The current platform is based on a Linux kernel with Android (on Linux) and OpenWrt on top. OpenElec/FreeElec and that Linux kernel must be very close. So a smart person(s) must be able to do this. But why doing so? Is it to run KODI on it? If that is the thought then it is probably smarter to make KODI working straight on the existing Kernel. This way any HW specifics are taken away from the OS/KODI which eases support and portability between different media player SOC's. All advantages for KODI running on a mean and lean OS will be identical combined with the advantage of optimal HW deployment/support as all specific drivers will be handled by the SDK based kernel (provided by the SOC manufacturer). Comments and (other) views are very welcome.
As you know, the Zidoo streamer runs on Android, and Android system has a lots of services that are part of the system, but some of them are not required by the streamer sw, especially not for Kodi. I'm sure that Zidoo engineers try to do their best in order to optimize the system, but because of so many features that they have to support, and the OS overhead, the applications are not always running as smooth as it expected. The advantage of Openelec is that it is clean Linux system, running only necessary drivers and codecs for Kodi and small number of dedicated apps, which makes it run much more smoothly and boot fast. I'm not sure if it is possible to separate existing kernel from the Android system. In any case you need to rewrite the Kodi sw, because the Linux native language is C(++). Another possibility is to take off the low level drivers and use them for Openelec, but i'm not a kernel specialist. Recently appeared new port of Openelec for Wetek Core tv box, which is built on S812 SoC, so i believe that it is possible for our box ether, and i would be glad if someone which has a knowledge in the field would help me to build it.
