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Intel Launches Mobile Linux Project
An anonymous reader writes "Intel has unveiled an ambitious project aimed at developing open source software for mobile devices. The Moblin project comprises a Linux kernel, UI framework, browser, multimedia framework, and embedded Linux image creation tools, along with developer resources such as documentation, mailing lists, and an IRC channel. Intel says it hopes Moblin will serve as a 'point of integration' for multiple sub-projects, and appears eager to see devices such as its Mobile Internet Device design, and chipsets such as its Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 platform, be thoroughly supported by Linux. Although all of the projects currently focus on the Intel architecture, Moblin says it is open to hosting support for other processor architectures."
You can tell Intel is sincere because they've followed the Linux naming convention... and come up with one that sucks :P
<xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
With Nokia already backing Maemo based on GTK, and Trolltech's Qtopia based on Qt, what perceived need did Intel have for starting a new project to develop a mobile UI rather than joining an existing effort? Vendor specific fragmentation is just going to result in duplicated effort.
What about OpenMoko? An open source and open hardware cell phone slated for consumer release around October 2007. If Intel wanted to do something seems getting involved there would be a great place to start. Had they have gotten involved a bit sooner they could have probably convinced the developers to use intel hardware instead of what they are currently using (I believe it is samsung . . don't quote me on that though).
If you are about to mod me down, keep in mind that this post was most likely sarcastic.
I hope this at least builds on the successes of OS distributions for devices like the Linksys NSLU2, the WRT54G, and the Sharp Zaurus series. These people have stable and tested toolchains, build practices, entire organizations set up around managing and maintaining Linux on these devices.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Moblin? As in these guys?
Wow! Must be good...
It says open source, you can use the same kernel, but configure it specific to the device you're using. Where did you get binary drivers from the description (an open source project Moblin). No, I did not RTFA.
Even trolltech wouldn't respond to my emails because I am not a company.
so far the so-called open source platforms require a buy-in and although OpenMoko sounds good... how many people will use the software you write for it?
Does anyone know of the best J2ME phone to buy? at least J2ME has some software out there for it and a huge amount of phones run it. Is there a J2ME phone that uses all of the phones memory not just a tiny portion?
You don't have a history of trolling so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt:
- No version of the Linux kernel has ever been released under the GPL 3
- AFAICT, none of the articles mention anything about Intel using a proprietary kernel
- On the projects page of moblin.org they list under the "Kernel" sub-heading that they will be working on "Platform-specific kernel patches and device drivers." I don't see any reason not to take this at face value.
For more info please RTFA. kthxbye.
^I'm with stupid.^
GPLv2 is still open, as are the BSD's Mozilla, and a few others.
Besides, if Intel merely wanted to avoid GPLv3, all they would have to do would be to grab a version licensed under v2 and use that. The bottom says "either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version."
If Intel uses a GPLv2 release of the source (AFAIK, none of them are GPLv3 yet), they won't be forced to change once (if) Linus decides to do so. They just won't be allowed to use any of the new(GNU?) code.
But IANAL, so I could be wrong.
The creator of this post (Jacob Smith) hereby releases it, and all of his other posts, into the public domain.
How would Intel change the kernel proprietary license?...
ilovegeorgebush
hmmmm... when Matt Zimmerman announced Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded Edition, he was delighted to be working with Intel on this version of Ubuntu. Is there really a reason to create a separate project?
That was meant to be "to a proprietary license"...damn typos...
ilovegeorgebush
for Microsoft.
Now, some posters paid by microsoft may mention that ms has 90% of desktop users and linux only 4%. But the thing is that there is a threshold of a %% of users upon which Windows will die within months. This is when most people know somebody who has installed linux and they hear from their friends that other people are using it. (This is almost happening in Europe and some parts of Asia). This threashold is estimated around 20%
Now that MS can no longer pimp Intel, AMD, Dell and other hardware vendors, it is beyond doubt what's going to happen. MS will go down the drain like a turd .
www.eFax.com are spammers
You're right.. we need input device 2.0.. and head mounted displays. That'll be a whole new experience. I have a UMPC and it serves some purposes, but its clearly an awkward stopgap.
