Monday, October 13, 2008
La Fonera 2.0 is here!
Please note this is the Developer Only edition.
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the Fonera 2.0 Beta DEVELOPERS ONLY Edition in our French, German and Spanish online shops. 
It is a limited edition of 1K units at a reduced special price of Euros 39.95 (VAT included). This first Edition of Fonera 2.0 is intended for Developers to start playing around with and programming their own applications for other Foneros out there. It comes with a firmware that has the Basic USB functions implemented so Developers can use it to create new applications. The Fonera 2.0 supports multiple USB devices attached to it simultaneously via a powered usb hub!
THE DEVICE
Fonera 2.0 Beta DEVELOPERS ONLY Edition works just like a Fonera+ in terms of the WiFi and FON Community Feature and shares the same housing as Fonera+ with an extra LED (USB). The big difference is the USB 2.0 Port that allows several USB devices to be plugged into the router. Devices like USB Hard Disks, USB Printers, USB Scanners, USB Webcams and many others that will slowly be added to the list of Supported Devices. New USB 2.0 devices perform best on this unit and some legacy USB 1.1 may not work well. We suggest you always use a USB 2.0 HUB so you can plug in several devices in order to get the best performance and connectivity with Fonera 2.0 Beta.
THE APPLICATIONS
Fonera 2.0 Beta latest firmware comes with the following USB Beta Applications:
1. File Sharing: using the Fonera 2.0 Beta GUI
2. Printer Server: for USB printers to be shared as a Network Printer
3. Scanner Server: for USB Scanners also to be shared
4. USB Webcam: you can see your USB Webcam from any computer connected wired or wirelessly to the Fonera 2.0 Beta (only some chipsets supported)
5. Plug In Interface: this is were new apps will be able to be loaded just with one click
We recommend the use of a Powered USB 2.0 HUB to use most USB devices even if some devices may not need it. The latest Development firmware will be published on our web so you can reflash (with cable) your Fonera 2.0 Beta and add the last features to it.
The GUI on this version is very simple and tekkie so we are working on a much more user friendly version with a whole new User Interface that is more intuitive and will be the default in the Final version.
THE COMMUNITY
For the development of the first Fonera 2.0 Applications, hardware and middleware we have had workshops with several Open Source Communities, specially with our long time friends from OpenWRT, so we were able to deliver not just another Fonera but a flexible and usable device for many worldwide communities spread around the globe that need more common and affordable hardware to develop their ideas and applications working from very distant places. This has been a great experience to us and probably the coolest thing about it is that we have done a device that all of us WANT for our own homes!
We have been working on the final Fonosfera framework for all communities to Join in on new developments, it is not online yet but we did not want to delay the launch of this Fonera 2.0 Beta DEVELOPER ONLY Edition because we know many communities and Foneros are waiting to start playing around with the hardware and firmware.
There are the various Application Development Groups and Communities and/or our inhouse teams have started to work on the 2.0, if you are a Developer and want to join any of them or even create your own please leave a note in the comments.
1. Finder for Fonera 2.0: App that will allow you to navigate though the USB Hard Disc on the Fonera 2.0 from any Mac/Windows computer.
2. GSpace for Fonera 2.0: App that will synchronize GSpace 2Gb data with your Fonera 2.0 USB Disk GSpace Folder (www.getgspace.com)
3. Backup Application: Auto-Backup application with MAC/Windows/Linux client that will automatically incremental backups of your notebook when you get connected to Fonera 2.0
4. Azureus Client: App that will allow you to manage your BitTorrents from your Fonera 2.0
5. UMTS Modem Support: App that will allow you to use a USB HSDPA modem to connect to the Internet and then send WiFi for your devices to connect to it. Ideal for Nintendo and PSP addicts!
6. YouTube uploading tool: Get your video into the USB HDD on your Fonera 2.0 and close your computer, all the long uploading will be done by this App on Fonera 2.0 and you save power!
7. USB Audio Support: App that will allow you to add a small USB Audio Card dongle and stream your music from your Fonera 2.0 to your HiFi.
And the cool thing about it is that we are doing all this on the new Fonera 2.0 hardware that will come with 11n, but that will still take us some more time. As you can see this is just the beginning of a great toy that we are making together with you guys, let´s have FUN!
Posted by Steve Ross on Gadgets
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@ Fabio and Turista
We haven't set a public release date yet, we're working on wireless n right now. I don't know all the reasons for limiting it to those countries but I can tell you we have many active "developer" Foneros there so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it! You can meet many of them on our boards.
49.95euros with shipping is very expensive. Let's have fun with my 50euros? not funny. I think a real developer will not buy it because nobody will pay for his/her "developing" time.
I would buy it but it is very-very expensive and this is the reduced "special price".
Fonera 2.0 50euro
USB/HDD 30-100euros
USB hub 15euros
Webcam 15euros
Total: 110euros or more..
What about the cheap netbooks now?
@elfonero - 49 euros is very competitive when compared to other similar routers. The webcam etc. aren't requirements, they're available features, you don't have to use them.
@Marco - I'm not sure when a non-developer version will be released.
I would love one of these when its finished. What will be the limit of usb devices that you can plug in to this thing?
I'm interested in Fon,but I have no extra money to spend.So I was thinking if you send me one I'll find some apps. for it and spread the word around my area to let people know how easy and awesome it to use.It's a win win.What do ya think?
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