An anonymous reader writes "According to LinuxDevices.com a multimedia device vendor has asked the open-source community to help define its next product, a Linux-based handheld portable media player/recorder (PMP/R) featuring audiophile-quality sound. The new product is a successor to the popular Neuros 442 PMP/R. Neuros has published the specs for a development board it calls the first prototype, and has asked hackers, open-source software authors, and others to review and weigh in on the design, which is expected to be finalized in the near future." Company Solicits Feedback on Next-Gen Recorder Log in/Create an Account | Top | 150 comments | Search Discussion Display Options Threshold: -1: 150 comments 0: 147 comments 1: 124 comments 2: 83 comments 3: 21 comments 4: 11 comments 5: 6 comments Flat Nested No Comments Threaded Oldest First Newest First Highest Scores First Oldest First (Ignore Threads) Newest First (Ignore Threads) The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. voice recorder (Score:3, Interesting) by richlv (778496) on Wednesday October 19, @06:46AM (#13825145) on a similar note, anybody knows about a good voice recorder that would compress to an open codec, allow removable storage (ideally - cf, so that it is interchangebale with photocameras ;) ) and would not suck feature-wise ?and, on a funny note - from the linked article :"More details, including a downloadable 18-page Word document describing the current development board specification" [ Reply to ThisRe:voice recorder by SillyNickName4me (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:21AMRe:voice recorder by jacksonj04 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:25AMRe:voice recorder by SillyNickName4me (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:32AMRe:voice recorder by GMFTatsujin (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @01:35PMRe:voice recorder by richlv (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:35AMRe:voice recorder by SillyNickName4me (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:44AMRe:voice recorder by richlv (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:50AMRe:voice recorder by guacamolefoo (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:34AMRe:voice recorder by richlv (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:55AMRe:voice recorder by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:10PMRe:voice recorder by markdavis (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @05:22PMRe:voice recorder by richlv (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:57AM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Needs one or two things .. (Score:5, Interesting) by torpor (458) <jayv@synt3.1415926h.net minus pi> on Wednesday October 19, @06:49AM (#13825153) (http://virus.info/ | Last Journal: Saturday March 29, @02:33PM) {disclaimer: i work for a pro digital audio company.}as a long-time linux hacker, musician, synthesist, and audio geek, this device screams out for one thing: MIDI.yes, thats right, MIDI. give me a way to control it from a MIDI keyboard, give me a compiler onboard, stand back and watch the new softsynth plugin realm expand beyond that of VST et al..course, i've got my own plans for such things too, but i'll save that for a future /. thread .. [ Reply to ThisRe:Needs one or two things .. by ozmanjusri (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:04AMBalanced Inputs by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:26PMRe:Needs one or two things .. by Jeff DeMaagd (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @09:22AMNOTE: you don't have to do it in hardware. by torpor (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:29AMRe:NOTE: you don't have to do it in hardware. by bundaegi (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @12:01PMRe:Needs one or two things .. by CausticPuppy (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:44AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by torpor (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @10:27AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by CausticPuppy (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:39AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by torpor (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @10:46AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by Thalagyrt (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @11:05AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by CausticPuppy (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @11:53AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by Thalagyrt (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @12:06PMRe:Needs one or two things .. by cgenman (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:47AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by pev (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:05AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by torpor (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @11:13AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by pev (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:47AMRe:Needs one or two things .. by JoeBorn (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @03:32PM1 reply beneath your current threshold. Heh (Score:5, Funny) by Bogtha (906264) on Wednesday October 19, @06:50AM (#13825158) ...featuring audiophile-quality sound. You mean it costs five times as much, but sounds exactly the same to everybody who isn't trying to justify their ridiculously expensive hobby? :) [ Reply to ThisIt runs on x86 by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @06:56AMRe:Heh by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @07:04AMRe:Heh by Myself (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @09:32AMRe:Heh by jericho4.0 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:21PMRe:Heh by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:39PM2 replies beneath your current threshold.Re:Heh by pev (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @11:19AMRe:Heh by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:58PMRe:Heh by supremespleen (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @08:17AMRe:Heh by jcupitt65 (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @10:29AMRe:Heh by karnal (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @04:02PMRe:Heh by dindi (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:24AMRe:Heh by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:18PMRe:Heh by smithmc (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @12:05PMRe:Heh by AdamWill (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:18PMThe Devil is in the Details by Audax_23 (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @11:56PM Okay (Score:4, Funny) by iamdrscience (541136) <iamdrscience.hotmail@com> on Wednesday October 19, @06:50AM (#13825160) (http://itsbeenconfirmed.com/ | Last Journal: Sunday May 04, @03:33AM) First of all it needs a nice fin or two on it to make it more aerodynamic, we don't want this thing to be dragging. Second it needs some more LEDs. [ Reply to ThisRe:Okay by aaribaud (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @07:17AMRe:Okay by ConceptJunkie (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:23PMRe:ObSimpsons by zerblat (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:56AM What I want (Score:5, Interesting) by onyxruby (118189) <.onyxruby. .at. .comcast.net.> on Wednesday October 19, @06:52AM (#13825164) (http://orangelist.com/) What I want to see:USB 2.0 port - full size please!InfraredColor!4 GB hard diskFlash card readerScratch resistant coatingVolume knobMini joystick similiar to gamepadMake sure I can plug it in as a mass media drive without special drivers etcLine in for audioRubber bumbers for shock protectionRubber back for good gripBuilt in modem for dial up when traveling [ Reply to This Re:What I want (Score:5, Informative) by Andy_R (114137) on Wednesday October 19, @07:31AM (#13825247) (http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Friday October 01, @08:19AM) Since their previous device is colour, it would be insane for this one not to be. Almost as insane as putting the 4Gb drive from your wants list in to replace the 40Gb one the old device shipped with! [ Reply to This | ParentRe:What I want by hernick (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @08:52AMRe:What I want by PDA_Monkey (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @01:19PMUnnecessary fluff. by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:24PMbe a USB host by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @07:50AMRe:What I want by andyr0ck (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @08:35AM2 replies beneath your current threshold. Main requirement for the UK ... (Score:5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19, @07:04AM (#13825191) Main requirement for the UK is for this to be sold at a price that reflects the real dollar-pound exchange rate, instead of converting US$400 into 400 UK pounds like the blood-sucking middlemen typically do for gadgets. [ Reply to ThisRe:Main requirement for the UK ... by MaestroSartori (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:03AMNo RF then by TinheadNed (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @08:13AM More format support (Score:1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19, @07:14AM (#13825206) How about supporting more formats? Musepack, FLAC, Monkey's Audio, Ogg Vorbis, etc. I hate having to always convert stuff to get it on a portable. [ Reply to ThisRe:More format support by daserver (Score:3) Wednesday October 19, @07:27AMRe:More format support by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @07:57AMWork in progress by Tony (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:41AMRe:Work in progress by badmammajamma (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:39AM Let's see... (Score:2, Funny) by No Salvation (914727) on Wednesday October 19, @07:23AM (#13825227) (about:mozilla | Last Journal: Saturday September 17, @03:19AM) I would like it to have a 6.8GHz processor [slashdot.org] with 1TB non-volatile Quantum-Optical RAM and a 2TB solid state AtomChip® optoelectronics drive. Oh and it should cost less than $149.99 and include a cool leather case. [ Reply to This Re:Let's see... (Score:4, Funny) by maxwell demon (590494) on Wednesday October 19, @07:45AM (#13825281) (Last Journal: Wednesday August 14, @01:33PM) You forgot the free audio codec which can compress 1 hour of music to 16 bytes while maintaining a sound quality which is indistinguishable from