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Linux Cell Phone/PDA
maxmutt writes: "PalmPalm Technology Inc. a Korean Company, has got a new "smart phone", the IMT-2000, that looks interesting." Runs Linux, and is both a cell phone and PDA. Plays MP3 and video, has bluetooth, and runs embedded Qt. And has net functionality. It'll be interesting to see what comes of this.
ah, yes.. but this has all three capabilities in one unit, without having to swap out springboard modules. granted, if you only want one or the other, and can live without the others, get a visor and live in the lap of software availability luxury..
but then, that's assuming there's no software for linux..
maybe Q3 isn't appropriate for an embedded linux celphone, but i could really dig MAME or any number of PIMs, notepad alternatives.. hey, an SSH client that could connect to my server remotely from my celphone would be keen to have, too...
hmm...
- Entertaining Bits from the Ancient Kernel Tree
...and watching a movie all at the same time
I don't think the "Embedded QT" refered to QuickTime.
Besides having loaded Linux operating system, this smart phone (brand name; Palmi) that incorporates the functions of both cellular phone and PDA, also provides strong multimedia functionalities including animation, MP3, video communication, to name a few.
Mmhh, in view of the RIAA article earlier today, this baby is a fine definition of a portable crime tool. Video, MP3's, everything you could ever need...the only thing it needs is a CD-writer.
People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
Heh :) They should port Linux to my toaster, or maybe my washing machine... Maytag Linux OS (TM)... Hell, if all my appliances ran Linux, i could cluster them together and maybe make a kick ass seti@home machine or something... That will be the day... Yes sir, I would like the 10 processor Washer/Dryer set... I just outlived my quad processor set...
Sarcasm is the recourse of a weak mind...
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I vote for machine guns on the front of our vehicles!
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Wooden armaments to battle your imaginary foes!
Im sorry - but my money is clearly on the success of PocketLinux. What seems to be the best 'idea' is that we pair down Linux, build a GUI (why Xwindows? maybe XWindows is not 'appropriate' for Handhelds).
PocketLinux currently runs on Casio's E100, Compaq's iPaq & the VTech Helio. I think the 'real future' of pocket PC's, and if success for Linux will play out in this space is if a 'distro' is developed that is not to closely tied to one device - why not use Linux as the operating system to move the Handheld PC market away from the 'Apple' desktop idea to the 'IBM Clone' idea - where people install whatever (PocketLinux) OS on their current INSERT YOUR PDA HERE?
Have a look at all the PDA's that were @ Comdex 2000 - here at PDABuzz Look at all those beauty little PDAs, the question is are these obscure electronics companies from Asia going to build and 'market' a completely new OS for each of these devices? -OR- Would they be better off selling the device like a standard PC, with the attitude that users can find a OS to run on it. Wouldnt you rather buy a handheld for its hardware (the reason I bought the E100 10 months ago) or would you rather be forced to buy a OS/Hardware combo - where buying one may force you to compromise on the other.
Casio's E100 is a far better piece of hardware than anything fielded by Palm (even today - only advantage palm may have is size.. but its not that great an issue)
Palm's are small but their capabilities, speed, screens, audio(?) are less than optimal.
What I want is the PalmComputer market to move in the direction of the PC market - that way we can have our cake (hardware) and eat it too (PocketLinux).
What I would like to see: Both Palm and PocketPC get caught with their pants down (ala Apple in the 80s) while each of these "I have a wonder Palm PC but no 'marketing' or 'OS' to sell with it" (ala IBM Clone shops in the 80s) brings their product to market and aids Transvirtual in building PocketLinux. This basic change is bound to occur in the handheld space - Ill bet PocketLinux makes it happen...
Linux is a fine OS, guys.. But isn't using Linux for a cellular phone a bit like using a cannon to kill a flea? I mean, it's not like I can port Quake III for Linux to my PalmPalm cellphone.
And oh yes.. You can BET there's a lawsuit coming from THAT company name name.
Polymorphism -- It's what you make of it.
"Plays MP3 and video, has bluetooth, and runs embedded Qt. And has net functionality."
damn.. does it slice, dice, mince, chop, and frappe' as well?
anyhoo, it sounds like the cel phone i've been waiting for. now i can get a niftee-tron celphone-o-matic with MP3, a linux interface and bluetooth that will ring really loud in the middle of a movie. or, better yet, i can tap tap tap on the little embedded Qt interface trying to find a phone number while i'm driving and kill a schoolbus full of kids!
no no no.. wait. i can play MP3s on the thing and look like the complete idiot in the commercials... with linux!
- Entertaining Bits from the Ancient Kernel Tree
Seems like they are trying to bundle too much together in one device, so much that this thing would be realistic to use. Case in point: I use my mp3 player at the gym....its great because its tiny and can hold a substantial amount of music. I don't want to carry around a phone/pda/camera/mp3/coffee maker to the gym with me. Its small inconveniences like this that will kill the market for devices such as these.
"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." - Jack Nicholson
Still, it seems to be a fairly interesting product. It would be interesting to see how reliable the Linux-based system is, given the complex list of supported features. Personally, I would be suspicious that the company is just cramming in features to make headlines without ironing out a lot of the details.