My S905 -
ODROID-C2 arrived today, and I've been playing around with Android Lollipop and Kodi, impressions:
- Fast, snappy AMLogic Android Lollipop device, slightly faster than my S812-H WeTek Core also running Android Lollipop. There really is not much between them in terms of speed tho.
- No fancy Android Lollipop custom GUI launcher like I see on the Core. That custom, slick WeTek Launcher I really miss !
- Standard Android type desktop like you see in KitKat 4.4.4. But bigger icons and easier to use with Lollipop OS.
- Boots to Lollipop desktop in 18 seconds when equipped with Fast eMMC5.0 HS400 Flash Storage
- Excellent deinterlacing video quality for broadcast TV viewing.
- 10-bit HEVC decoding, video is output as 8-bit due to lack of Software Support (inc. Kodi)
- Ethernet Network speeds are impressively fast.
- 2160p video output at up to 60Hz, in fact you can run the Android desktop or the Kodi GUI at 2160p/60Hz with great fluidity. The S905 upscales the 1080p Kodi GUI to 2160p nicely indeed.
- If you use the nicely tweaked WeTek Jarvis mediaplayer on the C2 you will get smooth playback of 25fps mpeg2/vob DVD ISO Rips.
- Standard Widevine Level 3 DRM = 480p Netflix (+ others). Max video output resolution
- No refresh rate switching is working in Kodi Jarvis or Krypton, both versions need AML mods for the S9xx series of SoC's
- So consequently 3:2 pulldown judder is the end result with 23.976/24fps video output set at 60Hz, unless you disguise the judder with a TV's Motion Smoothing settings. You may then hate the "Soap Opera Effect" of the resulting video.
- Kernel is AML / Linux v3.14.29
- HDMI-CEC control is currently not working
Untested at this stage- HD Audio decoding to Multichannel PCM Audio output using the WeTek, Jarvis mediaplayer
Android Lollipop on the S905 has an interesting Android - Setting > Playback Settings > HDMI Self Adaptation > On/Off
This seems to be the equivalent of the completely user transparent, S8xx's Kernel Frame Rate Automation to produce smooth 23.976fps video output. Its basically a Frame Rate Automation On/Off switch.
The other point of interest is I can watch 25/50fps broadcast TV at 60Hz Kodi GUI (no refresh switching) with no noticeable video stutter or massive judder with my TV's motion smoothing settings on Low.
Conclusion, a nice fast little upgrade to the C1+ if you need 10-bit HEVC decoding and 2160p @ 60Hz video output. The optimisations in the ART Runtime code contained in the Android Lollipop OS on a C2 / S905 make a noticeable difference. Kodi Krypton / Jarvis, the WeTek version especially runs smoothly.
You will also get half decent S905 Firmware support from HardKernel themselves. There is a healthy, knowledgable Linux community built around HardKernel products that definitely helps as well
Coming down the Pipe, OE 6.95.9 / Kodi Jarvis for the C2
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runnerway,
mpeg2/vob 25fps movie DVD Rips play fine in the WeTek Jarvis mediaplayer, if you select Software Deinterlacing in the Video OSD (save as default). WeTek's modded Jarvis defaults to ff-mpeg2 Software decoding for vob's only.
Consequently normal am-mpeg2 used for Live TV playback remains unaffected. Its seamless
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asipsis,
Probably not as there is a custom U-Boot and AML Kernel in the C2. You can only try it I suppose, but you may brick the box or stuff will not work. You may get lucky who knows.