5 ms·

I'm hoping I just found the next base of a networked media player for home

by malbs 15y ago

malbs 15y ago
damn, I keep having to double check because it's almost unbelievable they can pack that much capability into something so cheap?
- joezydeco 15y ago
  Because so much functionality is being packed on these SoC devices now. You literally hook these chips up to some RAM and Flash and add some I/O connectors of your choice, and you're in business.
  - someperson 15y ago
    This particular SoC already has RAM built in too, if I remember correctly.
    - joezydeco 15y ago
      That's pretty awesome, then. Because your other options are to stack the RAM on top of the chip like older OMAP parts, or put the RAM on the board and hope you get the circuit trace timing and impedences right.
      - someperson 15y ago
        Sorry, it seems the RAM is indeed stacked on top of this chip, it's not built in. My knowledge of SoC technology in general is fleeting.
guynamedloren 15y ago
My thoughts exactly. Are you planning on blogging about your Raspberry Pi media player adventures when these things are finally released? I'd definitely be interested - huge potential here.
- malbs 15y ago
  While it would require me setting up a blog, it would probably be worth it. It could almost be a business venture, given the fact that an off the shelf media product is upwards of $100 here in aus, if you could create a decent linux media center experience for the device, and a nice case, you could flog it for waves hand about $80 per unit and be ahead (provided the mark-up took into consideration all your costs). Would fly in the face of the educational/not-for-profit Raspberry Inc though. I'll find somewhere to write about it though.
  - someperson 15y ago
    It's not flying in the face of the idea of RaspPi, they are making a profit on each unit sold so want as many people to buy one as possible. The educational aspect of the foundation backed by the hacker community buying them up for their own purposes. The initial 10k batch may be another matter. They are looking at putting a per buyer limit since demand will be so great.
  - guynamedloren 15y ago
    We're on the same wavelength here. If you're interested in collaborating or just bouncing thoughts, shoot me an email (check profile) - I'd love to chat.

I'm hoping I just found the next base of a networked media player for home

by malbs 15y ago

I'm hoping I just found the next base of a networked media player for home

malbs 15y ago

damn, I keep having to double check because it's almost unbelievable they can pack that much capability into something so cheap?

joezydeco 15y ago
Because so much functionality is being packed on these SoC devices now. You literally hook these chips up to some RAM and Flash and add some I/O connectors of your choice, and you're in business.
- someperson 15y ago
  This particular SoC already has RAM built in too, if I remember correctly.
  - joezydeco 15y ago
    That's pretty awesome, then. Because your other options are to stack the RAM on top of the chip like older OMAP parts, or put the RAM on the board and hope you get the circuit trace timing and impedences right.
    - someperson 15y ago
      Sorry, it seems the RAM is indeed stacked on top of this chip, it's not built in. My knowledge of SoC technology in general is fleeting.

guynamedloren 15y ago

My thoughts exactly. Are you planning on blogging about your Raspberry Pi media player adventures when these things are finally released? I'd definitely be interested - huge potential here.

malbs 15y ago
While it would require me setting up a blog, it would probably be worth it. It could almost be a business venture, given the fact that an off the shelf media product is upwards of $100 here in aus, if you could create a decent linux media center experience for the device, and a nice case, you could flog it for waves hand about $80 per unit and be ahead (provided the mark-up took into consideration all your costs). Would fly in the face of the educational/not-for-profit Raspberry Inc though. I'll find somewhere to write about it though.
- someperson 15y ago
  It's not flying in the face of the idea of RaspPi, they are making a profit on each unit sold so want as many people to buy one as possible. The educational aspect of the foundation backed by the hacker community buying them up for their own purposes. The initial 10k batch may be another matter. They are looking at putting a per buyer limit since demand will be so great.
- guynamedloren 15y ago
  We're on the same wavelength here. If you're interested in collaborating or just bouncing thoughts, shoot me an email (check profile) - I'd love to chat.