As I write this blog I see them in kickstarter, 29 days to go and already got over 500k USD over of their target. That is fast!
Build to have Android running on it makes the possibilities limitless. Games, apps, streaming or just watch tv… and open hack able platform shall probably give birth to some other GPL linux based platform for the end users. While projects like raspberry pi gives you a board for 25$, Ouya plans to give you a fully functional slick box to play with.
Specifications of Ouya
- Tegra3 quad-core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB of internal flash storage
- HDMI connection to the TV, with support for up to 1080p HD
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth LE 4.0
- USB 2.0 (one)
- Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button), a touchpad
- Android 4.0
This new console will be so open, that its backers are expecting and asking for it to be hacked.
“We decided, ‘let’s take this as far as it can go,” Uhrman said. “So if you want to go in and hack the box, go ahead and do it. We hope you do it.”
In a follow-up e-mail, she was more specific about just how far under the hood the Ouya crew would let a hacker go: “The circuit board will have well-documented test points. People can swap out chips, add, etc. We may even publish the hardware design if enough people are curious. Because Ouya will also have Bluetooth and a USB, hardware hobbyists can also make their own peripherals (someone already suggested pinball controls to us). Regarding the software, you’ll be able to root the device easily. It won’t void your warranty. Every unit has a debug console. We are even working on the idea of a “plant”—which will restore your profile after rooting your device (reverse your root). Because it’s built on Android, you’ll understand the source code well, too. (Obviously if a hacker roots the device, our integrated user experience and game store will no longer be available while the device is rooted — so there is, as always, a tradeoff between customizing your device and enjoying the benefits of standardization. We expect the true hackers to be an elite, but small proportion of the total number of people who buy the box. Most people will probably just use the standard setup.)”
I think this is as close as we go to open source hardware from a commercial hardware vendor. Opening up a new hardware platform in this way bring an enormous opportunity for open source software development in home multimedia platform. This could be the next big thing after IBM PC or android for home multimedia, gaming, automation and many more.
Tag: Ouya, ouya controller, open source software, open source hardware, open source, xbox
Reference:
Technology Tab 
Really interesting. According to the Kickstarter page, the OUYA is now at almost $3 million in funding. One note: The “next Xbox” will be the “Xbox 720”: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405922,00.asp?
We believe this to be an authentic leak and not a hoax as outlined in our own post on the subject here:
http://pushingcontent.com/2012/06/18/weekend-roundup-3/
That said, best of luck to the OUYA team, disruption is just the sort of thing the tired video game industry needs (as opposed to, say, yet another Call of Duty title).
PS- love your stuff- Keep it up!!!
thanks for your comment
24,418
Backers
$3,092,848
pledged of $950,000 goal
28
days to go
OUYA: A New Kind of Video Game Console
going strong!!
34,733
Backers
$4,424,939
pledged of $950,000 goal
26
days to go
may go over 20m
Took a loner to get an additional million, still going very strong
39,603
BACKERS
$5,048,882
PLEDGED OF $950,000 GOAL
21
DAYS TO GO
All the best OUYA cant wait to get my hands on you!
51,782
Backers
$6,865,875
pledged of $950,000 goal
48
hours to go
less then 2m for last 19days.
Looks like the rest of us wanna see it first hand or read some review before we want to buy an Ouya.