"This may seem like a bold statement. Apple's just released iPhone is not only very attractive as we would expect from an Apple product, but includes some impressive features and specifications. It's probably unrealistic to claim that anything currently available on the market competes with this offering. However, is it really a revolution in mobile communication devices? Maybe not if there still is something that can overshadow it, and do it very soon."
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Member since:2005-10-12
Tiny Feature....
Yes, as an end user feature its nothing, just like "licensed under the GPL is nothing" for most end users. But the features that it gives rise to, like the availability of apps, the lack of constraints, are huge. Just like increasingly the ability to install it on as many machines as you want and not have WGA or similar checking up on you as you do it: that too is huge.
And getting bigger all the time.
Member since:2006-02-15
Yes, as an end user feature its nothing, just like "licensed under the GPL is nothing" for most end users. But the features that it gives rise to, like the availability of apps, the lack of constraints, are huge
To the end user, to the developer, to the carrier, to the ODM, it's nothing.
Look at the impact that Linux has not had on the PDA space, even though it's been around on the Zaurus for years.
Now imagine it having less than a tenth that impact on the cellspace because it's even more difficult to be a player in the cell market than it is in the PDA market.
Then realize that that the tenth is going to be split among a dozen players all wanting to be the linux cellphone provider.
OpenMoko isn't a drop in a bucket, it's a drop in a 50,000 gallon storage tank.
Member since:2005-07-06
>Tiny feature, not at all disruptive.
For the features, it has GPS (nice!) and removable batteries which iPhone won't have: a device which doubles as a phone and a music player *must* have removable batteries, otherwise you don't dare using it as a music player for fear of loosing the phone functionality.
For the being not disruptive part, I agree: open source dev haven't shown that they could produce a software system as polished as Apple do.
Member since:
2006-02-15
Take a moment to consider what a huge feature that is, and how disruptive this will be after a years worth of momentum.
Tiny feature, not at all disruptive.
OpenMoko isn't available yet, and all of the major cellphone makers already have Linux plans in the work, in addition to which there are at least four players providing Linux-based alternatives to OpenMoko in various states from shipping to "available real soon now."