Nokia's Linux Handheld

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Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday May 25, 2005 @01:48AM from the gadgets-i-want dept.

Nils Faerber writes "Today Nokia announced the introduction of the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet device along with the Open Source based Maemo Development Platform. With this new product Nokia enters several new worlds all at once. A new concept for the use of a handheld device, a new fully visible open source based development process and the explicit use of open source software in a commercial grade product. The typical use case for the Nokia 770 is to be the internet usability extension to your mobile phone or other wireless internet access equipment. It is extremely portable by its small formfactor, usable for almost all internet applications thorugh its exceptional resolution of 800x480 pixel and its multimedia capabilities by making use of a TI-OMAP CPU and a accompanying digital signal processor (DSP) core. The consequent use of open source software and technology basing on the Linux kernel 2.6, X11-server technology and the GTK+ toolkit the resulting new Hildon graphical user interface creates a fully new user interface experience for portable Linux devices."

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Re:Left-handed model? by Soko · 2005-05-25 01:59 · Score: 2, Insightful

Well, it is Open Source, so some enterprising leftie will write a screen/button flipper for the thing - you'll just need to learn how to use the buttons upside down (left arrow will change to right via software, but the pad will be at the bottom, not the top).

Soko

--
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
... but shame on you, Nokia... by lowieken · 2005-05-25 02:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

for wanting to impose software patents on us in the EU!
1. Re:... but shame on you, Nokia... by A+beautiful+mind · 2005-05-25 02:32 · Score: 3, Insightful
  Nokia is really mixed up in these matters:
  
  it supports open source stuff like this
  
  supports the anti-microsoft side in eu vs. microsoft battle
  
  on the other hand, supports software patents
  
  I'd wish they'd just make up their mind and vouch for FOSS
  --
  It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
  Be yourself no matter what they say
2. Re:... but shame on you, Nokia... by labratuk · 2005-05-25 05:41 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  A company's right hand not knowing what its left hand is doing is nothing new.
  
  A future with EU software patents is a future where tech companies have more lawyers employed than developers. My guess is that the people in charge of Nokia's stance on patents... are lawyers.
  
  --
  Malike Bamiyi wanted my assistance.
Re:Left-handed model? by jintxo · 2005-05-25 02:08 · Score: 3, Insightful

... pregadous ...
wtf?
Re:Good by garcia · 2005-05-25 02:11 · Score: 4, Insightful

people will realise that Linux is not necessarily hard to use.

If by "people" you mean the general non-computer-geek population, then I really don't think they care what OS the unit is running. Tivo is easy to use and runs on Linux. Archos media players are easy to use... The list continues.

Linux *can* be difficult to use, especially as a home OS. UIs that lay over the kernel and OS don't have to be.
you're in luck by cahiha · 2005-05-25 02:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

It's open source and it's X11 based. That means that RandR probably works on it and you can just rotate the screen 180 degrees.
Re:Seen it already... by fbjon · 2005-05-25 03:07 · Score: 2, Insightful

A C64 can too. But does anyone really want to?

--
True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.
Re:It will fail by fbjon · 2005-05-25 03:17 · Score: 2, Insightful

BS. My pda has 128mb built in, and has an SD slot. I have no problems with storage. Besides, how much storage do you need for browsing, mail, etc.? This isn't a portable dvd-player.

--
True confidence comes not from realising you are as good as your peers, but that your peers are as bad as you are.