Neuros technology has reached a milestone: they have reached the beta of the Neuros OSD. The Neuros OSD is a media recorder/player that can record and play video and audio files from removable memory (e.g. compact flash or SD cards). It’s kind of like a digital VCR. A VCR that you can used to transfer media to your cell phone, iPod, PSP, laptop, etc...
What’s most interesting about this device is that it was designed in part by the community, and it’s an open platform. That means that if someone comes up with a wacky new use of the OSD (or just wants to include new media formats), you won’t have to wait for the vendor to support it. Anyone can upgrade the firmware. And the vendor actually encourages people to do wacky things with it. This makes the OSD almost a cross between a general purpose computer and a consumer electronics device.
If I had $300 (CAD) sitting in my wallet waiting to be used, and I was more into media, I would probably be pre-ordering one of the Gamma units (since the Beta is sold out). As it is, though, I don’t have that kind of money, and media isn’t a priority for me (I haven’t even used my VCR for maybe about a year).
What I’m looking forward to, though, is the Neuros III, which is the third revision of the Neuros Audio Computer. I currently own the first revision (it was the first portable audio player to support the Ogg Vorbis format). The Neuros III will run on similar hardware to the OSD, and will go through a similar process of community-based design. And the preliminary specs look pretty nice so far. I guess it’s time for me to start saving up...
(By the way, I’m currently using Darren Smith’s gapless ogg firmware on my Neuros, and it’s working wonderfully.)
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