A small company called Equiso aims to enter the Android-powered Smart TV/mini PC segment with a tiny, yet very cool device. Equiso is running a Kickstarter campaign to raise a minimum of $100,000 so it could produce and distribute a device called the Equiso Smart TV.
Pledging $69 will get you a tiny device that looks much like a normal USB flash drive. Under the hood, however, the plastic chassis hides a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A5 processor, Mali 400 graphics, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. The gadget runs on Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and includes access to Google Play for apps, movies, and music.
The Equiso Smart TV sports 802.11n Wi-Fi, a USB port for peripherals and accessories, as well as an HDMI port for plugging in a TV or monitor. There already is another device with similar specs - The CX-01, which costs $53. Equiso, however, plans to offer a few value-added features with its gadget, not just stick its name on a Chinese product and try to sell it in the States.
"Equiso puts the Power of an Android tablet on your TV. Combined with our interactive remote, Equiso will truly refine your TV experience," reads the description on Kickstarter. "Watch stunning 1080p HD content from Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube and many more! Send emails, update your facebook status, play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja like never before. Download new apps, create and display a powerpoint, listen to music, read books, and play most all those interactive games you love so much on your phone or tablet."
One of the things that make the Equiso Smart TV stand out of the crowd and distinguish itself from similar offerings such as the MK802 is that Equiso will throw in a wireless keyboard with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and QWERTY keyboard for a $69 pledge. Also, if the company's Kickstarter campaign generates more funds than originally sought, Equiso may enhance the gadget's specifications to offer 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, and 16GB of storage.
The company hopes to begin shipping the Equiso Smart TV in August, with free shipping for the United States and $15 shipping overseas. It is not certain at this point how much the device will cost after Equiso's Kickstarter campaign ends. Overall, the gadget seems like a cool product for the introductory price range. For more details on the project or to help the fund-raising visit the product's Kickstarter page. The minimum pledge is $1.
