Mini computers with Allwinner A10 ARM Cortex-A8 processors have been around for much of the year. They tend to look like USB sticks with just a few ports for connecting a TV, keyboard or mouse, and not much else.
Since they’re generally designed to let you run Android apps on a TV, that might be all you need. But the new Cloud Client mini PC goes a little further and actually offers some of the features you’d expect from a full-fledged computer. It just comes in a smaller, cheaper package.
Norhtec plans to sell the Cloud Client for about $90 per unit. Schools and other institutions that plan to order in bulk may be able to get even lower prices.
The Cloud Client is small enough to hold in one hand. But the device features 4 full-sized USB ports, VGA and HDMI ports, an Ethernet jack, and mic and headphone jacks.
There’s a microUSB port that you can use to connect the device to a PC, a separate power jack, and an SD card slot. There’s also even a space for a lock so that you can secure the little computer to a desk.
Under the hood the device has 8GB of storage and WiFi. Right now it runs Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and incldues access to the Google Play Store for third party apps.
But as an Allwinner A10-based device, it’s likely that you’ll be able to run Ubuntu, Fedora, or other Linux-based operating systems on the Cloud Client.
You can see more videos of the Cloud Client in action at the YouTube channel for Michael Barnes.
This would be much more compelling with an Allwinner A20 or an A31 and more memory.
wow for the extra money you might as well buy a powered hub, a usb ethernet , and a vga/dvi to hdmi cable. there I have already saved you $50 right off the bat. The unit is $20.50 + $13.50 for the hub + $8 for the adapter…
they absolutely skimped on ports. Where’s the esata that’s supported on the SOC? even an old mele a1000 beats this on ports.
when ‘O when ‘O when are these ARM devices going to get X11 H/W accelerated window drawing??? (this is the big hold up to widespread adoption to break out beyond TVs)
Everyone says ‘coming soon’, but in all of 2012 no-one has done this including the ‘cotton candy’ stick folks who announced as last years CES.
Frustrating. My company is ready to buy if… //GH
Should’ve also added a eSATA plug and external antenna’s as minimum.
Still waiting for something with as many different ports as this, but with a quadcore Freescale SoC and 2gb RAM
you ‘d better get the Asus C60M1-I – it has 6xsata and you can put 8G ram
If it is already in the small box form factor, then why not have an external antenna on it? It’s cool and all, but it simply doesn’t add up for me.
I can easily mod the thing, but I’m not paying near 100 dollars for the privilege.
I don’t recall one of these Android devices with a VGA connector. If it just had a better CPU………..
LOL +1 for your profile pic 😀
Is the A10 ARM Cortex-A8 dual core as advertised?
No, it’s a single core CPU. They may have been counting the GPU as a separate core… it’s been known to happen.
I have a MELE2000. I’m not impressed. Still waiting for a linux variant to knock my socks off. Not to mention any names …Puppy. Seriously these days, quad or none.
Where is the link to buy, not listed on Norhtec site…? Also, new videos talk of $89 tablet, any news on that – showed videos with good speed… is that Android?
Why not Android Jelly Bean (as that would be faster)… maybe due to Jelly Bean lacking the USB feature that is needed by many? Note, any user of any Android device, should look at testing out “AirDroid” app from the Market (free) to move files “to and from” PCs and their favorite Android Devices
Anyway… the video of the Cloud Client looks good (and testing videos on youtube channel show this to be an interesting device).
However, one or two comments on hardware offered (or options needed).
Maybe should include option(s) to purchase two things as add-on to this device.
-One, is the wireless keyboard (USB, I suggest Logitec k400 with wireless Touch Keyboard with “touch pad”).
-The other I suggest is a “tested, wireless camera for “living Room or other Video using Skype or Jitsi (when Jitsi becomes Android, that should be soon). Camera should have mount for on top of TV or Monitor.
Extra – The only other thing that no one has done yet, is to PUSH the TV thru the Android device, so that when in-bound Skype or Jitsi call come in, that it auto-pops up in the corner allowing MUTE of TV and take the video call as voice first, then allow turn on of video (for privacy reasons).
Both of these add-on, pre-tested, devices will “round-out” the product offering.
But, killer feature would be if the device makers could make the devices into a Smart TV (with VOIP call filtering, that would be really really interesting). I have posted this concept in other places, no one reacting to it yet.
This looks like the existing “Kaser Net’s PC” others have been selling for a while. I suspect it can be used as a “TV box” though mainly meant as a simple PC alternative, thus the supplied wired keyboard and mouse. Most wireless KB/mouse devices come with a USB receiver dongle anyway.
Not sure these are all that new, and some web stores even list them as discontinued. I’d been interested but with no reviews covering whether the WiFi was as useless as many sticks, how crapped up with bundled Chinese software it arrives, whether there are plans to support a few additional Android releases, any ability to get the OS image to reinstall after hacking around, etc… well I decided to hang back. Last thing I need is another small Android computer that “isn’t quite there.”