Linux Today - AllLinuxDevicesPR: What's the Difference Between a Linux SmartPhone and a Pricey Paper-Weight?
AllLinuxDevicesPR: What's the Difference Between a Linux SmartPhone and a Pricey Paper-Weight?
"In one of the first demonstrations of just how small and powerful a GUI can be, an international group of technologists recently announced the completion of the IMT-2000, a CDMA smart phone based on the Embedded Linux operating system. The group, which includes PalmPalm Technology, SK Telecom Central R&D Laboratory, and Seoul National University, plans to release a beta version by the end of 2000, according to recent articles."
"What was emphasized in the initial press surrounding the announcement was the exciting suite of technologies behind the GUI: the Tynux OS, PalmPalm's cleverly optimized version of Embedded Linux; the 206 MHz StrongARM processor from Intel; the superfast Bluetooth wireless interface; and a suite of small applications."
"What was underemphasized was the pivotal enabling role played by the GUI itself."
"Built using Trolltech's Qt/Embedded (tm), a crossplatform C++ GUI toolkit and windowing system, the IMT-2000's GUI is an amazingly capable and intuitive interface. And it is the existence of such an interface that makes all the difference: without it, a phone is just a phone; with it, a phone becomes a tool for web access, PIM applications, MP3 audio, games, voice over IP (VoIP), and much more."