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Motorola Launches A760 Linux and Java Smartphone

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the phoning-home dept.

securitas writes "Motorola launched its A760 Linux and Java smartphone in China today. The dual-mode GSM/GPRS phone uses a version of MontaVista Linux, Motorola's i250 chip for communications, Intel's 200 MHz PXA262 chip (based on the XScale PXA250) for computing with 256 MB RAM, and software that includes a personal information management application, digital camera, a video player, MP3 music player, and an instant-messaging tool. The A760 is the first of Motorola's Linux-based phones. Eventually Motorola plans to use Linux in most of its phones."

17 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Why Intel? by jimbolaya · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I find it odd that Motorola, a maker of embedded microprocessors, would go with an Intel chip.

    --

    There ain't no rules here; we're trying to accomplish something.

    1. Re:Why Intel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      I find it even more ironic that they would go with MontaVista when they own Metrowerks who has their own embedded linux.

    2. Re:Why Intel? by Glock27 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I find it odd that Motorola, a maker of embedded microprocessors, would go with an Intel chip.

      Yes, that is fairly strange. The low-power PPC chips are pretty nice.

      However, the phone unit is most likely autonomous (and much more powerful than the chip unit, which may be sold and is unprofitable). Intel most likely had the best prices and specs (or convinced someone of that), and Intel got the deal.

      Its really the way to do things, if you end up with a better phone product. If not, well...

      --
      Galileo: "The Earth revolves around the Sun!"
      Score: -1 100% Flamebait
  2. Features required before it can replace a Zaurus.. by zelurxunil · · Score: 3, Funny

    1.) Bash 2.) GCC 3.) X11 4.) Emacs

    --

    What's another word for Thesaurus?
    -Steve Wright
  3. Uses Linux, but does not expose it by mparaz · · Score: 4, Informative

    Motorola's own page for the product does not even mention that it uses Linux. I doubt they'll officially support people trying to get a root shell prompt on it.

  4. Functional, but not beautiful by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There are some pictures here.

    The transparent window to let you see the screen when the clamshell is closed is a nice touch, but it's following the latest phone trend of looking like it's eaten too many pies. When will someone produce a phone styled like the iPod with it's slick square-with-rounded-corners look?

    I wonder if you can telnet in from the serial port/data link port, install a VNC server and then have all your phone controlls on your desktop? Would be a big improvement over fiddly little buttons - mind you in the photo it doesn't seem to have numeric buttons, but rather use some kind of touch screen controls as well as a D pad.

    --
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  5. Nice win for Linux, but what does it really mean? by G4from128k · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I find the proliferation of Linux-based devices interesting. It would seem to suggest a growing base of devices that will attract application developers and create more reasons for both users and platform manufacturers to adopt Linux.

    But I wonder if a common kernel is sufficient from the perspective of the end-user. In particular, I wonder how compatible the various flavors of Linux are when it comes to GUI-based applications that most people want to use. Unless all these various devices can run some common GUI, most of the real applications that people want to use will will be impossible to port between all these devices or hard to use if they get ported but use different interface guidelines.

    Perhaps the volume of devices running Linux is less important than the volume of devices running a standardized UI layer and set of interface guidelines on Linux.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  6. Linux in a phone? by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Funny

    I heard they still can't get the sound to work.

  7. Re:Smartphone OSs by Trelane · · Score: 3, Insightful
    o, although I love Linux just as much as you guys, I'll be sticking to Microsoft products to run my phones.


    Nah. If I support Linux companies, it will get better.

    If I support Microsoft, everyone will get screwed as Microsoft gets yet another monopoly.

    So assuming your post is accurate (I've not heard anything to verify the post from this AC), I still want to support the Linux companies.

    Microsoft has leeway from its monopoly rents. We have to help Linux companies survive.
    --

    --
    Given enough personal experience, all stereotypes are shallow.
  8. Linux is almost irrelevant here by BriSTO(V)L · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Everyone (at the time of reading) seems to be stuck on the linux-ness of this phone, with spurious speculation about gcc, bash etc. But the point is that the software development platform for these things will be: 1) Java 2) Not controlled by Microsoft or Symbian or Palm 3) See (1) etc... It may well indicate a new platform for open source software development, but it is not going to look much like any current paradigm, I suspect. Also, the 2 parts (phone and "computer", for want of a better word) will be highly separated to avoid people writing software to "adjust" their phone bills.

  9. I don't find it odd at all... by Moderation+abuser · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's been patently obvious for several years that the Motorola management simply have no confidence in their own products.

    They eat as little their own dogfood as they can in the products they sell and they don't eat it in their internal I.T. infrastructure at all. It falls into place when you see that they are getting rid of their microprocessor division entirely[1].

    It also begs the question, why would anyone else want to eat their dogfood? Apple have answered that one by going to IBM for the G5.

    [1] http://www.arstechnica.com/archive/news/1065502188 .html

    --
    Government of the people, by corporate executives, for corporate profits.
  10. price = $799 by linuxlover · · Score: 3, Interesting
    plemix

    Ouch!

