@God Ginrai I am pretty sure the topic is about the ability to switch to an SoC by a different manufacturer. If you have any doubts, please scroll to the top of the page and read the title.
ED has said he does not want to use AllWinner. I agree with the his reasons for feeling that way, as I said.
While my nose is in the air, I also don't think it is right for a company providing only one of the components to demand you use only the people they tell you can to design/engineer the device. Since you don't see the problem with that, what if every company selling a part demanded this. There is a chance that there would be no overlap on the approved lists, and the thing would never be made. Back to the real situation: if everyone gives in, more companies may choose this policy, and it could be seen as "how things are" and result in it being nearly impossible for little projects to get off the ground. I will not financially support a company that I see as potentially causing such damage. I will not recommend such a company, and I will warn others away. There is no side stepping. Then again, there is nothing that needs to be side stepped.
Also, there is no immediate need for a new SoC manufacturer. Right now we have one. Why do you insist that a new one needs to be picked right now? Let the Pyra get into at least one end users hands before trying to get moving on a CPU board upgrade. Once that has happened other companies may be willing to work with ED.
So me not being surprised (and stating it) that you would be fine with the use of an SoC from a GPL violator, something that can still be made right, after you already suggested using one from a company that dictates to their customer what they will do with it, something that can't be made right later, was supposition? And berating you? I still don't see it. You said you were ok with the really bad thing, am I supposed to be
super shocked about the thing that is bad but can be fixed? If you feel as I do about these things you wouldn't want to see them in the Pyra.
Sure, I berated you about other things (see the first paragraph in this post). I still don't understand why would you think a background check for firearm purchases is anything like letting a company that makes CPUs tell you who is allowed to design your device. Trust me, if someone wants to shoot up a movie theater or mall or school, a background check isn't going to stop them. While a handful of people may try to blame the company that made the rifle, most people understand that a person makes the decisions about what they do. The thing they used to do it isn't all that important, but this is getting away from the point. No one blames the manufacturer of an SoC for a failed project using it. (There is your comparison, I guess.) When it is a company that has a history of satisfactory products, and the SoC has been used in other successful products, there should be even less concern. Things that cross my mind for why a company would tell you who can make your device (which is no longer all yours, as someone else is now calling the shots) is they get a cut, they are hiding something, and they don't want the business of the little guys (with exceptions that I won't go into because I am tired of talking about this).
Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Since I hadn't even considered that your argument was coming from a desire for a more powerful processor/device, thanks for putting thoughts in my head, too. I thought you wanted as many SoC manufacturers to be considered as possible. This works best when you can assess the situation based on all available information, which we don't yet have. Perhaps you do feel as I do about projects like the Pyra. If so, how about we work toward a better option instead of accepting something we feel is unethical?
Another option: Get with nvidia and find one of their approved people/companies and have them make an upgrade board. If you don't like that idea, contact AllWinner and get all the info you need from them to start working on a CPU board. I am pretty sure in both cases ED will provide you with what you need to design it to work with the Pyra. He has already said he plans to release everything, and that means anyone can make a CPU board with whatever SoC from whichever company will work with them. Then you get to use everything you want to, and ED can stick with hns and not go with an SoC from a company he and many others don't want to support. You can do preorders or a Kickstarter campaign to fund the new board. Everyone gets to be happy, and this pointless back and forth can end.
