LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2008
FREEDESIGNDOM 2008
ManufRactured EXHIBITION
VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM SUMMER WORKSHOPS
BICYCLE
FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW 2008
CERAMICS AND SOUND EXHIBITION
100 PERCENT DESIGN SHANGHAI
HAMBURG HARLEY DAYS 2008
BERLIN DESIGN FESTIVAL 2008
NEW YORK DESIGN WEEK 2008
MAKER FAIRE 2008
Openmoko, creator of the first completely open mobile computing platform, expanded the meaning of Open Source by posting the industrial design source files for its Neo branded mobile phones. Industrial design artists now have the same freedom as software engineers.
Earlier, the source code was freed for complete transformation of the phone software. Now, by publishing mechanical CAD files (here), we can start thinking about redesigning the Neo branded mobile phones to fit their vision and market needs. Some already have.
"Open Source development encourages contributions from a diverse, imaginative, and creative software community. Unlocking the CAD files for the Neo cases empowers the industrial design community to share and contribute their unique designs," said Openmoko Head of Developer Relations, Michael Shiloh. "And, with ready access to benchtop CNC machines and 3D printers, people will build these designs, even in single quantities."
London Design Festival 2008
Stepmothers of Invention:
FreeDesigndom
Deserve Your Dream:
Comments
Does this mean that designers can now open an online store to sell personalized mobile phones?
I am looking forward to the day when someone opens a mobile phone store on www.ponoko.com.
You design it, Ponoko helps you sell it, make it and deliver it to your customers. You keep 100% of the IP.
Of course, Ponoko will first need to offer more digital manufacturing capability - and include the Openmoko kit in the materials catalogue.
I wonder who wants to pioneer this with us to make it happen?
As an Industrial Designer I felt a little envy of the Open Source community of programmers when I first discovered the Neo 1973. I had just found a new attitude as well as a device that promised to cure all the problems of current hand held communications/computing devices; yet the only way I could be part of this new �ubiquitous computing� frontier would be as an early adopter or beta tester.
Since the CAD files for the first model have become available I now feel I can contribute to the Open Community myself and have as much fun as the programmers have had with the OS and applications, but with the device (I resist to call it just a phone) shape itself!
My first contribution to OpenMoko�s initiative is also possibly what most users would buy right after the phone itself; a flexible skin that fits snugly the Neo�s outer surfaces and provides a rugged feeling to either the Neo 1973 or the upcoming Freerunner (they share the same outer geometry).
I have added a new section to my website where you can view all my future concepts and accessories for any OpenMoko powered device as well as download any 3D CAD files and graphics I used to create the projects themselves under the Creative Commons license. Anyone is welcome to download actual CNC machinable Class �A� surfaces for the NeoSkin project as well as any other accessory or case design I come up for the Neos.
Best Regards,
Guillermo Sureda-Burgos | www.sureda.org
I came here looking for information on creating custom operating systems for mobile phones, a good start, and i hope i will soon find what i am looking for! Cheers:)