    May be when it comes to $300 or so, I will consider.

  11. Motorola is going for Microsoft by rkaa · · Score: 3, Informative

    I tried to point to this Register-story earlyer:
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/ 31962.html

    Motorola have had the A760 cooking for a long time. Any release in US or Europe is yet undecided. And only two weeks after they recently sold their share in Symbian, a Microsoft phone - MPx200 - was announced.

    Motorola state in a press release that a row of MS based phones are planned, and that the two companies are cooperating closely within development and strategic marketing. The english version of the release seems to have vanished, but one in swedish is available, dated today:
    http://sverige.motorola.com/newsview.asp?i temid=52 0

    I think it's safe to consider the A760 an "asian experiment". There are currently no indication further plans for those devices. There are, however, very explicit plans for further development of MS-based devices.

    1. Re:Motorola is going for Microsoft by RoLi · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Why is it that MS-phones are always announced and never materialize?

      Orange had a phone for a short time that was so buggy that they had to remove it from the market. T-Online stopped their MS-plans shortly before it would go to market. And now Motorola pulls the press releases about MS-phones - except for a swedish one which seems to have been forgotten on the server...

      What tops it off is that there are still people stupid/naive enougth to preach that "There are, however, very explicit plans for further development of MS-based devices", when "Eventually Motorola plans to use Linux in most of its phones." (See above with nice linkage).

      Microsoft on cellphones is dead. With better established commercial alternatives (Symbian and PalmOS) and equally established free alternatives (Linux) available, there is nothing which can revive Windows on cellphones. It had a chance, but blew it. Get used to it.

    2. Re:Motorola is going for Microsoft by RoLi · · Score: 3, Interesting
      And Motorola hardly pulled the press release I mentioned, only mis-linked it.

      I said they pulled the press release and forgot a swedish version on the server. What part of that don't you understand?

      Believing the MS's mobile initiative to be dead is dangerous and way wrong.

      Only dangerous for Microsoft. Without the "it's going to be THE STANDARD" - bonus, they don't have a chance.

      Microsofts problem has partly been their technology - now polished - but more problematic was their lack of support amongst mobile tech producers.

      I disagree on the first part (MS has still to show that they can actually put out a working smartphone solution) but you are correct on the second part: They lack support - again because everybody (rightly) believes that MS-smartphones are dead. It's a self-fullfilling prophecy. No support -> Everybody believes it's dead -> even less support -> It is dead.

      A well reputed company like Motorola turning to Windows is exactly what they needed.

      You don't find it ironic if you type that line in a story about a REAL EXISTING **LINUX** smartphone while there is nothing but hot air and vapor about MS-smartphones from Motorola?

      Face it: MS-smartphones are dead. Symbian is the standard and has the advantages of being established (you get tons of programs, support and all formats are working), Linux has the advantage of being royalty-free and source-free, Microsoft has no advantages: It comes with royalties like Symbian and is as badly established as Linux. And on top you get the additional disadvantage that it's price and existance is uncertain. (Symbian is controlled by a consortium, not a single firm)

      As interesting as the A760 might be, Linux is a complete outsider in mobile technology.

      Just like Windows. But it's royalty free.

      No wonder Motorola loudly bet on the safest horse.

      You sure read too many Microsoft propaganda. With about 0% marketshare, Windows is no safety horse in cellphones, it's a risky technology that can dissappear anyday, just like:

      • Hailstorm
      • Windows/Alpha
      • Blackbird
      • MS Bob
      • or many other Microsoft projects

      Because of Microsoft marketing you think otherwise, but in the real world Microsoft has a long list of shutting down projects without warning.

      If all you have is a swedish press-release, well then I'm really sorry for you and your beloved Windows-cellphones.

  12. PPC isn't the right chip for this job by pslam · · Score: 3, Informative
    Yes, that is fairly strange. The low-power PPC chips are pretty nice.

    The XScale has an order of magnitude better performance per watt than PPC - we're talking fractions of a watt flat out at 400MHz (see the spec sheet). Also note that this is an Intel/DEC improved ARM core, and isn't x86 based in the slightest.

    This particular XScale also has a large wedge of on-chip flash and a bunch of handy peripherals for mobile devices - which is unsurprising seeing as that's what it seems to have been made for.

    It is funny that Motorola favour other manufacturer's chips for embedded low power devices, but the reason is simple: none of their stuff fits the bill. Even their own mobile phones seem to use ARM these days.

  13. Linux on the inside... by mousse-man · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The phone runs on Linux, but did Motorola release SDKs as well, so we can add some software like on the Zaurus? Have a real Linux underneath that will allow me to be somewhat productive with it?

    So far, it looks to me like some other lock-in scheme akin to WinCE or Windows for (Dumb) phones.

    And more to notice - all the interesting Linux toys like the new Zaurus, this Motorola phone - are only delivered in Asia. Why this?