MEET THE NEUROS OSD, an Open Source Device that uses a memory card or a USB storage device to save copies of anything that plays on your TV screen. Without the hassle of a Media Center's DRM, the Neuros OSD can rip from DVD, VHS, cable, satellite, or mobile phones connected via line-in. The OSD saves recordings in MPEG-4 format, which means the video will play on my iPod and W910i Walkman phone. You can get yourself a Neuros OSD in the States at Fry’s, Micro Center, J&R Electronics and online through several resellers. It costs less than €200 if you walk into a shop in the States and just under €240 if you buy it from Maplin Electronics.
According to the New York Times, "The OSD has not only open hardware, but also open software: it is based on the Linux operating system. Neuros Technology encourages hacking of the device; it has contests with cash rewards for new applications for the OSD. One winner, for instance, designed a program that lets people use it to watch YouTube on their televisions."
Using the OSD for daily video recording demands no special technical background, and no PC is required. It installs quickly. Just plug in any form of USB memory (a hard drive or gig card) in one slot, plug the television into another slot and you're off. If you watch a DVD on your TV, your Neuros can record it directly to your memory stick. This means I could slot in an M2 memory card and record directly from DVD to my Walkman W910i.
You get all the menu items for recording directly onto the TV screen and use the Neuros remote control to select your options. You can also link the Neuros directly onto your home network and record to a network device.
I like the idea of recording educational videos, viewing them on a monitor, and knowing they are recording directly onto a takeaway storage device. That's real innovation.
Anne Eisenberg -- "What this gadget can do is up to you"
Bonus Link:“Windsurfing With the Neuros OSD” on YouTube.