Intel Launches Mobile Linux Project
And here I thought I was going to read about Intel programming on Linux while driving. Or better yet, putting linux on cars!
Gals and Guys,
I've see the question, "Why doesn't 'Intel' use one of the existing projects?" Well, 'Intel' hasn't started any project.
Some guys at Intel, in some group, in a division, did it. It served their purpose, probably for board-set, or platform verification reasons. Some jazzed engineers suggested the project be formalized, and a good manager, decided no to get in the way.
How do I know this? Let's just say, it is an educated guess.
I have seen so many posts about 'Intel' decided, or AMD decided, or IBM did this. Believe me, there ain't no grand council of elders that say "come forth and address the high council, and if ye are worthy..."
I saw "Moblin project" first and thought that this was going to be an article about the monsters of the same name from the Zelda games. :-(
Karma: Terrifying (mostly affected by atrocities you've committed)
Lest they be kidnapped by moblins...
Thanks for mentioning the Nokia 770 currently it seems cheap at £99 at some places, seems to be quite capable with some design flaws. Have you seen the Nokia N800? this appears to be a significant improvement over the 770 more ram more flash ram two sd card slots. I was almost prepared to buy the 770 when I saw the N800 It gave me pause for thought.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N800
Blarney Quality Restaurant, Plants
The N800 has also received a recent software update to allow for Flash 9 (Youtube galore) and Skype. There's videos of it in action all over youtube and it looks nice. I was really tempted to get one to use as a wifi phone and internet device in my home, but I figured I could wait a little more.
Moblins you say?
I'm wondering when someone is going to release the hardware for me to use. Not all bundled up in a package like the iPhone Linux wanna be that was mentioned on /. a few days ago, but a hardware component package. More like inexpensive pico-itx type devices. Something that has a processor and the surrounding hardware, and lets me either choose memory size and storage devices. I guess an embedded arm board would work for this though, but this is Intel. Where are the embedded Intel boards ( maybe I just haven't found them)? I'm looking for something as inexpensive as the arm chips or better yet as cheap as the pic micro controllers.
Only 'flamers' flame!
Does slashdot hate my posts?
The N800 is a capable machine: it addresses the weakness of the N770, lack of RAM and a weird card format. IIRC, it still doesn't give you USB-host out of the box, and even though Maemo has improved a lot, it is still has a bit to learn from other interfaces in term of usability. It is a nice device, for sure, the screen gives you more resolution than any other device in this price point and size.
Where is that guy who'd die defending what I had to say when I need him?
To be honest i don't think the actual structure of the O/S is of interest other than in engineering/reliability terms. What to me would matter in a Linux web device is the browser, as Opera (as referenced above) doesn't yet play nicely with some "Web 2.0" AJAX websites (Google Maps, Google Docs & Spreadsheets).
It's a fact that no matter how good Opera is at some applications, web sites are often designed with Firefox & IE in mind as target browsers. While this is in many cases symptomatic of bad webdesign (not always: Google Spreadsheets design team claim that Opera doesn't implement some features properly), the best thing the designers of internet devices can do might be to make sure Firefox operates. Do that and you can sell your device as a thin client for popular online services as well as an open local-app development platform.
My footnote: I'd love a Nokia N800 with Firefox, to run my favourite online services. Currently only minimo runs on Maemo, and it isn't complete enough.
I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
Kind of like Goblin but for Mobile.
Is there some kind of secret rule that ties OSS projects to terrible naming? Maybe like a blood pact or something?
Quack, quack.
Thanks for all that. By the way, your link is broken ;)
www.purevolume.com/martyd
Rather than using a Linux kernel massaged into something suitable for a mobile platform, why not create a kernel and OS designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the mobile platform. I guess "linux" is becoming more of a brand name than a specific thing.
Intel used to do a lot of embedded hardware/software when they were still running the CHG (Cellular Handhold Group), and then they sold it to Marvell. And now they are picking up the embedded Linux again. What are they thinking? ......