the original. Ah, and please add a Star Trek quality universal translator! [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Let's see... by xtracto (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:31AMWhat??? by absurdist (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:16AM Why use WM ASF!? (Score:1) by n0dalus (807994) on Wednesday October 19, @07:27AM (#13825237) (Last Journal: Wednesday January 19, @09:07PM) According to Specs [neurostechnology.com], this device records to 704x240 asf. If this is as powerful as they claim it is, why not use XviD or another open source codec?The 40GB HDD, USB2.0 and other features all look nice, but I still think it's supported formats aren't fantastic. It has no mention of supporting things like ogg or ac3.Despite their claims of being open source, this device is still being marketed to Windows' users, and designed for them. [ Reply to ThisRe:Why use WM ASF!? by pev (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:38AMRe:Why use WM ASF!? by JoeBorn (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:26PM Which kernel? (Score:1) by ficken (807392) on Wednesday October 19, @07:30AM (#13825245) The specs site says it "supports Linux kernel and later". PC Compatibility Win 98/ME/2000/XP, Linux kernel and later, Mac OS X and later I hope its at least kernel 2.2 - so i can put it on my webserver that has a six year uptime... [ Reply to This Please oh please oh please!! (Score:2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19, @07:39AM (#13825270) Put a volume knob that goes all the way to 11...! [ Reply to This Essential (Score:5, Funny) by Frantactical Fruke (226841) <renekita@[ ].fi ['dlc' in gap]> on Wednesday October 19, @07:40AM (#13825271) (http://www.sumutia.com) Must run on an ethanol converter cell - so I can drink the battery when things get desperate. A side pocket for a lemon slice and an olive would be good, too. [ Reply to This Scratch my back...? (Score:3, Insightful) by Dekortage (697532) on Wednesday October 19, @07:47AM (#13825288) So if I give some good feedback, and the company takes it, what do I get in return? A demo model? A discount? Credits in the fine print? At least with OSS, my free contributions go to a free product. There are some intellectual property issues here, methinks (or else Neuros isn't taking this seriously). [ Reply to This Re:Scratch my back...? (Score:4, Interesting) by killmenow (184444) on Wednesday October 19, @08:33AM (#13825498) (http://slashdot.org/) I think the point you're missing is they plan to release enough (all?) specs and firmware for this device. You can build your own.It appears to me the plan is hindered only by TI being stingy about releasing key bits about its chips. Neuros will have to make what amounts to an API to a binary driver to keep TI happy and still release the firmware as open source.It's a fine line to walk but I give Neuros kudos for at least daring to walk it. I've been on their mailing list for a while now, participated in some of their IRC meetings, and am impressed overall with their desire to do it right.Right, both in terms of making a superb audio device and in terms of keeping it open and free as in libre. They are relative newbs at the open source thing, though, imho...so cut them some slack if they mis-step here or there. [ Reply to This | ParentRe:Scratch my back...? by Zunni (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @09:14AMRe:Scratch my back...? by Zunni (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @01:36PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:Scratch my back...? by pev (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:42AMRe:Scratch my back...? by Dekortage (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @11:53AMRe:Scratch my back...? by pev (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @12:22PMRe:Scratch my back...? by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:33PMRe:Scratch my back...? by jericho4.0 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:47PM Ogg Vorbis support (Score:1) by MadJo (674225) <marcel AT madjo DOT nl> on Wednesday October 19, @08:20AM (#13825424) (http://www.madjo.nl/ | Last Journal: Sunday July 27, @11:16AM) Not many mediaplayers sold here in NL support Ogg Vorbis. So support for that format in this new device would make it something for me to look at. :) [ Reply to This This is one no player does... (Score:4, Interesting) by skyshock21 (764958) on Wednesday October 19, @08:29AM (#13825472) (http://www.myspace.com/lykachamp) How about the ability to exchange files from player to player? No PC needed! Do it over USB, infrared, WiFi, Bluetooth, I don't care... just figure out a way that I can beam my songs/playlists/movies from my player to my friend's iPud. [ Reply to ThisRe:This is one no player does... by 4of12 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @10:07AMRe:This is one no player does... by 4of12 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @04:38PM1 reply beneath your current threshold.Re:This is one no player does... by roman_mir (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @01:17PMRe:This is one no player does... by skyshock21 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:23PMRe:This is one no player does... by mobby_6kl (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:00PM2 