Letux 380: Small And New Linux (qt) Phone To Come

[dhns]

I was offered recently a small and nice Linux PDA Phone. It has a 2.4 QVGA touchscreen, Quadband GSM, Bluetooth, Camera and runs Qtopia Phone Edition. Some experimentation has shown that it is possible to ftp/telnet into the device. And, it weights just 90g and is only approx. 2/3 of the size of the Neo 1973 although the display isn't much smaller. What do you think I should do?

-- hns

Edit: some photos are shown here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showto...st&p=175686

[Dromede]

Motorola A1200?

[canguy247]

Mail it to me...

[dhns]

Motorola A1200?

No, it is a new design. It looks like it is not yet available, so I can't tell many details.

In comparison, the A1200 is 95g and triband only (as far as I can find through Google). And AFAIK, the Motorola Linux is not accessible and not Qtopia.

-- hns

[dhns]

Mail it to me...

Depends on how much you would be willing to pay   I don't know the final price but I was told it will be a little lower than the Neo.

-- hns

[zmiq2]

no 3G? then you shouldn't consider it ...

[dhns]

no 3G? then you shouldn't consider it ...

Interesting. Neither the iPhone nor the Openmoko has 3G yet. So, why do you think it needs 3G?

-- hns

[zmiq2]

Nowadays, for a mobile equipment, I find it more useful to have 3-3.5G connectivity than even wifi.

3/3.5G vs Wifi
- always available, for wifi you need to be close to a hotspot and you cannot move
- everyday new flat-rate operators are coming into the play, so it's not that expensive anymore
- 3.5G can be really fast at least fast for web/mail traffic you cannot tell the difference
- wifi: very unsecure, easily anyone can eavesdrop your network traffic, sites you visit, pop3 account info, ...

Of course I don't consider iPhone neither, for the same reasons.

[dhns]

Nowadays, for a mobile equipment, I find it more useful to have 3-3.5G connectivity than even wifi.

3/3.5G vs Wifi
- always available, for wifi you need to be close to a hotspot and you cannot move
- everyday new flat-rate operators are coming into the play, so it's not that expensive anymore
- 3.5G can be really fast at least fast for web/mail traffic you cannot tell the difference
- wifi: very unsecure, easily anyone can eavesdrop your network traffic, sites you visit, pop3 account info, ...

Of course I don't consider iPhone neither, for the same reasons.

Ah, I see. Then, I think this device wouldn't be something for you anyway. It has Bluetooth but no WiFi. The display is QVGA and 2.4 inch which is good enough for Opera web browsing (included), but not for heavy downloading. I think you may have to look for a much more powerful device category. But as far as I know there is no open Linux 3G device at the horizon, while this one could be available in a couple of weeks.

-- hns

[zmiq2]

Uhm.. I see

But if all connectivity I have is bluetooth, why should I even care it runs linux?

My understanding is that if you just want basic phone capabilities, OS doesn't matter; but for a smartphne, OS is important to make the handset suit your needs.

My 2cents.

[dhns]

But if all connectivity I have is bluetooth, why should I even care it runs linux?

Connectivity is: GPRS, Bluetooth, USB. It becomes a smartphone by the applications it has: contacts, calendar, browser, mail. The main benefit of having (open) Linux: you can install and develop your own software (binaries) to run on it. But would that change if the device had 3G?

I agree that on a 3G device you can receive mails (attachments...) and large web pages much faster, but that is all what differs. For plain phone calls and SMS 3G has no real benefit.

-- hns

[zmiq2]

And for plain phone calls and SMS Linux has no real benefit.

Without own connectivity (wifi and/or 3G) the device is very limited, so there's no need for "Linux inside".

Anyway, post a picture of the device asap so we can imagine what is coming in the near future !

[dhns]

And for plain phone calls and SMS Linux has no real benefit.

Agreed.

Without own connectivity (wifi and/or 3G) the device is very limited, so there's no need for "Linux inside".

Why? Isn't GPRS already fast enough for some tasks? And isn't a Zaurus without any mobile radio useful?

In my view, installing your own apps can be tremendously useful for many off-line applications. So, WiFi, 2G or 3G doesn't care.

Why did people cry for an iPhone SDK? They do not want to be forced to on-line apps. Even on a 2.5G-only iPhone. So, I see your argument as a target for the future (I would also like to have a 3 or 4G Linux PDA phone. Immediately.). But we have to be realistic what is available today.

I think here we have a chance to get a light, small and nice open Linux phone - smaller and lighter than the Neo 1973.

Anyway, post a picture of the device asap so we can imagine what is coming in the near future !

I will try to make one in comparison to a Neo 1973 and a Zaurus.

-- hns

[dhns]

So, here are some photos. What is your impression?

Size and pen comparison to Neo 1973 and Zaurus C3100:

Thickness:

Screen:
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Still the question to everyone: could that be an interesting device so that I should try to find out if this can be really purchased and where/when?

-- hns

[speculatrix]

a very interesting device. if you take the battery out, is there a clue as to its origins/maker etc?