Over the past few years we’ve seen a bunch of Android-powered boxes designed to let you run apps on your TV. More recently we’ve seen some mini PCs with Windows software, most of which have Intel Atom Bay Trail processors and Windows 8.1 with Bing software.
Now Chinese device maker Tronsmart is ready to launch something new: a Windows 10 TV box with an Intel Atom x5 Cherry Trail processor.
Geekbuying reports the Tronsmart Ara X5 should be available in August.
The box is basically a small desktop Windows computer that’s designed to fit comfortably in your living room, allowing you to run Windows apps on a TV.
The system features an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 Cherry Trail processor. It’s a low-power 14nm, 64-bit quad-core chip with Intel HD graphics. The processor should offer better performance than a Bay Trail chip, but it still uses just a few watts of power and doesn’t generate a lot of heat. That allows Tronsmart to use passive cooling: there’s no fan in the case.
Other features include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, dual-band WiFi, and Windows 10 Home software. The box also features Ethernet, HDMI, headset, microSD, two USB 2.0 ports and a USB 3.0 port.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet.
Only problem with this product is Windows 10. Windows Media Center is not included. You will have to wipe it and installed Windows 7 or Windows 8 for DVR/Cable Card support. Media Portal does DVR but I don’t know if it will even support capture cards with SAT TV.
I guess for those of you only interested in streaming, maybe OTA TV then this will work fine with Kodi.
Hopefully around the $100 mark.
I’m guessing ~$180…
Yep no doubt tronsmart will be taxing, just wait for PIPO to release their cherry trail wintel pc and itll be around the $100 mark hopefully like the X7 was
It is impossible to make it $100,if you consider the official windows 10 license. as far as i know, at first pipo use the tablet windows 8.1 with bing free license in their mini pc, so the price can be lower, but microsoft block that , and if you want a LEGAL windows mini pc, the license is at least 30usd including tax.
That sounds like the sweet spot right there 125-130 dollars.