Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

What about samsung's bada platform ? only the toolchain has been released as floss

Stay tuned :
http://forums.badadev.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82

Regards

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

You are the man, STSKeeps. :) Thanks for going above and beyond on this one. I thought you were off for the night but here you still are and hella informative! I kinda wish I could double or triple the thanks on your last post. :)

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

What about it?
1) It seems irrelevant to the topic, the fact that Android might have a willingly open handset manufacturer is pretty big news--certainly countering the news of Motorola locking down firmware
2) It doesn't appear to be open (or even partially)
3) It doesn't appear to have the support of any kind of an alliance of manufacturers (only Samsung seems to use it)
4) The forum you linked to mainly talks about using Linux as a platform to develop FOR Bada using a virtual machine.. again, not sure I see the relevance.

Seems to me you might have posted to the wrong thread.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Hmm... while poking around, I found this:
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/07/3...-sghi897-code/
Seems to indicate that Samsung is doing this to try leveraging the open-source community's ability to fix the bugs. Sounds like a GREAT reason to open-source, honestly. And I'm glad to see Samsung realizing that the way to get things to be improved faster, better and cheaper all at the same time is to open-source it and concentrate on their core job of producing hardware.

Man, that's refreshing.

They still have a ways to go to really realize that--but at least the motive and the direction is there.

Here's some more useful details as well as an email from Samsung's open-source folks about the opened source code:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=739823

Quoting from the developer in response to the email and looking over the source code:

This might explain some of the oddness you saw in there, STSKeeps.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Here's another interesting post from the same forum site I had listed:

WHOO!

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I'm interested in hackable devices in general, so worth an investigation.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Same here, even if I'm not the one capable of doing the hacks--I can compile my own Linux kernel, but I don't hack at hardware very much beyond customizations. But, I always like to keep my eyes peeled for these things. If I run across them, you can be sure I'll let you know.

Thanks again for peering through the source tarballs/zips! If all goes as expected, maybe by next week we'll have one or two formerly Samsung Android devices capable of running custom Android and/or MeeGo! :) FINALLY a very PC-like experience of user's choice of OS.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Thanx danramos!
Galaxy S open! It sounds soooooo sweet!
I want to see some faces at Nokia right now.
Perhaps someone at Samsung is a Maemo.org member? If so, THANX.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Sounds like an interesting development.

I assume this device has bluetooth which means you should be able to attach a bluetooth keyboard to it?
If not maybe developers can hack the source and make it possible?

What I like about my N900 is that it is the "most standard" installation of Linux compared to other mobile devices.

Android is "linux" purely by use of the kernel but everything else is "Google-ised" - e.g. their own special VM it's Java but not quite and their own glib library which means porting existing linux software is non_trivial.

At least with maemo porting linux software is considerably easier due to the use of standard components.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Is the Android situation so bad that a device with a kernel "that can be built with CodeSourcery" is news?

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

It has Bluetooth (pretty much all Android devices have to have bluetooth as a requirement). Android is sitting on TOP of the Linux kernel. You CAN install Debian on the same device running Android. Once you've done that, you're pretty much able to use all the console apps for Debian with no problem. If I understand it right, until someone writes an Xorg to sit on top of that kernel on those devices, you can't run the graphical apps, though. Hence why something like MeeGo on that hardware would be a VERY VERY big win all-around.

Even if all I got was Android with Debian, it's almost all of what I'd want and the best of all the worlds for me. I prefer console apps anyway, PLUS I can still run my Android applications.

You're just jealous 'cause it's starting to look more open than your favorite OS.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

@Dan

The ability to load a more traditional distro on an android phone is an exciting revelation (I'm surprised that I haven't heard of this yet). While I'm not to bent out of shape about losing XOrg GUI applications, having access to command line apps (eg. vim, sha/348/512/etc/sum, bash/perl/python scripting, rsync, etc) would be quite a boon to the platform especially with my BT keyboard. Even better, the ability to use the android ConnectBot client to access these local applications would be heavenly as it would be easily accessible from inside of the android system.

The Galaxy S is quite a capable piece of hardware, certainly faster than some desktops that I've owned just a decade ago (with more storage to boot!). The hardware is gorgeous, and the news of increased openness is wonderful for the community at large. I expect that even if Samsung stops official support, the community will keep it up to date with the latest android upgrades.

Thanks for the news. This certainly gives Android another point on my personal scorecard.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Well, apparently it's better than I thought. They DO have Xorg running in Debian under Android after all. It uses xvnc as the frame buffer ("video card") that you can VNC into from Android running on the same phone (or from another laptop or desktop computer). Crazy stuff. (See: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/dro...ian-droid.html)

At any rate, you can already do this with a rooted device now--but if drivers and everything else are opened up the potential is... huuuuge!

