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Opie GUI/PIM Project Reaches 1.0

Posted by michael on from the no-wincing dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Open Palmtop Integrated Environment (Opie) project has announced its first 1.0 release. Having been forked from TrollTech's Qtopia environment, Opie has evolved into the most sophisticated free and open graphical user interface for Linux based embedded devices and PDAs. Opie features a sophisticated personal information (PIM) framework as well as several other productivity apps, extended multimedia capabilities and document model, networking and communication tools as well as multi language support for more than a dozen languages. Based on common industry standards like XML, Obex, IrDa et. al. Opie is capable of interacting with lots of devices ranging from cell phones to server backends. Opie is highly optimzed for mobile devices and tries to support the user with shortcuts and ease of use."

20 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. but does that mean by toddhunter · · Score: 4, Funny

    One day they will be announcing their second 1.0 release?

  2. about Qtopia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Cool thing about Qtopia was that it could be used with Python. Developing GUIs in python is easy and fun

    1. Re:about Qtopia by holgerschurig · · Score: 5, Informative

      I'm using OpenZaurus as my PDA distribution. This distro uses Opie, but it comes with python, sip, PyQt and PyOpie. So you can develop your GUI stuff in Python.

    2. Re:about Qtopia by mlauer · · Score: 4, Informative

      I am the maintainer of the Python packages in the OpenZaurus distribution. Programming PyQt on Opie is pretty good supported through the qtpe module. A dedicated opie module to support the Opie extensions will eventually be provided.

      --
      Cheers, Mickey. [Team Opie|OpenZaurus|OpenSIMpad|Wellenreiter]
  3. The opie website, for those who care by Feztaa · · Score: 4, Informative

    Slashdot didn't link to it, and neither did linuxdevices.com, so I just thought I'd say that the Opie homepage is here.

  4. why the fork? by sniggly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why is this forked? Doesn't that lead to double efforts? Is it political or is there a technical reason?

    --
    Of those to whom much is given, much is required.
    1. Re:why the fork? by ofels · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes, there were political reasons.
      Qtopia did not let developers take part in the project to contribute and parts of it were closed source.

      Oliver Fels
      Team Opie

  5. Bring on the Gasoline!!! by A1miras · · Score: 5, Informative

    Since this is a qt portable related anouncement, I figure people would be interested in it's gtk equivalent.

    GPE or the "GPE Palmtop Environment" aims to provide a Free Software GUI environment for palmtop/handheld computers running the GNU/Linux(TM) operating system. GPE uses the X Window System, and the GTK+-2.2 widget toolkit.

    They have their own nifty screenshots.

    --
    Take Care

    A1miras
    1. Re:Bring on the Gasoline!!! by shepd · · Score: 5, Interesting

      >X? On a palmtop?

      The PalmPilot Pro had more CPU and memory than the NCD X terminal the local University threw out.

      If a 12 Mhz 68000 can run X, then anything (even those $50 cheapies) manufactured today can run X.

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    2. Re:Bring on the Gasoline!!! by JanneM · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Something like Tiny X has a total footprint of 700k or thereabouts. X isn't (or doesn't have to be) that resource intensive. Hopefully everybody realizes by now that the "memory hungry" myth is just that; a result of unavoidably disingenoius reporting by system tools. And you don't _need_ a large dynamic font system with AA, or all the modules you load at run-time either, if you want to shrink resource usage further.

      And X-less methods rack up that kind of resource use anyway; _something_ has to handle expose and redraw stuff, for instance, if you are aiming for something able to run more than one thing at a time. Apparently (I have not worked on it myself), qtopia requires the applications to handle WM-stuff by themselves.

      I agree that Palm did a pretty good thing with their system, by only allowing one - full-screen - application to run at any one time. Easy model to handle, and resource efficient. But as the huge collection of hacks show, it is also quite limiting.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  6. iSync ? by mirko · · Score: 5, Insightful
    What about its synchronization features ?
    Can I :
    • sync it to Outlook (work) ?
    • sync it to iCal (at home) ?
    • use my existing Qt/ZAurus apps on it ?

    Should at least 2 answers be positive (100%), I'd consider installing it.
    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
    1. Re:iSync ? by ofels · · Score: 5, Informative

      It can sync to Outllok via QTopiaDesktop from TrollTech (free) and IntelliSync from PumaTech.

      http://opie.infofreaks.net has a rudimentary sync tool for Windows, which does not work very well with Win2k.

      iCal support is built in.

      Qtopia apps are working.

      Oliver
      Project Opie

    2. Re:iSync ? by A1miras · · Score: 5, Informative

      From their website under "Sync Data With The Desktop" it says:

      KitchenSync...

