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TEST REPORT on the Internet
30
TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine
— 02-03/2012
— www.TELE-satellite.com
Download this report in
English
www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1203/
eng
/azbox.pdf
Linux HD Receiver
What‘s the difference be-
tween a super receiver and
a normal receiver?
If it‘s a Linux receiver
you‘re talking about, then
the answer is clear: it‘s
when it can boot in more
than just one Linux image.
For the Linux operating sys-
tem there are a number
of very sophisticated user
interfaces that each have
there own special highlights.
TELE-satellite has already
reported on Linux receivers
that can boot in two differ-
ent images. But the brand
new AZBox ME can actu-
ally start with three differ-
ent images and that for us
makes it a super receiver.
Naturally the AZBox ME can
do a lot more than just start
with three different user in-
terfaces.
This surprising receiver
makes quite an impression.
The housing is made of black
metal while the front visor is
a mix of brushed aluminum
and a black acrylic visor be-
hind which can be found a
VFD display. The shape of
the receiver is easy to de-
scribe: it is perfectly square
all around (25cm x 24 cm x
4 cm).
The simple design of
the receiver was also car-
ried over to the front visor
which is just as minimalistic
in design. You can only see
a single button surrounded
by an LED ring the color of
which indicates the opera-
tional status of the receiv-
er, as well as a VFD display
that can show alphanumeric
characters in blue and a USB
port.
It was nice to see that the
AXBox designers installed
the USB port in the proper
orientation so that a USB
stick won‘t face down when
it‘s inserted. It‘s a minor
detail but, nevertheless,
we can‘t quite understand
why some manufacturers
don‘t install the USB port
the proper way. A stylish
„Z“ made out of brushed
aluminum, the logo of the
AZBox family, rounds out
the front panel of the re-
ceiver. We appreciated the
simple design; it doesn‘t al-
ways have to be a complex
geometric shape. Some-
times less is more. Since
the housing isn‘t coated in
a glossy paint, you can han-
dle the receiver as much as
you want without having to
worry about getting finger-
prints on the surface. It was
at this point that a question
came to mind: shouldn‘t this
receiver have a card read-
er? We checked the back
of the box and didn‘t find
one there. Only when we
looked at the right side did
we find a slit in the housing.
Yep, that must be it. The
card reader supports Conax
SmartCards. If you want to
use this card reader, keep
in mind that the SmartCard
will stick out about 2cm so
you have to make sure there
is enough room on the side
of the receiver.