Motorola A760

[dhns]

Another device we are waiting for is the  LineaLX from Royal.

Is there any news on that? I remember two announcements - one in Summer 2003 and one in March 04 that it will be available within 3 months. Both dates have already passed and nothing happened. So I think Royal has silently cancelled the LineaLX...

As well as IBM has cancelled their PowerPC 405LP based reference design. They even sold the processor IPRs.

But other devices are more real IMHO: http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8559859225.html

-- hns

[dhns]

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.

I agree but am not so sure that it is not likely. If a company is pulling out of foreign markets unexpectedly and focussing on their home market - they might pull that out as well.

I think hardware continuity is very important. If we look at OPIE/Familiar etc., all these projects have to fight with new devices with closed spec coming out faster than some volunteer can find out how the boot loader works, how some new chips/features are adressed etc. That is the reason why stable releases are mostly available for PDA devices that are no longer on regular sales. So, the timeframe of stable supply of a device with standard interfaces is important.

To work agains this risk, I proposed a "Zaurus Foundation" which not only supports Open Source developments (pdaXROM, OpenZaurus etc.) but also tries to work on stable hardware specs by i.e. aquiring the IPRs from Sharp and have some Asian factory produce a compatible device. And to define upwards-compatible devices of course. And do better marketing of LinuxPDAs. This won't be simple tasks for a Foundation but the Blender Foundation has shown that it can work.

Regarding the discussion of the Archos devices - for me it is more important to have a continuously available and developed PDA platform which supports standard interfaces that I can learn and work with, than different devices in different form factors (e.g. without a touchscreen and keypad) just having in common to use some Linux Kernel and some version of Qt.

Although Motorola has done a lot of efforts for the A760 and A768 to use Linux - they are not really open systems. Afaik there is now the kernel source on Sourceforge (from uncertain sources) - but that's all. You can't install software on the Phone - no compiler, no console, no ssh. Just JAVA apps can be installed. Linux inside but not accessible. This is not the approach we (ZUG) need.

So if the PDA device (mobile smartphone) gets a GSM/GPRS wireless interface (with standard /dev/modem) integrated that would also be fine.

-- hns

[padishah_emperor]

Although Motorola has done a lot of efforts for the A760 and A768 to use Linux - they are not really open systems. Afaik there is now the kernel source on Sourceforge (from uncertain sources) - but that's all. You can't install software on the Phone - no compiler, no console, no ssh. Just JAVA apps can be installed. Linux inside but not accessible.

mmh, if the future is going to be a phone, not a handheld computer, beware, the Motorola example may be the model of future machines. I've never seen SSH or GCC on a phone  

[amdonati]

In the following months Motorola should release the new  968 phone, using an Xscale processor and Qtopia on linux.
I was wondering if this could also be a possible option and if it would be possible to port all or most of the Z's software (I suppose yes)

Adalberto

[amrein]

The Yopy internal MySQL server can be accessed remotely if you want to synchronize it or if you want to build your own synchronisation software. Of course multisync  SyncML or KitchenSync plug-ins creation is the way to go. PHP/Mysql is used in the Yopy for HTTP access of the PIMS (and a ftp server for files).

For the standard to follow, I now have an idea about what it should begun with:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/15/li...tandards_group/
http://www.freestandards.org/modules.php?n...=article&sid=78

For the hardware, we already have an idea if we merge most specs:

_ 240*320, 640*480, 800*600 8/16 bit with or without touchscreen.
_ StrongARM/Scale or ARM v5 compatible processor
_ 32Mo RAM / 16 Mo Flash (minimum)
_ navigations keys and sometimes keyboard

But people must talk. They must talk to each other. Each guys from every Zaurus projects as new dev wanting to build their own software. We don't want village anymore nor even cities but countries. I know that OE guys are open minded. If every one could just talk on zug...

[sakamoto]

Although Motorola has done a lot of efforts for the A760 and A768 to use Linux - they are not really open systems. Afaik there is now the kernel source on Sourceforge (from uncertain sources) - but that's all. You can't install software on the Phone - no compiler, no console, no ssh. Just JAVA apps can be installed. Linux inside but not accessible.

mmh, if the future is going to be a phone, not a handheld computer, beware, the Motorola example may be the model of future machines. I've never seen SSH or GCC on a phone  

According to the user from China, you can telnet to the phone console, but no source available.

http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthread.php...1489&sid=aCCKvd

[dhns]

Although Motorola has done a lot of efforts for the A760 and A768 to use Linux - they are not really open systems. Afaik there is now the kernel source on Sourceforge (from uncertain sources) - but that's all. You can't install software on the Phone - no compiler, no console, no ssh. Just JAVA apps can be installed. Linux inside but not accessible.

According to the user from China, you can telnet to the phone console, but no source available.

http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthread.php...1489&sid=aCCKvd

Interesting! Unfortunately all in Chinese.

I have seen something which pretends ((I find the source and project admin a little suspect - it is not Motorola but seems to be a single person related to a room cleaning company in Germay)) to be the kernel source on Sourceforge:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/a760/

So:

telnet = access
kernel source = cross compilation
A780 (http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7885574789.html) = English device available

=> a new Linux "PDA" platform?

[Mickeyl]

Anything new about that device? I'm pretty tempted to buy one of those Motorola A768i... without the capability of running my own applications it would be useless to me though.

[nevarrie]

My hope is to get the Motorola A780 that says it will be out 4Q...I am hoping we can find a way to add custom software...

http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWht...ducts/A780.html

There is a link on that page "Let me know when it's avalible which I have done but have nto heard anything yet.  From my understanding they have started shipping in Asia, with Europe to happon shortly, and america is still waiting on a release date...

[Mickeyl]

Hmm... are you able to spot the differences between the A768i and the A780?

[nevarrie]

Hmm... are you able to spot the differences between the A768i and the A780?

Things I really know about is the number pad on the outside, EDGE, Speakerphone, 1.3MP Camera, and TransFlash Card.  

I am just hoping one of the carriers here will start using them.   Last I had heard T-mobile was going to pick up thte a780.  So I am waiting to see.

Fromw hat I can tell I am not sure if the 780 is worth twice the price of the a768i...But even thein I would have to come up with the $500...

[amrein]

Mororola A780:

http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/d...s/0,,70,00.html
http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/i...s/0,,70,00.html

I can't find other A768 model on their site. Searching A780 or A768 won't give you any link.

I found a few review when I was searching for more info. A big picture of the A780 when it is opened:

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5176,2.html

[nevarrie]

Mororola A780:

http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/d...s/0,,70,00.html
http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/i...s/0,,70,00.html

I can't find other A768 model on their site. Searching A780 or A768 won't give you any link.

I found a few review when I was searching for more info. A big picture of the A780 when it is opened:

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5176,2.html

The places I have ever found information onteh a768i is on the motorola hong Kong Site and one the china site.  I have found lots of places selling it online in the US and in Europe starting about $451US and up.

[Mickeyl]

The major question will be which is the more "open" phone in the sense of running own applications. The 768 series or the 780 or anything forthcoming?