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Linux Crashes the Mobile Party
superglaze writes "ZDNet.co.uk has a fairly comprehensive feature on the progress being made by Linux for cellphones. Seems a pretty consumer deal for now, but there are some interesting hints of Linux eventually challenging Windows Mobile and Symbian in business use. The article also seems to suggest that the two big groups pushing mobile Linux could be amenable to a merger due to common interests."
When I can easily sync my linux/wm5/symbian/whatever OS phone to my linux desktop wake me. These are just going to be more linux phones that sync with windows desktop easily but on the linux desktop require using some poorly documented library that may or may not work on the current version of your phone. Then IF your phone happens to work with said library/module you are going to have to edit all sorts of config files and PRAY that your phone is actually recognized. After all this you better hope that your mail client, calendar, and contact manager of choice work with said library.
I've said this before on slashdot and I know I will be modded troll so enjoy.
I think the invisible hand of the market has its middle finger extended
--A wise old fart named SC0RN
I already have my Linux mobile device, and I couldn't be happier with it. It attaches to my bluetooth headphones, keyboard, gps, and phone (DUN) without any problems. I can use xterm to ssh to my server, or stream internet radio or video at work. Oh yea, and I jammed 16GB of SDHC storage into the thing, so I have a decent music selection. The current version does not have a cell phone radio, but the next one will carry a WiMax chip, and possibly some other new hardware goodies.
On a related note, Ubuntu's Moblin and Red Flag's Midinux will be out relatively soon for use on UMPCs and MIDs. So, I'd agree that things are looking up for those of us who want more than e-mail and pim on our mobile devices. I'm not sure that I care *as much* about having Linux on my cell phone, as long as it will act as a modem to my other device and make phone calls. I want them to be separate, mostly so that I can make sure not to kill the battery on the cell phone, just in case I actually need it.
On a phone?
The UI on a Linux phone is very unlikely to resemble any existing Linux desktop any more than the iPhone GUI resembles Aqua.
There's plenty of space for a phone with a UI that has more depth than an iPhone, and more consistency than Windows Mobile. I've just dumped my iMate JasJam for a Sony Ericsson M600i, and it was like taking a breath of fresh air. Symbian/UIQ is much more rational than Windows CE, but I'd still prefer an OS I could customise, and the form factor of the M600 isn't as useful as the iMate.
For me, a Linux phone would be the best of both worlds. If there were any available, I'd have one in my pocket now.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."