Hacking Open source flashcart

[Sinkhead]

For some odd reason I remembered this email just now. I got it a while ago but never thought to post it here.
I got offered a review sample of the XP card off a flashcart shop, he wanted me to review it and tell him if I thought it was worth him stocking it. I then said that it was exactly the same as the DS-Linker which he already stocked, and he sent this back.

Yes, I think they're all clones - I presume each company gets to licence the design.
I think what happens is that the Chinese find a good firm of designers (or maybe a single person) who does the hard bit, then they take the ASIC and firmware that result and program the ASICs in their offices, then send them to a factory to be housed on a PCB and clothed in plastic etc.

Then each supplier forks the ASIC so that they end up with different features - some start with a different basic design too.

I'd like to see the community mimic this process, so that both the hard and software get open-sourced - then the great posters out there would help make an unbeatable solution, with none of the condescension the suppliers exhibit.

A user-driven approach that would result in innovation, making the devices better able to fulfill their potential and more likely to be compatible with one another.

I'm pretty sure that at least some designers read and post in the forums - I would if I was a designer...

It may be that, without a commercial impetus, it will remain just a pipe-dream so I'm thinking of having one designed for me - just need to find a designer, ideally with a track record.

What do you think?
I tild him it was a great idea then I asked him what kind of ideas he already had, and he said
QUOTEI cannot specify - it depends on what a designer can do - if I can't locate one who has experience, it's a non-starter!
Any ideas as to how to find someone?

So, does anyone think they can help him? He owns a popular UK flashcart shop so he has experience in marketing and sales etc.

I just thought I'd being it up
- Sam

PS: I have not mentioned the person's name in case they don't want me to.

Even if you don't think you can help with the project, please give your opinions and suggestions

 

[TLSpartan]

wats the site so we can all have a gander at it

 

[Sinkhead]

The site for what? If you mean a website where we are planning our ideas, then I guess I could create a page on my Wiki for it. At the moment I'm just looking for someone who has the knowledge and facilities to actually make this happen, as well as opinions etc.
I am really not trying to gather people who can make this project happen (although that would be great). I am simply trying to see who would be interested and what people think of it, as I don't really have much experience with this sort of thing.

- Sam

 

[Sinkhead]

Minor update:
I made a Wiki page. But there's no more information on that than in the top post.

- Sam