replies beneath your current threshold. hot chicks (Score:3, Funny) by 1nhuman (597328) on Wednesday October 19, @08:42AM (#13825544) "Neuros has published the specs for a development board it calls the first prototype, and has asked hackers, open-source software authors, and others to review and weigh in on the design, which is expected to be finalized in the near future."This is the brilliant design philopshy that will make it a wannahave for every trend consious teenager or non-geek!Jobs, eat yer hart out! [ Reply to This usable as pda (Score:1) by g2ek (852570) on Wednesday October 19, @09:12AM (#13825765) given that it runs linux and has a colour display it should be usable as pda with opie or kindof [ Reply to This Ha! (Score:2) by MacGod (320762) on Wednesday October 19, @11:12AM (#13826787) Ha! Now, for once, if they don't include your precious ogg support, it'll be your own fault for not pushing it enough! [ Reply to ThisRe:Ha! by badmammajamma (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @11:45AM Where are the audio geeks? (Score:3, Informative) by prof_peabody (741865) on Wednesday October 19, @11:35AM (#13826967) This whole topic shows that there are very few audio geeks in here.First, here is the link to the Neuros wiki about the project:http://www.theneuros.com/index.php/Category_Roadma p:Neuros_III [theneuros.com]This link should have been in the article itself, but the editors here are not the brightest.Most audio geeks who do field recording (what this device will primarily used for on the recording side) is:-direct to FLAC encoding-high quality A/D (better than sony dat or a nomad JB3)-digital input (many of us have better/expensive potable A/D boxes that would outclass anything consumer grade-24 bit 96 kHz recordingand a few other things. [ Reply to ThisRe:Where are the audio geeks? by SethEaston (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @03:28PMNeed a "bit bucket" by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:54PMRe:Need a "bit bucket" by SethEaston (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:12PMRe:Where are the audio geeks? by JoeBorn (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:15PMRe:Where are the audio geeks? by JoeBorn (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:17PMRe:Where are the audio geeks? by prof_peabody (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @06:45PM what it should be (Score:1) by bryan314 (33183) on Wednesday October 19, @11:51AM (#13827102) What it should be like:1) Decent hardware.2) Full documentation for hardware.3) ALL the source code.4) A free cross-platform dev environment that is easy to install and setup. Gcc/linux/cygwin maybe?And finally port and extend the rockbox firmware. http://www.rockbox.org/ [rockbox.org] [ Reply to This Look to the Karma (Score:2) by erik_fredricks (446470) on Wednesday October 19, @11:58AM (#13827167) (http://www.lonelymachines.org/) The Rio Karma had a lot of great things going for it. My dream unit would be:Supports Ogg, Wav, Flac (with encoding to all three)Efficient HDD buffering, so there are no "glitches" in recordingGapless playback, at least for Ogg and Flac.Optical in/outs, with a flat line-out, unlike the iRiversReplaceable batteryUsb MSC compliance without the need for proprietary software, so it'll work in any decent OS.Adjustable-band equalizer ala Rio KarmaSize and weight are not real concerns, since these things have already gotten very small. Main concern would be how easy the controls are to find and manipulate, particularly in the dark (bear in mind, this will be used by many for live recording). As far as a color screen with video/picture viewing...whatever. I'd prefer an uncluttered interface on a readable screen of any type.Look to the best parts of the Karma (gapless, flat signal-out, good databasing) and the iRiver IHP series (HDD recording, USB mass-storage) and combine those qualities, and build it. They will come... [ Reply to ThisRe:Look to the Karma by ArghBlarg (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @03:16PM Audiophile my arse (Score:1) by SethEaston (920552) on Wednesday October 19, @01:07PM (#13827975) This BS device is touting "Audiophile Quality". Lemme explain: High quality/hi-def audio is not *only* determined by its sampling/bit rate, rather by the quality of the input signal so that the DAC can have something to work with A tiny device such as this has tiny built-in condenser microphones that are over-compressed and sound like crap because of no headroom and self-noise. In order to obtain a high-quality "audiophile" sound, you need large-diaghram condensor mics with phantom power. That requires a properly equipped mixer or powered mic preamp. A crappy signal recorded at 24-bit/96 KHz resolution sounds just as bad as a crappy signal recorded in 12-bit/32 KHz resolution A *true* audiophile device would not use unbalanced 1/8" stereo miniplugs True audiophiles would laugh at this device. High resolution != audiophile quality!!!! [ Reply to ThisRe:Audiophile my arse by JoeBorn (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @04:01PMRe:Audiophile my arse by SethEaston (Score:1) Wednesday October 19, @03:10PM2 replies beneath your current threshold. Absolute Musts (and cool maybes) for live music (Score:2) by makohund (10086) <slashdot&sourtrout,com> on Wednesday October 19, @01:15PM (#13828064) (http://www.green-peter.com/) Maybe this is a no-brainer that is already planned, but just in case:If you want to record anything live, you HAVE to have input level meters, and fully functional (real-time adjustible while watching the meters) "trim" control. Nothing worse than recording a live performance to discover your trim/gain/whatever was way too low. Except discovering it was way too high!The device would be essentially useless without this feature.It'd be neat if rather than separate "mic" and "line" inputs, the same input would work for both. (Like a channel strip in a basic mixer... trim hot signals, boost weak ones, or just leave it centered for line-level.)If input levels are adjustible within software, maybe have a few presets (set to basic "mic" and basic "line in" levels) and a couple slots for users to save their own level adjustments with a name. "Rehearsal Space", "SuperDuper Room Mic", "Joe's Mixer", "ScumRock Theater Board", "Taping Rig".Absolutely kick-ass would be a sort of "auto" input level monitoring and adjustment. Tricky... maybe it could be helped along with an "about this loud" button. Something you push to tell it "this is about how loud the signal is gonna be for the most part", and it ajusts the trim to put the level meters in a good spot for it... with plenty of signal, but enough headroom that a mild volume increase (or louder "impact") isn't going to send it into the red. And have it "spring to" that setting.What I mean by that is to follow the signal up & down a bit, but ignore very large changes from the "spring to" point. (Such as a quiet spot/break in a song, or space between songs/track. And in the other direction... I dunno... pyro going off, or something else unforseen that is much louder than the average level.Maybe all of that is a pipe dream, but it'd be really cool for those that deal mostly with live music. Both at shows/concerts, and in rehearsal/composing type settings.Oh, yeah... speaking of that... how about a remote for stopping/starting recording? Sometimes the primo spot for the device to get a recording is not where the operator needs to be. ("Delete last take" from a remote would also be bad-ass.)Maybe superbright multicolor status LED... green for "on/ready", red for "recording", and some other color (or blinking) for "doing something else you just told me to do". (Check out the status lights on a Tivo for a good example.) Something you can see easily from across a room and tell what it is doing.Also handy... a space/slot for running a small security cable. Like for a lanyard, but maybe a little bigger and more solid. Not "theft proof" neccessarily, but enough to stop or slow down the casual "pick up/put in pocket/walk away nonchalantly" type stickyfingered character.Heh... they asked for ideas, right? :P [ Reply to ThisRe:Absolute Musts (and cool maybes) for live music by Kadin2048 (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @04:11PMRe:Absolute Musts (and cool maybes) for live music by makohund (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @08:22PM Like Homer Simpson designing the car (Score:1) by jabelar (913707) on Wednesday October 19, @01:32PM (#13828294) Sometimes asking for a wish list of features ends up like that Simpsons episode where Homer is invited to design a car. The most important thing is for the company to choose the "philosophy" of their device and then the feature list should fall out easily from that -- is it really for audiophiles? then everything should be optimized around sound quality. [ Reply to ThisRe:Like Homer Simpson designing the car by hubie (Score:2) Wednesday October 19, @02:38PM Wish list (Score:1) by Anonymous Cowdog (154277) on Wednesday October 19, @01:37PM (#13828346) (Last Journal: Tuesday November 16, @02:29AM) Wishlist:24/96 minimum, preferably 24/192 (yes I'm insane about audio quality, and remember audio data could be consumed not just by humans, but also by machines, and every bit of quality helps)wave recording as an optionsolid state hardware, no moving disks to make noiseno ACG, or at least ability to turn it offall files named by date/time/second by default: yyyymmdd@hhmmssnn.wavability to edit metadata of fileschanging the external name of a file also changes the internal (metadata) namebuilt-in stereo microphonesXLR mic jacksphantom powerstereo mini-plug mic jackline in, including optical inline out, including optical outUSB2/firewireseparate reference tone trackseparate timing signal trackability to set left and right levels separatelysensitive mode for quiet environments and environmental recording (please do not make it suitable only for loud rock concerts)ability to use rechargable AA batteries, 1.2 volts eachstore to SD cardstore to CF cardhard drive, if any (preferably none) removable and user-upgradableimportant: if it has a hard drive, it should be able to still function without the hard drive, writing to other mediaboth a stereo 1/4 inch headphone jack and a stereo mini headphone jackability to manage power smartly, so for example device isn't paying the expense of phantom power or hard disk when these aren't being used. [ Reply to This Re:audiophile-quality sound (Score:4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 19, @07:15AM (#13825211)