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Why on earth did they choose to put a 3D accelerator chip on it that requires an NDA to program? The entire FreeSoftware movement was created as a reaction against NDA's.

If I have to reverse-engineer the dang thing, I might as well get an iPhone. Its cheaper too.

As this post says, there's a thread in the mailing list (http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2008-July/021848.html) which says it's a voltage issue, not EMC.

seems like minimo is already runnable under openmoko: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Minimo

Before you send it back check out this thread, it seems like there might be a simple work around.

http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2008-July/021774.html It seems that GPS doesn't work very well with a microSD card plugged in ... and this appears to be a hardware issue. If this is the case, I am thinking about sending the package back when it arrives (it's scheduled for tomorrow via UPS). It'll cost an arm and a leg to send it to the US and back otherwise (from Canada, thanks to UPS and customs).

It has USB host access so I don't see why a keyboard is out of the question.

Did you even look?

Typing in "compiler" in the search box returns this as the first link:

http://www.openmoko.org/wiki/Toolchain

Typing in "perl" in the search box returns this as the first link:

http://www.openmoko.org/wiki/Wish_List

And so on. I am guessing the product is not mature enough for you if you are not able to navigate their help pages (or vice versa perhaps). ;)

Did you even look?

Typing in "compiler" in the search box returns this as the first link:

http://www.openmoko.org/wiki/Toolchain

Typing in "perl" in the search box returns this as the first link:

http://www.openmoko.org/wiki/Wish_List

And so on. I am guessing the product is not mature enough for you if you are not able to navigate their help pages (or vice versa perhaps). ;)

Are the hardware specifications of a cell phone the only relevant thing? Absolutely not. Hardware defines the device's potential, but the device's quality is determined in a large part by its software. And Openmoko Freerunner's software stack is pretty sucky right now.

Right now Freerunner's battery life is something like 5 hours, and there are many other issues.

A great example of why all but a handful of people may prefer an iPhone to a Freerunner is this month's discussion of filesystem images on the mailing list. Apparently there's an FSO image ("make and receive calls. That's about it."), an ASU image ("qtopia apps don't start if I have the SIM in the phone"), a GTK image ("more or less what the phone came preloaded with"), a ScaredyCat image ("mostly works"). This should make it pretty clear that a Freerunner is not a consumer-ready device and is definitely NOT an iPhone equivalent.

A Freerunner should only be purchased by those who are fully prepared to deal with it as a hobby rather than as a consumer-ready phone/PDA. Posts like yours are misleading and do a disservice both to the consumer and to the Openmoko project.

Are the hardware specifications of a cell phone the only relevant thing? Absolutely not. Hardware defines the device's potential, but the device's quality is determined in a large part by its software. And Openmoko Freerunner's software stack is pretty sucky right now.

Right now Freerunner's battery life is something like 5 hours, and there are many other issues.

A great example of why all but a handful of people may prefer an iPhone to a Freerunner is this month's discussion of filesystem images on the mailing list. Apparently there's an FSO image ("make and receive calls. That's about it."), an ASU image ("qtopia apps don't start if I have the SIM in the phone"), a GTK image ("more or less what the phone came preloaded with"), a ScaredyCat image ("mostly works"). This should make it pretty clear that a Freerunner is not a consumer-ready device and is definitely NOT an iPhone equivalent.

A Freerunner should only be purchased by those who are fully prepared to deal with it as a hobby rather than as a consumer-ready phone/PDA. Posts like yours are misleading and do a disservice both to the consumer and to the Openmoko project.

Check youtube and http://planet.openmoko.org/
at the very least it isn't vaporware

The SAR on the Openmoko isn't all that high at all.

A body/head SAR of 0.49/1.08 W/Kg for PCS1900 and 1.4/1.27 W/Kg for GSM850 is fairly average for smartphones.

There are lots of cellphones on the market pegged hard against the US legal limit of 1.6 W/Kg, like some Motorola units.

Too bad they did a shit job

But on the other hand, the software handling all these components is available as free and open source software. Even the GPS and the GSM (because those two component are mainly handled by their own internal firmware which contain the closed-blob and communicate with standard interface with openmoko - So well, some geeks could argue that the thing isn't letting them do 100% of what they want)
On the other hand, current 3G licensing would have prevented an open source stack inside open-moko. Not only would the 3G chip run its own firmware inside, but the software interfacing the chip would have to be a closed blob too.

Anyway, if the phone proves to sell, a version with 3G *and* webcam is probably only 1 year of hacking away. Probably even field-upgradable for Ãoebergeeks with access to facilities able to solder-swap a BGA chip.

