Hack the Planet: Neuros' new modder-friendly Linux DVR

DVRs are great, but they tend to be so . . . limited. Whether it's the box you got from your cable company or your own shiny new TiVo, you're still relying on its built-in interface and pre-programmed features.

Of course, you're probably not a coder, so the option of writing your DVR's software from the ground up isn't that big an issue.

If you are a programmer, hacker, or other electronics hobbyist, Neuros might have just the right DVR box for you. The Open Source Device 2 expands upon the original OSD with a plethora of new features and possibilities for the incessant customizer. While the first OSD was intended mostly for the Linux community, it became popular as a simple, inexpensive DVR system for consumers. The OSD2 takes all the appeal of the original OSD (relatively inexpensive, easy to modify, extremely flexible Linux-based operating system), and adds one of the most important features any consumer needs in a DVR: HD video support. Sort of.