Author Topic: Zaurus DevNet going down to stay (Read 10026 times)

Miami_Bob · « **on:** September 10, 2004, 06:23:11 am »

Per tblumer in

http://www.zaurus.com/dev/board/index.php?showtopic=7732&hl=

=========QUOTE BEGINS==================
Posted: Sep 9 2004, 04:52 PM

I am sorry to inform you all that Zaurus DevNet is going away again, this time for good. Sharp wanted me to express to you that they appreciate the support that you have given to the developer site and the Zaurus. The site is planned to go down on 30-September. If you have specific questions, you may send e-mail to helpdesk@zaurus.com.
=========QUOTE ENDS====================

Guess this shows us all how much Sharp *really* cares?

Ling · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2004, 07:32:49 am »

I wonder if there is any hope of archiving the site here. This is one reason why it has bothered me when people of this forum direct others to devnet for a solution.

dhns · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2004, 08:01:28 am »

Quote

they appreciate the support that you have given to the developer site and the Zaurus. The site is planned to go down on 30-September.

Does this mean they not only cancel all developer support end of this month but the Zaurus? (highlight by me)

In that case I would propose to found a non-profit organization (similar to the Blender Foundation http://www.blender3d.com/cms/About.30.0.html ) to aquire donations to buy all required hardware and software IPRs from Sharp to develop a new, compatible device and software (e.g. OpenZaurus, pdaXROM). There are a lot of companies in Asia with PDA hardware expertise who can do that, several dealers for devices in all continents and for software there are already some projects (which should be focussed IMHO).

Each of us ZUG users donating 30$ (4000 users) would end up in 120,000$. Isn't that much but could convince other investors.

-- hns

jamesm · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2004, 08:21:53 am »

If it came down to Sharp ditching the Z then I'd throw 30 bucks in definately.

zaurusgeek · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2004, 10:54:13 am »

According to Todd (quoted above), Sharp is offically dumping all US support for Zaurus. They'll sell US Zaurii for a few more months then axe the whole thing. I guess their focus on "enterprise solutions" wasn't all that successful.

Miami_Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2004, 11:43:52 am »

Quote

Quote
they appreciate the support that you have given to the developer site and the Zaurus. The site is planned to go down on 30-September.

Does this mean they not only cancel all developer support end of this month but the Zaurus? (highlight by me)

I did not read it that way, dhns.

He only said that the DevNet site was going away.

I think the ".. help given .." was meant as thanks to the user community for supporting BOTH the site and the Z & that other attempts at broader interpretations of the meaning would only be taking it out of context and promotion of rumor mongering.

zaurusgeek · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2004, 12:18:32 pm »

This from Todd at SDG systems:
Thanks for contacting me. Sharp will have a significant number of units
available for several months, if not longer, but the US Zaurus program
is officially being discontinued. SDG Systems is working with some of
Sharp's other customers as to how to move forward with a Qtopia / Linux
platform. We are trying to move quickly on this situation. I'll keep you
informed.

amrein · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2004, 01:02:44 pm »

Quote

Quote
they appreciate the support that you have given to the developer site and the Zaurus. The site is planned to go down on 30-September.
Does this mean they not only cancel all developer support end of this month but the Zaurus? (highlight by me)

In that case I would propose to found a non-profit organization (similar to the Blender Foundation http://www.blender3d.com/cms/About.30.0.html ) to aquire donations to buy all required hardware and software IPRs from Sharp to develop a new, compatible device and software (e.g. OpenZaurus, pdaXROM). There are a lot of companies in Asia with PDA hardware expertise who can do that, several dealers for devices in all continents and for software there are already some projects (which should be focussed IMHO).

Each of us ZUG users donating 30$ (4000 users) would end up in 120,000$. Isn't that much but could convince other investors.

-- hns

Hi

This is a very good idea. Most of us certainly already have resonable hardware spec in mind.

