Company Solicits Feedback on Next-Gen Recorder

An anonymous reader writes "According to LinuxDevices.com a multimedia device vendor has asked the open-source community to help define its next product, a Linux-based handheld portable media player/recorder (PMP/R) featuring audiophile-quality sound. The new product is a successor to the popular Neuros 442 PMP/R. Neuros has published the specs for a development board it calls the first prototype, and has asked hackers, open-source software authors, and others to review and weigh in on the design, which is expected to be finalized in the near future."

Comments

voice recorder

[richlv]

on a similar note, anybody knows about a good voice recorder that would compress to an open codec, allow removable storage (ideally - cf, so that it is interchangebale with photocameras ;) ) and would not suck feature-wise ?

and, on a funny note - from the linked article :

"More details, including a downloadable 18-page Word document describing the current development board specification"

Needs one or two things ..

[torpor]

{disclaimer: i work for a pro digital audio company.}

as a long-time linux hacker, musician, synthesist, and audio geek, this device screams out for one thing: MIDI.

yes, thats right, MIDI. give me a way to control it from a MIDI keyboard, give me a compiler onboard, stand back and watch the new softsynth plugin realm expand beyond that of VST et al..

course, i've got my own plans for such things too, but i'll save that for a future /. thread ..

What I want

[onyxruby]

What I want to see:

USB 2.0 port - full size please!

Infrared

Color!

4 GB hard disk

Flash card reader

Scratch resistant coating

Volume knob

Mini joystick similiar to gamepad

Make sure I can plug it in as a mass media drive without special drivers etc

Line in for audio

Rubber bumbers for shock protection

Rubber back for good grip

Built in modem for dial up when traveling

be a USB host

[Anonymous Coward]

This: "Make sure I can plug it in as a mass media drive without special drivers etc"

I hope this means be able to attach to a video or regular digital camera and offload pictures/video.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Scratch my back...?

[killmenow]

I think the point you're missing is they plan to release enough (all?) specs and firmware for this device. You can build your own.

It appears to me the plan is hindered only by TI being stingy about releasing key bits about its chips. Neuros will have to make what amounts to an API to a binary driver to keep TI happy and still release the firmware as open source.

It's a fine line to walk but I give Neuros kudos for at least daring to walk it. I've been on their mailing list for a while now, participated in some of their IRC meetings, and am impressed overall with their desire to do it right.

Right, both in terms of making a superb audio device and in terms of keeping it open and free as in libre. They are relative newbs at the open source thing, though, imho...so cut them some slack if they mis-step here or there.

NOTE: you don't have to do it in hardware.

[torpor]

MIDI can be added to this device as long as usb-midi.o is onboard, or at least as long as the ability to load modules supporting devices plugged into the USB Host port is not crippled in some way.

i've already got a Virus TI being run by my Zaurus.. it wouldn't take much more to add such devices to Archos, as long as they were open enough about peripheral support .. and thats really my point.