Personally, I'd probably stop short of running X. I'd just want Android with a proper debian console/terminal like you do. :)

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Great find! I was surprised to find how well the gui worked on relatively old mobile hardware. In addition, ubuntu with the rather heavy gnome has been seen running.

Debian on the G1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjNhGjyAUAw

Ubuntu on the N1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQ9XogfjRU

Of course, for me (and you, I assume), this is more of a 'neat hack' than something that I would use regularly. While the notion of a debian computer in your pocket is enticing, the actual implementation is too awkward to be useful to me, and a laptop would be a far better device to use (or so my intuition tells me, anyway). Of course having a full traditional linux CLI in your pocket is INCREDIBLY useful (my N810 agrees with this), especially on such capable hardware.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

i hope this isnt as awesome as it sounds?!
i just dont want to sell my n900 already.
is there a galaxy-s-phone with keyboard in europe available anyway? i'm only aware of the samsung epic, but afaik its us-only.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

You shall be smitten by the Progress God for ill wishing the other contenders to stifle competition rather than welcoming them in hope of inciting the fire of your own camp.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I would recommend checking up on Samsungs Android history before getting too excited...
The way they handled updates for their very first Android phone (the Samsung Galaxy i7500) was disasterous. They were pratically no real updates. It's still running Android 1.5. Take a guess how many apps in the Android appstore are useful. The only way to get a newer version is by turning to the community and their way superior firmwares - despite missing tons of sources - which basically slows the development to a crawl.

So with that in mind, I personally don't expect much from Samsungs "open" source.
Oh yeah and the source code for the i7500 is also available on the previously mentioned Samsung site. It's just so incomplete that it's useless.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

While I do appreciate a proper kernel with all modules open sourced, it really (honestly) seems like there's absolutely nothing interesting from userland that's open sourced except of what's required by licensing.

Only makes them comparable to a N900 with closed source bits in userland (3d drivers etc, apps) and open kernel drivers..

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I've ordered that phone yesterday (or at least the UK version of it, called Galaxy S)

I will still be using my N900 as an internet tablet and also internet radio in my car. What did it for me was that I never got used to the landscape only texting and lack of voice dialing. I still believe the N900 has great potential but I am not sure if there is enough time to develop it.

Making it open source is a bonus!

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I see what you did there and I agree with it. I like that you used the qualifier of "only" being comparable to an N900.

Anyway, the flip side of that is that they're ALREADY starting "only" as open as N900's Maemo 5 and it seems, from the conversations on their development boards, that it'll become MORE open soon enough (not in some far-flung future, but maybe within the next week).

I have to still wonder whether this will ultimately make it more or less open than MeeGo after Nokia's managed to impose their closed-source blobs to defile the operating system.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I will buy the phone that allows me to run ubuntu with phone capabilities. So far n900 is the closest and will probably be for a long time. A 4 row keyboard, 4" screen and plenty of hard drive space is a must. Or els it would not be worth to buy a new one.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Amen. I think software keyboards need to be abolished completely. They steal real estate from the screen and are not as accurate as physical keyboards.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Of course, many users (myself included) actually prefer software keyboards. There are no absolutes when dealing with preference.

On another note (and arguably more on topic)....

Before this degrades into an N900 vs. Galaxy S thread, it would be advisable to read the following post (from Ubuntu's own chief -- no less) for a little added perspective:
Tribalism is the enemy within

In the spirit of openness, that the Galaxy S will have open sourced drivers and code is a benefit to the community as a whole.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

The title of this thread may be a tad misleading, or insufficient rather.

As I understand it, Samsung are throwing out some code for the Galaxy S platform which Captivate and Vibrant are simply different variants of.

Not forgetting the Samsung Epic 4G (with early hands-on by PCmag) with a physical keyboard... Five rows but apparently still pretty good...

The Epic 4G is expected to be released on August 20, this year. :p

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I just read (not sure where, it may even have been from this board) that in general, non-x86 open-drivers are exceptionally rare to come by. If this is the case then kudos to Samsung for the intent to open source their drivers!

More kudos for the follow through. ;)

As a side note:

I'm thoroughly impressed with the Galaxy S as a whole after watching youtube vids and reviews on-line. The news of a full traditional CLI interface, and open drivers increases my impression that much more. The android eco-system is maturing quite well, with a great smattering of applications and a wonderful browser (I installed the SDK and emulator and tried it out myself). The Galaxy S is a performance monster (eg. psx4droid runs at full speed), and the hardware specs are to die for.

Samsung has a winner on their hands that should appeal to casual users and open-source junkies alike.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I do believe the follow through is what important. I expect that critical drivers will be left out.

