Slashdot Mirror


Stephen Fry and DVD Jon Back USB Sniffer Project

An anonymous reader writes "bushing and pytey of the iPhone DevTeam and Team Twiizers have created a Kickstarter project to fund the build of an open-source/open-hardware high-speed USB protocol analyzer. The board features a high-speed USB 2.0 sniffer that will help with the reverse engineering of proprietary USB hardware. The project has gained the backing of two high-profile individuals: Jon Lech Johansen (DVD Jon), and actor and comedian Stephen Fry."

8 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Stephen Fry's previous good stuff: gnu bday by symes · · Score: 2, Informative

    Stephen Fry is an old man enjoying popularity with the young crowd by latching himself on to things he doesn't really understand.

    The minute he is criticised or meets some opposition to his actions he will storm off in a pathetic strop.

    You know this for fact? irrespective of what people might think of Fry's personality, he is very far from dim. It would not surprise me that he has a pretty decent handle on what he is prepared to discuss. IANAG (geriatric), even so I think that some of the biggest and most revered names in FOSS and such like are well and truly in Fry's age group. That said, he does strop.

  2. Re:Stephen Fry's previous good stuff: gnu bday by adamofgreyskull · · Score: 5, Informative

    You're either a troll, or are ignorant. I saw a speech he gave a few years ago that was broadcast on BBC Parliament (or whatever it's called) on software freedom, DRM, format-shifting, P2P etc and he completely grokked the issues. He's not "just an old man", or "just a celebrity", he's actually incredibly fucking astute. He's a high-profile, highly intelligent celebrity, who actually knows what he's talking about, and exactly the kind of person people in power might actually listen to, as opposed to some AC on /. or "some beardy yank". tl;dr: He shares "our views" and communicates at a level that most British politicians respect and understand. This is a Good Thing.

  3. Re:Douglas Adams would've approved ... by Amorymeltzer · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Write" is a strong word. How about "published posthumously as part of a larger collection of writings?"

    --
    I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
  4. Re:Yes, because by DavidWeight · · Score: 5, Informative

    Should we ignore anything Brian May has to say on the subject of Astrophysics because he's "just a musician"

    He's Brian Cox, OBE.

    Or he's Brian May-of Queen, with a PHD in astrophysics from Imperial College... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_May

  5. huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Brian May (he of Queen Fame) is known for being knowledgable on Astrophysics (and wearing clogs), whereas Brian Cox is less well know for his big hair and guitar solos.

    I suggest you go an wiki Brian May.

  6. Re:Software only solution? by dave420 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You just answered your own question. This will work on *anything* that has a USB port. Anything.

  7. Amusing video but... by fragMasterFlash · · Score: 2, Informative

    Having worked with several commercial USB protocol analyzers over the years I have yet to see one was anything more than an FPGA connected to an off the shelf USB PHY chip. As much as I like cute dog videos these guys need to post proper requirements and design specifications if they seriously want funding from me.

  8. Re:Stephen Fry's previous good stuff: gnu bday by mr_bubb · · Score: 1, Informative

    And, don't forget, the trio of Fry/Laurie/Thompson were also on "The Young Ones". I believe that trumps just about any other goddamn thing.