iRex needs you to test their iLiad beta software

[Alexander Turcic]

If you ever wanted to be called official beta tester for the iRex iLiad (like, you know, you have a compulsive need for finding more ways of bricking your iLiad), this is your chance. The dudes over at iRex are looking for volunteers, preferably with a technical background and unconditional love for the company, to sign up for the Beta Test Program aimed at finding bugs and problems related to the software.

Thanks to Janus for the news.

[Janus]

iRex is looking for beta testers: http://developer.irexnet.com/home

[arivero]

Hmm I supposse that a Non Disclosure Agreement does not bind me about illegal activities, does it? I mean, I supposse a beta-tester could disclose any GPL software the happens to have.

[tribble]

Already singed up

[tribble]

Hehe, dont think theyll open up the machine to you It will be the same update process as it is now, just a bit earlier.

If you grab it on the way ... , well ... , everyone who is interested, probably will be a betatester anyway

[doctorow]

Originally Posted by arivero

Hmm I supposse that a Non Disclosure Agreement does not bind me about illegal activities, does it? I mean, I supposse a beta-tester could disclose any GPL software the happens to have.

Funny you mention it, since I thought the same. Signing a NDA on a product that is based on GPL but for which there are still no SDK nor sources available - it just seems wrong to me.

[doctorow]

Originally Posted by tribble

Hehe, dont think theyll open up the machine to you It will be the same update process as it is now, just a bit earlier.

If you grab it on the way ... , well ... , everyone who is interested, probably will be a betatester anyway

Isn't CommanderROR already part of the beta tester team? He should know more details... but then again, he probably signed an NDA and is thus forced to remain in eternal silence.

[arivero]

Originally Posted by doctorow

Funny you mention it, since I thought the same. Signing a NDA on a product that is based on GPL but for which there are still no SDK nor sources available - it just seems wrong to me.

they probably got the idea from SONY. A couple months ago I was notifyed about a Beta testing batch for the Reader, I even signed the NDA but then they changed mind and decided that the "developing" section was to be diferent of the "betatesting" section (so I never got a first hand eReader). The small print of the NDA in Sony allowed you to disclose any information you got "legally" from sources diferent than sony. But not comment about information you got "ilegally" from Sony themselves

Actually, the position about a beta software is that is is yet unrealeased so they are not yet GPL-bound because they are not distributing. Once the Beta becomes regular, the regular source code becomes GPL-bound, but not the beta. So they (both Sony and iLiad) are on the legal side here even if it sounds wrong.

[doctorow]

Originally Posted by arivero

they probably got the idea from SONY. A couple months ago I was notifyed about a Beta testing batch for the Reader, I even signed the NDA but then they changed mind and decided that the "developing" section was to be diferent of the "betatesting" section (so I never got a first hand eReader). The small print of the NDA in Sony allowed you to disclose any information you got "legally" from sources diferent than sony. But not comment about information you got "ilegally" from Sony themselves

Actually, the position about a beta software is that is is yet unrealeased so they are not yet GPL-bound because they are not distributing. Once the Beta becomes regular, the regular source code becomes GPL-bound, but not the beta. So they (both Sony and iLiad) are on the legal side here even if it sounds wrong.

Interesting distinction. Thanks for pointing it out! So even if I am just a regular consumer and not employeed by iRex in any way, handing out software after signing the NDA frees the software from being GPL-bound?

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by doctorow

Interesting distinction. Thanks for pointing it out! So even if I am just a regular consumer and not employeed by iRex in any way, handing out software after signing the NDA frees the software from being GPL-bound?

Perhaps, perhaps not. But I don't think even GPL fanatics would be this picky. Unless, of course, a company would have all its customers sign a dummy NDA to circumvent GPL - that would be a different issue and is obviously not the case here.

[deadite66]

unless CF OS reloading is available for beta testers i think i'll wait for other ppl to brick their machines.

[DHer]

yeah, if they included cf reloading and/or the sdk, i'd soo sign up right now.

but just for fixing the bugs in their 2 viewers, no thanks.

[deadite66]

well with beta testers they could be more daring with updates, which would make me even more nervous of signing up.
what do beta testers get out of this apart from get the update a few weeks ahead of everyone else.
if thats it then irex can get stuffed.

[b_k]

same here. Bricking a 650 € device one time and loosing it for some weeks is one time to much. Until they get a boot loader with flash support, they can search their beta testers elsewhere (honestly said).

[arivero]

Originally Posted by doctorow

Interesting distinction. Thanks for pointing it out! So even if I am just a regular consumer and not employeed by iRex in any way, handing out software after signing the NDA frees the software from being GPL-bound?

??????????? Hmm, no, I think that the point is that beta software is still "private development", so not GPL-bound. Thus they (both Sony and, now, iRex) can legally claim NDA for any thing they sent to you as beta.