For a $100 with no shipping cost you can get something with an A9.
http://dx.com/p/google-android-4-0-hdmi-tv-box-w-4gb-wifi-rj...
I tried peordering just after I got the email but they were already out of stock supposedly.
But since you can buy 7" resistive tablets for <$70 inc shipping from all the online chinese stores this shouldn't be too difficult to bring in a screen and battery-less device at this price.
There are a lot of TV shows being watched on iPads because hooking up the big screen TV to a computer is too much effort / inconvenient for 'normal' people.
The product was a commercial failure. Logitech discontinued it last year. It's still available in some stores and online but once the stock is gone, it's gone.
Also it's still not $99, it's going for $150 new http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Companion-Google-Keyboard-Con...
Is there something about Android 4.0 that makes it difficult to work with from a hardware perspective?
I am curious about the user experience of this product. I am excited to see such a cheap PC, I have never been impressed by the usage of mouse/keyboard as inputs for Android. Android-x86 was a pain to use, and not only because it was buggy.
Every component on this thing is bargain basement, so you use whatever driver the maker of the SoC core supplied. They are also bargain basement so have used whatever driver the GPU maker supplied.
So you are really using components that were 'new' a couple of years ago. The makers of this would have to put considerable time/money into making 4.0 drivers for components that are supplied through a chain of subcontractors none of who have the technical ability to help.
It is one of the big ironies of opensource Android that in a way it's a lot less open than a regular PC.
I've never really seen a clear answer. Whatever the Cyanogen Mod team is up to, it must be damned tricky.
* Google TV/Android 3.0 instead of Android 2.3
* Access to Google Play market, which this doesn't have
* 802.11b/g/n wifi, which this doesn't have
* A really nice wireless keyboard+touchpad controller
* Essentially identical power profile
* Logitech Harmony software built in; it can control just about every TV, receiver, DVD player, etc. in existence
There you go.
Based on the description, I don't think it comes with a case:
"APC integrates memory, storage, and a full set of consumer I/O features in a small footprint Neo-ITX motherboard that can be connected to a TV or monitor."
"APC includes the system (with O/S) and a 13.5W, 9V/1.5A power adaptor. Case is not included."
I'm confused by this. Is it a "VIA processor" or an ARM processor, made by VIA? I hope they didn't change the CPU mid-way with one of their own.
Edit: In their PR they say it's a "VIA WonderMedia ARM 11 SoC".
This entire machine is made by VIA who also make the CPU. VIA are more famous for making low power x86 clones but that's nothing to do with this.
APC, paired with a small touchscreen would be very useful in many situations.
[1] consumes 4 watts when operating at idle power and 13.5 watts at maximum load.
Come on guys, get serious.
