Home   >   News   >   Popcorn Hour Transformer: Hackable Media Computer / NAS

Popcorn Hour Transformer: Hackable Media Computer / NAS

By on January 8, 2018
Pin It

Cloud Media has spun a new variant of its Popcorn Hour media player that is open source in hardware and software thanks to its mainboard: Pine64’s open source, quad-core Cortex-A53 Rock64 SBC. It’s available in a Media Computer and NAS (network attached storage) version for the same price of $95.90 (2GB LPDDR3/16GB eMMC) or $115.90 (4GB/32GB), not counting SATA storage.

The only difference between the two versions is that the Media Player version is preloaded with stock Android 7.1.2 firmware with RKMC, a Rockchip optimized media center stack forked from Kodi 16.1. Both the Media Player and NAS models let you download other Rockport-supplied Linux and Android distributions from Pine64’s Rock64 repositories. You can also load the lightweight Lakka retro gaming distro, which is built on the RetroArch emulator.

The Popcorn Hour Transformer hardware is a modified version of Pine64’s Rock64 SBC, providing access to all the major ports, and adding a SATA interface and room for a 2.5-inch HDD cooled by passive cooling fins. Cloud Media has also added an IR remote control, an aluminum case, and a 5V3A adapter with US and EU power cables.

Popcorn Hour Transformer specs:

  • SoC – Rockchip RK3328 quad core Cortex A53 processor with Mali-450MP GPU
  • System Memory – 2GB or 4GB LPDDR3
  • Storage
    • micro SD slot
    • 16 or 32GB eMMC flash (removable and upgradeable)
    • 128 Mbit SPI NOR flash
    • SATA interface via USB 3.0 to SATA bridge chipset for 2.5″ HDD/SSD
  • Network Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet
  • Video Output – HDMI 2.0a up to 4K 60Hz with HDR (HDR10/HLG) support
  • Audio Output – Via HDMI, and 3.5mm audio jack (analog stereo or optical S/PDIF)
  • USB – 2x USB 2.0 type A ports including one OTG port
  • Misc – Power button, IR receiver, RTC
  • Power Supply – 5V/3A via power barrel jack
  • Dimensions & weight – TBD (aluminum casing with passive cooling fins)

OpenStore

About Luca Ruggeri

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *