OPEN SOURCE PHONE, ANYONE?
By Jing the Jinx. Monday, 1. October 2007, 02:54:55
From “Cell Talk”
Sun*Star Cebu Daily, July 2007 issue
by Max Limpag
WHAT IT IS? If you're a long time computer user, you've probably heard about free and open source software. Among the most prominent open source projects are the GNU/Linux operating system (a free alternative to Microsoft Windows), Mozilla Firefox (a better browser than Internet Explorer) and OpenOffice (free alternative to Microsoft Office). When you say a piece of software is open source, it means you have access to the source code that runs it, you can alter the code to improve the software, and you can re-distribute it. Most open source software are free but the most important freedom in open source isn't about cost but in access to the code and the ability to change and redistribute it.
WHY IT'S BETTER? I've been a long time user of various open source programs. My personal websites run on open source programs and script. The Sun*Star website, along with millions of other websites, runs on open source technology and software. One thing that can be said about most open source software is that the quality of its programs continually increases. This is because the community that uses the program contributes to the improvement of the software. The freedom to tinker with the source code means anyone can pitch in to improve the project. Take the Linux desktop, for example. When I first tried installing Linux as a desktop operating system a couple of years back, I was lost. My use of it lasted only for a few weeks. After I tried configuring it and downloading some programs, I surrendered and went back to Windows. Last April, I again decided Linux and I was blown away at the improvements since I first tried it. It helped that the distribution I used, Ubuntu Linux, is specifically engineered for the desktop. Since I migrated to Ubuntu in my laptop in April, I have been spending less and less time with Windows. I now use Windows only when I have to, when I layout pages for this newspaper.
OPEN SOURCE IN MOBILES. Last July 9, OpenMoko announced that they have started selling from their website the Neo 1973 phone. This is an early version, geared more toward the developer. The technical specifications of the phone are daunting and could shame more expensive units. Yes, Virginia, it one-ups the iPhone. The Neo 1973 has a 2.8” TFT touchscreen that is usable with your fingers or a stylus. You can't use a stylus with the iPhone. The phone is quad band and is GPRS capable. It will have Wi-Fi. The phone runs on the Linux OS and various open source programs and kits. What really distinguishes the Neo 1973 is that OpenMoko engineered it for tinkering by users. It says in its website: “Like Make Magazine we believe 'If you can't open it, you don't own it'. Others try their best to lock us out of the devices we buy, but, Neo's are built for you to open. You can take the casing apart and get at the PCB. Opt for the Neo Advanced kit and we'll give you a special screwdriver (the Neo cracker) and plastic guitar pick to make opening this device even easier. Go ahead, open your Neo. Make our day.” The first versions of the phone may not win users away from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, or Samsung or even Apple's iPhone but give it a year or two and it will start getting converts. Open source development has brought the world a stable operating system, reliable web servers, advanced and very useful content management systems. Will it bring a better phone? I'm betting it will.
Sun*Star Cebu Daily, July 2007 issue
by Max Limpag
WHAT IT IS? If you're a long time computer user, you've probably heard about free and open source software. Among the most prominent open source projects are the GNU/Linux operating system (a free alternative to Microsoft Windows), Mozilla Firefox (a better browser than Internet Explorer) and OpenOffice (free alternative to Microsoft Office). When you say a piece of software is open source, it means you have access to the source code that runs it, you can alter the code to improve the software, and you can re-distribute it. Most open source software are free but the most important freedom in open source isn't about cost but in access to the code and the ability to change and redistribute it.
WHY IT'S BETTER? I've been a long time user of various open source programs. My personal websites run on open source programs and script. The Sun*Star website, along with millions of other websites, runs on open source technology and software. One thing that can be said about most open source software is that the quality of its programs continually increases. This is because the community that uses the program contributes to the improvement of the software. The freedom to tinker with the source code means anyone can pitch in to improve the project. Take the Linux desktop, for example. When I first tried installing Linux as a desktop operating system a couple of years back, I was lost. My use of it lasted only for a few weeks. After I tried configuring it and downloading some programs, I surrendered and went back to Windows. Last April, I again decided Linux and I was blown away at the improvements since I first tried it. It helped that the distribution I used, Ubuntu Linux, is specifically engineered for the desktop. Since I migrated to Ubuntu in my laptop in April, I have been spending less and less time with Windows. I now use Windows only when I have to, when I layout pages for this newspaper.OPEN SOURCE IN MOBILES. Last July 9, OpenMoko announced that they have started selling from their website the Neo 1973 phone. This is an early version, geared more toward the developer. The technical specifications of the phone are daunting and could shame more expensive units. Yes, Virginia, it one-ups the iPhone. The Neo 1973 has a 2.8” TFT touchscreen that is usable with your fingers or a stylus. You can't use a stylus with the iPhone. The phone is quad band and is GPRS capable. It will have Wi-Fi. The phone runs on the Linux OS and various open source programs and kits. What really distinguishes the Neo 1973 is that OpenMoko engineered it for tinkering by users. It says in its website: “Like Make Magazine we believe 'If you can't open it, you don't own it'. Others try their best to lock us out of the devices we buy, but, Neo's are built for you to open. You can take the casing apart and get at the PCB. Opt for the Neo Advanced kit and we'll give you a special screwdriver (the Neo cracker) and plastic guitar pick to make opening this device even easier. Go ahead, open your Neo. Make our day.” The first versions of the phone may not win users away from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, or Samsung or even Apple's iPhone but give it a year or two and it will start getting converts. Open source development has brought the world a stable operating system, reliable web servers, advanced and very useful content management systems. Will it bring a better phone? I'm betting it will.
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