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Google is allegedly about to release the ADT-4 hybrid developer kit for Android TV based on Amlogic S905X4 processor with AV1 video support, as well as ATSC 3.0 and DVB-S2 tuners.
Launched in January 2020, the Google ADT-3 developer box allows developers to test their app on the latest version of the Android TV OS as soon as it is released. But 9to5Google reports the devkit has been out of stock for several months, will be deprecated, and they’ve read some documentation about an ADT-4 Hybrid Developer Kit that should replace it by the end of the year or early next year with digital TV tuners.
The documentation is private/confidential, but 9to5Google says the device looks to the DroidLogic’s Amlogic S905X4 Developer Box with the following specifications:
The specifications from the DroidLogic’s developer box changes a bit since we first wrote about it in 2020, with a higher capacity flash (16GB vs 8GB), the addition of a MicroSD card socket and microphone switch, and a slightly different port arrangement, but otherwise, it’s pretty similar. One of our readers and Android TV box developer Stane1983 had a pretty poor experience with the company when he purchased the kit a while ago, but this should probably not be relevant anymore if Google makes it an official Android TV devkit.
That’s still just a rumor, but credence can be given to the leak as 9to5Google notes there’s an “adt4” board in the source code for Android TV and uboot source code init for ADT4 with more references to the S905X4 processor. You should not expect a massive gain of performance switching from the Google ADT-3 with Amlogic S905Y2 quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU to the Google ADT-4, but the main benefits will be support for 4K AV1 video decoding, smart audio features with the built-in microphone and speaker, and of course the additional digital TV tuners.
DroidLogic sells two versions of the Amlogic S905X4 developer kit, one with a DVB-S2 + ATSC 3.0 tuner combo, and another with a DVB-S2 + DVB-T2/C tuner combo, and it’s not unclear whether Google ADT-4 will be offered in two versions as well to cater to different markets. DroidLogic sells it for $199, but I’d expect the Google ADT-4 to be priced lower. Considering the similar Mecool KT1 with S905X4 and a DVB-T2 tuner is currently selling for $79.99, and the earlier $79 price tag for the ADT-3, the Google ADT-4 hybrid developer kit could go for $129 to $149.
Thanks to TLS for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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