VidOn Box XBMC Digital Media Player Preview

There are a lot of options out there for streaming movies these days. Most Blu-ray players that aren’t scraping the bottom of the barrel offer networking functions, which in turn allow users to connect to services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, VUDU, etc. Users can also opt to utilize a device like an Apple TV which not only delivers the aforementioned options, but allows folks to stream locally stored A/V files as well via AirPlay. Last but not least, folks can also opt to build a HTPC, which tends to be a bit costlier than the aforementioned options.

Priced at $49 (including a trial subscription), the VidOn Box is ostensibly a competitor to the $99 Apple TV. However, there’s more to VidOn’s solution than meets the eye. The VidOn Box leverages a custom XBMC implementation running on Android 4.4. For those unfamiliar with XBMC, it is a powerful media player/entertainment hub which can handle the bulk of your A/V needs including music, movies, photos, and TV shows. On the hardware side of the equation, the Box boasts a quad core Cortex A7 processor, 1GB of DDR3 memory, and an octal-core PowerVR GPU. Connectivity includes an HDMI 1.4 jack, dual USB 2.0 ports, optical digital output, an Ethernet port, and WiFi (2.4GHz b/g/n). Also of note, the folks at VidOn also state that the Box utilizes a single-piece aluminum case that comes from the factory which produces Apple’s MacBook Air.

Bird's eye view of the VidOn Box.

OK, so what can the VidOn Box actually do? As you might expect, it can handle a wide variety of formats include M2TS, TS, MP4, MKV, AVI, VOB, H264, MPEG2, MP3, etc. The VidOn Box is capable of delivering full HD content, with 1080p/24 and 3D output supported, along with DTS-HD/Dolby TrueHD passthrough via HDMI. An optical digital output is also available which can output Dolby Digital and DTS. Beyond the basics, the Box XBMC has a few neat perks out of the box. If you have an Android tablet or smartphone, you can mirror content from your mobile device to the VidOn. Also, while a remote is included, users can opt to utilize a remote control app, available for both iOS and Android.

A sample of the VidOn Box's Blu-ray menu navigation (left) and home menu (right).

Now what about the subscription we mentioned earlier? This is the key to VidOn’s claim to fame, a complete Blu-ray menu navigation system. The folks at VidOn tell us they’re working on more services to offer under the subscription as well, though only time will tell what else comes down the pipe and how it affects pricing.

Summary

The big question here is who is the VidOn Box for? We think it’s fair to say that the XBMC Box doesn’t replace all of the potential functionality of a HTPC, which at its core is still a full blown PC. At the same time, we would opine that VidOn’s solution has a leg up over similarly priced competitors like the Apple TV thanks to its use of XBMC. If your only real use for a HTPC is simply to stream content (as opposed to those who might use it for serious gaming as well), the value priced VidOn Box looks to be worth serious consideration. Now the only question is: when can we get our hands on one?

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.