Author Topic: New Dual Boot Linux Handheld (Read 9900 times)

guylhem · « **on:** April 06, 2006, 09:35:46 am »

The Letux project (http://www.letux.org) is happy to announce the first release of its commercial distribution of free software, aimed at off-the-shelf handheld devices.

Letux mission statement is providing a commercial distribution for existing popular handheld devices, with a focus on specific markets such as healthcare.

In the future, Letux aims to broaden the user base with personnal video player devices, game devices, and smartphones.

The first release of Letux Distribution is made for the Acer n30 and comes as a package of a preprogrammed SD card and an Acer n30.

This is the first commercially supported free software handheld that is available in Europe for less than 300 EUR, and the first commercially available GNU/Linux PDA that supports dual boot with the traditionnal PocketPC software though the simple exchange of a SD memory card, with an option to remove either operating system.

Letux n30 is sold online through www.handheld-linux.com.

The free software distribution provides:

* a very modern Linux kernel 2.6.14
* gpe 2.7
* X11R6
* glibc-2.3.90

Letux n30 provides standard personnal data management applications such as Calendar, Contacts, Notes, etc. and is prepared to provice Web connectivity through USB and Bluetooth.

Thanks to X11 support, is offers a faster display than most framebuffer based systems equipping other free software handhelds.

Developers and Users are welcome to use the forum and the bugtracker system installed at the Letux project home page: www.letux.org.

Letux is a project run by Externe Com and The Handheld Linux Shop. Externe Com is a privately owned consultancy specialised in Free Software technical issues. It was founded in 2001 in Toulouse, France. The Handheld Linux Shop is a privately owned online shop focussed on providing Linux handhelds to the European markets. It was founded in 2004 in Oberhaching, Germany.

http://www.letux.org/announcements/index.html

guylhem · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2006, 09:44:14 am »

Hello

Many people have been talking about doing our "own" handhelds, but Nikolaus and myself took that to the word :-)

In the 6000 and guylhem rom forums, I spoke about a project I was working on - that it, guylhem rom successor, which was supposed to be announced "soon".

The device is tiny - the smallest pocketpc I know about. About half the size of a C860. We will be introducing new devices, depending on demand. The demand right now seems to be the smallest and the cheapest possible handheld running linux, with the latest version of everything, and integrated wireless. There it is.

We will start shipping next week. You can get either a package (n30+SD) or simply a SD with letux autobootable distribution (includes an installer if you want to remove wince, but dual boot is cool).

Yet I recommand getting the package - that's the best way if you want something that works out of the box and is supported, and it also gives us more margins than simply the SD. We want to raise some money to invest it in another device - on the high end this time, like a smartphone with good video playback capabilities.

We went for GPE because it is blazing fast. And I couldn't believe how improved it has been since the last time I tried it on a Yopy. It allows us to go the "pdaxrom" way. We could also do opie, but IMHO it isn't such a good idea.

We will soon release a sdk, to allow people to easily create and recompile applications.

Guylhem

the_oak · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2006, 05:49:10 pm »

How soon will a 6000L version be released?

rrnwexec · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2006, 06:05:43 pm »

Quote

How soon will a 6000L version be released?
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Also would be interested in a 6000 version

A couple of questions:

1. Out of curiosity, why was the n30 chosen as the initial platform? The 5500/5600 would seem to me to be a (more) logical starting point given the specs of the n30.

2. What's the proposed wifi connectivity solution?

Cheers,
Randall.

loc4me · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2006, 07:03:54 pm »

Quote

Quote
How soon will a 6000L version be released?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122109\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Also would be interested in a 6000 version

A couple of questions:

1. Out of curiosity, why was the n30 chosen as the initial platform? The 5500/5600 would seem to me to be a (more) logical starting point given the specs of the n30.

2. What's the proposed wifi connectivity solution?

Cheers,
Randall.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122116\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I believe they choose the n30 b/c of its low price point. Better hardware by having built in wifi and bluetooth and much greater battery life. The SL-5500 is still a good machine but there are many other devices out there that are better from a hardware standpoint. Now they just greated the software to make it even better.

-Mark

handheld-linux · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2006, 01:40:50 am »

Quote

Quote
How soon will a 6000L version be released?Â
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122109\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
1. Out of curiosity, why was the n30 chosen as the initial platform? The 5500/5600 would seem to me to be a (more) logical starting point given the specs of the n30.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122116\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Here are some reasons:
* 5500 or 5600 has been discontinued years ago while the n30 is still available from production
* we want to provide both: complete and easy-to-use package of hardware and software
* the n30 has a much better display and faster processor
* has bluetooth integrated
* is smaller and lighter (approx. 50% of the sl5500 volume)
* has all nowadays required approvals like FCC, CE, WEEE (electronic waste)

Nikolaus

guylhem · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:37:47 am »

Hello

Since there seem to be a good demand for a SL6000 based version, and sharp is still pushing the SL6000 hardware base for pocketpcs, I will certainly create a SL6000 version. It could be put on the high hand, since it is a business tool (ie it is tough, etc. see my past releases)

We could also try to get sharp release 'customised' SL6000 for our needs - ie like a 6000W base with twice as much ram and flash. All we need is people with a commercial interest.

We won't be able to live on end users - consider this a service to the community, as a byproduct of trying to create a sustainable business. So if you know businesses who need a linux based handheld solution, feel free to pass on the information :-)

Guylhem

Da_Blitz · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2006, 04:32:12 am »

If you want good hardware the x30's from dell were great cheap power houses, they did have a booting kernel (i started the progect but getting it to work required more time/knowlage than i had at the time)

dont think dell sells them anymore (the x50 and x51 are suppirior in almost every way and has better linux support) but perhaps the original manufacturer is around

at the moment i am trying to find someone i can send the dell to as a donation in order to get better linux support so if you like the model and can find a supplier then i am wore than willing to donate the hardware,

guylhem · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2006, 08:45:44 am »

Da_Blitz, thanks for your offer, but I can't make that promise. We will rather drive our efforts to handheld which are easily commercially available.

Guylhem

the_oak · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2006, 09:19:44 am »

I didn't see any links for screenshots at letux.org or at handheld-linux.com. Also, it looks like there is going to be an rc5 version of Guylhem rom as well as LeTux rom. As the developer for both roms, which would you advise for a 6000L?

guylhem · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2006, 02:47:36 pm »

The roms are not yet compatible.

guylhem

adf · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2006, 05:34:39 am »

sounds great, show us what id does sometime?

speculatrix · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2006, 04:52:35 pm »

I think you should also take a look at the HTC Universal - the people doing linux for it have many things working - it already equals most of the features of the C1000, when they get the bluetooth and wifi working it will be great, and when the phone and cameras are working it will be truly excellent.

The wiki about progress, which is slightly out of date (for example, the keyboard works):
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?p...iversalProgress

Follow the whole story:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=35972

Personally, I would be very happy to pay the price premium to buy an universal running linux, if it was running the equivalent of a C1000 running cacko, did data calls over the phone, even if the cameras weren't working and it didn't do voice calls or audio over bluetooth (just PAN and RFCOMM).

guylhem · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2006, 03:27:46 am »

Hello

I am already looking at the HTC Universal since many people here indicated interest for this model, and since it's a smartphone.

Don't hold your breath through - personally I want something which fully works, which means wifi, bt, phone, camera AND suspend/resume in less than 1 second.

Guylhem

rebski · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2006, 05:33:58 pm »

Article here on Linux Devices

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9619729890.html

News:

Author Topic: New Dual Boot Linux Handheld (Read 9900 times)