[Lab Bench Online]
EiED Online>> Building The SoniqCast Aireo
Volume 2004, Number 13
William Wong
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ED Online ID #8904 |
September 29, 2004
ED: What type of software and hardware development tools were employed to create the Aireo and its software?
Gary: Software development centers around Microsoft Platform Builder and its C++ compilers and debug facilities. There is some assembly code in the low-level boot loader that's easily integrated in this environment. Source-code revision control is maintained with CVS. An integrated build process is automated with internally developed scripts.
Defect tracking is handled with the BugAware system. The Aireo itself has various software debug capabilities including a debug serial comm port, a JTAG CPU emulator port, and a dump-to-non-volatile memory capability.
On the hardware front, the pcb tool flow is built around PADs products: PowerLogic for schematic capture and PowerPCB for pcb layout. The Xilinx toolset provides for VHDL/Verilog design, simulation and implementation in programmable logic. Spice was used for various analog simulations. In the lab, the normal complement of test equipment: digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers were used. Various audio PC-based audio analyzers address the sound analysis.
Spanning the gap between software and new, untested hardware was various evaluation boards from Intel and 802.11 vendors that allowed BSP and driver development before Aireo hardware was available.
Different aspects of mechanical design was done with different tools: AutoCad, Solidworks, and ProE.
ED: The Aireo comes with a small pamphlet to introduce the product, but the remaining documentation and all software is one the Aireo's hard-disk drive. How have customers taken to this form of distribution?
Gary: Some customers have expressed a degree of unfamilarity: Where's the CD? Once it is recognized where the documentation is, customers seem to find it a workable system.
ED: Aireo can automatically synch over an 802.11b wireless network using the SoniqSync application. Any thoughts on doing this across the Internet?
Gary: Are you referring to accessing one's own personal content library over the Internet or accessing commercial content sites?
The former requires a hosting capability on the home network to allow a VPN, ftp, or secure browser connection into the home network-capabilities that are beyond the reach of most users to configure. The latter requires a means of paying provider fees: the content provider and/or the carrier (hotspot) provider. Such payment could be on-demand or pre-established accounts. The latest software release provides Audible " content download via the Internet, taking the second approach.
ED: Where do you see Soniqcast going in the future?
Gary: Following the thoughts of my previous answer, you will see SoniqCast products expanding in their wireless connectivity via hotspots and the internet, with additional integration with content providers. New content forms are also on the horizon, including photos and video. As always, subsequent products will get smaller, faster, and more capable.
Wrap-up Turning a dream into a product can be very rewarding. Doing it in a short period of time is impressive. The Aireo has a number of unique features that will hopefully allow SoniqCast to hold its own against some stiff competition in the portable music player market.
Let me know if you have seen other consumer, commercial, or military products that you would like to hear more about.
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