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MeeGo 1.2 Released
jrepin sends word that the Meego project has announced the release of version 1.2:
"This release provides a solid baseline for device vendors and developers to start creating software for various device categories on Intel Atom and ARMv7 architectures. This release also includes the following: Netbook UX, In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) UX, Tablet Developer Preview and MeeGo SDK."
MeeGo was a joint venture between Intel and Nokia. Even if Nokia abandons it's development, Intel will step up.
Meego is not meant only for mobile phones and several other companies are already committed to using Meego on tablets and in-vehicle devices. The claim "OMG Meego is dead because Microsoft controls Nokia!" is usually found in fora where people have no idea what Meego is.
Meego is meant for hardware more powerful than the N900's, which was already rather antiquated at the time of its release. While Meego can be installed on an N900, it's only meant for developers to try out Meego handset software on. As a user, you're better off installing the Maemo Community SSU if you want to see further bug fixes and new functionality for your N900.
Today, I would not recommend it. In fact, it stands clearly as a Developer Version.
If you want to 'upgrade' your n900, I'd recommend you to try CSSU. Maybe you have already.
There was never a 1.4 release. In fact, they only just released 1.2.
All of MeeGo's user interfaces are merely references, intended to be augmented or replaced outright by 3rd parties that use the distribution.
A full distribution would need to adopt MeeGo as their base and build a full and proper repository for it (similar to Linux Mint basing itself off Ubuntu), same for 3rd party audio as MeeGo's kernel is absolutely stock upstream from kernel.org
The link to that old blog post is very mis-leading, which was written at the height of the Nokia/Microsoft announcement, when the partners really really wanted to hype WP7. Let me quote the relevant text from the whole piece right here:
Okay Slashdotters, what is wrong with this? What better option are you suggesting, if you really like the idea of an open, linux phone? The timing of the Meego announcement today has everything to do with the upcoming Meego conference in a few days' time in San Francisco, where in all likelihood the Nokia N950 will be revealed. I saw the teaser video before YouTube pulled it and it looks sweet. What is not to like, other than Nokia dedicating less resources than before? They are NOT ending their Meego support, but they are looking for Slashdotting-type Devs to enbrace their new "elegant, Developer-focused" N950 hardware, along with Meego 1.2 available today for a range of mobile devices.
At least from a developer perspective, Android seems a lot closer to BB OS than Maemo/MeeGo. It uses a bytecode interpreter, a non-X GUI, and a Java SDK with libraries that are highly reminiscent of J2ME.
On the other hand, Maemo doesn't look deader now than it has at any time over the last five years - a new device (the N950) is coming out with a new Maemo version, Maemo 6. I'm cautiously optimistic that it will continue to fill the power-user niche that it does now.
The GPL? Virtually all of the software is under GPLv2, barring a few non-critical bits.
Well yes, when you hype it up, throw money at it, and convince people that you are the open mobile OS (but only for mobile handset vendors and carriers) then you'll get attention.
Repeating a point made in ignorance doesn't make it true.
I am concerned with the movement of open source mobile OSes, and Android is completely detached from everything that exists already. On top of that, it's held almost entirely by Google who have show no hesitation to close the source when they saw it fit.
But hey, rant with more bad information more.
Yup, this is happening.
I live in Finland and have friends/contacts/etc. who are involved in MeeGo both professionally and as a hobby.
Shortly after the Microsoft announcement, Intel spread the work among Nokia MeeGo people, and held a huge recruiting event. In the meantime, third-party subcontractors who were doing a lot of MeeGo work for Nokia are now getting contracts from Intel.
It makes sense, if you think about it. Intel desparately needs to make inroads into the mobile market. MeeGo was a part of that strategy, and suddenly it was undercut by Nokia. Hiring a few hundred developers to keep that strategy alive is peanuts for a company the size of Intel, and well worth the investment.
It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail. - Abraham Maslow