Neuros OSD – Hack Away

The Chicago based company Neuros Technology International has created a very unique product. The Neuros OSD (for open source device) is a versatile media recorder that, by using a memory card or a USB drive can record video from multiple sources that is then stored in MPEG-4 format.

The OSD has not only open hardware, but also open software: it is based on the Linux operating system. Neuros Technology encourages hacking of the device; it has contests with cash rewards for new applications for the OSD. One winner, for instance, designed a program that lets people use it to watch YouTube on their televisions.

A company that will sell me a product that I can hack without them being upset? Where do I sign up!

It’s what the AppleTV should have been. I hope that Apple and Sony are listening.

Frank's the editor in chief of tech.nocr.at. He can be found surfing the internet and playing with gadgets. Follow him on twitter @franklinhares