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‘open source’ Stories

Pandora open-source console gets first video demo

Chris Davies, Jan 29th 2009 Discuss [0]

In case your memory for open-source games consoles is a little lacking, that's the first working Pandora handheld we've seen in a user's hands. The DIY console went up for pre-order last September, and since then has been pretty much off the radar; now we get to see one of the first put together and fully-functional. Check out the Pandora video after the cut Read The Full Story

Nokia announced increase adoption of Qt with additional licensing option

Staff Editor, Jan 14th 2009 Discuss [0]

Today Nokia announced that their Qt cross-platform User Interface (UI) and applications framework would be available under the Lesser General Public License (LGPL) version 2.1 license from the release of Qt 4.5 that is scheduled for March 2009. In addition, Qt will now be available from a new source over at www.qtsoftware.com. This move to LGPL licensing will provide open source developers with more permissive licensing than GPL and also increase flexibility for the developers. The Qt source code repositories will be made publicly available and will encourage contributions not only from desktop but also embedded developer communities. These changes are meant to drive developers to evolve the Qt framework. Read The Full Story

Open Source Gameboy made with Arduino processor

Brenda Stokes, Oct 28th 2008 Discuss [0]

Oh, the Gameboy. How you fill my heart with nostalgia. And though you can still readily find the handy devices online for cheap, it's an entirely different story when you can make one for yourself. Read The Full Story

Neuros OSD 2.0 High-Definition developer kits shipping

Chris Davies, Sep 17th 2008 Discuss [0]

Neuros has begun shipping their high definition Neuros OSD 2.0 developer kits, an open-source DVR based on Texas Instruments' DaVinci DM 6446 chipset. Comprising all the basic hardware a developer might need to begin coding for the multiformat set-top box, the OSD 2.0 HD includes two composite and one component inputs, together with composite, component and HDMI outputs, and a total of four USB ports. Read The Full Story

$200 Web Tablet project is looking for help

Chris Davies, Jul 22nd 2008 Discuss [0]

Over at CrunchGear they've got fed up waiting for Apple or another manufacturer to decide to build a low-cost, super-thin web tablet, and so they've decided to put together something themselves. Aiming for an eventual $200 price point, the spec would be straightforward: a reasonably-sized touchscreen, the bare minimum in terms of grunt (since all they want is web browsing and a little VoIP), a 4GB SSD for storage and all in something roughly as thin as a MacBook Air. Read The Full Story

OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner goes on sale July 4th

Ewdison Then, Jul 2nd 2008 Discuss [0]

After being in development for quite sometime, OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner is now available for end users to buy. On July 4th, OpenMoko will be taking orders for the handset and expected to be shipping on July 7th. The Linux powered handset will be available in two version, 850MHz or 900 MHz Tri-band GSM. It weighing 6.5 ounces and features a 2.8-inch touch screen with 480 x 640 VGA resolution, 802.11b/g WiFi, AGPS, GRPS 2.5G, Bluetooth 2.0, two 3-axis motion sensors, and 128MB WSDRAM / 256MB NAND Flash. The OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner comes with the price tag of $399 and will be available directly from OpenMoko.com store or via distributors in EU, India, and North America.

DIY Multitouch table project offers low-cost alternative to Microsoft Surface

Chris Davies, May 5th 2008 Discuss [2]

Eyebeam are looking to bring DIY multitouch to the masses with their open-source Cubit project. Promising a touchscreen table in the style of Microsoft's Surface, only with a far smaller $500-1,000 build cost, Eyebeam have made the hardware schematics and software source code available for anyone to download. They also sell a kit that includes the table, frosted surface and most of the electronics, with builders only needing to supply the computer, a simple projector and a webcam. Check out the video of the Eyebeam Cubit in action after the cut Read The Full Story

Android is coming, how will handset manufacturers handle the relationship between their Windows Mobile handsets and Android handsets?

James Allan Brady, Apr 14th 2008 Discuss [0]

Android phones are starting to slowly come out of the woodwork with no official production ready models being announced yet. However there is an event in London involving HTC on May 6th, a company that vowed to release the first Android phone. They are also known for making some of the best Windows Mobile handsets that are on the market. So the question is, how does Microsoft feel about this, and more specifically, how will manufacturers like HTC keep the peace within their own companies? It just wouldn’t make sense for mobile phone manufacturers like HTC to make the exact same phone twice just offering your choice of Android or Windows Mobile, it would kind of be nice, but exclusive handsets tipped to one OS or the other are what really moves units. For example, would the XPERIA X1 be such a big deal if it wasn’t running the next generation of Windows Mobile software? Maybe, but I’d guess not. Read The Full Story

Featured

Qualcomm Android Phone – it even runs Quake!

James Allan Brady, Apr 1st 2008 Discuss [2]

Qualcomm is at CTIA these year showing off the incredible functionality of some of their chips. One way they decided to show off this functionality was throwing together an Android phone. Then they put Quake on it.

Quake, a Doom-Like FPS from the good old days of PC gaming, is a fairly demanding game, especially considering they had it running, in full, in 3D, at 30 frames per second at a VGA resolution. This just goes to show that not only is Android a freaking amazing platform to be able to pull this off on the software side, but Qualcomms silicon chips are equally amazing for being able to pull it off on the hardware side of things.

Read The Full Story

Control4 HC-500 Controller – Affordable Linux-Based Home Automation

Ewdison Then, Mar 28th 2008 Discuss [1]

Nowadays, Linux has been used for so many gadgets and computing appliances - some of those who use them does not even know Linux powers it. While Linux is not the bona-fide desktop OS in term of market share, it is a very powerful operating system that many average Joe still afraid of giving it a try. Control4 is one of the companies that take advantage of Linux for its flexibility and low cost. Recently Control4 introduced a new home automation controller, the Linux based HC-500. Read The Full Story

Dash Express Reviewed

James Allan Brady, Mar 27th 2008 Discuss [0]

If you don’t remember the Dash, it’s the new GPS unit that was co-developed with OpenMoko, and actually utilizes the OpenMoko Platform. It has WiFi and GPRS built in that allow it to do all sorts of cool things including search Yahoo on the fly for points of interest or upload, wirelessly, addresses, POIs, or even geological RSS feed, KML lists, things of that nature. Read The Full Story

Android PC Case Mod – I think this whole thing may have gone a wee bit too far

James Allan Brady, Mar 24th 2008 Discuss [1]

So some guy (Read: Eric Burke) decided to build a case/computer in dedication to the Open Handset Alliances’ new development platform known as Android. The logo for the platform is some Clip Art quality green robot and this PC essentially looks like the head of said robot. Read The Full Story