Which device is right for us?

[spinegar]

At my work we have a lcd tv mounted on the wall that has a linux laptop connected to it running a slideshow. We are looking for  a cheaper and smaller solution than the laptop. All we need the device to do is hook up to the tv (VGA connection) and display a webpage via chrome or FF. This webpage will be replacing our slideshow. Im not sure if all plug computing devices have a gui on them which is why im posting here. What options do I have to display a website full screen on the tv?

[birdman]

More expensive than Plugs, but:

http://trimslice.com/web/

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/

[hanker]

Take a look at the Raspberry Pi:

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

"An ARM Linux box for $25"

It has HDMI video out.

I, for one, can't wait

[spinegar]

Are you guys suggesting no Plug will work for what I'm trying to accomplish?

[guidol]

Are you guys suggesting no Plug will work for what I'm trying to accomplish?

You could use a OpenRD from GlobalScale which has a VGA-Connector:
http://www.newit.co.uk/shop/products.php?cat=9

or with "only" a HDMI-Connector (could there be an adapter to VGA?) you could use a
Genesi EFIKA MX Smarttop:
http://www.newit.co.uk/shop/products.php?cat=22

Another solution would be a normal Sheeva- or Dreamplug with the "right" USB-VGA-GFX-Card - that will work like a OpenRD.

You could also buy a Android-TV-Box (for HDMI) or trying to get a BeagleBoard with Linux or any WebTV-Box with Browser....

[vleek]

Why don't you look at http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/features.html ?
OpenRD is outdated product, and almost no one has it in stock. You have a big chance to stuck with 10-15 weeks of waiting (factory lead time).
You may get D2Plug or GuruPlug Display faster.
Other non-Sheeva option is a BeagleBoard (plain or -xM). It costs ~$150, has DVI via HDMI (no HDCP) and available in stock from many suppliers (like Digi-Key)

[twordtuzz]

Why don't you look at http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/features.html ?
OpenRD is outdated product, and almost no one has it in stock. You have a big chance to stuck with 10-15 weeks of waiting (factory lead time).
You may get D2Plug or GuruPlug Display faster.
Other non-Sheeva option is a BeagleBoard (plain or -xM). It costs ~$150, has DVI via HDMI (no HDCP) and available in stock from many suppliers (like Digi-Key)

this is the good choice

[vleek]

Update: BBxM now even cheaper ~$125. I didn't have a chance to compare the picture quality side-by-side, but D2Plug player output leaves a great deal to be desired. Looks like they use low quality rescaling filters. The low picture update speed makes me feel Marvell's s/w team do not use h/w acceleration or do not tune up video drivers well enough. The s/w version marked as 0.4, meaning it's still under construction.

[mentor]

I use D2Plug play vedio , it look like smoothly , I play H264 format vedio, I not see any problem here

[vleek]

What resolution did you try? I tried to compare SD documentary playback (low and medium bitrate), compared Philips DVD/DivX player, Patriot and WD media players - the output is smooth. The output of D2Plug is blocky. Should I tinker with settings? Any hint?

[mentor]

I hve try 1080P resolution

but I think something need to be clarify

1.as I remember ,I have discuss about this at another thread , I think need to make sure , you used latest rootfs,kernel form this (http://www.plugcomputer.org/downloads/d2plug/index.html)download page

2.there are too many vedio format at world , I didn't try too many format , so maybe you  used fomat , I not give a try

3. if you put vedio source at SD card , as I know SD card has class 6 and class 10 , used class 10 will be better

4. your blocky mean is ... , I mean this is sometimes, very often or hard to see it ?

[vleek]

1. I am using D2Plug in original form (as shipped). I only installed WiFi/BlueTooth package, SSH, and some other applications. Since I got D2Plug at the same time as www.plugcomputer.org/downloads/d2plug/ posted image files and source, I believe it's the same as built-in. I did not try to reinstall rootfs/kernel (waiting for something newer than 0.4 version)

2. It was old plain 640x480 DivX or XviD, MPEG4 Simple Profile. I performed side-by-side comparison between D2Plug and several others media players. I did not say playback was not smooth in time, it was blocky and coarse even for static frame. Since D2Plug's player have to upscale 640x480 to 1920x1080, it did it not good enough. I will try repeat this test on more video samples, but first impression was bad, and I lost an interest in using D2Plug as media player (in current state).

3. I put media files to USB drive. SD card class is important only for very high-bitrate video (>24Mbps), which is obviously not the case. Static picture view should not be affected by read/decoding speed.

4. Blocky means the block structure of DCT-encoded frame is visible (16x16 or 8x8 pixels). The edges of blocks are sharp and visible. It may happen during encoding (when target bitrate is too low), but in that case all players should display the same result (unless they perform extra de-blocking filtering, which is actually part of AVC, or MPEG4 High Profile, but definitely not DivX/XviD). Blocks also may appear when decoder's IDCT is not accurate. A lot of artifacts may appear when upscaling is using very simple filters. In case of original video 1920x1080 upscaling is not performed.

I am waiting for s/w update/upgrade, and will repeat my tests (will try to make snapshots).

[mentor]

BTW, do you used totem to play vedio ,toem has pre-install at rootfs , others player maybe not get VPU/GPU accelerate

[mentor]

if used totem still bad, could you share your test vedio clip for me