TechCrunch Wants To Create an Open Source Tablet

RKo618 writes "TechCrunch announced that they are planning to design their own $200 web tablet device. Quoting: 'The idea is to turn it on, bypass any desktop interface, and go directly to Firefox running in a modified Kiosk mode that effectively turns the browser into the operating system for the device. Add Gears for offline syncing of Google docs, email, etc., and Skype for communication and you have a machine that will be almost as useful as a desktop but cheaper and more portable than any laptop or tablet PC.' The aim is for the tablet to run on modified open source software, which will be released back to the community along with the specifications for the hardware."

Comments

Kinda like the N800?

[DingerX]

I mean, those specs pretty much match a Nokia N800 with a pair of 2 GB SD cards and running OS 2008. Heck, they even got the Linux part.

Okay, you can upgun to an Arm11, put in a bigger battery, and make the touch screen multitouch, but the device proposed is not something entirely new.

It is, however, something eminently useful on a daily basis.

Skype isn't Open Source

[MichaelCrawford]

They could use Jabber for instant messaging, and Asterix for voice communications.

Already have one

[yelvington]

Linux kernel ... check.
Touchscreen interface ... check.
Firefox ... Gecko-based browser, so check.
Skype ... check. Also all the other IM protocols.
Wifi ... check. Also Bluetooth to my EDGE phone.
Headphones, mike, camera ... check.
Google Gears ... still waiting. But I have abiword.
About $100 over the target price, but not bad.
http://www.nseries.com/products/n800/#l=products,n800

I'd like a bigger touchscreen, but then it wouldn't fit in my pocket.