Also the reason it uses GSM is that the team have tried as far as possible to use OPEN HARDWARE ie fully documented and not lumbered with proprietary closed-source drivers.

Too bad they did a shit job.

• The CPU docs are available only after registering and "qualifying". They've (possibly illegally) hosted a copy of the PDF publicly.
• The modem has proprietary extensions, and they illegally posted a leaked NDA-only doc with the proprietary stuff documented. Posting the NDA-only doc means they'll have a tough time convincing anyone their driver isn't tainted.
• The WiFi chipset (Atheros) has no documentation available.
• The graphics chipset is NDA-docs only.
• The LCD has no documentation available.

Now. What was that about this being an "open" cell phone design?

I think it's a great idea, but the current revision sucks. They have little software available for it, it's a huge pricetag, and for chrissakes, it's not even EDGE- only basic GPRS, which means you'll get at most about 10KB/sec line-speed.

dunno how good the info is but try http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page and click on 'current software stack'

Well, of you hate the shape :
1. get the CAD files : http://downloads.openmoko.org/CAD/
2. Modify them
3. Find a CNC shop to build them (solid brushed alumunium case anyone ?)
4. ?
5. Profit !

OpenMoko uses OpenEmbedded for setting up the toolchain/filesystem... You can use OE to build the entire enviroment without much effort [we all know what that meens in embedded :-) ].
OpenMoko Wiki
OpenEmbedded

Go to the Wiki:

http://www.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page

And all will be revealed.

If you clicked on "gallery" then you would have seen screenshots:

http://www.openmoko.com/product-gallery.html

A list of applications is a bit harder to find, but it is on the wiki:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Openmoko_Core_Applications

Of course, this is just the "core applications". Since it is an open platform, there are quite a few more, in the usual mixed states of maturity. :)

And since this phone is targeted at developers, if you don't want to write apps then no reason you should get one.

I got my information from here. "400/500 MHz Samsung 2442B Processor/SOC (400 minimum, ARM920T core, ARMv4T)" I may also be incorrect about the processor speed of the iphone, for the 3G it may only be 620. Anyways point wasn't to get the exact specs of the phone, was just stating that they were quite close.

Even though I readily admit I hate the shape of the case they put this thing in

Feel free to download the plans, modify it however you see fit, and fabricate the result!

Dear All, Sorry for delay long time!!! So far, only GSM850 Freerunner is available in stock, Debug board and spare also!!!

http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2008-July/020394.html

OpenMoko

And AGPS does bring the TTFF down to 5 minutes, but only if you are located in perfect conditions.

In fact I would like the project to succeed. But it seems the focus is only on reinventing the wheel with ASU. Many many developers have angrily left.

Okay, fanbois just called in to mod the post down:
http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2008-June/019880.html

No it will not unless Google will recompile most code, because Android requires a ARMv5 cpu and this release is ARMv4. It would have been nice if they designed it with a Android upgrade in mind and designed the Freerunner with a ARMv5 chip.
http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware
http://benno.id.au/blog/2007/11/21/android-neo1973

"Tri-band GSM and GPRS for North America (850/1800/1900 Mhz) and the rest of the world (900/1800/1900 Mhz)"

From http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner

It supports external keyboards and stereo headsets:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Bluetooth_Support

So either you fail to check facts before posting or you distribute FUD on purpose. How's working for Iphone astroturf team?

To do a side-by-side rundown with the iPhone

Apart from the corrections everyone's made, the FreeRunner will allegedly go on sale July 4th (we'll see) and yes, I'm getting one. I don't have a phone now, because I despise the lock in and ridiculous pricing of US carriers/plans. Of course, I still need to get a plan of some kind, so that'll be the $100 PAYG T-Mobile, which at 1000 minutes, might even last me all year.

There's a 10 pack group buy, which is 10% discount and includes some extras. If you add tax and shipping that comes to about $400 even each:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/GroupSales

Clearly this phone is evolutionary rather than revolutionary and it's obviously not for everyone, but it's a good step. That it's a portable Linux device with GSM and WiFi, for my own needs, however is a compelling reason to get it.

Close, but those are the specs for the Neo1973, the free runner specs are here:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner

(added wifi and faster cpu)

Further details here:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware

I agree - the submission is bad... there's no mentioning of the phone being for sale on http://openmoko.com/ - just a "coming soon" note.

