Most Android devices can be opened AFAIK but there is no single supported way to do it, the process of rooting a device is more a hack in practice. This is why I consider Android a crippled platform. Originally Posted by gerbick That's not open, as in open source. That's open, as in open for use. And the fact that you have to unlock, root and possibly flash a custom ROM is not what people mean by open source.
That's not open, as in open source. That's open, as in open for use. And the fact that you have to unlock, root and possibly flash a custom ROM is not what people mean by open source.
I agree with Android being a "crippled" platform in the sense of open source. But that has absolutely nothing to do with the OS, licensing, et al. And again; for a crippled platform, a lot more was done on it than the more open offerings.
And even when rooted, it's not your standard linux distribution, where you are used to get just about anything in there by installing a deb or a rpm package... Originally Posted by gerbick And what exactly is a standard Linux distro for a mobile phone that's getting active support that you can buy today that actually is worth a damn. Please list them out.
And what exactly is a standard Linux distro for a mobile phone that's getting active support that you can buy today that actually is worth a damn. Please list them out.
Can't say the same for Maemo unfortunately. The support that this forum gives it is incredible - same for MeeGo - but it's not vendor or widespread support. So I can't count on it.
As for Blackberry, that device is not linux, it's irrelevant to me. Originally Posted by gerbick Why switch the subject? In no comment above was Linux mentioned until now. And now it's important? I'll play along...
Why switch the subject? In no comment above was Linux mentioned until now. And now it's important? I'll play along...
QNX microkernel is POSIX based. That's more than enough for me. And it has current support and it's shown to be more extensible than most mobile Linux based offerings to date. Tizen, Sailfish will invariably change this statement though. MeeGo, Maemo... they're dead.
Nah, you're just wrong. Fluid user interface is nice to look at and operate, but that's just surface. Originally Posted by gerbick I'm wrong how? Your statements assume that you, the non-UI loving community actually amount up to people that want to type a command in order to make a phone call. Ain't nobody got time for that!
I'm wrong how? Your statements assume that you, the non-UI loving community actually amount up to people that want to type a command in order to make a phone call. Ain't nobody got time for that!
You are a minority. One that's never been catered to because nothing will make you happy. Ever. And you're such a small niche that you can't really state that you've been happy with any Linux Mobile to date that's still in production. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me - and I'll state it here, I could be VERY WRONG.
But as it stands, Harmattan was a great UI. And I had access to a real terminal.
That's important to you and a very select few. Again, I can't stress upon to you that you are a very minor market. Linux Desktop is minor market - 1.21%. Linux mobile is even smaller (barring Android making the cut, which is doesn't). And you're talking about DBUS and commands... on a mobile device that makes phone calls? That an even smaller market that wants that - or even knows why they would want that.
Maemo and Harmattan are far from fully open but they do get few things right; easy access to real command line, SW installation with real package management, ability to build and run your own kernel, documented interfaces to many internal interfaces. As far as I have gathered information on Sailfish, opennes there is at least par with Maemo/Harmattan, propably more so. Even as I live and breathe Debian, I am ready to go RPM way if that's the price I need to pay. Originally Posted by gerbick They did so much right. But they're both so very dead. Unfortunately it seems like marketing, poor distribution and being tied to Nokia just didn't help them both in the long-run. Look to Mer. That's all you need to gather more information. And you'll walk away impressed, based on the prior correspondence of what you want from a device.
They did so much right. But they're both so very dead. Unfortunately it seems like marketing, poor distribution and being tied to Nokia just didn't help them both in the long-run. Look to Mer. That's all you need to gather more information. And you'll walk away impressed, based on the prior correspondence of what you want from a device.
Well WP8 has an user experience. Do you consider it a success? Originally Posted by gerbick Not at all. User experience can be good or bad. WP8's UI is pretty damn bad and boring to me... Harmattan still wins mobile UX in my opinion. Maemo 5 is a close second. UX can make or break a platform. That will stand. The rest what you're talking about is access. And we agree there - I want access to that **** too. But not at the expense of the UX of when I'm not in the terminal. I like to do a lot of things at once, simple things. And I don't like to remember commands in order to make a phone call to my wife.
Not at all. User experience can be good or bad. WP8's UI is pretty damn bad and boring to me... Harmattan still wins mobile UX in my opinion. Maemo 5 is a close second. UX can make or break a platform. That will stand. The rest what you're talking about is access. And we agree there - I want access to that **** too. But not at the expense of the UX of when I'm not in the terminal. I like to do a lot of things at once, simple things. And I don't like to remember commands in order to make a phone call to my wife.