Max,

On Feb 14, 10:25*am, Max Kellermann wrote:

A product based on ARMv7 may be overpowered now, and ARMv5 may (or may
not) be enough now; but in two years, you may want new firmware with
new features. *New features will consume more CPU, and the old ARMv5
may not be powerful enough.

Perhaps because it's not part of their business model.

The navigation devices we're talking about offer a number of
advantages, such as
running as-is (out of the box), tested, serviced and guaranteed
function of hard and software combination and high reliability. If
these features can be realized, using newer, more expensive hardware
will reduce the profit margin. Newer devices will be sold in the
future, with new hardware and software. How else would they profit
(and fund further developments)?

It seems to me that the number of makers of great soaring instruments
fails to realized the efficiencies of mass-production.

The availability of Android devices with absolutely fantastic
displays, and my desire to be able to upgrade the software in the
future, and the great functionality and flexibility provided by XCSoar
proves the advantages of the alternative. But that's not a
"business" rather than a dynamic eco-system of talented software
developers and mass-market hardware. I hope that more integrators
will be able to market and service devices that use cheap mass-market
hardware, have optimized sensors, and run upgradable, free and open-
source software.