Comment More handheld OS links and thoughts (Score 1) 86
I have been wondering about Linux as an OS choice in the handheld market for a while now. Unlike Jesse Montrose, I'm not in a hurry for my handheld, since a few enabling technologies such as cheap high-density removable memory, 200-300 dpi screens, and better voice recognition are not ready yet. Though in the long run, I think of it as a reasonable choice for a multi-purpose design that does the following:
GPS - I carry around a Garmin 12XL now, and it really bugs me that I can't customize the interface the way I would like.
map display - Several GPS units do this now and some palmtops interface with GPS units, though the combination is too bulky for my tastes.
paging - I'd like to be able to access a LEO satellite two-way paging network (e.g. http://www.orbcomm.com), a ground based network if available and cheaper, and send a page directly to another unit if it is less than a few km away.
phone - I could dispense with this function if only everyone else had paging ability. A big market though.
camera/photo quality display - an integrated camera design such as the Sony PCG is one solution, or something that slides into a PC slot with a pivoting lens (like Nikon's or Agfa's) would also work. A very high resolution screen (e.g. HDTV: 1080x1960) at 300dpi would work well for displaying photos to friends and for checking the photo quality at time of capture.
voice recognition - for document entry, paging, etc.
Of course none of the above is Linux specific, but if I were to buy a device with another OS (such as EPOC32) for this device, the burden of proof would be on the alternative. It would have to be faster, require less power for a given function, or have some advantage over an OS that is free and for which I already have a small amount of familiarity.
Links: in addition to the links previously mentioned, /. Readers may want to check out:
Alternative OS http://www.altos.org.uk for reviews on PalmOS, Epoc32 and others
Pocket Unix Bookmarks http://cmcind.far.ruu.nl/gillies/bookmarks/pocket. html - I found the PLEB links very interesting.
Embedded Cygnos OS (eCos) http://www.sourceware.cygnos.com - I'm not sure if this OS is really aimed at Palmtop computing, or if it is for more traditional embedded applications, but there is some interesting stuff here.
"The GNU Public License [...] means in practice that application developers have to make the sources available. In the embedded systems market this requirement is generally considered unacceptable and many companies refuse to use any GPL'd code as a result. This would reduce the uptake of eCos, and we want as many people as possible to use the system."
There is also a good overview of Operating Systems at http://www.tunes.org/Review/OSes.html with many links.
GPS - I carry around a Garmin 12XL now, and it really bugs me that I can't customize the interface the way I would like.
map display - Several GPS units do this now and some palmtops interface with GPS units, though the combination is too bulky for my tastes.
paging - I'd like to be able to access a LEO satellite two-way paging network (e.g. http://www.orbcomm.com), a ground based network if available and cheaper, and send a page directly to another unit if it is less than a few km away.
phone - I could dispense with this function if only everyone else had paging ability. A big market though.
camera/photo quality display - an integrated camera design such as the Sony PCG is one solution, or something that slides into a PC slot with a pivoting lens (like Nikon's or Agfa's) would also work. A very high resolution screen (e.g. HDTV: 1080x1960) at 300dpi would work well for displaying photos to friends and for checking the photo quality at time of capture.
voice recognition - for document entry, paging, etc.
Of course none of the above is Linux specific, but if I were to buy a device with another OS (such as EPOC32) for this device, the burden of proof would be on the alternative. It would have to be faster, require less power for a given function, or have some advantage over an OS that is free and for which I already have a small amount of familiarity.
Links: in addition to the links previously mentioned,
Alternative OS http://www.altos.org.uk for reviews on PalmOS, Epoc32 and others
Pocket Unix Bookmarks http://cmcind.far.ruu.nl/gillies/bookmarks/pocket
Embedded Cygnos OS (eCos) http://www.sourceware.cygnos.com - I'm not sure if this OS is really aimed at Palmtop computing, or if it is for more traditional embedded applications, but there is some interesting stuff here.
"The GNU Public License [...] means in practice that application developers have to make the sources available. In the embedded systems market this requirement is generally considered unacceptable and many companies refuse to use any GPL'd code as a result. This would reduce the uptake of eCos, and we want as many people as possible to use the system."
There is also a good overview of Operating Systems at http://www.tunes.org/Review/OSes.html with many links.
