Zealz GK802 TV Stick packs quad-core Freescale CPU onto a $99 PC-on-a-stick

Geekbuying is now selling one of the first Android TV sticks to be powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. The Zealz GK802 is a tiny computer about the size of a USB flash drive. It’s got a processor, memory, and storage, and an HDMI plug on one end, so you can plug the stick right into a TV or display to run Android apps on a big screen.

You can pick up the GK802 from Geekbuying for $100.

The PC-on-a-stick features a 1.2 GHz Freescale i.MX6 quad-core processor with Vivante GC2000 graphics.

That’s the same processor found in the Ampe A10 tablet I reviewed recently, and while I wasn’t that impressed with the tablet’s all-around performance, the CPU scored reasonably well in benchmarks.

The Zealz GK802 also features 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, a USB 2.0 host port, and a microUSB port for power. There’s also a microSD card slot for extra storage.

Out of the box, the device runs Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. But it’s also capable of running Android 4.1 and Android 4.2. Freescale also offers a fair amount of documentation for its processors, which could help developers port other operating systems to run on devices like the GK802.

Chinese device maker Hiapad also plans to launch a mini PC with a Freescale i.MX6 quad-core processor soon, but the GK802 seems to have made it to market first.

thanks deadhp1!

Posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2012, 2:00 pm by Brad Linder | 25 Comments

http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

Good stuff. Though, I am not sure how I could communicate a new toy purchase to my wife after the ARM Chromebook.

This will have to wait until early next year
Radu

Is there any Linux support for it?
deadhp1

Freescale i.mx6 supports linux with accelerated x11, and gstreamer w/ hardware decoding. In order to get it running we need to build a working uboot and kernel for the GK802. Myself and some others are actually working on this. I’m just waiting on my 3.3v usb to serial adapter.

After that it should be possible to run the Ubuntu filesystem provided by Freescale.
Radu

Hardware X11 acceleration and decoding? That sounds like really good news. I have a MK802 with Ubuntu on it, but it is nearly useless for anything. I hope this will be a better deal. Please let us know when you manage to port Ubuntu on it, and keep up the good work!
strider_mt2k

-and so the Android stick computer war continues…
monoreviews

Can it play 1080p videos and / or flash games on browser in Linux? Thats what I expect from GPU acceleration or having GPU driver. Otherwise, it is just a waste of money (price should fall to 79 usd in a few months)
deadhp1

I’m not sure what the status of flash in linux on arm devices is.
Flash does work with hardware acceleration for android quite well.

This device is sold with android. Just because the chipset supports linux doesn’t mean you should expect any linux support aside from the few nuts like me that put it on everything.

It’s still not a waste of money….buying a single core android tv stick would be a waste.
Right now this is cutting edge for the android tv sticks.
Ozchar

This will be finally the USB stick that can be used as a normal linux desktop. Full i.mx6 linux support makes this stick the best on a market. Just waiting for price drop
denny

Still waiting for an affordable mini-itx board with this SoC and all the possible ports broken out to their respective external connectors.
And a open-ended pci-e port hooked up to the pci-e lane.
http://twitter.com/darethehair Darren Enns

Any estimates (even wild ones) as to when Linux success will be achieved? Are we talking days, weeks, months…?
Lesser Wall

Probably stupid question: would .debs from the usual ubuntu repos work with this, or would applications need to be compiled from scratch.
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

The Ubuntu ARM repos corresponding with the Ubuntu filesystem of Freescale will probably work perfectly.

x86 repos will (of corse) NOT work at all.

The more important software is compiled for ARM and included in the Ubuntu repos but usually there are less packages in the ARM repos because – so far – have been less demand for them.
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

Even though it is designed to be a TV smartener, this stick can be used as a pretty capable home server with Ubuntu, so I wouldn’t call it a waste of money at all.
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

This is great news, so Ubuntu support will be in good shape when I buy this early next year.

Freescale does outstanding work with its Linux support.

It is a pitty that i.MX6 has arrived so late.
ARXD

YES!!!! FINALLY! Now I just need to wait for a full working Ubuntu release that can play 1080p … perfect!
deadhp1

If I had to estimate when instructions will be ready for linux it would be a couple of weeks probably. Maybe less time though.

I have a booting image really hacked together, but it doesn’t work right ATM.

What really needs to be done to get linux running on this is a new uboot with the proper commands, and a kernel compiled that has the wireless/bluetooth drivers enabled.

I’ve got a FTDI Basic 3.3v usb to serial adapter on order from sparkfun so I can read the current uboot environment.
It’ll be alot less guessing then.
SeanKPS

when you’ll give it away in 3 weeks, must mean it’s not worth keeping?
http://www.facebook.com/greg.huddleston Greg Huddleston

Benchmark anywhere???
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

Very true. I hope some kernel-savvy guy fixes up a targeted distro for this stick.
Philip Jessup

I wish the stick had 2/4gb of memory though. I could easily replace a normal sized pc then.
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

Completely true.

I am fairly sure there will be Freescale based smartbooks and targeted mini-desktops soon.

Until then, we have to make do with 1 GB .
Spartacus

Will the installer for the MX5 work? There is one at: http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04.1/release/
Mina

Who is Geekbuying ?!
Don’t give them any money,
The only product they are delivering is white lie.
Starting with their name: Giovanni, Annie, … !
All fake.
Ringhio

The stuff arrived.. But the wifi don’t work… Be carefully I advise you if the company refaund or change me
deadhp1

Looks like the factory has beaten me to working linux for the GK802!

http://blog.geekbuying.com/index.php/2013/01/02/good-news-zealz-gk802-will-support-ubuntu-and-linaro-soon/

It’s much father along than mine with a working u-boot and wifi.

I can’t wait to test it!

Zealz GK802 TV Stick packs quad-core Freescale CPU onto a $99 PC-on-a-stick

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