Slashdot Mirror
Motorola To Release Linux and Java-based Phone/PDA
clapton_fan writes "Motorola will release a combination phone / PDA this year in Asia using the Linux operating system and Java software. No U.S. release date set." It also packs a camera, Bluetooth, and a media player. Looks pretty sharp too. Update: 02/15 15:25 GMT by CN : Whoops. We mentioned this a couple days ago, but this time around there's pictures!
I'd say it looks pretty Motorola, not Sharp.
it's in my head
It's just a CELLPHONE! Why do these companies load up these things with so much crap? Who CARES! I've been through 100's of cellphones, you get sick of them, you change service, they break, etc... Why Bother? You want all that crap, buy a PDA. Instead of buying a 400$ cellphone.
Is it just me, or is it that the best thing about uber-powerful phone appliances is that they can now run my perl spam-filter scripts on my email account during the busy cyberwarrior workday so that when I get home I have less spam in my inbox?
http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
Hangups...did he get disconnected a lot on calls?
But seriously...How can he say the US is unfriendly to Linux?
Maybe he hasn't heard of IBM?
and if he wants better software support, maybe he should learn to code
Now I know its not cool on Slashdot to mentioned products based on Symbian rather than uber-trendy linux. But how is this impressive when both Nokia and Sony Ericsson have launched products, and will continue to launch products that are PDAs/Phones/Cameras etc etc and include bluetooth, IR etc etc.
Okay, I know that Motorola are a US company and there for its much more impressive when they are only 12 months behind the crowd, but having something like this in Asia NOW is about 18+ months behind. The reason Motorola use Linux here is because they don't want to use Symbian, why I have no idea. And before someone says "cost" please get a clue about corporations and the actual cost of OSes.
Why not support a solid, reliable, proven OS that is making it nearly impossible for MS to get inroads rather than raving about yet another "linux on a X" product.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
For my internship I have been developing software for mobile phones such as this one, using the Java 2 MicroEdition.
:-) But for decent fast working software, please, please use C++ on these things.
Most applications were games, because that is what the market appears to be interested in. (The youth who wants to look cool with the latest Nokia).
Unfortunately, this shrinked-down version of Java is as slow as it's big brother, and not great for gaming. The alternative is SymbianOS programming, which is done in C++ and thus much, much faster.
The bad thing about this is that Symbian is not implemented on many phones.
I don't want Java to be removed from phones, because with Java my mother can still write working code
But now I see that Linux is used, you can expect a C/C++ subsystem which can possible be used.
The more telephony/hardware companies we see releasing Linux hardware (with a portable programming language running on top of it) then the greater the market share Linux will get.
Note to M1-ers: a curt but otherwise insightful message is not "Flamebait" or "Troll".
Well, it *is* an exciting story! In that case, here's a recently updated including recently released photos of the device from linuxdevices.com . . .
Motorola, currently the world's #2 maker of mobile phones ("handsets") with an estimated worldwide market share of 19%, today unveiled a major shift in its embedded software strategy. For future handset designs, Motorola is going with a combination of an embedded Linux operating system and Java-based middleware, along with full multimedia functionality.
The A760 handset (pictured at left and below), Motorola's initial Linux/Java handset offering, combines the functions of a mobile phone, PDA, digital camera, video player, MP3 player, speakerphone, messaging, Internet access, and Bluetooth wireless technology. Motorola says they will initially launch the A760 in Asia in 2003. Its embedded Linux OS was supplied by MontaVista Software.
To provide added perspective, LinuxDevices.com brings you this Special Report which includes the text of the Motorola announcement, and also provides a roundup of some of the many international news stories surrounding this important development . . .
While the phones may run linux/java ... I would not expect the phone companies to let you create your own apps and upload them to the phone.
A more than a few years back, JavaOne (has it been that long?) it seamed every session was in a lather about the micro edition or kvm running on cell phones and their ilk. Session after session and after hours at the bar, the general consensus was 'we love the platform, but we want to control the entire revenue stream'. Expect some serious license / formal development kits if you want to code for these things. I don't think they have hobbyist in mind. If I end up being wrong, I'll be racing to the store - but uploading apps to phones (not pda's) still seems pretty limited.
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
Motorola has announced the A760, a flip form factor that looks like a hip Treo 300. It's packed with features like: digital camera, video player, MP3 player, speakerphone, advanced messaging, instant Internet access and Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology.
picture
"This handset is special because it features one of the most open and flexible software platforms that exists," said Rob Shaddock, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the GSM/TDMA Product Line in Motorola's Personal Communications Sector. "By supporting the open source Linux OS and Java technology, Motorola is creating the most open and flexible environment possible to help drive the development of compelling applications for rich, customized mobile experiences."
another picture
I'm pretty excited about this unit. It's stacked with options and has the marketing power and connections of Moto to help it reach mass distribution. My main concern, same with the P800, is the unpopular OS - in US terms. I hope software support for Linux and Symbian accelerates so we can get past these hangups. These alternative OS's are not only viewed as better by many, they tend to be less resource intense and are cheaper than the Microsoft and Palm options.
I know.. I'm whoring for karma
Everything in the world is controlled by a small, evil group to which, unfortunately, no one you know belongs.
am I going to have to start asking Google to put Slashcode on their news site? Why should I ever bother to read this when it is WAY old news compared to Google News? I saw this yesterday afternoon and though to myself, "wow, I wonder how long this will take to get posted twice on /." ;-)
The garbage collector is running.
I've had mine for about 4 months and I still love it. I'm using the crow rom which runs from the SD card instead of a ramdisk. Resume is a bit pokey, 5 seconds or so before you can actually do anything with it. Stable as hell, there's been a couple of times when it's gone wonky. Haven't found a really usable compiler tool chain for it, and haven't gotten a cross-compiler setup on one of my other systems yet. I've got apache, php, and mysql running nicely, though without the options I would have chosen if compiling them myself. Battery life could definately be better, about an hour of hard use with wireless, 4 hours taking care not to drain it too fast, off and on usage for me goes about a week without charging. So far all the browsers I've tried are adaquate for occasional usage, but run into problems with anything complex. All in all, it feels like the ultimate evil genius tool. Tend to giggle when bringing up a mysql prompt on a text console with the realiazation that everything is running local.
Now that we have that out of the way: Java ME/MIDP is very cool because it makes it so very easy to write code for portable devices.
A month ago, I did a little work for a company using MIDP (and my last J2EE book had a MIDP example) - so I am biased.
I think that the point is that MIDP opens up the verticle market for custom applications with MIDP devices talking to web services.
Last month, I used XML over HTTP and Apache Jakarta Tomcat on the server side - really a great combination.
-Mark
*watches server go down in slashdotting induced flames*
There were pictures.
>:)
You have to follow the incorrect grammar in the story heading ("there's pictures"). So accordingly, it would be
There was pictures.
So lets compare....
Symbian, aim is to enable the partners (major phone manufacturers) to gain the sort of dominance on Phones and SmartPhones that MS have on the desktop.
Linux, free, very little support in the mobile market.
Its 1980 and you've been asked to join the board of Microsoft or the board of Commodore, who do you choose ?
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi