[Discuss] Possible abuse of the term "open source hardware"

[malcolm stanley]

Hey, can i play too?

I got this email from Nordic Semi and when I went to look there were NO
open source drawings or other materials at all on the vendor web site...

Product Related News*MODULES: *ARDUINO OPEN SOURCE
PROTOTYPING<https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/Press-Releases/Product-Related-News/World-s-first-Arduino-compatible-micro-computer-with-Bluetooth-low-energy-allows-electronics-makers-to-add-smartphones-and-tablets-to-their-projects>

World's first Arduino-compatible micro-computer with Bluetooth low energy
allows electronics makers to add smartphones and tablets to their projects
<https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/Press-Releases/Product-Related-News/World-s-first-Arduino-compatible-micro-computer-with-Bluetooth-low-energy-allows-electronics-makers-to-add-smartphones-and-tablets-to-their-projects>
[image: World's first Arduino-compatible micro-computer with Bluetooth low
energy allows electronics makers to add smartphones and tablets to their
projects]

Wireless startup 'Open Source RF' releases the 'RFduino' for the
rapidly-growing open source electronics maker movement which will support
thousands of applications and is based on a Bluetooth v4.0 compatible
module (the RFD51822) that employs Nordic's multiple award-winning nRF51822
SoC
Oslo, Norway2013/03/13

Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD)
today announces from wireless startup 'Open Source RF' – launched on
KickStarter.com <http://www.kickstarter.com/> – the world's first 'Arduino'
compatible open-source micro-computer that can communicate wirelessly with
any *Bluetooth*® v4.0 (which includes *Bluetooth *low energy as a hallmark
feature) compatible smartphone (including the iPhone® 4S/5) or tablet (such
as the 3rd and 4th generation iPad® or the iPad mini) and is based on a new
RFD51822 module that is based on the multiple-award winning Nordic nRF51822
SoC ('System-on-Chip') developed by Nordic's long standing module partner
and wireless specialist, RF Digital.

Called the 'RFduino' and making full use of the Nordic nRF51822's powerful
on-board 32-bit ARM® Cortex™ M0-based processor, this fully FCC and
CE-compliant 2.4GHz wireless coin-sized micro-computer is designed to allow
both electroincs makers (e.g. students, hobbyists, amateurs) and
professional devel...
Read more...<https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/Press-Releases/Product-Related-News/World-s-first-Arduino-compatible-micro-computer-with-Bluetooth-low-energy-allows-electronics-makers-to-add-smartphones-and-tablets-to-their-projects>

_________________________________________
malcolm stanley

google.voice:  215.821.6252
Cell: 267.251.9479   <------------- new
email: a.malcolm.stanley at gmail.com
twitter / linkedin: amstanley
Read my blog at http://soaringhorse.blogspot.com
_________________________________________


On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 4:45 PM, Windell H. Oskay <windell at oskay.net> wrote:

> Hey there, OSHW aficionados,
>   While browsing stackexchange today, I came across a banner ad for Pogo
> Linux, selling "[The Best Open Source Hardware] for your IT department."
>  Naturally I was interested, because, hey-- open source servers --neat!
>
>
> I'm attempting to attach my screenshot of the banner ad to this e-mail.
>  If it doesn't work, I've cached it as well, here:
> http://evilmadscientist.s3.amazonaws.com/scratch/pogo_linux_banner.png
>
>
> Anyway, from their About page (http://www.pogolinux.com/about/) Pogo
> Linux sells "Hardware Built for Open-Source" -- rackmount servers that run
> linux and so forth.   But... so far as I can tell, they do not sell any
> actual OSHW-definition compliant products.   (Or do they, and just not
> indicate that clearly?)
>
>
> On this page, they further state "Trust the experience of Pogo Linux for
> the best-supported Open-Source hardware in the industry" :
> http://www.pogolinux.com/products/go/intel-xeon-servers.php?pm=vmw16883
>
>
> I'm afraid that this is not a good thing.  To the extent that we care
> about the term "Open Source Hardware" having a clearly defined meaning--
> one that can be used to hold up a false-advertising claim for those that
> abuse the term --I think that we should care about how the term is used,
> and do our best to prevent dilution of its meaning.
>
>
>
>
>
> Cheers,
> -Windell
>
>
>
> Windell H. Oskay, Ph.D.
> Co-Founder and Chief Scientist
> Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
> 175 San Lazaro Ave, STE 150
> Sunnyvale CA 94086
> http://www.evilmadscientist.com/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> discuss mailing list
> discuss at lists.oshwa.org
> http://lists.oshwa.org/listinfo/discuss
>
>
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