SolidRun’s CuBox line of tiny desktop computers are cubes that measure just 2 inches across. But the little boxes sport Ethernet jacks, optical audio output, 2 USB ports and a micro USB port.

They also feature microSD cards for storage, dual or quad-core ARM-based processors, and up to 2GB of RAM. You can use them as tiny desktop computers, media centers, or file servers. Now SolidRun is taking orders for a new model that’s designed specifically for media center use.

It’s called the CuBoxTV, and you can pre-order one for $100.

cuboxtv_02

The CuBoxTV features a Freescale i.MX6 quad-core processor with Vivante GC2000 graphics, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, S/PDIF output, and an infrared receiver.

What makes this model special though, is that it comes with OpenElec pre-loaded.

That’s a light-weigh, open source Linux-based operating system designed to run the XBMC media center app (soon to be known as Kodi).

Sure, you could just run Android on a CuBox and install the XBMC app for Android. But OpenElec boots straight into the media center interface and uses just about 100MB of disc space for the entire operating system.

cuboxtv_01

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14 replies on “CuBoxTV: Tiny $100 Linux-based XBMC media center”

  1. I got the cubox-pro and although I had all sorts of ideas at first, I’m not really a techie and now just use it mainly with the xbmc plug-ins. Even though the new cuboxTV model doesn’t have wi-fi, it seems a much better option for people like me, especially since you can use that free xbmc cool remote control app with the smartphone. I’m not gonna get it cos I have the pro which is great but otherwise, I would jump on this new cubox before while it’s still only $100.

  2. This is not a full solution unless it offers a remote and it’s too expensive without one.

    Also, file server? Are you serious? Who sets up a file server/ NAS with nothing but 8GB onboard, however much you can fit on an SD card and some crappy USB-connected drives? Get a NAS and be serious!

  3. Unless they something extraordinary, $100 is a ridiculously expensive for this device.

    1. Compared to Chinese Android boxes maybe. Otherwise it’s a pretty nice solution for XBMC box (x86 HW starts at twice as much) and the support and dev community is a cut above the aforementioned cheap devices.

  4. I will pass on it. I still prefer my dual boot Asus Chromebox for less than twice the price. It has a decent Intel CPU/GPU, 2 GB RAM, Wifi, Ethernet, 4 USB 3.0 ports, and more. It plays back 1080p video flawlessly and has decent linux hardware support.

  5. Will the CuBoxTV be be adequate for 1080p playback? I’m not familiar with the performance of the Freescale i.MX6 quad-core or Vivante GC2000.

    1. Should be enough. A raspberry Pi has a single core 700MHz Arm processor, and a Videocore IV GPU (which handle video processing), and can handle 1080p (x264) pretty well.

      On the Freescale i.MX6, there is a VPU handling video encoding/decoding, I don’t know how it compare to the Videocore IV…

  6. After getting a CuBox-i4Pro, and finding the Linux distribution support and driver support from the devs lacking, I will NEVER buy anything from solidrun again.

    1. In what way? not challenging just curious. I’ve had the impression that the company offers decent support and that development is going along nicely.

  7. Now that Netflix works in Linux using Chrome, is there any way to get it going on OpenElec?

    1. Honestly, it would be easier and more reliable to get a chromecast for netflix, youtube, etc. and use this CuBox just for xbmc and local media.

      There is a chromium addon for openelec but no netflix in chromium

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