The Freedom Box

A GNU/Linux Media Center application designed for a small number of specific STB chipsets (with or without hardware hacking) and able to run satisfactorily on many other STBs and PCs, especially new "low-cost laptops".

The TV Set-Top Box is an emerging market and each day more companies are producing and offering
different solutions to fit new market needs and trends. Many of these products are bound to proprietary solutions and protocols, others gain some features from the open source software.

The Freedom Box program suggests that the best approach to a working and winning implementation for a standard STB is to adopt Open Source (or, better, Free Software) solutions whenever it is possible.

The initial plan involves collaboration among the following players:

  • alliances of distributors/independent video producers and/or their associations (Italy, UK, USA);
  • development communities and companies developing mainstream and upcoming FLOSS STB, PVR and "Media Center" projects (XBMC on Linux, Neuros, MythTV, etc...);
  • one major landline internet connectivity provider per country (initially only Italy);
  • Telematics Freedom Foundation;
  • Free Software Foundation;
  • Telematics Park of Rome.