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Unofficial Qt Environment (and Sudoku) For the Kindle
An anonymous reader writes "I've just posted packages for installing a Qt-based platform on the Kindle 2 and DX devices, and a Sudoku game to go along with it. The Qt-based platform includes plugins I wrote for the e-ink display, the keyboard, and the five-way joystick thing — so it's a fully interactive and usable environment now. Soon I'll be adding a sample app with source code to go along with it."
the kindle is still worth something now that the iPad is out.
It suks duko.
It is sudoku, you retards
There are easier ways to get what you want. Go to the nearest gas station and get the phone numbers from the men's stall. And please don't come back here.
tl;dr
I checked a Kindle out of my college library and the WhisperNet browser was better than I had expected. I set up a textarea form on my server, and tested taking notes with it.
The only problem was that each letter would appear on its own refresh cycle (at about 1Hz). While it took me 51 seconds to type out a short paragraph, the K2 was locked up for another 60 seconds while each letter appeared one after the other.
It was clear that the string was saved to a buffer (because I *didn't* have to wait for each letter to appear before typing the next), and I know the refresh rate is just a limitation of e-ink, but it seems an alternative environment could display multiple characters with each refresh.
I'd rather have someone respond than be modded up.
ACCEPTABLE USES: The Sudoku! Free Edition game is for personal use only, do not redistribute it. The Qt platform proof-of-concept plugins can be used with your own Kindle apps, personal or commercial.
HOSTING: Please do not re-host the install packages for the Qt platform except temporarily on the occasion that this site is not accessible. Refer people to this site instead. The uninstall packages can be re-hosted without limitations (to assist in any recovery, if it's ever required).
If he is trying to develop a commercial environment for the kindle, then he is going about it in a strange way.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
When will we see the iPhone OS on the kindle schmindle? Huh?
-SJ
What better way of demonstrating this than by looking at the hidden messages contained within the names of some of Linux's most outspoken advocates:
I see your point; the fact that your whose name is an anagram for "a cosy round woman" only reinforces it.
This is my favorite troll. Everybody should read it at least once.
According to Wikipedia, "A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator."
The iPad is not a personal computer, since the iPad *does* have an intervening computer operator (Apple) which defines which applications may or may not be installed on the iPad.
Since, according to the article, the Kindle is in fact "a Linux device with a ~533Mhz ARM processor" and with the addition of Qt being successfully compiled in it, doesn't that mean that the Kindle is in fact what the iPad is not ? A tablet personal computer ?
That's how I met Eric Raymond.
no intervening computer operator.
You have to take some liberties to wedge Apple into the role traditionally known as operator in computing history, which the article is most likely referring to, and to the extent Apple fits here, Amazon does as well: they're not selling the Kindle as a general purpose device, and you have to jump through some hoops to get it to work like one.
That said, I agree the Kindle is a PC of sorts, albeit one with different strengths and weaknesses from the iPad.
Tweet, tweet.
The platform itself is not supposed to be commercial/closed. I'll drop that hosting request as soon as enough people have tried it and I know it doesn't brick a whole lot of Kindles. This way I can easily change the packages and fix something if it goes wrong. Also, if Amazon gets crazy nasty and starts banning everyone who installs it, then I can properly warn people if that starts to happen.
I was only able to test it on two Kindles, after all... and not for very long on the Kindle 2 (which most people probably have).
As for the Sudoku game, I was hoping to do the standard iPhone app-like demo version + paid version later. If nobody cares, or if Amazon decides to play rough... I won't sell the paid version. I don't need that kind of trouble. If the legal stuff looks a little weird, give me a little break, here... I could potentially get in a lot of trouble with this. I'm pretty conflicted ATM.
Amazon's announcement of their own official 'KDK' in the works messes with my plans somewhat. :) Don't get me wrong, the fact that Amazon is going to be providing that is awesome. I was hoping to prove there's a good amount of interest in it and also (if I was really lucky) push any SDK to use Qt instead of Java. (and maybe make a little money as the first real app for it in the process) ... I can't believe Amazon's first app idea is Sudoku. I guess it's an obvious one... but damn!
The original goal of being the basis of a future Kindle SDK look a little blown. So, I'm still figuring out where to go with it.
Someday I'll actually take the time to find my login and actually post as myself. Sorry. :)
Darron
This is my favorite troll. Everybody should read it at least once.
Is that why you posted it?
Seriously though, it was a lot better in the Katz era. Now that he's gone, not only can the masses rest a little easier, but he's not Slashdot's resident anything.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"