

Linux Cell Phone/PDA 94
maxmutt writes: "PalmPalm Technology Inc. a Korean Company, has got a new "smart phone", the IMT-2000, that looks interesting." Runs Linux, and is both a cell phone and PDA. Plays MP3 and video, has bluetooth, and runs embedded Qt. And has net functionality. It'll be interesting to see what comes of this.
I'll get excited when... (Score:2)
One of these many "linux powered" PDA/Cell phone/mp3/dvd/electric toothbrush devices is actually produced... There's been a lot of vapor lately and the whole damn issue is getting too cloudy.
How long have we been hearing about the YOPY and the Agenda. Everyday there is some linux powered little device that has some nice bullet points on the companie's web page and look good at trade shows... but it's not in my pocket yet.
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:3)
but then, that's assuming there's no software for linux..
maybe Q3 isn't appropriate for an embedded linux celphone, but i could really dig MAME or any number of PIMs, notepad alternatives.. hey, an SSH client that could connect to my server remotely from my celphone would be keen to have, too...
hmm...
Re:Great... (Score:1)
> vehicles!
Jeez, are you still stuck in Division 5? Don't you want lasers?
Chris Mattern
Yeah but... (Score:1)
VERY cool (Score:2)
How much RAM/Flash RAM?
How fast is the Net connection?
Battery life/what does it use?
And the big one: what's it cost, both up front and monthly?
Anyone found answers?
Re:Linux based cell phone? (Score:1)
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:1)
Hey.. that sounds a *lot* like the PalmOS now...
Re:First the Linux Watch, now this? (Score:2)
You just use the machine as a clothes hamper and every week they wash themselves. Perfect for bachelors.
Re:Copyright? (Score:1)
Let's hope not, I've had two palms since birth and 3Com haven't sued me yet! ;-)
Uh, how many features do we need? (Score:2)
it'll be interesting ... (Score:1)
Re:Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:1)
If I could find PalmOS empulator for the Journada, I'd be set...
Sniff Sniff (Score:1)
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:2)
Hey, you never know what people will try to do.
airplane use of cell phones and PDAs (Score:2)
"If you can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, then perhaps you have misunderstood the situation." -- The Long Run; Moran
Brian
Re:Cool! Linux, Cell, PDA, MP3, Vid and Bluetooth (Score:1)
Sold it.
Just like I sold RHAT when it got nuts and bought it back when it dropped to it's current levels.
Lawsuits... (Score:1)
Prehaps a lawsuit? PlamPlam is a little too close to Plam. I could see 3com sueing. Heck, if I was 3com I would sue...
In case you're interested . . . (Score:1)
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:1)
Are you sure? [handhelds.org]
The only importent question is.. (Score:2)
How long until (Score:2)
NightHawk
Tyranny =Gov. choosing how much power to give the People.
Re:Great... (Score:2)
Re:Great... (Score:3)
I don't think the "Embedded QT" refered to QuickTime.
Re:Bad Model (Score:1)
Why even waste time with linux? why didnt they just make a bootable JVM for the devices.. make it purely java.
Me? I think that java was a dumb idea to use for a pda, C is as easy to program and will run at least 9 times faster. (what? you gotta re-compile? OMG!!!!) Pda = small, tight, cleanly written apps that run fast... none of these things equate with java.
Full Text of the article (Score:2)
An exhibition was opened after the completion of the development of world's first Embedded Linux smart phone. PalmPalm Technology Inc. had been engaged in a joint project with SK Telecom and Seoul National University since the beginning of this year on the development of [Linux-based CDMA/IMT-2000 smart phone]. In the upcoming exhibition, you will see SK Telecom's IMT-2000 smart phone loaded with ®Tynux, Embedded Linux operating system reengineered by PalmPalm Technology Inc.
The diverse and powerful functions of this IMT-2000 smart phone had been displayed at SK Telecom Central Research Unit in Bundang, on November 29th, in the presence of reporters covering the IT industry and other major related groups and individuals.
Besides having loaded Linux operating system, this smart phone (brand name; Palmi) that incorporates the functions of both cellular phone and PDA, also provides strong multimedia functionalities including animation, MP3, video communication, to name a few. In addition, with the help of its Bluetooth that enables high-speed wireless communication, playing network games among appliances is made possible.
