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Nokia Leaks Phone With Full GNU/Linux Distribution
An anonymous reader writes "It is now clear why Nokia has been so slow with S60 updates: the upcoming N900 just left everything else in the dust. Unlike Google's Linux platform, Nokia is not intentionally breaking compatibility with real distros, choosing instead to bring you the unmatchable power of GNU/Linux on your phone. This is the most awesome device I have ever seen: MAP3 CPU/GPU, 3,5" 800x480 touchscreen, keyboard, Wi-Fi, HSPA, GPS; 5-MP camera, CZ lens, 32 GB storage, SD slot; X11, VT100 terminal emulator, APT package manager. Estimated price without credit: $780 (N.5800: $390, iPhone 3GS: $750). Developers should note that even though the current desktop is still GTK+, Qt will be standard across all Nokia platforms in the near future (less powerful phones will use Qt on the Symbian kernel). Users can download flashing software from Nokia, and patches can be submitted at the Maemo site."
The Pre runs a practically normal Linux distribution. Granted, all the applications are written in Javascript and not some compiled language using C, but I look at that as a good thing.
It's not MAP3.. it's OMAP 3
And the VT100 term emulator is based on gnome-terminal (at least it is in older maemo and I see no reason for them to have written a different one)
I searched for the word "phone" throughout that linked article, and nowhere did it mention things like, oh, talking and listening and dialing. No "3G" or "GPRS" mentions either. The N810 and N800 and (N)700 Internet Tablet models look just like this, but WITH NO PHONE GUTS. A few screenshots look like they have phone features, but it really seems odd that a review/preview just doesn't even mention such obvious things. Maybe it's just Skype for all I know.
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Miniaturization. I can't fit a netbook in my pocket. Close not quite.
UNIX/Linux Consulting
Yes, Maemo is pretty much a full Linux distribution. You can ssh into the device and ssh out from the device. On the N810 (with a large enough MicroSD card) you can even install a full Debian distribution. It's still ARM, so don't expect it to be as fast as a Desktop, but everything works (mplayer, pidgin, Open Office, VNC client & server, etc).
-- Don't Tase me, bro!
You can use a bluetooth keyboard. You can also use a VNC server on the phone and do your work from a VNC client on the desktop (or just ssh into the device).
-- Don't Tase me, bro!
They bought Trolltech and their Qt Extended phone OS last May, which is completely open-source.
If you want to see what the OS is like, go and see one of the forks: QtMoko, Qt Extended Improved, and probably others. I am using QtMoko on a Freerunner and the interface is sweet even if some parts need more polishing.
You're not old until regret takes the place of your dreams.
In my experience, (which admittedly is years out of date) you can't build a phone with a libre radio and expect to get it past type acceptance. There are a lot of very precise regulations on the way a phone has to behave on the air, and in many cases the manufacturer is at least theoretically liable if the device misbehaves. Allowing users to mess with the protocols is therefore widely regarded as a bad idea by manufacturers, carriers, and regulators. When I was doing smart phone development, I was working on a totally proprietary system with no way for the end user to install apps, but we still used dual processors to ensure our app code didn't interfere with the GSM stack.
Obviously, things may have changed since then, but I'm not aware of any phone where the user can get direct control over the radio. If there is an exception to that, I'd love to hear about it.
It's in the garage.
If it works in Diablo, and on N770s, n800s and n810s, the n900 has got you covered. The n900 may be a phone, but with its OMAP processor and MID heritage, the nerd angle is already covered.
* You can watch a movie on this phone. The screen on these things (I have an n800) is stunning at 800 x 480. I and some of my relatives have enjoyed full length movies on my n800 and I keep my personal video collection (dv converted to mpeg4) on it.
* word-work? Never heard that term, but I'll assume you're talking about messaging (I hope your not talking about word processing). Many people are quite efficient on each of the various keyboard input setups and this has two of them; touchscreen and pop-out keyboard, so you probably just need practice.
* In case you missed the article the camera is very nice. Carl Zeiss; 5.2 MP. More than enough for "happy snaps".
* Maemo is a very active community (http://www.maemo.org) with lots of great software. So what is it that you want your phone to do? More than likely there is an application to do it.
We (the geeks) have been clamoring for an open platform phone and now it appears we're getting it. I admit that I get excited at the thought of being able to ssh into my phone, run scripts and write programs in Python/GTK and configure pretty much any and every aspect of the device. If you don't, you're probably not a geek and this whole thing will be lost on you.
You can already run your own application on your own phone, officially and for free.
Just use the Open Signed Online service.