Text 13784, 53 rader
Skriven 2006-11-08 09:22:36 av Ad (1:379/45)
Ärende: A smartphone 4 Tony
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From: Ad <Dobbin@theStablesCloseToTheAirport.com>

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35590

"THERE HAVE BEEN a lot of phones claiming to be 'Linux phones' and those that
do run a Linux kernel, but they all miss the point of Linux: to be open. FIC is
about to change that in a big way with a truly open phone, the OpenMoko.

This is the first phone in a long time to get us really interested in what it
is, what it isn't, and the philosophy behind it. The philosophy is the thing
that makes Linux great, and not in the sense of window-dressing or half-hearted
openness, it is really open. It runs the latest kernel, 2.6.18 as of a few
weeks ago, and you can get software from a repository with apt-get.

The OpenMoko is meant to be a fully mobile Linux machine that happens to look
like a phone. The point is simple, where others have a Linux kernel with a
locked proprietary stack on top of it, this one is open, top to bottom. You can
use your own tools on it, compile your own kernel. and bang on the bare metal
if you are into that sort of thing. Everything barring a few small drivers is
GPL'ed.

There is no vendor lock-in, the only proprietary parts are the radio and the
GPS unit, but they are fully exposed. The radio must remain closed for legal
reasons, but it is available as 16 virtual serial ports that you can do
whatever you want with. You hit the GSM module with a similar set of commands.
If you like the software they include, great, use it, tweak it and have fun. If
not, write your own.

If you want your phone to do something it does not, you can get the software
you want from any repository that you can reach on the net. FIC will have a
certified one with apps that will work but you are more than welcome to point
it at any other you chose, or even to make your own. Remember, this is all
about being open.

Let's step back and look at what the phone itself is before we get into the
software that runs on it. The hardware itself is a Samsung 2410 266MHz ARM9
with a 2.8-inch VGA touch screen. There are only two buttons on the phone, the
rest is handled by the touch screen, a microSD slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and USB for
connectivity and charging. It also has two 1W stereo speakers so you can
repurpose it to an MP3 player or anything else you would like.

The initial version will come with 128MB of flash and 128MB of DRAM. There is
the potential for a version with 1G of flash, but with a slot, do you really
need it? OpenMoko comes with a 12mw battery for somewhere around three hours of
talk time, but there will undoubtedly be more options if it takes off. It also
has a Globallocator GPS unit and the phone bits are TI quad band GSM. The only
thing lacking is Wi-Fi and that is planned for the next gen hardware."


Adam

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