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Openmoko

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For the mobile telephone operating system, see Openmoko Linux.

Openmoko is a project to create a family of open source mobile phones, including the hardware specification and the operating system.[1] The project was sponsored by Openmoko Inc.

The first sub-project is Openmoko Linux, a Linux-based operating system designed for mobile phones, built using free software.

The second sub-project is the development of hardware devices on which Openmoko Linux runs. The first device released was the Neo 1973,[2][3] which was followed up by the Neo FreeRunner on 25 June 2008.[4] Unlike most other mobile phone platforms, these phones are designed to provide end users with the ability to modify the operating system and software stack. Other Openmoko-supported phones are also available.

On 2 April 2009, Openmoko canceled planned phones and will probably concentrate on other kinds of hardware,[5] but will still support and sell the current Neo FreeRunner.[6]

Openmoko Linux

Main article: Openmoko Linux

Openmoko Linux (Om) is the software subproject of Openmoko. It uses the Linux kernel, together with a graphical user environment built using the X.Org Server. The OpenEmbedded build framework and opkg package system are used to create and maintain software packages. The initial version named Om 2007 used the GTK+ toolkit and the Matchbox window manager. Om 2008, which was released in August 2008, has added support for the Qt toolkit and Enlightenment 17. Despite continuous improvements both of these versions did not reach a stable state, thus the Openmoko phones are still not recommended for daily use. As a result, Openmoko started developing Om 2009, which had the goal of providing a stable environment based on the middleware from freesmartphone.org, a project that was financed by Openmoko. In April 2009 Openmoko canceled the development of software. This task is now being continued by a several efforts of the community, most notably the SHR distribution.

Initial versions of the software are developed for the hardware developed by the Openmoko project (Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner devices from Openmoko Inc.). There has been moderate effort as yet in using the OS on other hardware platforms.

The availability of the Openmoko phones has spurred the development of open source operating systems for mobile devices. Several groups who were not satisfied with the default software have created modified versions of it or ported other systems to work on the phones. Among others, the Openmoko phones now support Debian, Gentoo, Maemo, Qt Extended Improved and Android.

Openmoko hardware

the Neo 1973, the first smartphone using the Openmoko software
Neo FreeRunner

Openmoko Inc. is releasing hardware platforms that run the Openmoko software stack natively, although, one of Openmoko's goals being openness, it does not discourage the use of other operating systems on the Openmoko hardware platform. Openmoko hardware aspires to the term open source hardware although in various areas the availability of cell phone components and law requirements prevent full conformance to this term.

As many other vendors, Openmoko Inc. notoriously failed to meet the publicly announced hardware release dates, moving them further into the future multiple times.

The first supported phone, the Neo 1973 GTA01 (version: Bv4), was distributed exclusively through openmoko.com from July 2007 to February 2008.

The second revision of hardware based on the GTA01 design is the Dash Express, an automotive navigation system. The Dash Express has a faster CPU (Samsung 2440) and Wi-Fi ability.

The third hardware platform, the Neo FreeRunner codenamed GTA02 is an improved version of the Neo 1973.

Neo 1973

Main article: Neo 1973

The Neo 1973 (codenamed GTA01) phone was a "developers only" release. This phone supports the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz GSM frequency bands. Many Linux and unix programs used on desktop and server platforms, including utilities and games, have been successfully run on the phone. In addition to Linux, the NetBSD, FreeBSD and L4 kernels have been adapted by users to run on the platform or are under development. The bootloader used to start the operating system kernel is U-boot and allows the various maintenance tasks such as software updates to be performed.

This hardware platform can be emulated in software with a high level of compatibility using a version of Qemu included in the Openmoko software suite.

Neo FreeRunner

Main article: Neo FreeRunner

The Neo FreeRunner (codenamed GTA02) is the new revision of the Neo 1973. The changes include a faster processor (clocked at 400 MHz), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, two accelerometers and 3D graphics acceleration. It was released for the mass market on the 25th of June 2008.[4]

Dash Express

Main article: Dash Express

On 2 January 2008 the Dash Express, a GPS device, with hardware developed by Openmoko Inc. was announced running Openmoko Linux.[7] This device, initially codenamed the HXD8, seems to use little or none of the openmoko user-interface, simply using patches to the kernel developed by Openmoko Inc, and running an application from Dash Navigation on it to provide navigation and a user interface.

Canceled devices

The next phone, GTA03[8], would have been based on newer and more powerful system-on-a-chip. It would presumably differ from the Neo FreeRunner by having a 3.5 mm audio jack connector (instead of a 2.5 mm connector), EDGE and a camera.[9][10][11] GTA03 would not include support for 3G networks.[12]

The fourth Openmoko planned, GTA04, would have been based on a different system-on-a-chip. It would have had 3G support.[13]

WikiReader

The latest product is the WikiReader,[14] a device to read Wikipedia articles offline.

History

Openmoko was announced in 2006 by its founders First International Computer (FIC).[15]

The Initial core team for Openmoko project included:

Etymology

The name Openmoko is an initialism for Open Mobile Kommunikations.[16] The company was named OpenMoko until early 2008 when it was renamed Openmoko.

The codename for the phone product series, GTA, is an abbreviation of "GSM-TI-AGPS" which indicates the main components of the phone[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ openmoko-announce - Free Your Phone
  2. ^ "Neo1973". Openmoko Wiki. Openmoko. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-06-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ "Neo Base". Openmoko. 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Open source phone goes mass-market". LinuxDevices.com. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  5. ^ "No More OpenMoko Phone".
  6. ^ "Openmoko Phone Not Dead After All".
  7. ^ "Openmoko Extends Mobile Phone to Power Next-Generation Dash GPS". Reuters (press release).
  8. ^ "GTA03 preliminary hardware details".
  9. ^ "2.5mm or 3.5mm".
  10. ^ "QVGA V/s VGA for GTA03 (was something about yummy CPU-GPU combos!)".
  11. ^ "Is case design changing for GTA03?".
  12. ^ "No 3G for GTA03, 2G/EDGE only?".
  13. ^ No 3G for GTA03, 2G/EDGE only?
  14. ^ "WikiReader Official Website".
  15. ^ "Cheap, hackable Linux smartphone due soon".
  16. ^ http://www.openmoko.com/press/OpenMoko_20061107.pdf
  17. ^ http://lists.openmoko.org/pipermail/community/2009-April/045297.html
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