[ale] Building linux entertainment devices

[Chris Fowler]

There was also an article about this in the latest Linux Journal.

On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 16:55, Greg Freemyer wrote:
> On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 16:40, zack wrote:
> > I am interested in examining the possiblity of building a Linux-based 
> > networked entertainment device.  My main goals are not a one off, use 
> > spare parts type of project, but more of looking into the possibility of 
> > building a prototype for mass produced device.  The software would be a 
> > slimmed down or RTOS Linux kernel, plus open source software. 
> >  Capabilities would include networking, video and /or sound output.  IDE 
> > devices for HDD and CD/DVD would probably be required, as well as 
> > (likely) PC-Card support.  CPU-wise I am thinking a low-end Intel/AMD or 
> > higher end alternative CPU like you might see in some embedded devices. 
> >  So yeah, it's pretty much a PC, but non Intel/AMD would be considered 
> > if they can handle the video.
> > 
> > I need to get an idea of the types of hardware platforms suitable for 
> > this type of device, and the software development I would need to do, to 
> > get some idea of how much it would cost to do, as well as how much 
> > develoment work would need to be done (I assume certain systems could 
> > just have minimal kernel  and OSS code compiled, while others might need 
> > porting or tweaking or something).
> > 
> > If anyone has any experience or insight into this sort of a project and 
> > would care to share, I would appreciate it.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Zack
> 
> If you want to make a video capture/replay type of box (ie. Tivo), you
> might want to look thru the XFS archives.
> 
> Someone was posting there a lot about a year ago related to something
> along these lines.  I don't know if they eventually succeeded or if the
> company/project died.
> 
> I also have no idea how the GPL plays into something like this.  ie. If
> you buy one of that companies boxes, can you make a GPL request for
> their kernel and modules?  Other GPL software they may have used?
> 
> If so, maybe you can make the same request(s) to Tivo, since I
> understand they are running linux internally.
> 
> Greg