Close, but those are the specs for the Neo1973, the free runner specs are here:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner

(added wifi and faster cpu)

Further details here:

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner_GTA02_Hardware

I agree - the submission is bad... there's no mentioning of the phone being for sale on http://openmoko.com/ - just a "coming soon" note.

Check here for hardware specs.

Thats the old Neo1973 stats the next iteration is the GTA02. Check here for more Freerunner goodness!

here are teh REAL specs from openmoko's website:

        * 2.8" VGA TFT color display
        * Touchscreen, usable with stylus or fingers
        * 266MHz Samsung System on a Chip (SOC)
        * USB 1.1, switchable between Client and Host (unpowered)
        * Integrated AGPS
        * 2.5G GSM â" tri band (900/1800/1900), voice, CSD, GPRS
        * Bluetooth 2.0
        * Micro SD slot
        * High Quality audio codec

Note that it has a USB 1.1 (slower transfers) and is triband (no 850 for north america)

Also the article points to a meaningless page with no real info. Here is the actual page for openmoko.

And the official site still says that its not released. The whole submission looks trollish to me.

http://www.openmoko.com/products-neo-base-00-stdkit.html

Detailed hardware specs:
http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo1973_Hardware

And it still doesn't have a camera. What the hell are they thinking?

Join the petition:
http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Camera

The FreeRunner screen is actually a 2.8" VGA (640x480)[1]. It has got some serious DPI.

[1] http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/GTA02

I don't suppose you read that it's currently in the initial production run, and is supposed to go on sale in a week or two?

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Community_Updates

I don't suppose you read that it's currently in the initial production run, and is supposed to go on sale in a week or two?

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Community_Updates

I really want to like the OpenMoko stuff, but I can't yet because of things like this:

At the moment, almost no 'end-user' applications are present and working in a usable state. It is possible to make and receive calls in some software revisions, this frequently breaks though.

I'm sorry, but there's really no use talking about a "phone" that can't even reliably make phone calls yet!

That's why we need opensource hardware. http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page

Almost ready, kthxbye

http://www.openmoko.org/

First of all, your link is broken do to an extraneous slash mark. Here's the correct one.

Second, does this mean the software is complete and stable enough that it can reliably be used to make and receive calls through the UI?

Sorry - the correct URL doesn't have the trailing slah.

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Community_Updates

The OpenMoko phone is now in full production, and should be on sale in the USA in early July.

http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Community_Updates/

That's why I think the OpenMoko Linux project was smarter. They chose a community guy (Harald Welte) as their system architect and tried (as far as I know) to stay in closest possible contact with the general Linux community. And the hardware side of OpenMoko has a strong emphasis on open hardware. Quite the opposite to that DRM crap talk of Nokia.

This patent has just been filed, not just granted.

Details of similar systems have been recently described, including a summer of code project for OpenMoko (that wasn't accepted) which wanted to put a dbus architecture to let the user add conditions which cause profile to switch, for example: going to "silent mode" whenever the phone's gps detects it has entered into a meeting room.

The summer of code project wasn't accepted, thus this system isn't currently implemented. Never the less, it's described on the OpenMoko wiki, and similar strategies have regularly been described on the web, including here on /. each time some company tries to market a GSM signal jammer, where approach similar to openmoko and microsoft have been said to be safer.

To what extent can these description without implementation represent Prior Art ?

I also fail to understand why microsoft is trying to patent this. For this to work, it must reach widespread usage, which means it must be an open standard (a real one, not an OOXML-like one), so that both all constructor can implement it easily, and some places or legislation can require it, without those requirement forcing people to give cash to a particular private company.

Yeah, Linux on desktops was a tough sell too, since it isn't in stores. Don't underestimate "it's got Linux and I can hack it".

I'll buy a FreeRunner (despite the dumb name) as soon as it's available, which sounds like it will be pretty soon. Steve says he might get phones as soon as June 1, which is only 3 days from now.

$400 (or 10% less, in 10-packs) is no big deal, considering the absolute cheapest service plans seem to run about $30/month. People complained about the iPhone's upfront cost, too, but most failed to note that the minimum service plan (2 years) cost about $2000. The hardware cost is peanuts compared to the service.

I don't see the big appeal of Android. It's a software platform, the few hardware devices for it (which are not available yet) look like ass, it uses a special JVM, and development for it looks like a pain. That said, I'm all for more free-software phones (though it seems unclear if all of Android is really open-source). I just don't see what's innovative about Android. What exactly is the benefit of a Linux-based phone if you can only run Java code on it?

The Openmoko platform could be an option: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page