Recently, we met with two Android-top boxes brand Rombica, which It belongs to developing Singapore company. Cheap, but quite functional device with an attractive design – so you can briefly describe these units. It was not long, however, it has emerged a reason to return to the study of development Rombica. In this case it concerns not only increase productivity models and software localization content. And it is much more important than the virtual “parrots”, which is awarded to those or other device in the synthetic tests.
- Complete design
- Preferences, performance
- Play Video
- Nemo TV
- Conclusion
Complete construction
Yes, it’s almost the most Android-top box, which was studied in the above article. For minor changes, which are covered in addition to the name of the device: v002 .
This addition can be seen, only turning the device upside down. In all other cases any difference in the first version is not observed. Note these methods to update the line used by different manufacturers quite often, with early versions of the devices tend to disappear from the market.
The main technical characteristics of the device are shown in the following table, as well as on the page of the product.
| Rombica Smart Box Ultra HD v.2 |
| Processor | 4 core ARM Cortex-A9 2.0 GHz |
| Video | 8 yader ARM Mali-450 MP |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Memory ROM | 8 GB |
| operating system | Android 4.4 |
| Interfaces |
| Video Outputs | - HDMI 1.4 up 3840 × 2160 30 Hz
- analog CVBS
|
| Audio outputs | - HDMI 1.4
- analog stereo
- S / PDIF optical
|
| Network | - Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n
- Ethernet (RJ45) 10/100 Mbit / c
|
| Other | USB 2.0 (3 pcs.), memory card slot microSDHC |
| Data Sources | - Internet
- LAN
- Drives USB
- microSDHC card up 32 GB
|
| Other features |
| User Interface | - multimedia shell Rombica
- standard interface Android
- Media Center KODI
|
| Built-in internet services | Nemo TV, Ivi, Megogo, TVZavr, Youtube, etc. |
| support | - The hardware decoder Ultra HD 4K decoding codec MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV9, VC-1, H.264, H.265
- 3D-video: Side-by-side, Top-to-bottom
|
| Display | No, only mode indicator |
| Power Supply | appearance |
| Cost |
| The average price of Yandex.Market according | T-12649637 |
| Suggestions for data of Yandex.Market | L-12649637-10 |
Preferences, performance
First of all, examine the hardware component of this version of the player. This information will help make a rough impression of the potential of the device.
For more information about the device traditionally provide specialized applications. For example, CPU-Z.
This information is unlikely to pose any practical interest, except for one thing: this information operate many (if not all) applications, providing formation and output of three-dimensional images on the screen. In this regard, we are pleased to state that the console is equipped with a considered a virtual display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080, in contrast to the vast majority of other Android-top boxes, in which a virtual display is 2.25 times lower resolution of 1280 × 720.
way, and network connections similar situation. Mobile Android-powered devices (smartphones, tablets), by definition, can not have the possibility of a wired connection to the network – the corresponding LAN-port controller in smartphones and tablets available. How does the same in this case the system Android? Very simple: a wired connection becomes like a conventional mobile network for a smartphone, while it is possible to connect “more speed” in terms of the system, Wi-Fi. The result is anecdotal situation: the user connecting Android-top box cable, wishes to download Google Play some volume addition to the application, but is rejected because of lack of Wi-Fi connection.
In addition to the standard shell Android in both devices preinstalled proprietary launcher – Rombica. Choosing the right launcher is produced as usual, and this choice is not difficult to change later.
The shell casings Rombica organized like most consumer media players, which are controlled by infrared remote controls. In the setting of consoles can be displayed in the bottom line to scroll through different number of application icons, having carried out the most rapid access to the desired program.
Traditionally, the Android-devices present the results of testing several common test suite. For illustrative purposes, the videos showing the process in some packages.
As you can see, the test Antutu new version of the device showed four thousand more parrots than the previous one, and in the 3D Mark – as much as 500.
Now touch on the sound. This player no changes – set here is equipped with the standard Android software plug that prevents output and DTS multi-channel sound without transcoding stereo PCM. The fact that such a cap exists little doubt. However, if someone is very much want to get multichannel sound, then his service there is always a free shell KODI. This special software to organize HTPC ( H ome T heatre P ersonal C omputer, home multimedia computer) having open source code, allows us to derive a straight line (RAW) audio stream to the receiver (the truth, DTS MA is not reproduced).
Video Playback
To begin with check device’s ability to correctly reproduce the video of the most popular now formats. For this we use our existing treasury of video files and playback results given in a separate plate:
| Format | container, video, sound | | Rombica Smart Box Ultra HD |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720 × 400 2 200 kbit / s, MP3 + AC3 | output normally | output normally |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720 × 400 1 400 kbit / s, MP3 + AC3 | output normally | output normally |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 3000 kbit / s, AC3 | output normally | output normally |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 4000 kbit / s, AC3 | output normally | output normally |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920 × 1080 8000 kbit / s, AC3 | output normally | output normally |
The prefix, as 4K player supports connection to a TV in a variety of standards, from analog 576i to digital 4K with a frequency of 30 Hertz.
In this regard, the question arises about the true resolution that came to our unit on the TV screen (more precisely, the display). Some devices – such as we have already seen – can be deceiving, making the processing of the image in its original size, but the video output giving banal “apskeyl».
Check the true solution, which is able to give the player is very simple. This requires special play video in which there are horizontal and vertical lines having a thickness of one pixel and spaced on the same pixel. While playing such a video player, engaged in fraud, it will be immediately identified – Are stuck line will be the proof of cheating. In the analysis, we will not use video capture device having a size of 4K (such devices is extremely rare and expensive), and 4K-TV. Enough to do during playback test file photo of the TV display.
