ME: XIOS DS Media Player $87.5 (Android ICS - Linux-XBMC)

[aasoror]

Updated 05/23

PM NCIX $90 at ME for $87.50

The XIOS DS can be bought for:

ME $100
NCIX $90
Canada Computers $96
NewEgg $120
Future Shop $125 (shipped)
Best Buy $125 (shipped)









XBMC updates





Android ICS updates



Nightly Builds:
XBMC-Android
XBMC-Linux-M1
XBMC-Linux-M3

[aasoror]

Got the retail version yesterday, just finished unboxing (and photo session)
will post here.

DVD used to get an idea about the size of every thing in comparison.

The retail box ..


No quick start leaflet included, quick start guide printed on the inner box.


Package contents, and the 5V/2A adapter.


The XIOS (3xUSB, LAN, mSD slot, power button, firmware recovery/upgrade hole, and the ONLY output is HDMI).


XIOS .. the ICS update ..

For those interested, ICS is already out.

The good ..

• Once ICS is installed there was no issue running MKVs up to 1080p/11GB (over wired network).
• After that size (will get quote media info of the files that did play in the morning), things gets pretty unstable. The majority of my rips past that size are ISOs which isn't supported any way.
• YT HD is running without any issue, Flash HD is running fine in Dolphin browser (stick the preloaded 10.2).
• Wireless keyboard/mouse combo works fine with the box, but there is no way to turn the box off without the original IR remote (even the motion remote doesn't have a power button) unless you reach for power button the box itself.
• ICS comes with the latest Google Play store, app visibility is on bar with all other android devices I have owned.
• Experiance is as rich as you expect from any ICS based device, Plex works mighty fine additionally there is reports about limited support for webcams and USB microphones.

The bad ..

• Couple of inconveniences, video playback apps doesn't seem to respect scaling settings, you wouldn't notice this issue if you have a display with no over/under scanning, in which cases you can use a "screen size" setting to adjust the output to your screen size, that said, once video app loads it will automatically revert to the original scale.
• Another minor is windowed playback (YT or flash in YT app or web browser), once the video starts, it automatically revert to full screen then "crops" (not minimizes) back to window size, if you would then click on the full screen button at any time you would get proper image.
• There is currently no multichannel audio passthrough support (DTS/DD and their HD versions are stereo downmixed).
• Some reported issues with the ICS NF app (pausing for buffering after 5 minutes of playback).

So its a better device all around, but what can the AIOS do that the XIOS can't do ?..
In a nut shell ?
- Not enough power to process high bitrate MKVs (over the network XIOS panic at > 13 mbps while AIOS panic at > 25mbps)
- No ISO playback support (Android thing).
- No BDMV playback support (Android thing).
- No DTS/DD/DTS-MA/DD-TrueHD passthrough/bitstreaming (Android kernel thing).

If you have further questions or test materials let me know,

For those running the GB firmware and complaining about long strart ups, just move as many apps as you can from main storage to external storage.

Set up ..

• Playback done over wired network.
• Accessed SMB shares are mapped using the included CIFS manager.
• All playback attempts were done using the moboplayer app.

Sample video details of the 1080p rips that worked ..

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 26mn
Bit rate                         : 9 205 Kbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 800 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 17mn
Bit rate                         : 13.3 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 1 080 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Muxing mode                      : Header stripping
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 42mn
Bit rate                         : 14.0 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 798 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Format settings, GOP             : M=4, N=48
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 57mn
Bit rate                         : 9 169 Kbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 816 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 54mn
Bit rate                         : 8 020 Kbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 816 pixels

MKVs that didn't work smoothly (some would require repeated buffering, others would cut and skip randomly)

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 34mn
Bit rate                         : 8 849 Kbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 800 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Muxing mode                      : Header stripping
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 11mn
Bit rate                         : 15.8 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 816 pixels

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 27mn
Bit rate                         : 20.8 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 800 pixels

[bman77]

Hopefully this means big aios drops in price!

edit: the bd link say "no such product available" for me

[shuffle]

Please do let us know what you think - review of this unit are hard to find.

Specifically, I want to know how it handles big high-res media (1080p with high frame rates / low compression).

Thanks!

[aasoror]

Hopefully this means big aios drops in price!

edit: the bd link say "no such product available" for me

wow, that was fast ...
The XIOS isn't meant to be a replacement for the AIOS but rather an answer for the same question but in a different context .. so I don't see drastic price slashes coming soon (as they are already paced properly price wise).

[webdriver]

AppleTV clone

why not use G-Lan port? Fail on me

[Mcklain]

Anyone know if it supports Dolby True-HD /DTS Master?

[aasoror]

AppleTV clone

Android ... !!

Anyone know if it supports Dolby True-HD /DTS Master?

It downmixes both fine, should be able to confirm bit streaming later today.

[Mcklain]

Android ... !!


It downmixes both fine, should be able to confirm bit streaming later today.

You mean its a passtrough so that my amp can decode it?

[aasoror]

You mean its a passtrough so that my amp can decode it?

Yup, I have confirmed stereo downmixing but haven't confirmed passthrough yet.
I have added the unboxing photos.

[WontonNoodle]

can't wait to see how it compares to aios and pbo, thanks!

[BB88]

The Android on a stick is more attractive

[aasoror]

The Android on a stick is more attractive

Unless you are particularly interested in that form factor, lack of LAN port is a deal breaker for many, wifi G (on some of the linked models), not to mention that if you factor in the money for a remote, USB hub and local warranty and support price wont be as attractive as it sounds initially. Additionally, since every link is a pre-order link no one here knows how these sticks lives up to their specs (especially related to the GPU vs. the Mali400)

[sbermunk]

I'd really like to know how good the apps support is. Full access to the android store? Does the Netflix app work properly for instance?

[wilsonlam97]

lol I use my phone as a media player. It plays literally anything off the network/local drive.

I can vouch for the Mali 400's power. It can decode almost anything in my experience.

I evened play GTA 3 on my HDTV off my phone and synced it with a PS3 controller. Some lag was there though