this was an open letter that i have sent measy long time ago. this were some thought that i shared with Measy. believe what, they did nothing
First of all the concept of media player is like old by now (play audio video files view photos). we have to take advance of possibilities of technologies that is offering today.
With ZERO investment in hardware you can add some extras that NO other media player has. as you can see the concept of media player today is not enough i has turn over a entrainment home center.
The possibility of using Android it really opens Hugh possibilities to the company and the market. Watching movies, listening to audio viewing photos it not enough. People has the "necessity" to be connected today the possibility to of web browsing, facebook, twitter, any Instant messenger line yahoo, microsoft, skype, really opens the possibility to your devices.
What i have noticed is that no media player has the option to ad 3g dongle ( this is very simple to add only add things in the firmware (you dont have to program NOTHING, every Chinese cheap table has this) and has a very big marking option for your devices. today wired communications are basically dead. 3g carries has 3 or 4 more lines that wired ones so this FREE upgraded for you to add to your devices will be a plus. also 4g networks are being deployed all around the world and you only will need to update the firmware to support new 4g dongles.
Other detail that i have noticed is that no media player has enabled the Bluetooth option. Its an other firmware update that can be done ZERO cost HI IMPACT on promotion in marketing. imagine, you can do web calls or use skype using a bluethooth headset. with skype or gtalk you will be able to buy some credit and talk around the world to hardline or wireless one for less money. so you can promote the device possibilities. Also no one media player has this option. for you it has no cost. the owner will need to buy a Bluetooth dongle. or you can provide one they are very very very cheep. image you provide also a possibility to connect the device to cellphones though Bluetooth and transfer files very simple. also you can here music using the Bluetooth headset in you home not having the tv on or with hi volume.
Add webcam possibility. this item i have not investigated much due it there are not much stuff out there. but could be interesting to add the video call option. obioulsy this it has no cost the owner of the device will buy a usb web cam to use if is interested. hugh marking impact too. tablets has webcam it is only to study how this work and implement the option.
update: there are allready media players and tablets that support webcam external webcam.
Add the samba server, i have noticed that some devices on the market does not have installed samba this is a basic stuff to share files over the network.
Add VNC server so you can control the media player from a notebook.
This kind of software are all around the web and are free. the issue is that most of them need to have the media player ROOTED.Selling the media player rooted could be a good marketing strategy so the users can really have a more complete experience of it.
As an example of things that could be done is to tweek the host file of the device so most of Advertisements are blocked (they are realy a pain in the .......) this can be done by hand or you can install an application called adfree
This is an important item you should be directly developing on android 4 it has more advance opportunities and good thing that can be used. also is orientated more to "tables".
UPDATE: enable joypad support. (this can be done updating the kernel and adding some libraries. Android 3.0 has this option already included. imagine playing mame games NES Snes and any other console games.
update: Adding support for USB dongles DVB-T / ISDB-T / DVB-S/DVB-S2 / DVB-T2 digital TV receiving.
This update has hardware cost
it is very important that the client gets a very good experience when un boxing the device. so how it is packaged the quality of it or how it is opened its important for the subcontinent of the client. think in apple products when you un box you having a experience that you tell (or publish) to all your friend how it was your first impression.
Also the controller should be hi quality. it is the interface between you and the device it has to feel like a symbiotic relationship. as an example Measy provide really good controllers, they look and feel very expensive and hi quality. For this kind of devices that has android a remote controller with gyroscope should be provided by default. it enhance the experience in a 1000% and it has a HUGH impact in mind of the client and friends. FV-1 media player has this kind of remote controller. that is a good example. Also having back light in the controller is excellent option.
note: update notes were added in this post.
