New $74 Android mini PC is slightly larger than a thumb drive

[garyopa]

The AllWinner A10 Android 4.0 mini PC



Chinese retailers have started selling this little Linux box, which packs a 1.5GHz ARM CPU and 512MB of RAM!

This one surely looks nice.

The small computer has an AllWinner A10 single-core 1.5GHz ARM CPU, a Mali 400 GPU, and 512MB of RAM.

And... Chinese retailers have started selling it!

An HDMI port on the exterior allows users to plug the computer into a television. It outputs at 1080p and is said to be capable of playing high-definition video.

The device also has a full-sized USB port with host support for input devices, a conventional micro-USB port, a microSD slot, and an internal 802.11 b/g WiFi antenna. The computer can boot from a microSD card and is capable of running Android 4.0 and other ARM-compatible Linux platforms

This one is housed in a 3.5-inch plastic case slightly larger than a USB thumb drive.

Individual units are available online for $74.

Just like the recently launched $35 Raspberry Pi, this small and inexpensive Linux system could be a pretty good deal too!

Check out the "Ali Express" store below for more info.

NEWS SOURCE #1: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/...a-thumb-drive/
NEWS SOURCE #2: http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm...olesalers.html

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news story!

[DEDDOA]

Things like this make the future of TV media centres look very rosey indeed. To think only a couple of years ago I would have needed a mini PC or XBMC xbox, now it's all doable with somthing like this or the Pi. Ok it may not be some super computer, but things like this with real world use impress me more. It's like comparing my little C-50 betbook to my gaming rig in my sig, I am well happy with my gaming PC, but i am more inmpressed with my net book (ok I have E450 HP netbook now as well, but the C-50 one is the one that impresses me the most). I know if i got one of these, like my C-50 netbook, i wouldn't feel that nagging feeling of maybe I wasted my money like I did for my gaming PC and E450 netbook (I'm glad I got them, but I still had that nagging feeling a bit after, the old "did I really need to buy them", had none of that with the C50 netbook as it gave me more than I expected, just like I know one of these and the Pi would).

[IJTF_Cinder]

Compared to the Pi, this thing sucks...at least from the standpoint of using it as some media center. There is no Ethernet port, and the wireless is only G...in such a small form factor, that G signal capability will suck for media streaming, big time.

[wewii]

This is kind of pointless if you have a tablet or smartphone.

[DEDDOA]

This is kind of pointless if you have a tablet or smartphone.

I can see your point if you have got a spare phone or tablet, but otherwise thigs like this make a cheap alternative. For instance if you were to use somthing like this or the Pi as a media centre, you wouldn't need to leave your tablet or phone connected to the TV. Whats more if your phone or tablet happens to be an Apple device then you are going to have a fair few estrictions on what you can and can't play, personally I welcome the idea of being able to run a Linux setup dedicated to media playback that can be hidden out of site and take up no extra room. I know many TV's have media playback these days as well but that to is very codec restrcitive, as are the mini media boxes, somthing like this could be all the home pc many would need, web browsing, media playback, e-mail and maybe somthing like Skype, and many people I know would be as happy as a pig in ****. Grab a powerd USB hub and these should be great little home PC's.