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Handhelds Hardware

Linux Cell Phone/PDA 94

Posted by CmdrTaco from the little-penguins-have-feelings-too dept.
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.
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Linux Cell Phone/PDA

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  • 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)

    by option8 ( 16509 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:46AM (#590949) Homepage
    ah, yes.. but this has all three capabilities in one unit, without having to swap out springboard modules. granted, if you only want one or the other, and can live without the others, get a visor and live in the lap of software availability luxury..

    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...

  • > I vote for machine guns on the front of our
    > vehicles!

    Jeez, are you still stuck in Division 5? Don't you want lasers?

    Chris Mattern
  • ...where does the coffee come out of?
  • For some time now, I've been telling myself I'll get a PDA when it comes with wireless net, a decent CPU, bluetooth, and enough spce to be interesting, running Linux preferably. So this meets the bill (I think). A few nagging questions:

    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?

  • Sorry, but I configured my voicemail to forward to /dev/null...
  • You're making a dangerous assumption, if you ask me.. and that is that you'll have X available, you'll have Perl available, etc... For all you know this kernel is stripped down to the nubs for only *exactly* what they want to support...

    Hey.. that sounds a *lot* like the PalmOS now... ;)
  • Or better... have a cron job to start the laundry every saturday at noon.
    You just use the machine as a clothes hamper and every week they wash themselves. Perfect for bachelors.

  • Let's hope not, I've had two palms since birth and 3Com haven't sued me yet! ;-)

  • ...cooks your toast, does your laundry, raises your kids...
  • It would be interesting to find out what happened to all the earlier stories that had the "it'll be interesting ..." comment affixed to them. Probably nothing 9 out of 10 times.
  • I completely agree with you to a point. I carry my mini-disc player to the gym. However, I also carry my Palm pilot to track my workouts. Works great, I can set goals, graph my strength gains, etc. Anyway, if my Palm played MP3's, I could use a single device. No big deal, but that would definetly be more convenient.

    If I could find PalmOS empulator for the Journada, I'd be set...

  • I smell vapor.
  • I mean, it's not like I can port Quake III for Linux to my PalmPalm cellphone.
    And it's not like you would port Doom to a Digital Camera [mame.net]. Or who in their right mind would attempt to play Quake on a text terminal [mr.net].

    Hey, you never know what people will try to do.

  • When I fly, I don't bother taking my laptop out (creating a scene and annoying those around me), but I'll have my Visor somewhere handy. Since cell phones can't be used at any point (except at the terminal) on a plane, why combine these technologies? It would be nice if there was a mechanism to turn off the cell searching/handoffs while leaving the PDA on. Although, even if the phone were off, I would rather not be the guy the old lady is looking at (and calling the flight attendants) because of his obvious disregard for the rules... even if I'm not breaking any!
    "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
  • Why no VA stock?

    Sold it.

    Just like I sold RHAT when it got nuts and bought it back when it dropped to it's current levels.
  • It'll be interesting to see what comes of this.

    Prehaps a lawsuit? PlamPlam is a little too close to Plam. I could see 3com sueing. Heck, if I was 3com I would sue...

  • . . . there's a picture of the device here [linuxdevices.com], and an interview with PalmPalm's CTO here [linuxdevices.com].
  • I mean, it's not like I can port Quake III for Linux to my PalmPalm cellphone.

    Are you sure? [handhelds.org]

  • ..dose this device allow software control of the audio stream, so that we can add good encryption. You can not trust the cell phone makers to add encryption which the NSA has not tampered with, so replacable software encryption is really the most importent feature (by far).
  • I can mentaly command 'insmod bladder.o' and get a mentaly projected gauge on exactly how much longer I can read /. before I *must* run to the mens room?

    NightHawk

    Tyranny =Gov. choosing how much power to give the People.

  • SO now I can write auto-targetting software on my PDA and link it wirelessly via Bluetooth to my bluetooth-enabled, Linux-running, MP3 synching machine guns to kill all those stupid people out there who are busy doing stupid things in there cars and killing people with there accidents. So where do I get one?

  • Re:Great... (Score:3)

    by TheTomcat ( 53158 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:25AM (#590970) Homepage
    ...and watching a movie all at the same time

    I don't think the "Embedded QT" refered to QuickTime.
  • Pockel Linux is neat in the fact that it only relates to the kernel running it. Java based apps? I thought the reason to use linux was speed. now these guys want to slow it back down by using java. sheesh.

