386 Based Linux Powered Telephone

nizo writes "A touchphone that sits on your desk running Linux! Has a builtin touchscreen for dialing a number, makeing notes, etc. Wonder if these are for sale in the U.S. ? " The website isn't english, but it looks pretty cool. Very nice design. Features an 8 inch touchscreen, and does email and faxing just for good measure. Runs what is described as a stripped down Red Hat 4.2 (there does seem to be some issue about them releasing the code as required by the GPL, but I'm sure they'll make good on their obligation in that dept should they ship the product). Good to see Linux running small appliance devices like this. I'm sure we'll see a lot more in the coming months.

Comments

TouchPhone followup

[Corbet]

As the guy who wrote the LWN TouchPhone feature, I feel I should ought to point out a couple of things...

...starting with the fact that I wrote that feature last spring. Slashdot was a little slow on the uptake this time around...

The site is in Italian, as many have surmised.

The sad thing is that the next version of the TouchPhone is evidently going to be based on Windows CE instead. One of the developers from Prisma (who did the TouchPhone code) tells me the change is due to "Microsoft's extreme marketing power." He also points out that the CE-based phone has been nothing but talk for a long time, while the Linux-based system has been out there and working for even longer.

I plan to talk to the people at Sorgenti and do a followup once I figure out what's really going on.

jon

That slashdot authors..

[Axe]

The web site states it is a 486 based, with a 10 inch BW display, not 386 with 8"...

Uhhh, that's Italian, not French.

[berniecase]

The site is in Italian, for those who didn't realize it already.

By the way, pretty sweet looking phone. Sure like to have it to replace this crappy phone on my desk.

--Bernie

Re:The wonders of open source

[conio]

...due to the lack of source, stability, and customization available with Windows CE...

Why do people assume Windows CE is unstable and uncustomizable? Windows CE is well-suited for its task -- powering embedded devices on a number of architectures. It's actually a very stable OS, as any user will tell you; it's also very flexible, as any developer will tell you.

Many people don't realize that an operating system is only as stable as its applications. Windows is perfectly stable as long as you're running well-written (don't laugh) programs such as Office and the Windows Accessories. And just as third-party apps can crash Windows, a simple main() { while(1)fork(); } will bring down any Unix box.


--

Translation...?

[1010011010]

"Scopri il nuovo !windows ce!" (on the front page) means, approximately, "you discover the new one !windows ce!" (according to babelfish). Whatever the heck that means. Maybe "Up yours, CE!".

The Profilo Tecnico says this:
Cpu 486 " Intel " Ram Memory: 8 Mb Simm Hard Disk: 1.2 GB -- parallel for external connections 10.4" LCD DISPLAY, monochromatic, backlit VGA 640 x 480 Low emission
Hard Disk: 1.2 GB
9.4" TOUCH SCREEN High precision and fast Activation -- touch with finger or pen
MODEM/FAX 32 V. bis - 14.400 bps Group 3 fax reception and transmission: Protocol T.30 supported In agreement with standards V.33, V.17, V.29, V.27 ter and V.21 channel 2
Power loudspeaker: 200 mW microphone sensitivity: 44 dB

One of the press reviews (in italian as well) says this:

Those that seems sure is that of these terminals beyond to the main functions, of all similar to the classic " Sirio " those that it hits is the operating system, rigidly " Windows style " if not quite Windows tout cour in Paradoxical and meaningful dwarf-version CE. the distance of the small novarese society Sources that evoluto a more rather based product on simple an operating system has introduced the past year and robusto developed in house on Linux platform. All the functions of a traditional telephone under the screen to sfioramento of this Touchphone terminal, more electronic mail, rubrica, email. Too much little for the smaliziata user the only one would be said, that produced of the sort they can stimulate: the society is last this year to Windows CE implementing also Internet navigation. " we have made a great job in order to conserve extremely simple the graphical interface with which the terminal is NATO, and to render invisibile Windows CE "

... which doesn't clear it up a whole lot for me. Does Linux really "render invisible" the "dwarf-version CE" on this thing, or what?

Re:huh?

[TPx]

BTW, the phone has debuted at SMAU 99 (kinda like a little Comdex. Little...) in early october. They were hosted inside the Microsoft stand, along all the other Windows CE devices. Makes one doubt it would run linux at all, eh?

Now, running Babelfish on their press release:

TOUCHPHONE is the new telephone, simple to use that it facilitates the telecommunication services: thanks to a screen touchscreen, of great format and visibility, all the functions come activated touching the display simply. The new TOUCHPHONE will come introduced to Smau ' ' 99 (Milan, 30 September 4 October). Microsoft Stand (pad.22), Wind (pad.15/1 b 37), Ambrosian Bench Veneto / Cariplo (pad.14/1 b12 - c13), Sources (pad.15/1 b 36). The TOUCHPHONE is an intelligent telephone, an immediate access to Internet, an agenda electronic, one telephone secretariat, an electronic mail manager; the synthesis of worst electronic expressed in an intelligent product for one simple, fast communication and without limits. Thanks to the versatilità of its technology and to the operating system Microsoft Windows CE, the Touchphone makes available with partners of primary relief, new functions and new services for its customers.