Archos unloads source code for all Generation 4 devices
By Darren Murph 
posted Feb 15th 2007 11:07AM
posted Feb 15th 2007 11:07AM
Tinkerers, it's time to rejoice. Archos has gone and released the entire source code to its Generation 4 lineup of products, giving open source gurus yet another avenue to exert their tweaking skills. The ISO is reportedly quite thorough, including makefiles and documentation, but interestingly enough, the files still seem to lack signatures, which has the folks over at ArchosFans a bit bummed. Still, those rocking a 404, 504, or any flavor of the 604 should head on over and give this thing a download, and do tell if anything substantial can be exploited / enabled, cool?[Via ArchosFans, thanks Rick R.]
Yay! If Archos was a guy, I'd totally be like "Archos! You da man!". Incidentally, Archos is an anagram of Crohas, the company founder. So "Crohas, You da man!".
Isn't it funny that we all get excited about companies who "let us" do their programming for them?
I like this as much as the next geek and think all companies should do it, but really, why can't they pay their own coders to do it for everyone instead of trying to get consumers to do it for themselves?
Well, here's the thing, it makes sure that consumers get what they want. And it's not like Archos is going to stop producing software. And this is a risk for Archos because we could unlock things they want restricted, or compromise DRM, etc.
I see where you're coming from Andy but not sure I agree. Recently Archos has always put out a thorough OS (I'm ignoring the bad old days). If we want to tinker with that then yes, it's going to be up to us. I've had my share of gripes with Archos over the years but they've always been offset by the fact that they really genuinely seem to embrace this whole "give our customers what they want" attitude. it may take them a while but they really are so far ahead of the game in a lot of areas, this being just one of them. good on ya (again) archos.
Kudos to Archos, this looks like a specialized build of Linux. Apparently there are still parts missing from the distribution like /usr/bin/avos, and some mystery glue for turning the resulting kernel image into a firmware distribution that the device will accept. This will definately turn the x04 series into a tinkerer's wet dream though..
I am really impressed with Archos. I've been wating for that damn full screen iPod for a long time (I am not buying a damn, expensive iPhone that has a measly 8GB), and I'm thinking I should get an Archos. The more I hear from this company, the more I'm impressed.
HURRAH! I've got a 404 AND a 604 wifi, this is seriously excellent news. FLAC support is first on my list. :)
Quality. Big up to Archos. :)
This is just so f*ing AWESOME!
At least, when the signature problem gets solved.
I mean, really, Archos support was already doing a great job releasing firmware updates regularly.
Opening the source code was the last step Archos needed to make their PVRs from "Great" to "Greatest".
I have a 604 and it's already the best PVR I tested... now with it's source code released, I can only imagine...
The player can play mpeg2 and h.264, record video with great quality and other stuff, so you can tell it's processor power is not bad.
Can I start dreamming of replacing the HDD for a larger one, having some Opera with Flash plugin, maybe some games or emulators, and other stuff now? I imagine 604Wi-fi owners must be even happier than me right now... :P
andy @ Feb 15th 2007 11:36AM
"I like this as much as the next geek and think all companies should do it, but really, why can't they pay their own coders to do it for everyone instead of trying to get consumers to do it for themselves?"
I don't understand why you would consider this a negative.
Simple fact of the matter is that there are some very smart people out there who do this sort of thing for fun and it may or may not have something to do with what they do for a living. I think it's a great way to innovate a product, let them mod it to suit their tastes. Everyone wins because the more successful this sort of busniess is, the more companies that will follow suit which translates into products that can be improved by the users - who better to figure out what they really need? Some marketing douche-bag, or the guy who uses it every day?
After all, Einstein worked as a clerk in a patent office while developing his theory of relativity. Kind of a long way from being a theoretcial physicist don't you think? There are probably a few fry-cooks out there that could make the next killer app for one of these things.
I think you guys are missing the point here: Archos had no legal alternative but to release the code. If they are using GPL code (i.e. Linux or similar) then they are legally obliged to provide the source on request. Now, the fact that it has taken them over 6 months to do so raises questions in my mind about their dedication to FOSS concepts...
John.
odysseus_nz - it is true they were legally required to do this. and it may have taken them six months. but now that they've done it, they have made it very accessible. They didnt NEED to include documentation, they didnt NEED to include make files, they did all that to be nice to us developers.
So instead of just dumping out undocumented code files, they gave us something we can easily use. So I think your distrust of them is misplaced.
Kyle
Hi Kyle, and Hi to all the Other Folks here.
i've just read that Archos released the Source Codes for the Generation 4 Devices.
I'm owner of a Archos 604 WIFI and I would like to ask you guys if there is a community of People who is working on a custom Firmware or some Add Ons for the
604 Wifi.
It would be nice if you could tell me.
Maybe you could tell me such a web Site or you could give me the email of sombody whos working on it ???
Thanks to you