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Linux Smartphones On The Rise

Posted by timothy on from the mwa-ha-ha dept.

nostriluu writes "I know, some people want their cell phone to just be a cell phone. To those people, I suggest a second hand phone. For those of us who want to cram as much functionality as possible into a device we are going to bother carrying everywhere, there is the promise of the Linux Smartphone. I've had a P800 for over a year now and while it's great (although a brick), I can't wait for a Linux based device to bring the culture of openness and upgradability, as opposed to the intentional obsolesence and $10 for every little utility someone reinvents for "closed" devices."

2 of 202 comments (clear)

  1. Other advantages by karmatic · · Score: 3, Informative

    One advantage of a Linux-Based smartphone is that their software is often written with a slightly more "open" mentality (possibly because parts of it are under the GPL). I have found that it makes writing simple tools and utilities easer, when compared to (for example) a Windows CE based phone. This is kind of surprising, as I do most of my software development (for work) on windows.

    As for my sig, it refers to home, not work. After all, commercial software is written for people willing to buy it.

  2. Re:benefits by SenseiLeNoir · · Score: 4, Informative

    You must be living in the USA. i Have a p800, and i have never had to pay for a ringtone. these phoes are VERY open as it is. Try a modern SonyEricsson (T610 etc)one day. its as simple as sending a MIDI file via Bluetooth/Infra red or Cable, the software is already free and available. And for bluetooth or infrafed, you dont even need software, as the phone appears as a computer, and simply accepts files thrown at it and vice versa.

    as for bringing prices down. i dont think so. over here in Europe, the prices are already cheap. the cost of licensing Symbian is not expensive.

    Proprietry software is not a bad thing either. IF it works. and in the case of most symbian apps. they DO work, and use exisiting standards (XML, SMIL, SMS, EMS, MMS, MIDI, WAV, MP3)

    Better secuity? well again here in europe. if a fault is found, the phone can be taken to a service depot to be flashed. simple as that.

    --
    Have a nice day!