It’s been a while since we’ve seen something interesting in the Android TV box space so I’m pretty excited about the Himedia V3C.
This interesting new device aims to fuse an Android TV Box with smart speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot (link) for an all-in-one home entertainment solution.
It’s capable of 4K video playback at up to 60fps, with HDR support. The most common codecs are supported including H.265, H.264 MPEG-1/2/4 and VC-1.
There’s some respectable pedigree in the audio department too. Dual 7.5W Harmon Kardon speakers and a 15W subwoofer handles sound that the company claims offers an “immersive, room filling experience”.
The virtual assistant varies by region. Tencent’s XIAOWEI powers the Chinese version whilst international models get Amazon Alexa. Based on materials I’ve seen, you can ask to watch a movie and it’ll start playing on your TV. I’m also assuming it’ll have access to Alexa’s full set of skills for home automation, pizza delivery and more though nothing is confirmed.
You’ll interact with the assistant using the dual far field microphones. They boast a 5m range – enough to cover all but the largest rooms.
There’s also a 2MP Sony 1080p camera which can be used for video conferencing or security monitoring for an all-in-one setup. You can even use the included Bluetooth remote for Kareoke!
In terms of specs, it’s running Android 7.0 and has 2GB of DDR4 RAM, 8GB of storage, wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.2, and Ethernet. Video connectivity is handled via HDMI and an optical audio port is available for those who need it. No word on the actual chipset used at this stage.
The HiMedia V3C is definitely shaping up to be an interesting all-in-one device and I’ll hopefully get my hands on one in the coming months to put it through its paces.
