A plethora of new, Linux-based, high-end mobile devices to debut soon?

[Menneisyys]

Linux undoubtedly has its place on mobile devices under the sun. Now that I’m planning a new roundup of all “let’s remote control your desktop PC from your Pocket PC” solutions, I’ve also thoroughly tested the well-known Linux-based rdesktop on my Sharp Zaurus C-760 (running under pdaXrom, the native (!) X-Window environment for Sharp Zaurii; its non-pdaXrom-based versions are qtrdesktop (Cacko and the original Sharp ROM) and Opie-rdesktop for OZ/OPIE; also see this for more info) and found it immensely better and more feature-rich than most other (even commercial – see for example Mocha’s Remote Desktop client) Pocket PC- or Palm OS-based remote desktop solutions. And the list doesn’t end in here: you can run for example Kismet on most Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled devices (like the Zaurii with a Wi-Fi card).



Now, all major “gadget” manufacturers have announced Linux-based mobile devices. They are as follows (I really recommend checking out the links!):

Nokia 330 (successor to the well-known Nokia 770 Internet Tablet). It’s rumored to have built-in GPS, 3.5”, high-resolution screen, DivX / MP3 video playback capabilities and a lot more. If the Web browser will be at least as good as Nokia OSS (which, I have to admit, isn’t very bad, albeit it does have its share of problems) or will be a direct port of Firefox, then, this gadget will be really cool and much more appealing than the Nokia 770. (Particularly if the screen will be much better / brighter than that of the 770 and the price won’t be much higher either.)

Sony MyLo: this seems to be another REALLY cool device: video (!!!) phoning with the built-in Skype client, probably games, Wi-Fi, built-in Opera (the Linux version of Opera is, currently, far superior to the current, 8.6 version, Pocket PC-based Opera Mobile).

Archos 604: another promising, Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled device with a 30Gbyte hard disk with TV out and a 4.3-inch 480x272 screen. Unlike earlier, “dumb” Archos devices, it’ll greatly support Internet connectivity and contains the Linux version of Opera.

PepperPad 3: another video playback-oriented, Linux-based device: thumbwheel, TV-out, general ruggedness, kitchen- and bathtub-readiness (cool – you’ll be able to watch videos in your bathtub without fearing it’ll go wrong!), and a generally ergonomic design.

What does HTC (the major Windows Mobile manufacturer) do in the meantime? It seems they are just resting on their laurels and don’t plan to release anything really cool and multimedia-related. It’s only much smaller companies, for example Gigabyte, that do release really advanced devices. These aren’t, however, available outside the Pacific region. Someone should awake the HTC folks

[Menneisyys]

Linux undoubtedly has its place on mobile devices under the sun. Now that I’m planning a new roundup of all “let’s remote control your desktop PC from your Pocket PC” solutions, I’ve also thoroughly tested the well-known Linux-based rdesktop on my Sharp Zaurus C-760 (running under pdaXrom, the native (!) X-Window environment for Sharp Zaurii; its non-pdaXrom-based versions are qtrdesktop (Cacko and the original Sharp ROM) and Opie-rdesktop for OZ/OPIE; also see this for more info) and found it immensely better and more feature-rich than most other (even commercial – see for example Mocha’s Remote Desktop client) Pocket PC- or Palm OS-based remote desktop solutions. And the list doesn’t end in here: you can run for example Kismet on most Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled devices (like the Zaurii with a Wi-Fi card).



Now, all major “gadget” manufacturers have announced Linux-based mobile devices. They are as follows (I really recommend checking out the links!):

Nokia 330 (successor to the well-known Nokia 770 Internet Tablet). It’s rumored to have built-in GPS, 3.5”, high-resolution screen, DivX / MP3 video playback capabilities and a lot more. If the Web browser will be at least as good as Nokia OSS (which, I have to admit, isn’t very bad, albeit it does have its share of problems) or will be a direct port of Firefox, then, this gadget will be really cool and much more appealing than the Nokia 770. (Particularly if the screen will be much better / brighter than that of the 770 and the price won’t be much higher either.)

Sony MyLo: this seems to be another REALLY cool device: video (!!!) phoning with the built-in Skype client, probably games, Wi-Fi, built-in Opera (the Linux version of Opera is, currently, far superior to the current, 8.6 version, Pocket PC-based Opera Mobile).

Archos 604: another promising, Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled device with a 30Gbyte hard disk with TV out and a 4.3-inch 480x272 screen. Unlike earlier, “dumb” Archos devices, it’ll greatly support Internet connectivity and contains the Linux version of Opera.

PepperPad 3: another video playback-oriented, Linux-based device: thumbwheel, TV-out, general ruggedness, kitchen- and bathtub-readiness (cool – you’ll be able to watch videos in your bathtub without fearing it’ll go wrong!), and a generally ergonomic design.

What does HTC (the major Windows Mobile manufacturer) do in the meantime? It seems they are just resting on their laurels and don’t plan to release anything really cool and multimedia-related. It’s only much smaller companies, for example Gigabyte, that do release really advanced devices. These aren’t, however, available outside the Pacific region. Someone should awake the HTC folks