Mobile Linux

Hackers port Linux OS to iPhone--Android next?

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:49:06 -0500

A hacker has successfully ported the open source Linux kernel to Apple's iPhone, a significant step in creating a true alternative software platform for the iconic device. The Linux on the iPhone blog announced the port late last week--hacker Planetbeing writes "I'm pleased to announce that the Linux 2.6 kernel has been ported to Apple's iPhone platform, with support for the first and second generation iPhones as well as the first generation iPod touch. This is a rough first draft of the port, and many drivers are still missing, but it's enough that a real alternative operating system is running on the iPhone." The blog entry note that the port features a framebuffer driver as well as a serial over USB driver, while missing features include touchscreen support, sound, baseband and WiFi support, and accelerometer drivers. A custom bootloader offers users the choice between Linux or the conventional iPhone OS at startup.

The Linux on the iPhone developers said their future plans include porting Google's Linux-based Android mobile operating system to the Apple device. Ars Technica reports that Android was recently ported to the BeagleBoard, a hackable ARM board designed by TI for the hobbyist market. Open mobile product manufacturer OpenMoko project is additionally to port Android to its Neo FreeRunner handset. Of course, developers seeking to port Android to new devices must first address some of the nascent operating system's current limitations, including the absence of an onscreen keyboard.

For more on the iPhone hack:
- read this Ars Technica article

Related articles:
What's new and what's missing in iPhone OS 2.2
Apple revises iPhone NDA, debuts developer forum

Movial Browser D-Bus Bridge code goes open source

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:12:43 -0500

Mobile user experience solutions provider Movial announced the release of its Browser D-Bus Bridge open source code into the mobile Linux community. According to Movial, Browser D-Bus Bridge promises to simplify Linux user interface development, enabling web developers and designers, operators and OEMs to more efficiently create browser-based UIs for open handsets by translating Javascript commands to Desktop Bus-based commands. Browser D-Bus Bridge enables developers to create UIs controlling NetworkManager using HTML, CSS and Javascript or design a browser extension to send URLs to a music player via its D-Bus API. The LiMo Foundation industry group uses D-Bus for inter-process communication between applications and services--Movial announced its membership in the LiMo Foundation during this summer's LinuxWorld event. The Browser D-Bus Bridge code runs on WebKit and Mozilla engines and is available here.

For more on Movial's Browser D-Bus Bridge:
- read this release

Related article:
How big can mobile Linux get?

GNOME update features first mobile dev platform

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:43:46 -0400

The release of open-source desktop environment GNOME's new version 2.24 also features the software ecosystem's first mobile development platform. The GNOME environment includes development frameworks, a collection of desktop applications and a complete user environment for Linux-based computing--with version 2.24 slated for inclusion in upcoming releases of Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSUSE, the new GNOME Mobile platform will also deliver a pre-integrated stack for use by device makers looking to build compatible application development environments. GNOME technologies have already been adopted for use in Linux-based mobile operating systems including OpenMoko, Maemo and the ACCESS Linux Platform.

For more on GNOME Mobile:
- read this Ars Technica article

Related articles:
OpenMoko issues first open-source handset
Mobile Linux groups LiMo, LiPS merge

LiMo Foundation unveils seven new handsets

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:22:21 -0400

Open source mobile consortium the LiMo Foundation announced seven new devices based on its Linux-based LiMo Platform. The handsets--Motorola's Motozine ZN5, NEC's FOMA N906i, FOMA N906iμ, FOMA N906iL, FOMA N706i, Panasonic's FOMA P906i and FOMA P706iμ--bring the total of available LiMo device models to 21. Several of the newest phones promise features like international HSDPA roaming capabilities, GPS, mobile TV and advanced video streaming, secure payment and advanced mail functionalities, as well as higher resolution displays and more intuitive user interfaces. In a related announcement, LiMo added 11 new member companies: Cellon, Esmertec, Freescale Semiconductor, Longcheer Holdings, MIZI Research, Movial Corporation, PacketVideo Corporation, SK Innoace, Telecom Italia, VirtualLogix and ZTE Corporation. The consortium's ranks now total more than 50 members.

For more on the new LiMo devices:
- read this release

Related articles:
Verizon Wireless spurns Android for LiMo
LiMo Foundation debuts handsets, adds members

Mobile Linux groups LiMo, LiPS merge

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:02:08 -0400

Open source industry consortium the LiMo Foundation announced it will absorb the activities and membership of the Linux Phone Standards Forum this month, effectively scuttling plans to create a formal standard for the mobile Linux platform. According to LiMo, the pooling of resources promises to accelerate the emergence of common mobile Linux specifications and implementations as well as support a host of new applications and services. Roughly a dozen LiPS Forum members from across the mobile ecosystem will now join the LiMo ranks--LiPS members including France Telecom/Orange, Huawei Technology, NXP Semiconductors, Purple Labs and Texas Instruments already signed on with LiMo as the entrance of rival organizations including the Google-led Open Handset Alliance exerted new competitive pressures and heralded an industry shift away from standardization concerns toward time-to-market acceleration.

In an interview with ZDNet, outgoing LiPs Forum head Bill Weinberg said "I don't know [whether the standardization process is now dead]. The outcome of work by organizations like LiMo, Android and others may end up creating a standard that is more formalized after the fact. There's a question of pace--standardization bodies tend to operate in a more deliberative and stately fashion, but commercial interests are interested primarily in having code to work with. The sense of urgency in the industry has to do with the feeling that other players are breathing down their necks. An injection of urgency can cause a change in course and a change in plans."

For more on the LiMo/LiPS merger:
-read this release

Related articles:
Verizon Wireless spurns Android for LiMo Foundation
LiMo Foundation unveils handsets, adds member

Wind River partners with Intel on mobile Linux

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:02:25 -0400

Device software optimization firm Wind River Systems announced it will collaborate with semiconductor giant Intel to develop an open, extensible Moblin-based Linux platform for mobile Internet devices. The Wind River Linux Platform for Mobile Internet Devices promises a full-featured, commercial-grade Linux platform including Linux distribution, middle-ware and mobile applications earmarked for the delivery of rich Internet and media experiences--per terms of the partnership, Wind River will participate in and contribute code to the Moblin.org open-source community project, and will also debut a commercial Moblin-based platform optimized for MIDs powered via Intel's Centrino Atom processor technology. Both the open source and commercial platforms are expected to roll out in 2009. Last month, Wind River and Intel announced a similar Linux deal targeting the automotive industry.

For more on the Wind River/Intel collaboration:
- read this release

Related article:
Intel to re-enter mobile phone market