Adding to the ever-growing list of Android-powered dev boards for modders is the new Cubieboard.
This device is similar to the Hackberry and Gooseberry, albeit with a cheaper $49 price point. The Cubieboard is powered by the versatile and ubiquitous Allwinner A10 ARM-Cortex A8 processor we’ve all become familiar with over the past few months.
It also boasts Mali 400 graphics, 1 GB of RAM, and dual SD card slots for extra storage. At $49, Cubieboard it is the cheapest Allwinner A10 board around. However, and this may be a big however for some, Cubieboard lacks onboard storage, as well as WiFi or Bluetooth.
I suppose it’s safe to say that Cubieboard is probably one of the barest of the bare-bones Android-powered devices out there.
Nevertheless, the board features dual USB host ports, a single USB OTG port, an IR sensor, Ethernet, along with an HDMI output for connecting to a display. Industrious types who want to add more functionality will be glad to hear the device is loaded with 96 expansion pins for lvds, SATA and other add-ons. Of course, you’ll have to break out the soldering gun and do the work yourself.
The device should support Android 2.3 and Android 4.0, as well as various Linux flavors. The Cubiboard certainly won’t drive a powerhouse machine by any stretch of the imagination, but it should still be capable of handling full HD resolution video playback using H.264 and MP4 files.