Internet environment equivalent to that of desktops are also offered and its environment is especially optimal for wireless Internet appliances with its advanced resolution graphic system and low-power management functionalities.
Tynux, developed by PalmPalm Technology Inc. and released early this year, is an Embedded Linux operating system that strengthened the power & memory management as well as real time functionalities for multimedia data transactions. As such, SK Telecom's smart phone that has loaded this operating system may be the fist model to show that Linux can be the most optimized operating system for wireless Internet appliances.
While engaging in this joint development, PalmPalm Technology Inc. has also established strategic partnership with prominent application software companies worldwide. After integrating games (provided by Mdream, Korea), pen-recognition (provided by Diotek, Korea), Bluetooth (provided by Zeen, Korea), QT/Embedded (provided by Trolltech, Norway) and web browser (provided by Opera Software, Norway), PalmPalm Technology Inc. has performed performance & reliability tests before supplying the optimal programs in bundled forms.
Those related in the industry forecast that this announcement will provide an opportunity to prove that Embedded Linux is indeed the most adequate operating system for wireless Internet appliances, and will be a dividing line judging the potential success or failure of its becoming commercialized. Although there cannot be an absolute leader in the wireless Internet appliance market, the expectation of PalmPalm Technology Inc. becoming a forerunner in setting the standards in the market is something to look forward to.
[Appendix]
[Specification of IMT-2000 smart phone]:
Display and interfaces:
StrongARM SA1110 206MHz
4" TFT LCD display
Touch panel
Bluetooth interface
Camera
Voice codec for H.323
Serial and USB ports
[Software related to PDA features]:
Tynux(PalmPalm's embedded Linux) based on Linux Kernel 2.4.0
Trolltech's Qt/Embedded
Opera Web browser
H.323 protocol, VoIP
S/W MP3 player
Games
Pen Recognition
nice product name (Score:1)
what about a simple remote (Score:2)
Re:Before we get too excited... (Score:2)
And the advantage of putting Linux in a PDA is...? (Score:2)
Networked... (Score:2)
closed source and not ready for prime time (Score:1)
Currently, it's only available as a circuit board and CD for $3500. They aren't manufacturing it yet.
There does not appear to be an X server. They have licenced QT embedded, which writes directly to the display, and is closed source, and Opera, also closed source. They can run QT apps but not X apps. Since the graphics and GUI subsystems are closed source, you could compare this system with Mac OS X: open source kernel, closed source GUI. That doesn't mean I wouldn't buy this puppy for the right price, but it does mean you shouldn't leap to unwarranted conclusions about what "Linux" means in the context of a product announcement like this.
Re:Great... (Score:1)
new ring of hell (Score:1)
Re:Bad Model (Score:2)
I'm not really a fan of Java for a number of reasons, but I laughed when I read this. Especially the part about how C is as easy to program.
Put down the (crack) pipe, think before you talk.
Re:Great... (Score:2)
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What the heck--GPL violation?? (Score:1)
At last. (Score:1)
Copyright? (Score:1)
Re:Price, Pictures? (Score:2)
So no, I can tell you that isn't as big as a lunchbox, doesn't look like a 50's style toaster, and, in fact, looks more functional than the Nokia Communicator [nokia.com], which up to this moment was my personal choice for best mobile phone ever. Very neat.
In fact this is half-way to what I've been predicting for moby phones for quite a while now. If it was me I would move the buttons off the front face (or better, virtualise them) in order to make more room for the display, and orient the dislay landscape rather rather than portrait, but... looks very usable. Not certain I believe in a colour display on a portable device, though -- eats too much battery.
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:2)
No need, man, it's been done [compaq.com].
Truly better than the PADD (Score:1)
It looks like the Palm Pilot is quickly going to surpass Star Trek's data PADD-- all the functionality, without being dependent on the Enterprise's main computer core!
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It's pronounced differently in Korean (Score:1)
Re:Bad Model (Score:1)
NOTE: Microsoft Visual does not count. That is Obfuscated C, I'm talking ANSI C.
If you can program in perl or PHP then C is a cakewalk.
