It is not a secret that era HTTP - special home-based computers to all the familiar architecture x86, sharpened for use as a home entertainment center - almost came to an end. Serious Games on HTPC, as a rule, do not feel very well because of the relatively weak graphics card, but with casual - as with playing the vast majority of modern formats of video and sound - excellent job modern ARM-platform operating system Android. Their list has expanded another: Thorn smart Draco AW80 Meta.
The novelty does not seek to put the record in the size and mimic USB-stick, but with a standard HTPC it does not compare. It is very similar to the one described previously Zero Devices Z8C Alice. Nevertheless, it's pretty serious decision, equipped with eight cores All winner A80 with four core Cortex-A15 and Cortex-A7 four and quite powerful by the standards of mobile systems, graphics core Power G6230. Heterogeneous mode is supported and the processor cores can run simultaneously.
There are solutions, and more powerful, but even the A80 can play video formats H.265 / VP9 1080p, as well as H.264 / VP8 in resolutions up to 4K inclusive. Fellow member of the shop this model features the possibility of some models of 4GB of RAM (which is strange for a 32-bit processor, which, however, is able to address and 8 GB), as well as a full-fledged connector for connecting external hard drives with interface SATA. Served even food.
The internal drive has a capacity of 32 GB, which is good, and, in our view, navigate in this case it is better on older model. Convenient and a slot for memory cards full-size SDHC / SDXC. The cost of this version is $ 200. Quite a lot, but still cheaper than almost any HTCP architecture-based x86, which has similar capabilities. The model is cheaper, worth $ 150 and has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal flash storage, but otherwise it is similar to the older. From wireless interfaces are present 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0, and come preloaded with consoles Thorn smart OS Android 4.4 Kit Kat and media center XBMC. An additional advantage is a neat aluminum body, which not only looks more strictly its cheap plastic counterparts, but also helps to cool the system.