Neuros launch Open Source TV box - users get paid to develop it

A technology company has released a TV-stereo-computer interfacing device that fully embraces the open source idealogy by encouraging end users to modify and produce its core software. Unlike most consumer hardware where the manufacturer does everything in its power to prevent users from 'climbing under the hood' the Neuros OSD will actually pay end users for their hacks, including $1000 for creating a YouTube or GoogleVideo browser, $600 for a Flickr photo viewer and $400 for getting VoIP running on the system. 

Bounty Details

From Neuros:
"These bounties are a community style thing that is just a modest way to put a little money back into the Neuros community as a token for our appreciation. We hope and expect for people to collaborate, split bounties and credit and share information, etc. The deliverables and rules are sketchy and the interpretation is completely subject to the whim of the selection committee"

YouTube or Google video Browser
Bounty: $1000

Flickr Photo Browser
Bounty: $600

Implement a wireless remote using a WiFi PDA (or PSP) as the remote.
Bounty: $500

TiVo style functionality for radio. Hook up the OSD to a FM/AM or Satellite receiver and do timed recordings or FF/RW and Pause Live Radio. Bounty: $700

Voip on the OSD. Plug a USB phone into the OSD and make calls without touching any of your PCs.
Bounty: $500

 Specification 

At launch, the OSD records open MPEG-4 files from any analog video source directly onto USB-enabled devices like the iPod, external hardrives, USB thumbdrives, and other portable media players. It also records onto standard memory cards (Memory Stick, SD, CF, MMC, etc) for easy transfer onto almost any device that accepts them(including the Sony PSP, PDAs, smart phones, laptops, and PCs).

With the Neuros OSD and almost any handheld, you can easily:

• Watch favorite TV show or movies anytime, anywhere.
• Digitize your home movies.
• Play movies downloaded from the internet on TV.
• Hold a slide show of your latest photos trip on TV.
• Capture video game highlights and email to friends.

Why is Neuros so open?

There are several reasons. First, we have really embraced the open source methodology of product development. Those of you that have followed Neuros development from the beginning know this has been an evolution for us, and not without it's rough spots. Over time, by witnessing the power of the open source, collaborative style of development, we became believers. Today, its obvious that that by involving the community, our most involved and (usually) articulate users and developers we can participate at every step of the way, not to mention give invaluable feedback. This end user feedback woven deeply into the product development process is what ensures that our products make sense and serve a real need. Second, Neuros targets that highly sophisticated user as its end user. For those of you skeptical that such users comprise an adequate market to build a business on, you'll be interested to know that a recent University of Chicago (Graduate School of Business) study we commissioned estimated the market for portable digital audio and video players among what they called "open source geeks" to be a $2 Billion a year market worldwide. The third reason is a simple belief that the broader market appreciates "openness" as well. You don't have to be an open source geek to be repulsed by Microsoft's Halloween memo or the latest corporate coverup. We believe that by being transparent, owning up to our mistakes and standing behind our products, we can create a brand that will command a premium in the long run.

A limited number of Beta Linux based machines are available via ThinkGeek, more info via the Neuros Wiki.