Open Source Hardware Hacking With the PogoPlug

[ Thanks to Ilan for this link. ]

"Q: The PogoPlug is easy to use for end-users, as well as advanced enough to where software developers can modify the code it runs, why did you go with an open platform versus a closed platform?

"Brad Dietrich: Traditional consumer electronics companies lock down their products such that the enthusiasts and developers cannot change the firmware that allows them to run. The decisions to do this are driven for many reasons ranging from concerns about support costs to mandates from the content publishers. Ultimately we wanted to break the mold of consumer electronics in more ways than one. We wanted to create a product that was easy to use for technology neophytes yet provides enough value for technology enthusiasts. Opening the platform allowed us to give truly advanced users a reason to be excited by the Pogoplug above and beyond the core features we provide without sacrificing the ease of use necessary for the main stream customers.

"Q: What are some of the open source projects that the PogoPlug has contributed to?

"Brad Dietrich: All of the open source that we use in the Pogoplug is published on our site at http://pogoplug.com/opensource/. We have made improvements and customizations to many of these projects to allow them to work better for our products needs. All of these improvements and customizations are published and contributed back to anyone who finds value in them."

Complete Story

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