VideoNOW PVD Reverse Engineering

Zoc_All_Alone writes "In mid-July, Hasbro released the VideoNOW, a portable media player for kids. The disks are specially encoded ~3 inch audio CDs. We have started a project to reverse engineer the format, and have made considerable progress. More information about the player can be found at the Hasbro website."

DMCA VIOLATION

[Anonymous Coward]

I have reported you to the authorities for reverse engineering this. Please remain at your location; the SWAT team is on the way.

Re: So Crates

[sporkboy]

We found it in a tranquil time of computing, with many steps and columns

Then, in the absence of Abe Lincoln, we brought back a Speak N Spell

DMCA

[Erick the Red]

We have started a project to reverse engineer the format, and have made considerable progress. So far we have been sued for $10 million, and we are posting in hope of gaining even more attention to our work.

But does it run Linux?-Tastless humour.

[Anonymous Coward]

"I'm sure Hasbro will nip this in the bud as soon as they realize someone could market their own shows for it. (Or, god-forbid, porn!)"

If they did that? Would it be kiddie-porn?

Re:DMCA

[eclectro]

VIDEONOW discs feature a special proprietary format and will not fit into or play on other media players

How much do you wanna bet that their lawyers are not from playskool????

80x80 16 shades

[Anonymous Coward]

80x80 resultion with 16 shades of black...

I'd rather watch a 30 minute animated "buddy icon."

Re:That's all well and good

[Alien Being]

"But where are the people reverse engineering the EARLY kids' consoles, like the Socrates?"

When I was about ten I "reverse engineered" my kid brother's interactive eduational robot called 2XL. Conclusion: It was an 8-track player.

I guess I should have published my work to save these guys [pickletreats.com] the trouble.

Re:Wake me...

[Anonymous Coward]

At least it makes me feel better about my Visor display.

great role models

[r_glen]

"Okay Johnny, see how daddy bypasses the cryptography algorithm on this special "Sing Along Volume 5" disc? This is what us grownups call 're-verse engine-neering'" ... "But Daddy, why are you wearing an orange suit and sitting behind that glass?"

Of course it has a point

[Yehtmae]

Just imagine a beowulf cluster of these.....

Re:DMCA

[LiberalApplication]

How much do you wanna bet that their lawyers are not from playskool????

Well, if their lawyers *do* turn out to be from Playskool, you'll be able to tell right away by their red, plastic briefcases.

Re:standard formats

[Speare]

Its unlikely Hasbro was ever concerned about someone hacking a goofy little kids toy that'll cost 20 bucks come christmas time.

In many cases, the toy industry is second only to black operations national defense contractors, in how tightly they control their technology. If a toy becomes at all popular, they will be dissected and reproduced cheaper by a knock-off company. So they often obfuscate and epoxy as much as possible about the design.

In this case, it is the lucrative accessories market they're ceding by not protecting their design carefully enough... a big surprise.

oh yeah!

[hangingonwords]

nothing beats 80x80 grayscale porn on the go!