2. It works great for most local (NFS/SMB) shared content, especially if the content is progressive with a constant frame rate. For over-the-air digial HD and/or Cable and Satellite that is interlaced and complex with periodic frame rate changes (most often during advertisements) it might not do too well.
I just recently provided a sample from a program recorded off of my HD Homerun Prime that was giving OMXPlayer on the RPi2 fits. The developers are looking at it and already commented that different advertisements switched audio from 5.1 to 2 channel and vice-versa as well as some strange progressive vs interlaced changes. Hopefully Kodi will be improved by analyzing such a stream.
If the goal of the Vero is to be a great local file media player, it's probably already mostly there. If the goal is for it to play almost anything thrown at it (within reason, it doesn't have H265 hardware decoding for instance) then it is my opinion it will ultimately fall short.
Just my (unwanted) 2c.
