As for the reference design, I remember there is a design contest planned, but it seems Bitmine is too busy with development to announce it in time. I will check status and report back.
This is what I got from Bitmine concerning the contest in a conversation last week.
[27.11.2013 11:02:49] Giorgio Massarotto: yes
[27.11.2013 11:03:05] Giorgio Massarotto: let me tell you that sample chips are free for anybody making designs based on our chip
[27.11.2013 11:03:09] Giorgio Massarotto: I mean
[27.11.2013 11:03:17] Giorgio Massarotto: you don't have to place a preorder to receive them
[27.11.2013 11:03:26] Giorgio Massarotto: we'll have an open source development contest
[27.11.2013 11:03:33] Giorgio Massarotto: you'll register there and get some sample chips
[27.11.2013 11:03:37] Giorgio Massarotto: just afew
[27.11.2013 11:03:51] darkfriend77: Ok. When will this be opened?
[27.11.2013 11:04:13 | Bearbeitet 11:04:45] darkfriend77: A few will be enough to test out the prototype.
[27.11.2013 11:12:35] Giorgio Massarotto: it will be opened somewhere in the beginning of december
[27.11.2013 11:12:39] Giorgio Massarotto: we were planning to open it much earlier
[27.11.2013 11:12:40] Giorgio Massarotto: but
[27.11.2013 11:12:46] Giorgio Massarotto: we got insultedbecause no samples were available
[27.11.2013 11:12:55] Giorgio Massarotto: so we have moved it till we'll be able to give out free samples