This week's edition (June 7 '08) of The Economist features a story about open source hardware and talks about Neuros, Chumby, Bug labs and all the usual subjects. A lot of it may not seem new or surprising to the readers of this blog, but between this article and the New York Times article earlier this year, open source hardware is getting a real boost. The Economist is a highly influential magazine, and a detailed introduction to the concept of open source hardware is sure to pique the interest of numerous executives, and it's the cumulative effect of stories like this that allow open companies to get funding, to find partners and customers, so we're delighted to see more of this coverage, in what we hope will become an increasing trend.

For those who bothered to read my last post, you saw that we're creating a new music service. The site is coming along nicely now and were starting to secure funding from investors.

We really need your input as we have a lot of plans for the service...

Click Here to take Survey (Only 10 easy questions)

We also have a facebook group called "artist liberty" that you can join to show your support and read whats going on.

For a little more info:

Many of you were recently asked to participate in a Neuros Survey. If you didn't get it, it's probably because you're not on our mailinglist.

Well anyway, despite the fact that we had an NDA on the front page it seems that someone leaked one of the concepts to Engadget

More interesting was that although it was picked up by dozens of blogs, it was soundly panned by survey respondents (luckily other concepts, like a digital chicken plucker, faired much better). It's interesting to me, because I've seen repeated stories that users want their TV's connected to the Internet, but its just not clear what they want to watch. I've heard all kinds of suggestions, from miro to tversity but I've yet to get any of these concepts to stick very far. You, our wise and worldly Neuros community member must surely have some insight. What's going on here?

For Immediate Release

July 19, 2007

Digital Freedom Campaign Responds to Latest RIAA Attempts to Hold Internet Radio Hostage

RIAA Admits “Stream-ripping” is Not a Problem

A few friends and I have been creating a new music website that is all about the artist. We are looking for some feedback from music fans, so we have created a blog on blogspot.

http://freedomfortheartist.blogspot.com/

In short, our new site will provide a place for artists to get their music "out there." The goal is to help the artist, whom never would have had a shot, get their music heard.

We are looking for people to come take our polls and post opinions. We are also looking for web developers, database help, and anyone interested and motivated ect...

You might wonder why my birthday wishes for my dad would be on OdNT, it's because his support has been so instrumental in getting where we are. He's been the number one Neuros fan since inception, and I dedicated the new "experimental" YouTube browser to him. We'll have more information on YouTube browser shortly.

I recently wrote Steven Robertson to say thanks for his help. His response is one of the best articulations of why we're here. Everyone at Neuros knows that the community is the reason Neuros is around. It's easy to feel grateful, but Steven's message is an important reminder of the bigger issues we must not lose sight of:

In the words of a recent EFF story "EFF is proud to have Neuros as a supporter, and we hope they continue to inspire the spread of the PC and Internet ethos of openness in the consumer electronics world."



Read the Whole EFF Story.



We're very thankful for EFF's support and grateful for the important work they are

Two of the big attractions in Amsterdam are the Anne Frank House and the van Gogh Museum. There are a lot of things striking about those two attractions, but one of the most powerful to me is that these two figures of such extraordinary influence on our modern society achieved that influence entirely posthumously. It would have been virtually impossible for anyone to predict during their lives they would be remembered at all, let alone such a massive influence generations later.

It strikes me that there's a lesson for all of us there. The greatest tragedy has nothing to do with ones struggles or failures. Every life, successful and unsuccessful, happy or unhappy, is filled with those.

Please Join me in extending a hearty welcome to our newest fulltime addition to the team, John Olson



John has been a part of Neuros since the N1.  He is, at long last, coming on fulltime to head "Design" for Neuros.  This is a big collection of a lot of things, from Industrial Design to graphic design of the website, packaging to User Interface, and the user experience generally, and oh yes the keeper of the branding, imagery, and um.. well you get the idea, it's big.