maddog, thanks for your thoughtful reply! > Fortunately the mp3 issue (as a continued example) can be met other > ways. Since the designs are open, the addition of an mp3 codec by a VAR > (and payment of that royalty in jurisdictions where it is required) is > something that could be done even without any effort by the open > community or Qi. But the issue has to be communicated and understood, > the solution has to be planned. IMHO the creation of an add-on package > by Qi for mp3 and other royalty-bearing codecs would be something useful > for their customers, and would call attention to the fact that these > codecs are not free either as in Freedom nor as in Beer.
Perfectly fine. Nothing is more important than clarity, and professional work. I do agree with some of Christoph's criticism in how Openmoko handled the MP3 situation back then. I too tried my best but wasn't satisfied with my results. It was a nasty experience being attacked by one of these critters. Having said that, both Openmoko and Qi have learnt from it (Christoph too I think), and hopefully we can be smarter going forward and focus our energies towards doing GOOD THINGS that make us happy. What you describe there maddog is something I can subscribe to immediately. If anybody wants an 'official' statement of Qi & patents or Qi & patented codecs, please ask Steve over in the Qi developer list. He will word something that can stand the test of time, which I cannot. Wolfgang On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 10:25:21AM -0400, Jon 'maddog' Hall wrote: > >#2 Not only do we 'announce' products that are not for sale, but in > >addition we have an open roadmap and design the products based on > >community feedback. > > A comment on this: > > Of course designing a product with as much input and feedback from your > community of customers is important. But when I say "customers" here, I > speak in the broadest possible terms: > > - developers > - end users > - Channels (VARs, Distributors, Resellers) > > Wolfgang has announced several goals of Qi, a main goal being that of > "openness" and the support of Ogg formats. This may be in conflict with > goals of his channels, to be able to support both Ogg and mp3, and > therefore reach a large enough marketplace to justify selling the > product. > > This may mean that the product sells in the tens of thousands instead of > the millions. That may be fine as long as it meets the other goals of > Qi and the people that invest time and money in Qi, including > manufacturers and distributors. > > Fortunately the mp3 issue (as a continued example) can be met other > ways. Since the designs are open, the addition of an mp3 codec by a VAR > (and payment of that royalty in jurisdictions where it is required) is > something that could be done even without any effort by the open > community or Qi. But the issue has to be communicated and understood, > the solution has to be planned. IMHO the creation of an add-on package > by Qi for mp3 and other royalty-bearing codecs would be something useful > for their customers, and would call attention to the fact that these > codecs are not free either as in Freedom nor as in Beer. > > I have seen lots of people communicate congratulations to the new > company and I too wish them success. Part of that congratulations > should be the honest appraisal of their plans so they meet their goals. > > Part of that is helping them get feedback from the community of their > true customers, whoever those true customers are. > > Warmest regards, > > maddog > > > > _______________________________________________ > Openmoko community mailing list > community@lists.openmoko.org > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community