    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 copy of the article (slight change of formatting, but info is intact):


    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


  • IMT2000 == "empty 2000" - sounds like a good vapor ware product to me.
  • Given that they beasties have an ir port, why hasn't someone gotten code out there to turn them into universal remotes? There's a technology developed by IBM called x-10 that replaces light switches and power outlets in your house. These units can then send messages over the house's electrical system. Further there's one unit that has an antenna and accompanying remote control. From there once you define signals and responses, you can control everything from said remote control. Then if folks pack their house with x-10 technology they can use their palm pilot (or whatever) to turn on the stereo, set it to NPR, turn on the lights to 50%, and start a pot of coffee -- and all before they get out of bed. IBM's patent on x-10 technology expired about three years ago, so it's getting pretty affordable these days.
  • I don't know the model number either, but at the moment there's a picture of a similar device on the IMT-2000 page [sktelecom.com] of the SK Telecom company which is mentioned. Hmm... GSM, TDMA, Mobile Satellite Service... Probably not all in the same model.
  • Seriously. Does it matter? It's not like you can just bring up a shell and hack away. Imagine if, after years of using it, that it was announced that your current calculator of PDA actually ran a Linux kernel internally. Would it matter to you?
  • "networked"? Yeah, a couple of phrases in the press release suggest that the Linux-running processor does have access to the communication capabilities. Both phone and Bluetooth. So I agree it apparently has network access. Apparently it is not just a PDA glued to a phone, there are actual communication circuits available.
  • I looked at the web site in detail, and watched the movie. Very cool hardware and software.

    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.

  • Why simple machine guns, when you can use electricity? Lightning on demand [slashdot.org] and portable HERF guns [slashdot.org] can be found right here on slashdot... I'm personally trying to figure out how I can build that HERF to fit in my trunk to disable tailgators (or anyone that I can out accelerate, which is most cars on the road).
  • Known as graffiti or whatever is used on this thing for typing the wordy commands necessary to use Linux these days. Can just see the proliferation of shell scripts named a, aa, ab, ba, etc...
  • C is as easy to program and will run at least 9 times faster.

    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.
  • He'd never get that on his subcompact without installing it in a turret and that'd put him WAY over his weight limit unless he upgraded the suspension and that'd cost to much so he'd downgrade the tires but then he'd need tireguards and that would lower his handling.... GOD I loved CarWars!
    ---
  • What's this about "Tynux" being a "re-engineered Linux developed by PalmPalm"? And you have to pay $2500 for the SDK, which includes a GCC based toolchain, Tynux kernel etc. licensed for educational and research use only (the SDK does include some development hardware, not just bits). But either Tynux is Linux (maybe a GPL violation if they're limiting redistribution) or it isn't (in which case why are they using the name Linux?). Or the SDK is some mixture of free and proprietary stuff that's hard to separate. Anyway, I'm not so happy, and I hope someone can check into this more carefully. Palm/3com have done well by making the development stuff open and these guys should do the same.
  • Suprized it took this long. Non-networked PDA's are only so much use.
  • With a name like 'Palmpalm', let's hope 'what comes of this' isn't a giant lawsuit.
  • Read the sodding article [palmpalm.com]! There's these raster bitmap thingies linked from it, that one of these clever modern browser thingies can render - in-line, even - into two dimensional matrices of coloured pixels. Neat, huh?

    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.

  • 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.

    No need, man, it's been done [compaq.com].

  • (Just wanted to see if I could make it to the first post!)

    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!

    ---------------------

  • It's pronounced differently in Korean (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    It's pronounced parmparm, and it runs Rinux and has Bruetooth on it.
  • huh? please explain as to what in C is not easy.

    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)

    by Jedi Alec ( 258881 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @09:54AM (#590991)
    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.

    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.
  • The comments on whether linux is the "right" OS for a phone are made from a consumer's viewpoint. Maybe it was easier for the company that made the thing to get hold of linux or linux programmers than the palm OS. Maybe it was more fun for them to write. What I'm waiting for is a "Palm Pirate": hand-held device that will delete your files and sell your friends' contact information to the telemarketers. Arrh! Elaine (dimgraf@buoy.com)
  • I would really like for Embedded QT to take off in the handheld/linux space -- it's much better than using a toolkit on top of X windows...

