Talk:ODROID

Open-source hardware?
“created by Hardkernel Co., Ltd., an open-source hardware company”

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see any sign of this on their website. Where are the hardware sources? What licence are they released under?

I also don't see any mention of Odroid or Hardkernel on the Open-source computing hardware list.

— James Haigh (talk) 2014-04-25 T 22:50:11Z


 * "The ODROID means Open + Android"


 * "There is no copyright issue on our schematics. It is a sort of open hardware. It is possible to clone the ODROID-U2/U"


 * "ODROID(Open-Android) devices are shipped with full source code and schematics."


 * "An Open Hardware Single Board Computer with all the Hardware and Features I wished my Raspberry Pi had - ODROID-U3 Community Edition"


 * --Guy Macon (talk) 23:54, 25 April 2014 (UTC)


 * Thank you. Note 3 of your 2nd reference confirms that it is not open hardware:


 * “3. We don't supply/sell any PCB design file or Gerber file. Please don't ask about it.”


 * — James Haigh (talk) 2014-05-08 T 17:36:08Z


 * Btw. Guy, if you're interested in hardware that really is open, see here:


 * Open-source computing hardware
 * List of open-source hardware projects


 * — James Haigh (talk) 2014-05-08 T 18:36:55Z


 * I am very familiar with open-source hardware.


 * Gerber hardware files are not like software source files. They are like software executables, "compiled" from the hardware equivalent of source files -- the schematic and parts list. If that makes it closed source, them the Linux kernel is closed source on account of only supplying source code, not executables.


 * The key fact about a Gerber file is that, like an executable, it cannot be easily modified or studied. Yes, there are utilities which allow you to directly edit a Gerber just as there are utilities that allow you to patch an executable, but the usual (and by far easier) way to make a change is to modify the source/schematic and then recompile/relayout to a new executable/gerber. --Guy Macon (talk) 18:50, 8 May 2014 (UTC)


 * It's not a great comparison to use the analogy of the Linux kernel. Hardware is inherently different because it is less malleable; it is relatively easy to recompile the kernel but remaking hardware has a significant cost. If hardware is truly open then one use of the sources is to allow modification to existing instances of that hardware. Yes, hardware mods are like patching a binary, but the limitation on the ‘recompile’ is due to natural production cost rather than copyright restriction.
 * Furthermore, ask yourself this: if hardware files are so hard to do anything useful with, then why is the company restricting their availability?
 * If you still think Odroid is open hardware, then talk to the people who prevent projects like the Raspberry Pi from being on the open hardware lists for the same reasons.
 * — James Haigh (talk) 2014-05-08 T 21:47:54Z
 * I don't need to talk to them, because I am one of them. Something is open-source hardware if there is sufficient documentation under a suitable license so that someone who has the capability of creating hardware can create and sell a working copy of it without infringing on any patents or copyrights. You can do that with Odroid. You can't with Raspberry Pi.
 * How does a Gerber file "allow modification to existing instances of that hardware"? By telling you where the traces go when you can easily determine that with visual inspection and an ohmmeter? --Guy Macon (talk) 09:09, 9 May 2014 (UTC)

PCB files
> the hardware isn't actually open because some parts of the design are retained by the company.[2]

PCB AutoCAD files and full schematics are available for all three of their current boards. Maybe this bit should be removed from article? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.240.134.81 (talk) 17:49, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

Genode on Odroid XU4
What is the reason for Genode not being able to run on Odroid XU4? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.169.116.21 (talk) 07:44, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

Additional Models
It appears ODroid also offers HC1, HC2, and MC1. These seem to be worthy of inclusion. For example, HC1 includes SATA 3 support, the HC2 includes USB 3.0, and the MC1 overtly supports clustering... although I suspect the others do as well. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jasonnet (talk • contribs) 04:39, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Another offered model HC-4 is listed as supported by OpenBSD. Hot basket (talk) 09:45, 18 March 2021 (UTC)