You can see that there is no geometrical transformation when playing a test video console does not allow – the video is exactly the pixel-to-pixel console broadcasts real 3840 × 2160 pixels. Of course, the same applies to mode Full HD when connected to the panel with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 – no hint of apskeyl and other artifacts of geometric transformation.
If the previous version of the set-top box a little “loose” when connected to the 4K TV , then this v002 lively responds to commands, cursor movement on the screen is not braked, animation effects are processed as they should, without delay and sticking.
Finally, our favorite test, whose results can not be disputed, nor even to question. This omission or duplication of frames, which allowed many playback devices. There are such gaps for several reasons, such as:
- mismatch refresh rate with a frame rate of the video being played
- a lack of hardware resources, network speed or power of the video
In the first case, the players are trying to smooth out the mismatching of frequencies using drop or duplicate frames, making it as evenly as possible to avoid explicit jerking motion picture gate. If the device is not enough resources, these gaps are uneven, ragged. Such omissions are guaranteed to lead to the gate, twitching, depriving the video smoothness.
To check the correctness of the display video files with different frame rates, we usually use a set of test clips with moving one space per frame pointer and a rectangle (see. Methods of testing playback devices and video display). For testing we used a video with a frame size of 1920 × 1080 and different frequencies, from 24 to 60 frames / sec, and the rollers with a frame size of 4K and a frequency of 24 to 60 frames / s.
Considered console connects to 4K TV to the corresponding frame size video playback, and the maximum for the TV refresh rate (60 Hz). Below is a table with pictures of the screen, where you can see the test results and draw conclusions. By the way, at the time the photograph we deliberately appear on the TV data line, which indicates the current mode of operation – the size and frame rate.
Let’s comment on the order. Playing video files with a size of 1920 × 1080 at 60 progressive frames per second console produces flawlessly, correctly making omissions or duplicating frames in case of discrepancy between the frequencies thus maintaining uniformity, and thus smooth. With 4K situation is a little is more complicated – files at up to 30 frames per second are played perfectly well, but with increasing frequency to 50 and those over 60 the player loses its rhythm, making passes for up to 8 frames.
With regard to the possibility of the player to play video encoded in the new format HEVC (H.265), which is likely to replace common today AVC (H.264) – then even we were surprised how easily console has managed to reproduce the video, shot a brand new camera Samsung NX500 . And the parameters of these files is very difficult, even for powerful computer: HEVC 4096 × 2160 30p with a bit rate of 70 Mbit / s (download example, 212 MB).
At the conclusion of this chapter will evaluate the ability of consoles to make surfing the web. Download Web pages from the device to a decent speed, which is unlike the standard is not particularly powerful Android-powered device, usually the “inhibitory” even when rendering simple pages. Embedding an article is reproduced directly on the page without preloading and return to the full screen mode. Just work confidently and scripts, even such seemingly “cunning”, company:
To view the large size original size, press
Pre-application services we have already seen an example Rombica Smart Box Ultra HD, this article is washed away not to repeat, but to draw attention to one of the new application services , Nemo TV.
Nemo TV
This service is in the form of an application will now be pre-set for every Android-console Rombica. Why Nemo TV? This is a paid service that provides access to more than two hundred channels, Amediateke and film library; the cost of various packages can be seen on the official website. Wanted to find out what the user will receive from the service for the money?
Nemo TV can be operated on several different platforms: Smart TV (LG and Samsung), Android-top boxes, smart phones and tablets on the Android / iOS, as well as on the company’s console Nemo Box HD. You can connect to a single account up to five different devices. All connected, but rather linked to the account device, shown in the user’s personal account on the site Nemo TV.
Our some simple experiments have shown that simultaneous viewing of content from the same account is possible only on the two devices. No more. Implemented by the restriction rather gently and softly, you can alternately start watching TV channels or recordings on five different devices attached to your account, and all five units are regularly ordered to show you the content. However, subsequent attempts to change the channel or movie on any device running, the system will display a warning on its screen as follows:
If you click OK here, the other devices were “unnecessary” stop receiving the broadcast. It’s a shame, of course … There was in fact little thought to share access to content with someone from the family, but alas.
Having dealt with the moral and legal part of the service, go to the technical aspects. First, you should know which devices can be installed instances of applications Nemo TV. A list of these devices much: a TV with a Smart (LG and Samsung), smartphones / tablets (Android and iPhone / iPad), and of course Android-top boxes. But there are limitations. With one of them we unfortunately encountered. For TV Samsung UE55D8000, a magnificent example of engineering, released in 2011, it proved to be too old for this service. However, in addition to such television can serve as mentioned proprietary set-top box Nemo Box HD, has all the features Smart TV.
The question “what do you do if the TV does not support Nemo TV, and connect to the service you want? “there is an obvious advice to pay attention to the prefix Nemo Box HD, the acquisition of which gives a 30-day period of free viewing content Nemo TV.
The second question, which must necessarily be brought to the developer: why these applications are so different? These two types of applications: designed for consoles (smartphones, tablets), and installed in the Smart-TV. It turns out, the television version of the application is much more functional than an application for the console. Paradox? He is. Applications are so different that compare their forehead-to-forehead did not get. Instead of comparing the best series take a look at both types of applications, starting with mobile Nemo TV (version for Android).
As you can see, the application provides an opportunity to view more than two hundred television channels, including those that broadcast in HD as well as some live broadcasts from different corners of the Earth. Here you can view the current status of the account – the service will even the number of days remaining until the end of your subscription.
In exactly the same way the application looks and works on your smartphone or tablet:
Working in full-screen mode, Nemo TV provides an opportunity to make some settings:
Binding of the device where the application is installed, by entering the password that will be sent via SMS to the specified mobile phone number. If you wish, you can add the name of your email account user and change the password to log in to your account.
With this concise app that has almost no settings, and manage the child.
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