    ________________________________________
  • Heh. That's exactly the point.

    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)

    by reh187 ( 182368 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @09:54AM (#590995)
    Heh :) They should port Linux to my toaster, or maybe my washing machine... Maytag Linux OS (TM)... Hell, if all my appliances ran Linux, i could cluster them together and maybe make a kick ass seti@home machine or something... That will be the day... Yes sir, I would like the 10 processor Washer/Dryer set... I just outlived my quad processor set...
  • This is just stupid, with all those extra gadgets by the time you actually use it as a phone the battery will be dead.

  • Great... (Score:5)

    by don_carnage ( 145494 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @09:55AM (#590997) Homepage
    Now the idiot in the car in front on me can not only be talking on the phone, but listening to an MP3, updating his calendar and watching a movie all at the same time.

    I vote for machine guns on the front of our vehicles!


    --

  • Not a CD-writer, but rather a modem. ;^)


    --
  • If you just hold on while I copy-paste your post onto a patent request and I'll be right back...
  • Translate (<) [in case they get cut off] in the damn subject line!

    My original comments subject line was: Hello >click<

    Damn you!

  • Before being /.'d

    40% Marketing
    45% Research/Development
    15% Annual "Freaky Deeky Sex Trip" to Tawain's Red Light District

    After being /.'d

    80% New Servers & Extra Web Staff
    20% Annual "Freaky Deeky Sex Trip" to Tawain's Red Light District

  • Re:Great... (Score:3)

    by Jedi Alec ( 258881 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @09:58AM (#591002)
    I vote for machine guns on the front of our vehicles!

    This is Slashdot, remember? Make that machine guns running Linux...
  • Actually, I think it'd be great if I could open a socket with my washer and dryer. Then perhaps I'd finally have temperature and cycle controls that meant something to me, and I could set a notification app to alert me when the drier is done so that if I'm too busy fragging I can set the dryer to run on fluff/air so that my cottons don't get all wrinkled sitting in the machine (thus allowing me to finish said round before folding clothes).
  • has been /./.ed

  • Bad Model (Score:3)

    by SubtleNuance ( 184325 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:36AM (#591005) Journal
    Im sorry - but my money is clearly on the success of PocketLinux [pocketlinux.com]. What seems to be the best 'idea' is that we pair down Linux, build a GUI (why Xwindows? maybe XWindows is not 'appropriate' for Handhelds).

    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...

  • Check dis out....I saw this at the bottom of one of their pages:
    Anyone can copy or reproduce the contents of this homepage. PalmPalm Technology Inc.
    Interesting eh? While it SOUNDS cool, this as well as the Delux DVD thing looks kind of like hoaxes.
  • That sounds pretty great. How much, who are the nearest competitors that are close to coming to market, and what is the potential for its video configuration? Please somebody!!

    1. humor for the clinically insane [mikegallay.com]
  • Hell yeah I love Linux Cell phones, whenever I want to do some useless crap on a piece a shit OS I just use my handy dandy cellhicular phone what got Linux on it. Hell Yeah!!!
  • Will be another "Troll" from me about QT sucking. Well... maybe. It'd be nice to see GTK+ widgets in such a low-end system.... we'll see
  • because java is slower than frozen shit, thats why
  • Non-networked? This is hardly the first networked PDA! I IRCed and surfed the net on my trusty Psion 3a back in 1995 and I think just about every PDA since that has had network support. There's even a port of Opera for the current Psion models that should also run on the upcoming Epoc PDA/phones such as the Nokia 9210 that uses Epoc Crystal as it's OS. Windows CE's, now known as Pocket PC's have just about every network tool imaginable available for them, including a pretty good web browser, email apps etc.

    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.
  • Yea, but hopefully the Linux version will be cheaper and, since it's open source, it might have more software, potential for more creative hacking, and potenial for earlier adoption of new technologies and standards.

    Dave

  • You forgot Cuba in your Canada/Mexico/France thing.

    Imperialism Canada [ryanthiessen.com]

  • Just add ... (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Altimiter, barometer, thermometer, gps, small geiger counter, heart rate monitor, infrared scanner, radar, and heck you got a tri-corder :)
  • When do we see a PDA that allows me to really use the underlying linux system?

    I want shell, gcc, emacs on my PDA.

  • you can...... wedge tv makes your palmos device a tv remote
  • QT embedded is GPLd

    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.

