> > Actually, no, it's not. For starters, it's been in development since > > LONG > > before Jobs dazzled us all in January '07 with his keynote. (Obviously > > the > > So they've been working on this /longer/ than the iPhone. It's amazing that > it took so long to create so little
Agreed, but i's a community effort- not a commercial project.
> > iPhone as in devlopment prior to that point, but the public knew nothing > > about it, so no product was trying to "kill" it yet!) > > Tell that to the retards in COLA where every phone that happens to run > linux is the next "iPhone killer"
It doesn't matter what fanboys on either side of the aisle think- it's not, nor was it ever intended to be- an "iPhone killer", anymore than a Ford Model T could be a Prius killer- OpenMoko predates the iPhone.
> - "Linux Spawns Yet Another iPhone Killer > Deeda Pi Phone really is an [Linux-based] iPhone killer" > http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux.advocacy/msg/e3d65ff1896b9c9c?h l=en > > > - "Interview with the Creator of the Linux-based 'iPhone Killer' > We have known about the FIC Neo1973, the world's first open source > phone..." > http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux.advocacy/msg/9214f79c2a5995f7?h l=en
I'll leave the relgious war to you guys.
> > Secondly, the Neo isn't supposed to be an actual final product- it's a > > "test handset" for developers to try their creations on. > > Tell that to the folks at OpenMoko. They seem to think that it is a viable > commercial product. > > http://anotherugly.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/openmoko-based-consumer-e... > > "OpenMoko-based *CONSUMER* edition announced: Neo Freerunne > Gizmodo reports that a CONSUMER edition of the Neo 1973 will be available > this spring. It will be revealed on the CONSUMER Electronics Show in Vegas > next week."
A $400 non-3G tri-band phone? Who but a Linux devotee, developer or hobbyist will buy it?
> > Symbian, Windows Mobile and Apple's iPhone all have their own issues, > > and they're designed and programmed by commercial professionals. > > What's _their_ excuse? > > No excuse needed. Are you complaining because these devices aren't > *perfect* because they work pretty damn well.
I'm not complaining at all- I'm a long time, happy Windows Mobile user, and have used Symbian devices in the past. I'm just saying no platform is ug free. Mobile phones users in glass houses... ;-)
> > OpenMoko was a interesting idea that will likely be abandoned depending > > on > > how "open" Android is, if only because Android will bring up-to-date > > competitive hardware with it. > > Or it might be abandoned because of the crap reviews it's receiving and > there might not be enough public interest to buy a over-hyped under > performing phone. Perhaps the general public simply wants a phone that > works well (as in the iPhone) rather than a clunker that comes with a bunch > of source coded. Few people give a rats ass if their cell phone is "open" > or not.
True- but that doesn't mean there isn't room in the marketplace for it for those that DO care.