Rockbox Development > New Ports
Rockbox Player - Project to design and build a Free/Open hardware audio player
casainho:
--- Quote from: 00christian00 on March 30, 2008, 07:49:16 AM ---Hi Guys,
my name is Christian and I came here while looking for some skilled engineer to work on google android.
I work for a small company,PASEN,distributing mp3 players and i must say we are really interested in producing your players.It's long time we wanted to build an open source player,but being relatively small we can't invest much on it,and thus we are glad to hear of your project.May I know what is the current status?I read many pages and it seem the april deadline for the working prototype won't be met,am i wrong?
--- End quote ---
Hello Christian :-)
Right now, I think I am the only one working on the project, actively, on the RockboxPlayerPrototype: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/RockboxPlayerPrototype
Unfortunately, I am not experienced programmer so I think I will take about 6 months to have an working prototype. A working prototype can happen in 3 or less weeks If a experienced programmer work on It, because there is full documentation and some pieces of Free Software to use directly.
--- Quote from: 00christian00 on March 30, 2008, 07:49:16 AM ---We can deal on more than some simple bucks off each sale,i was thinking of actually sharing profits.
I think I can arrange also the production at much lower cost,but i must first ask my friends running factories in china if they are interested in joining the project.
--- End quote ---
This project is an Free/Open hardware without exclusivity with any company - see the CC license for the documentation of the hardware.
Speaking for myself, I just need/want, to have some company that sells to me that Free/Open hardware audio player and recorder. I do not seek money, however, I think is important to have some money to buy hardware for development - would be nice if the company selling the hardware could give some hardware for development.
Thank you.
---
Here is the webpage of Pasen (for who would like to know): http://www.pasen.it/
00christian00:
Hi Casainho,
thanks for your answer.I didn't post our company website,to not look like a spammer.
Mmmh,6 month,quite a change from the first timeline  ;D
It's strange such a project is getting so little interest.
--- Quote ---This project is an Free/Open hardware without exclusivity with any company - see the CC license for the documentation of the hardware.
Speaking for myself, I just need/want, to have some company that sells to me that Free/Open hardware audio player and recorder. I do not seek money, however, I think is important to have some money to buy hardware for development - would be nice if the company selling the hardware could give some hardware for development.
--- End quote ---
Well if the price of the board is what i read (100/300 usd) i think it wouldn't be a problem to invest on some development board if there are skilled developer willing to join.
But if we were to invest on it,at least the spec should be good even from a business point of view(for example that screen is ugly as hell  ;) )and it's ok that the hardware must be open/free to any company but there should be at least some blank period to let us be the first producing it,after that you can disclose everything.
Best,
Christian
Bagder:
I would be a lot more interested in this project if there's a real chance of someone actually producing the player in the end, and of course that the specs are fine. So far this project has been about Build Your Own and that simply doesn't do it for me.
I too think a player needs a color display of at least 220 x 176 to have a chance to attract users these days.
Possibly I'm not the only one feeling this way (regarding both these points).
AlexP:
--- Quote from: Bagder on March 31, 2008, 02:21:43 PM ---Possibly I'm not the only one feeling this way (regarding both these points).
--- End quote ---
You certainly aren't the only one. Furthermore, I feel that some of the hardware choices are illogical, and that attempts to try to give input on that point have been summarily rebuffed. I would love to have an open hardware player, but it has to approach what can be bought commercially, and personally I feel that at this point, what is proposed here doesn't.
casainho:
--- Quote from: 00christian00 on March 31, 2008, 01:28:04 PM ---It's strange such a project is getting so little interest.
--- End quote ---
Well, other people from outside Rockbox firmware had more interest on the idea of Free/Open hardware audio player and recorder for use with a Free/Open firmware(in this case, the Rockbox). The others 2 companies that I contacted and other people from others Free/Open hardwares: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=6751.msg119227#msg119227
--- Quote from: 00christian00 on March 31, 2008, 01:28:04 PM ---
--- Quote ---This project is an Free/Open hardware without exclusivity with any company - see the CC license for the documentation of the hardware.
Speaking for myself, I just need/want, to have some company that sells to me that Free/Open hardware audio player and recorder. I do not seek money, however, I think is important to have some money to buy hardware for development - would be nice if the company selling the hardware could give some hardware for development.
--- End quote ---
Well if the price of the board is what i read (100/300 usd) i think it wouldn't be a problem to invest on some development board if there are skilled developer willing to join.
But if we were to invest on it,at least the spec should be good even from a business point of view(for example that screen is ugly as hell ;) )and it's ok that the hardware must be open/free to any company but there should be at least some blank period to let us be the first producing it,after that you can disclose everything.
--- End quote ---
1º screen from prototype was not chosen to be the final version, just to be the cheapest and world available by mail to be easy for possible developers buy them.
2º I think is ok, fair, that blank period. I would like to create a good and long relationship, between the community and the company that will assembly and sell the hardware.
3º can you say what would be good from a business point of view of Pasen? I saw the products page of Pasen and Pasen have a lot of players announcing video and touch screen. As you can read in the objectives of this project, the first one is: "Make a good quality hardware audio player and recorder;", so, hardware focus on an audio system and not follow the tendency of portable video player. The same to the touchscreen, this hardware for audio does not need to have touchscreen and If have one, must have tactile buttons for visual impaired people, users of Rockbox.
I think that an hardware tailored also for video will compromise the performance of the systems, in terms of price, size, bad quality audio hardware, battery life :-( - I am really happy to see companies like http://www.tonium.com/ making a portable device just dedicated to audio: "Pacemaker is a revolutionizing portable music player equipped with an extensive range of professional audio manipulation features enabling limitless mixing between two independent channels."
Well, but If RockboxPlayer is a project to make a good quality hardware audio player and recorder, without emphasis on video, and If Pasen desire to make/sell one Free/Open hardware media player like, lets say, the PA20, I would love to help also!! - even If I will continue to pursue the Free/Open hardware audio player and recorder.
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