  • Can you imagine a Beowolf cluster of these?
  • I read the "sodding article". Those pictures were not there when I read the "sodding article". But thank you for assuming I didn't read the "sodding article", and contributing with a condescending reply.

  • Anyone see how much it costs, or what it looks like? I didn't see anything on there site, but I could have missed it.

    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.

  • But you can get all of this today from Handspring with the PalmOS, via their Springboard technology. They have a Visor Cellphone, they have a vendor making a Bluetooth system for it. And then there's voice recorders, digital cameras, GPS devices.. tons o' stuff! And the PalmOS has 78 percent of the current PDA marketplace, so you *know* you're going to find lots of good software for it.

    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.

  • A beowolf cluster of these things?!

    With speech synth, it's a telemarketer's dream -- spam their email, and call them during supper!

  • niftee-tron celphone-o-matic (Score:3)

    by option8 ( 16509 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:40AM (#591023) Homepage
    "Plays MP3 and video, has bluetooth, and runs embedded Qt. And has net functionality."

    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!
  • I can see it now...
    "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
  • Disclaimer: I haven't got a chance to read the article yet because of the /. effect. But what I wonder is what license the Qt version will be? Will it be the Qt-semi-free-license or the GPL'd one. Either way some people are not going to like this.

  • Stop trying to combine everything.... (Score:3)

    by Lizard_King ( 149713 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:43AM (#591026) Journal
    Seems like they are trying to bundle too much together in one device, so much that this thing would be realistic to use. Case in point: I use my mp3 player at the gym....its great because its tiny and can hold a substantial amount of music. I don't want to carry around a phone/pda/camera/mp3/coffee maker to the gym with me. Its small inconveniences like this that will kill the market for devices such as these.
  • Imagine how much more fun the commute down 96/696 would be!

    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..
  • They need to make it a more Engrish-sounding product like "Happy Cow Luck PDA" with a cute little cartoon character(like Hello Kitty!) giving you the peace sign to REALLY market it
  • "PalmPalm" is actually vietnamese for "we build crappy products, sell them to idiots over the big ocean and retire to small tropic island."

    -Chris
    ...More Powerful than Otto Preminger...
  • The patents belongs to Pico Electronics Limited, of Scotland NOT to IBM. IBM didn't enter the X-10 marker with Home Director until the patents expired. See http://www.execulink.com/~hometech/x10faqa.htm
  • I don't want to carry around a phone/pda/camera/mp3...

    um.. why?

    You'd rather pay $100-$200 each than have them bundled into one device at a savings? Pretty silly view, IMO.



  • Oh, that would be like the 'flight mode' feature on my Nokia 9150 cell phone/PDA?
  • Since the thing runs Qt/Embedded, rather than an X11 based toolkit, you can't share the screen among apps written in different toolkits. So, if you want to develop shareware or small commercial applications, you can start by paying $2300 to $3000 per developer to TrollTech.

    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.

  • You're right. IMT-2000 is the name of our (ITU) 3rd generation mobile project. See www.itu.int/imt/. It's a family of 3G systems and radio transmission technologies. The Asians are ahead of other countries in deploying 3G technology followed by the Europeans. NTT Docomo will deploy IMT-2000 W-CDMA systems in mid-2001.
  • It's nice to see so many people interested in Push Down Automata.

  • I really really want ONE device, net-enabled with ONE authentication, that I can use to:
    • Play the mp3s that I have on my home system instead of on a memory card on the device
    • Save the images I capture to my home system instead of on a memory card on the device
    • Display my schedule, constantly sync'd via the net from my home system
    • Pick up the voicemail messages on my home system and use the callerid info to call them back from on the road

    --
  • depends. how expensive is this all-in-one smart phone? and yes, i would rather pay more for separate components, so i have the choice of what I want.

    silly views are called opinions.

  • Before we get too excited... (Score:5)

    by mellifluous ( 249700 ) on Thursday November 30, 2000 @10:04AM (#591038)
    First of all, IMT-2000 is a reference to third generation wireless technology and not (as far as I am aware) the model number of the device. And before Americans get too excited about this, keep in mind that the network infrastructure for this kind of technology does not exist here. For that matter, it does not exist in most other countries yet on any significant scale.

    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.

  • Don't get me wrong, I like MP3s, but I don't feel that I need them in a PDA.
    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.
  • A mirror, please?
    --
  • What's the difference between this and the countless other MP3 player/cellphone/PDA all-in-one gadgets, besides running Linux?

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