Sounds really bad (Score:3)
Mmhh, in view of the RIAA article earlier today, this baby is a fine definition of a portable crime tool. Video, MP3's, everything you could ever need...the only thing it needs is a CD-writer.
choosing to design (Score:1)
Schweet! (Score:1)
________________________________________
Re:Bad Model (Score:2)
If your definition of easy is PHP and perl, then yes, C is more or less easy. I can't talk about PHP, but I would say that perl isn't very easy. Perl is easy to program in if you already know it, but the complex syntax makes it a pain.
C isn't easy for two very important reasons: pointers and manual memory allocation/deallocation.
First the Linux Watch, now this? (Score:3)
Hello (Score:1)
Great... (Score:5)
I vote for machine guns on the front of our vehicles!
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Re:Sounds really bad (Score:2)
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Re:Great... (Score:1)
Re:Hello [note to /. coders] (Score:1)
My original comments subject line was: Hello >click<
Damn you!
A Look Into PalmPalm's Budget Plans (Score:2)
After being /.'d
Re:Great... (Score:3)
This is Slashdot, remember? Make that machine guns running Linux...
Re:First the Linux Watch, now this? (Score:2)
palmpalm (Score:1)
Bad Model (Score:3)
PocketLinux currently runs on Casio's E100, Compaq's iPaq & the VTech Helio. I think the 'real future' of pocket PC's, and if success for Linux will play out in this space is if a 'distro' is developed that is not to closely tied to one device - why not use Linux as the operating system to move the Handheld PC market away from the 'Apple' desktop idea to the 'IBM Clone' idea - where people install whatever (PocketLinux) OS on their current INSERT YOUR PDA HERE?
Have a look at all the PDA's that were @ Comdex 2000 - here [pdabuzz.com] at PDABuzz [pdabuzz.com] Look at all those beauty little PDAs, the question is are these obscure electronics companies from Asia going to build and 'market' a completely new OS for each of these devices? -OR- Would they be better off selling the device like a standard PC, with the attitude that users can find a OS to run on it. Wouldnt you rather buy a handheld for its hardware (the reason I bought the E100 10 months ago) or would you rather be forced to buy a OS/Hardware combo - where buying one may force you to compromise on the other.
Casio's E100 is a far better piece of hardware than anything fielded by Palm (even today - only advantage palm may have is size.. but its not that great an issue)
Palm's are small but their capabilities, speed, screens, audio(?) are less than optimal.
What I want is the PalmComputer market to move in the direction of the PC market - that way we can have our cake (hardware) and eat it too (PocketLinux).
What I would like to see: Both Palm and PocketPC get caught with their pants down (ala Apple in the 80s) while each of these "I have a wonder Palm PC but no 'marketing' or 'OS' to sell with it" (ala IBM Clone shops in the 80s) brings their product to market and aids Transvirtual [transvirtual.com] in building PocketLinux. This basic change is bound to occur in the handheld space - Ill bet PocketLinux makes it happen...
Hmmm....sounds pretty vaprous to me..... (Score:2)
Les Questiones (Score:1)
humor for the clinically insane [mikegallay.com]
Linux Cell Phone are Cool Man (Score:1)
What will come of this (Score:2)
Re:Bad Model (Score:1)
Re:At last. (Score:2)
I just installed the Palm Mobile Internet Kit on my Palm IIIx today and I've run pdqSuite on it forever, surfed the net and read my email with Eudora while driving home from work.
Compaq iPaqs also run a port of Linux if memory serves, so it's not a first in that arena either.
While definitely cool, I'm not totally convinced that Linux is the right OS for a PDA tho. A modern OS like Epoc that is designed specifically for small devices seems like a much better choice and the SDK's are pretty good. (http://www.symbian.com/)
There's a lot of backing for Epoc from Ericsson and Nokia - and Psion, obviously and Palm OS is also looking strong with just about every PDA & phone maker from Nokia to Sony coming out with models running it in the near future. The common denominator on all of these seems to be that they all run Java. The next version of the ARM cpu runs Java bytecode, Siemens, Nokia and Motorola have announced that they will support Java in their phones and virtual machines already exist for Windows CE and Linux.. The future will definitely be interesting in the PDA arena. It shouldn't be as black and white as the consumer PC market with Microsoft having 90% of the marketshare.