The bigger problem won't be the hardware but the software. To be more precise, it will be the graphical environnement and graphical applications. The very good Linux Palmtop environnement for everyone is still expected. Having a part of the hardware cost sent to the "Palmtop team" could resolve the issue and motivate an enterprise.

http://www.thefeature.com/article?articlei...048&ref=2934556

We are back to the beginning. The fusionned Linux PDA OS effort is still expected by the market.

padishah_emperor · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2004, 01:36:06 pm »

This is very sad news, I hope this does not mean that they will axe the Zaurus in Japan.

If they do, there is always the Yopy 3700 (www.gmate.com) which has started to be sold globally, runs X faster than my old 860 and can also run Qtopia 1.7 and all my old Z apps. It won't suit everyone but is an option.. Let's me keep a finger in the Z pie anyway ;-)

Ciao everyone...

F

omro · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2004, 02:11:17 pm »

Well the Archos AV 500 series media player / pda hybrid also runs Qtopia, not sure what version, and that's going to be global soon, so if you're ok with a keyboardless linux handheld that can also playback and record divx/xvid movies and TV as well as playing back your mp3s and comes with either a 20, 40 or 80gb internal hard disk and a CF slot.........

I'm already saving up.

Miami_Bob · « **Reply #10 on:** September 10, 2004, 02:24:56 pm »

Quote

Well the Archos AV 500 series media player / pda hybrid also runs Qtopia, not sure what version, and that's going to be global soon, so if you're ok with a keyboardless linux handheld that can also playback and record divx/xvid movies and TV as well as playing back your mp3s and comes with either a 20, 40 or 80gb internal hard disk and a CF slot.........

I'm already saving up.

I could dig that for a media center, if the menu software is good, but not as my daily mission critical cyber better half. Too "borged" to give up an efficient keyboard for any of the less efficient data entry alternatives that I've tried. Now, when they can finally jack me directly in via neural link, maybe then I'll be able to finally shuck the two thumb tango. Till then, YMMV (G).

omro · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2004, 02:28:13 pm »

Look it up, there are pre release reviews and other reviews of it's predecessor the av 480 and 420.

The idea of ditching my pda and my ipod and being able to carry around a few films too....

And take that on holiday with my digicam and not need my laptop!

lardman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 10, 2004, 05:31:59 pm »

I'll be sad to see all of the info from the devnet gone (or at least inaccessible assuming they are willing to share the db, etc.) as there was a hell of a lot of stuff on there, but what support have Sharp really given us? Spencer was helpful, but that was his doing rather than Sharp's goodwill.

I really can't see that it makes much difference to those of us who already have Zauruses (or Zaurii ;-)

Si

iamasmith · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2004, 05:39:06 pm »

Hey, quit panicing.

I think if you translate some of the Japanese Sharp sites that you will find that Sharp are actually still supporting the Sharp Mi/Pi series Zaurus - these were way before the Linux devices

There definitely seems to be some committment to support older devices. + I believe embedded Linux is actually quite popular in Japan - bit of a cult thing.

I would wait and see what happens.

- Andy

stbrock · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2004, 05:51:40 pm »

The apparent discontinuance of Zaurus distribution in the US isn't good news, but it's not at all the end of the Zaurus platform. I do much of my computing on a C860 and a Vaio U1 -- neither of which has ever been distributed in the US. The Zaurus market in Japan remains strong, and there are more and more international dealers doing English conversions and offering some sort of warranty assistance for Japanese hardware. The size of the Zaurus community will be limited in the short tem, as some will be worried about the conversion or unwilling to buy without stronger warranty support. But if projects such as pdaXrom or some at Open Embedded become as powerful and reliable as they might over the coming year or so, converted Japanese hardware could support a large and growing US and international community. The real end would come if future Zaurus hardware were to be incompatible with the Linux PDA OS's now being developed, which doesn't seem particularly likely for the present.

News:

Author Topic: Zaurus DevNet going down to stay (Read 10026 times)