A modest proposal for Meizu: open source the firmware!

mfb · 09-18-2007

Originally Posted by Meizu5689

Meizu Does not Open Source its firmware because of other Company's. They will surely Use Meizu's firmware but change it around to make it look like there's Meizu doesn't want it to be stolen. and stranded is right. for all you know it wont be the original firmware and kill your warrenty

They can't use the open-source firmware. The source is specifically written for the M6 hardware. They might be able to pick the graphics part of they use the same Samsung-screen, but they can already copy that quite well because the UI and graphics are visible.
Next to that, we don't need those parts of the firmware if the sole purpose is reference on how to get rockbox ported to the M6.

iyanic · 09-21-2007

Originally Posted by stranded

yeah but still they could've copy some ideas for making their own firmware

Yeah right its alerdy happend look at new Creative player...

odysseos · 09-23-2007

Originally Posted by stranded

hey how about other companies using their firmware to produce meizu-like-players ?? anyone thought of that?

i know if i would be from meizu i wouldn't want any other company to use my firmware and make money from it.

There are more ways to open source a codebase than simply letting it all fly free.

They could release it under a license that prevented commercial redistribution or derivation. That would let people who just want to play with the firmware do that while preventing people who want to rebrand the firmware and sell it as their own from doing so.

It may not be as Libre as, say, GPL'ing or even BSDL'ing the code, but it's better than proprietary all the way. The best part is that when someone comes up with a new feature, if Meizu included a clause in their license requiring publication of changes, Meizu could directly incorporate that feature back into their mainline firmware without needing to do anything.

rrwakc · 06-14-2008

we know that it has samsung screen, for touch pad is used quantum-s (QProx(tm) Touch Control and Sensor ICs | Quantum Research Group) QSlide QT411(this chip is the only reason I bought meizu M6) which uses standard SPI communication protocol(which is easy to use), we know that it is using separated audio chip, so all we need to know is which microprocessor is in (my guess is ARM(7-9)core or some of the Atmel's [since atmel owns quantum it would be possible]+connecting it to USB is veeeeery simple) and what type of audio processing chip.

when we get the display's, touch sezor's, processor and audio chip's datasheet's together, were almost there. So if someone there has opened their miniplayer already please post the marks of the components used in it(also the full display version)

last step is to measure on which IO pins is what connected (basic shematic)

when we get all this data, the firmware can be written from scratch,
so there's possibility to made UI look more "deluxe" and an album art, or even flash support.

Speechless · 06-15-2008

when we get the display's, touch sezor's, processor and audio chip's datasheet's together, were almost there.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/MeizuM6Port

-- I'm Speechless.