Matchstick, open source Chromecast replacement with Firefox OS - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2014, 03:51:12 pm
content: This seems interesting:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040419302/matchstick-the-streaming-stick-built-on-firefox-osIt is an open source "Chromecast replacement" with Firefox OS, currently for 18$ (retail 25$).I pledged for one just for interest mainly (I already have a Chromecast), my first Kickstarter pledge! Hope I don't get scammed

author: lapoltba
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2014, 04:03:07 pm
content: I haven't been too into the HDMI Stick media devices so I don't know much about them. I almost bought one of the chromecast things, or an equivalent Android one, but the specs and usability were very underwhelming.I'll wait for some other to chime in, but I'm sitting on the edge of my seat. For $18 I may take a chance.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2014, 02:07:17 am
content: Its "completely OPEN hardware and software platform", its so open they offer this precious eula:http://www.matchstick.tv/developers/hardware-apply-check.html"You may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of any software or software components of the Matchstick software including the Matchstick SDK software."EULA most likely imposed by Chinese ODM - company licensed by Rockchip to implement their SoC, company holding all the NDAs, all the 'secret sauce', and all the kernel sources that they WILL NOT release because they DONT GIVE A FLYING dUCK ABOUT GPL.Rockchip isnt a Linaro member. Heh, Allwinter is a group member, and even they dont give a duck about gpl and only release some sources with 6-12 months delay.Rockchip is hostile, all they do is take from open source community.BTW: Rockchip ODMs started spreading this cancer beyond Linux kernel. They hijacked XBMC now and distribute closed source fork with hardcoded support for their inhouse proprietary h.265 decoderhttp://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=202924&pid=1795164#...Quote from one of Chinese Rockchip ODMs:"i have no idea of GPL as it is Rockchip released this XBMC version for all factories, after confimed wtih our engineer, we tried to get the soure, but RK did not give it to us."its hilarious that Mozilla is promoting this.

author: lapoltba
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2014, 12:12:06 am
content: Eh, what the heck. I'm in for one at $18. Hell, it can't be any worse than my Sony NSZ-GS8 googletv set-top-pile.

author: fake-name
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2014, 04:44:27 am
content: Quote from: Rasz on October 01, 2014, 02:07:17 amFWIW, they've fixed that. Now it's just a warranty disclaimer and CC-SA info page.Of course, the "hardware design source files" are just PDF schematics, but still, apparently they have good intentions.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2014, 06:13:06 am
content: Quote from: fake-name on October 10, 2014, 04:44:27 am

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2015, 01:12:17 am
content: "Unfortunately, we are unable to continue on this journey, and we will be refunding all Matchstick pledges. "........ And scene.......https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/matchstick/matchstick-the-streaming-stick-built-on-firefox-os/posts/1266549?ref=backer_project_update