Custom Firmware Rocks! How to Hack Gadgets with New Software

[woodyear99]

I've used a few of these firmwares on several devices over the years. Nice to find all of them in one article. Have you ever used custom firmwares on devices other than these?

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/frimware_hacks?page=0%2C0

While we're big fans of the proven awesomeness of open-source software, we don't automatically download every free application that's labeled as an open-source project. What make more sense is the use of open-source as the tool that effects some kind of massive or otherwise unreachable change in a common device. Case in point is open-source firmware, named not for any philosophical belief behind its creation, but because few would want to heft the banner for these changes themselves. After all, creativity comes from a wide range of sources and inputs--as does software testers. You sure wouldn't want to be the one person working on third-party iPhone firmware, bricking device after device in a quest to add additional functionality that Apple didn't first design.

But that kind of unintended funcitonality is the sole benefit to open-source firmware. Throw those aspirations of community membership and open-source allegiance out the window: You want to increase the power of your device akin to a Sim tinkering his or her hardware to gain mechanical skill points. There's no shame in that. In fact, you can accomplish much by adopting third-party firmware in place of standard manufacturer packages. For example, building increased sound codecs into your MP3 player of choice, or adding on-screen level meters to your digital SLR. You can even turn your router into a bridge, perfect for extending the range of your neighbor's wireless signal so you can thieve his connection from additional locations in your apartment. You can also brick your device.

[TriniXaeno]

never used any of these, a bit of a puritan.

I stick to manufacturer supplied firmware.

Was VERY tempted to use some of the hack firmware on linksys wireless routers but never actually did.

Big fan of opensource everywhere else though (web servers, regular application, linux, etc...)

[woodyear99]

I was at first as well but some of the new features really came in handy. Got DD-WRT up and running on my Linksys router at home, found the QOS features really useful.

Will try the custom firmware on my WD TV soon for the media server support.