The VIA ARM Digital Signage System looks like a small computer… and basically it is. But it’s designed to run Google Android or other embedded operating systems, and as the name suggests, VIA is positioning the little PC as a digital signage system for use in retail, education, entertainment, kiosks, or similar environments.
VIA’s latest little computer measures 7.1″ x 4.7″ x 1″ and features an ARM Cortex-A9 procesosr.
The VIA ARM DS System also includes a DVI port, optional HDMI port, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and Ethernet and audio jacks. It can handle 1080p HD video playback, and supports up to 2GB of memory and 64GB of flash storage.
There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but I suspect the little computer will cost considerably more than the $49 VIA APC, which is basically a tiny computer system board with an ARM11 processor, 512MB of memory, 2GB of storage, and not much else.
But while the VIA APC is aimed at hobbyists, the ARM DS system might actually be more fun to mess around with thanks to the faster processor and additional ports. With 1080p video support, it could make a halfway decent home theater PC… for the right price.
