Intel to demo open source for media servers

INTEL HAS ANNOUNCED it will be demoing open source software designed for integrated media servers and home routers made by little startup, Amahi, at the Computex trade show.

Amahi, whose software deals with managing the networking and backup of all computers, game consoles and other devices connected to a network, among other things, will show off its Home Digital Assistant (HAD) running on Intel's Atom N270 and N945GSE chipset, as well as demonstrate virtual private network (VPN) access to a remote system.

Intel is calling the HAD an "Open Consumer Applications Platform" and is touting it as a new type of device that integrates a home server with home router functionality. The free, X86 compatible software stack is based on Fedora 9 Linux and works cross-platform to support Linux, Windows and Apple OSs.

Amahi reckons punters will find its software useful for performing home server chores such as media management and sharing, file sharing, Wi-Fi router management, printer sharing, networking including VPN management, and applications management.

The firm is also hoping its promise of "one-click application installation" will give it a noticeable value proposition compared with the somewhat more complicated software installation procedures offered by veritable behemoths Google and Microsoft.

At Computex, the firm will be showing off apps including photo galleries and video surveillance, as well as its own online app store, to be offered free for the first year and then for about $20 per year after that.

Amahi also hopes to make money with services like data backup, and by charging OEMs "a small fee" for software certification of new hardware. µ