Motorola Readies Music-oriented Linux Mobile Phone

An anonymous reader writes "Motorola has announced several new multimedia-enabled mobile phones supporting music and video playback, including one new device based on embedded Linux, according to LinuxDevices.com. The Linux-based Motorola E680 could see US distribution, making it the first of Motorola's Linux-based mobile phones available outside the far East. The E680 will include multimedia playback software supporting a variety of formats, including MP3 audio, MPEG4 video, and RealPlayer multimedia content." The article notes: "Motorola's previous Linux-based phones have been based on MontaVista Linux, and have used the Qt/Embedded graphical application framework."

Replacement for iPod?

[ValourX]

Maybe this phone can replace the iPod, being that you can receive phone calls on it as well. I wonder how many songs it can hold and what the interface is like for playing music?

If I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars on a little electronic gadget, I'd like it to do more than just play MP3s. This device might get me to spend that kind of money... and I don't have to be embarrased by an Apple logo on it.

-Jem

Changing my mind on all-in-one devices..

[xxx_Birdman_xxx]

I used to be a little against devices trying to do everything, due to poor battery life, size etc... But now that battery life is much better than it used to be, a device similar to this one could end up being perfect for someone like me:
A uni student who does a lot of travelling, listens to tons of music, and normally walks around with a diskman in one pocket, a backpack with a large diary and a mobile on my belt.

Running for the bus with crap flying out of your pockets or flinging around, hitting you in the privates is not a good way to start the day..
-Ryan

Re:GPL issues

[The Wicked Priest]

Just distributing the firmware to customers, as part of the phone, is enough to invoke the GPL. But your question -- forgive me if I'm misinterpreting -- seems to be assuming something not in evidence: that this will somehow be a problem, or that Motorola isn't intending to comply with the GPL.

Of course, there may also be (and probably will be) non-GPL'd apps running on this Linux base. I don't expect to see a truly "open phone". But (at least until the event) I'm not expecting GPL violations, either.

iPod replacement?

[Talez]

Unless a 15G SD card suddenly becomes cheaper than $299 minus the price of this phone I don't really see this phone being an iPod replacement.

Re:A question for the embedded geeks..

[turgid]

Because as hardware continues to become more powerful, one day you'll have a multi-user server and workstation, with database, compiler suite, web server, application server, all the bells and whistles, in your pocket. That's why. And if the hardware's already powerful enough to run the kernel without breaking into a sweat, what's the point in developing your own proprietary, cut-down offering?

who needs it?

[timerider]

i mean, who really needs a phone that can do so much more than making phone calls?

Re:A question for the embedded geeks..

[TEB_78]

I would say some of the points of using Linux in embedded devices is that the developers get a lot for free.

1) There is noe license cost. This one is important since the licensing for other RTOS's make you pay a fee for every product you make or sells, etc.
2) They get TCP/IP stack, bluetooth-stack, etc for free (no need to buy it from somewhere or write it on your own)
3) Linux is good for marketing these days. Like java-phones sounded cool a few years ago.

Re:who needs it?

[mst76]

> i mean, who really needs a phone that can do so much more than making phone calls?

Who really needs to carry a phone all the time? Who really needs to talk to someone a mile away at all? People doing fine before the invention of the telephone. Who really needs to carry 10000 hours of music in his pocket? We were doing fine with a Walkman not too long ago. Who needs a Walkman? We were living happily with a turntable at home and live performers elsewhere. Who needs a general purpose computer at home? Weren't people living happily without one 25 years ago? Who needs to see moving images or hear broadcast sound in their living room? Just read books at home and go to a theater or a bar for entertainment.

Besides food, shelter and clothing, there are few things that you really need. But there are a lot of things that can make life more confortable, enjoyable or simpler. For many people, one of these is device that can be used to talk to other people, take pictures, play music, make notes, remind them of appointments, play games (maybe in the future even with a decent enough screen to read books and newspapers), and be so small that they never have to think about whether to bring it along or not. People who want to carry a device only to talk to other people can buy a phone that does not support additional features or simply ignore those features.