Two months after announcing they would port the Android platform to the MIPS architecture, MIPS Technologies announced on Monday they would make the source code publicly available. In addition, the company also created an Early Access Program for a small number of “key customers” who will have access to specific hardware and code optimizations before the public gets a chance to see them.

Taken together, MIPS is looking to extend the reach of the Android platform into the digital home space with consumer devices such as set-top boxes, digital TVs, MIDs, media players etc.  Android was originally targeted at the mobile space but more recently, companies have been looking into ways of bringing the OS to other products such as netbooks, and MIDs.

Expect the first home products to feature Android to come out later this year and take the form of “souped-up digital picture frames” – or what MIPS is calling “home media players”. Digital TVs, and set-top  boxes will follow next year.

[Check it out via NY Times]

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