Re:Handspring already has much of this... (Score:1)
Dave
Re:Why, that's amazing! (Score:1)
Imperialism Canada [ryanthiessen.com]
Just add ... (Score:1)
True linux PDA (Score:1)
I want shell, gcc, emacs on my PDA.
Re:what about a simple remote (Score:1)
Re:QT embedded is GPLd (Score:1)
It's not that simple. To quote from trolltech.com, The open source version of Qt/Embedded will enable developers of free software to use Trolltech's embedded GUI application framework and windowing system under the terms of the GPL. Commercial customers will benefit from professional support and services and will not be restricted by the GPL licensing conditions.
These guys have a commercial licence for Qt/Embedded, it says so on their web site. So they are not restricted by the GPL licencing conditions, and I bet that means they don't distribute the source, which might be customized for their hardware.
Try to figure out the facts before opening your mouth.
Same to you, flame breath.
Re:At last. (Score:1)
Re:Price, Pictures? (Score:2)
Price, Pictures? (Score:2)
If the thing costs $2000, and is as big as a lunch box, and looks like a 50's style toaster, is it of any use?
While this company looks more legitimate than the airheads selling the "Delux DVD" mentioned a few articles back, with a name like "PalmPalm", how serious is this?
Oh well, I guess only time will tell.
Handspring already has much of this... (Score:4)
Linux is a fine OS, guys.. But isn't using Linux for a cellular phone a bit like using a cannon to kill a flea? I mean, it's not like I can port Quake III for Linux to my PalmPalm cellphone.
And oh yes.. You can BET there's a lawsuit coming from THAT company name name.
(obligatory)Can you immagine... (Score:1)
With speech synth, it's a telemarketer's dream -- spam their email, and call them during supper!
niftee-tron celphone-o-matic (Score:3)
damn.. does it slice, dice, mince, chop, and frappe' as well?
anyhoo, it sounds like the cel phone i've been waiting for. now i can get a niftee-tron celphone-o-matic with MP3, a linux interface and bluetooth that will ring really loud in the middle of a movie. or, better yet, i can tap tap tap on the little embedded Qt interface trying to find a phone number while i'm driving and kill a schoolbus full of kids!
no no no.. wait. i can play MP3s on the thing and look like the complete idiot in the commercials... with linux!
Linux based cell phone? (Score:2)
"No, I didn't hang up, it was a core dump"
or
"Sorry, I would have called sooner, but I had to recompile my phone's kernel to support cigarette lighter adapters"
Martee
Qt license (Score:1)
Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:3)
Re:Great... (Score:1)
SUV doing ten under in the inside lane? Take out the passenger side tires, and the lane is yours! Teenager in a Rustang riding your ass, and you're already doing 90? Let's see how long he can keep up it with no radiator to cool his Windsor block.
Only real problem would be Grandma and Grandpa doing a lazy 45.. Those old Caddys can take a beating, so make sure you opt for the depleted uranium rounds..
Re:It's pronounced differently in Korean (Score:2)
Re:Price, Pictures? (Score:1)
-Chris
...More Powerful than Otto Preminger...
Re:what about a simple remote (Score:1)
Re:Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:1)
um.. why?
You'd rather pay $100-$200 each than have them bundled into one device at a savings? Pretty silly view, IMO.
Re:airplane use of cell phones and PDAs (Score:2)
wrong pricing (Score:2)
Even all concerns about the proprietary nature of Qt/Embedded aside, this simply doesn't make any business sense. At those prices, Palm would never have taken off and developed a market in small, useful applications.
Re:Before we get too excited... (Score:1)
So much talk of PDA's these days (Score:1)
Re:Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:2)
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Re:Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:1)
silly views are called opinions.
Before we get too excited... (Score:5)
Still, it seems to be a fairly interesting product. It would be interesting to see how reliable the Linux-based system is, given the complex list of supported features. Personally, I would be suspicious that the company is just cramming in features to make headlines without ironing out a lot of the details.
MP3? Bah. (Score:2)
So long as I can get a speaker to play some midi files (for alarms), I'm a happy camper.
If I'm going to be using my PDA, I'm most likely looking up data for work, what my schedule is, or (if it's got net access) looking up data at some website. The last thing I'll be doing is listening to music on it. That's why I have a CD player.
Mirror? (Score:1)
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BFD (Score:1)