      KitchenSync is the Synchronisation Framework for KDE 3.1. At present, one can synchronize directory, Todolist and Calendar. In the future it will be possible with KitchenSync to sync data with other computers, or also with Handys like the S45. to the fact comes that one can save konqueror directly on devices. So one will be able directly out konqueror files on CF, SD, to copy or RAM.

      Qtopia Desktop

      is Trolltech's sync software TrollTech ftp

      IntelliSync
      [there's nothing under IntelliSync]

      --
      Take Care

      A1miras
  7. Is linux too much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can't help wondering if Linux is too much for smaller devices like these. It has a brilliant place in larger systems, and small basic webservers (PII machines of only a few hundred MiHz) but isn't it a bit much for a system the size of embedded machines, devices and PDAs?. I can't help thinking that a more focused coding effort could be spent not on unixifying the entire world, but directing effort more appropriately.

    Something the size of the Amiga exec kernel is under 40kb and provides the essentials and runs blindingly fast on single-digit-MiHz machines. How much performance is really being lost in having bigger more complex base kernels?

    1. Re:Is linux too much? by antiMStroll · · Score: 5, Informative

      The Zaurus 5500 runs a StrongArm 200 MHz, easily the equivalent of the P2 machines you mention, with additional advantage that the kernel can be highly optimized for a limited subset of accessory hardware and stripped of support it will never require (SCSI for example.) Opera embedded runs plenty fast on a Zaurus, plus you maintain the tradiitonal benefits of Linux such as NFS and SMB support.

  8. I know I am going to get a troll or offtopic... by skogs · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I know I am going to get a troll or an offtopic...but I just don't understand the point of the opie project at all. Perhaps because I am not cool enough to use a palmtop/PDA...I use paper notes or cards in my wallet for the things I really, really...really need. Good thing I don't have a lot of them.

    Question I can't get out of my head is this. All of this equipment already ships with an OS that works and that was custom designed for that piece of hardware...so why rebuild it with linux?

    I like linux, I run linux...and it helps me avoid the evil empire that would like to tax me. But palm/etc does not charge me extra for the use of their palm os. I can buy niftly little game packs and everything to fit in a palm that holds all the games of my youth on it...

    I just don't understand the need. Except maybe to force layoffs in big companies like palm...when they switch over to this newly made free OS. Thats what the /. community needs...more out of work software engineers.

    --
    Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey Him? Surely this computer must submit also!
    1. Re:I know I am going to get a troll or offtopic... by jericho4.0 · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Hmmm, let's see, my Ipaq has Apache, ssh, Grass5, and python on it. I wrote some code (in Python) to interface it with a gps. I can use it to admin unix servers, and even use its X display to interface with a servers GUI. All of this works at a decent enough speed.

      I really like the fact that I can do this. I can't do any of this on some propietary system.

      --
      "A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
  9. Re:Why don't they ever learn? by ofels · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who says we need income from this ?
    There is not much choice if you fork a GPL based project regarding licensing issues.

    Oliver Fels
    Team Opie

  10. Re:Whey hey ANOTHER OS... by splint3r · · Score: 5, Informative
    Well first let's clear something up, it's not another OS, you wouldn't call KDE an OS would you? My Zaurus still runs on the same (slightly modified) OS it shipped with despite the fact that I'm running Opie, it runs Linux.

    I'm not at all sure that PDAs are becoming obsolete in the face of competition from smart phones. The new phones will still be that, phones. I don't see how a product can be designed to be two different things without sacrificing something(s) from both.

    I'd rather have a phone that's a good phone, and a PDA that's a good PDA than something which tries to do both and fails. Old arguement I know, but I feel nothing's changed, phones will not be the all-in-one device they promise to be, not enough thought has gone into user adoption. Unlike Sony's attempt , unfortunately.

  11. But it has crap PPP support so... by Goth+Biker+Babe · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...it's difficult to use it in conjunction with mobile phones for dial up without script hacking.

    I have an SL5500 and I keep swapping between the Sharp rom image and OpenZaurus. The rom version that came with my PDA was fine but a little out dated. Sharp, in their wisdom, have changed the format for the PIM apps in the new rom which means I can't sync with Qtopia desktop on my Linux box any more. And OpenZaurus/Opie seems to be more suited to those using WiFi/permanently on-line connections rather than dial-up. The e-mail client either supports only IMap or is crap. PPP is a pain to set up. I like the way it works on the earlier sharp rom. Why wasn't that kept? Ideal I would want a combination of all three.

    I have to say I haven't tried Opie 1.0 as I'm still running pre0.99. It does seem to be heading in the right direction but it seems unfinished in some areas. I suspect this is because apps are developed by people who want that functionality. I have the source and have looked at updating the bits I need but I don't have the time. I'm afraid I spend all my day at work designing and developing embedded systems and just want to use my PDA without having to develop for it.