RE: [Neuros 442 Linux Main] Hardware opinions

[Joe B. <jb...@ne...>]

I'll start with batteries:

I've felt ever since we released the Neuros that the back of an MP3 =
player should be concave since the shape of virtually everything that =
matters that you attach it to is curved (your waist, your arm, your leg =
when it's in your pocket).  So my idea was to put cylindrical cells on =
the "corners" of the unit and have the back concave.

The other option would be to a popular battery from another manufacturer =
(like a cell phone manufacturer) which would ensure a ready, cheap =
supply of both batteries and chargers.  We should do the same thing =
where-ever we can, like power supplies, A/V cables etc.

I still am stuck on the concave thing though.  Sony released an FM radio =
that was that shape and although it was big by the standards of FM =
radios, it attached really comfortably to your arm.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: neu...@li... =
[mailto:neu...@li...] On Behalf Of =
Bj=F6rn Stenberg
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 2:04 PM
To: neu...@li...
Subject: Re: [Neuros 442 Linux Main] Hardware opinions


Joe Born wrote:
> JB- actually, you bring up a point that I've been meaning to ask=20
> about. It's clear that the trend is away from the NiMH batteries, but=20
> they have the advantages you list above.  Having used both with=20
> Archos, what's your experience with performance been like.  Obviously=20
> LiIon has a density advantage.

Standard AA or AAA batteries are awesome. They are dirt cheap, come in =
ever higher capacity and can be charged externally in off-the-shelf =
chargers. I would say the Archos models that used them had their market =
life extended way beyond what they would have had with proprietary =
batteries.

However the price you pay for that is size. A custom battery will always =
be more space efficient than AA* batteries. For a 2.5"-disk player, I'd =
say the choice of standard batteries is a no-brainer because the device =
is going be a bit bulky anyway. But if you want to aim for a piece of =
the 1.8"-disk segment of Apple, Creative and Iriver, I don't think you =
can afford the extra bulk.

The highest capacity NiHM AAA batteries on the market claim 1000 mAh =
(which is probably a stretch) at 1.2V. You'll need at least tree to get =
above 3.3V efficiently (I assume you won't be able to run everything on =
less?). I'm turning my Iriver H140 in my hand and can't quite come up =
with a place where 3 AAA batteries would fit. In the end it depends on =
how important size is.

Also, note that some Archos models have user-replaceable LiIon =
batteries:
  http://www.newmp3technology.com/proddetail.php?prod=3Dmb&cat=3D2

This combines the advantages of high-density battery and user swappable =
battery but adds the con of not being able to charge the battery outside =
the player, which sort of takes away half the point of a swappable =
battery. (Unless you make and sell a custom dedicated charger, of =
course.)

> Not yet determined, but I would really guess it would be a 1.8"=20
> Personally I would love a nice monochrome display, but I just think it =

> will just speak outdated to most folks.  The display=20
> technology/resolution hasn't been chosen yet and we haven't priced=20
> them yet either.

I agree about the public perception thing, but I still wouldn't rule out =
a nice grayscale LCD. They have a number of advantages over color =
displays, readability in sunlight being another one not yet mentioned. =
While perhaps a challenge, these advantages could be communicated to =
customers.

> JB- I believe that we'll use the USB host as our "data bus" and I=20
> would guess run the remote (and any other accessory) through there.

Hmm. USB host is one of the few things in the spec Rockbox is not ready =
for today and will require some effort to accomplish.

I like the idea of an =FCber-flexible connection allowing practically =
anything (keyboard, usb dac, you name it) but I think it will put a lot =
of extra strain on the programmers. Linux spends some 200K lines of code =
on the USB layer and although we don't need all that Linux has, it's =
going to be heavy.

Personally, I would probably choose something simpler such as SPI for =
the remote and save the very complex add-ons for the 443, if at all.=20

Because in reality, I don't see many companies wanting to spend a lot of =
money developing add-ons for a specific player. Apple's players comes =
close, but only because they are the market leader. And the most =
advanced add-on anyone makes for the iPod is gadgets that can read the =
song name from the serial port on the dock connector and send next/prev =
commands. (I.e. the very same thing an SPI remote would allow.) Are you =
planning on making and selling complex add-ons yourselves?

> JB- we will support recording, as far as SPDIF in, certainly if it's=20
> free, we should include it.  Not to ask a stupid question, but what is =

> it used for?

For recording digital audio, of course. :-) Many modern CD players, DVD =
players and Digital TV recievers have digital out and users of both =
Archos Recorders and Iriver H100 series players are using their digital =
inputs with much joy. It's not a very big deal however, optical out is =
way more important. But as I understand it you can pretty much get it =
for free hardware-wise (just a slightly more expensive connector).

--=20
Bj=F6rn


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