If enough were released that X11 could be ported, we could see MeeGo on these devices before long. I'd buy one then.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

You mean X11 video drivers. X11 itself was already ported over (as I'd posted previously).

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Yes, X11 video drivers. Having to loop back via VNC defeats the point of having hardware acceleration for video.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Agreed, and well said.

Open drivers would allow for multi-booting of OSs such as MeeGo, Ubuntu Netbook, ChromeOS. While these OSs still aren't much of a draw for me on a phone platform (android seems fine for what I'd actually use the small screen for), the upcoming Galaxy Tab (the tablet equivalent of the Galaxy S Smartphone) would comfortably run these OSs with an external keyboard for some real-world productivity. If battery life is good (5+ hours), it would be an interesting alternative to a low power laptop, and something that I would seriously consider.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Hmmmm... some new stirring going on...

"Samsung has released the drivers source for the I9000 phones but I'm not sure if they released the driver source for all of the US phones."

"As far as I can tell, it's only been updated for the I9000. Hopefully they'll update the rest of them soon. ... In any case, we now have the source for these modules."

"I took a look in the zip file for the I9000 release and it looks like the driver source is still missing, there is a new 3d module in the zip file but there is no source for the s3clcd module."

Interesting stirrings but not sure what to make of this quite yet.

Reference:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=739823&page=8

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

OK, looks like they've released more open-source drivers for the Samsung Captivate!

From: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=739823&page=8
"Samsung has released the additional driver source for the Captivate. I will update the links on the OP tomorrow."

Go at it, guys! Let's see if there's any gold to be had there. :)

Any news on whether any more closed-source is opening up from Nokia? Anything? Even for the N800's? Anything?

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Link is broken. And do you know what Samsung's model number for the Captivate is?

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

If you're wondering about recently*:

Celluar speech path library: http://meego.gitorious.org/meego-cel...bcmtspeechdata

Continuation of telepathy-ring from Maemo5, using ofono: http://meego.gitorious.org/meego-cel...telepathy-ring

Various meegotouch things: http://meego.gitorious.org/meegotouch

A N900 emulated in QEMU: http://meego.gitorious.org/qemu-maemo/qemu including a free set of gles libraries to have 3d acceleration for ARM in QEMU: http://meego.gitorious.org/qemu-maemo/qemu

Pulseaudio modules for speech path in cellular modem and other things http://meego.gitorious.org/maemo-mul...-modules-meego

- these things start out as closed source.

.. along with a bunch of other stuff you don't really see in nicely packaged form, contributed by Nokia employees and subcontractors to many different open source projects including Linux kernel, GTK and many other areas.

* Stating facts since you asked, not trying to be a fanboy.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

You're right, sorry about the broken link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=739823&page=8

Here's a link to Samsung's open-source page: http://opensource.samsung.com/

They call it the SGH-I897 (it's in the title of the forum's thread that I linked to).

Nothing about N800 progress? I'm not interested in buying a cellphone device (N900) if I'm not interested in the cellphone radio part. For that matter, any news of it going on anything that isn't a cellphone or laptop/notebook?

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

In this particular moment I am building MeeGo Qt for GLESv1 to test it out on the GLES drivers and all the other MeeGo stuff for N8x0. I mean, do you follow http://forum.meego.com/showthread.php?t=317&page=7 ? (Check out this picture for what can actually work). I also had the IVI desktop up the other day.

If done right, we might have just as little blobs as MeeGo on N900 has. And possible to have it in a similar build system as described in this post.

I just haven't had the time to package up the closed N8x0 blobs needed for hardware support in RPM just yet, but I am in no way blocked by Nokia or other concerns except for my own time. So, it'll come eventually.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

COOL! I didn't know where/if there was a thread for that work anymore. (TMO's search is lousy). I'm really happy to see it's progressing! ...and really glad to hear it'll be that much more open, too! THANKS LOTS! :)

Anything useful come out of that newer Samsung package?

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

Gave up when it said 'remaining time of download 4 hours'

What's wrong with exporting git trees or small tarballs? :)

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

don't forget samsung's other mobile os, bada os, which they claim is open sourced too.

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

I don't think we care about Bada, do we? We're mainly interested in whether there are open drivers for their hardware. Are you sure it's open anyway? I don't think it's supposed to be open.

Edit: I looked it up again (I thought I had looked it up before)--there's NOTHING open about Bada. Only the development toolkit is open-source. I'm not sure where you got your information, since I can't find anything agreeing with you. We can easily forget about Bada in this thread. (Already did--I had already replied to a similar message earlier in this thread.)

Re: Samsung Captivate - Samsung is OPEN-SOURCING their drivers and other code!
 

you're right, my bad