I do not entirely agree with you on this one: > In all fairness, I don't think he's a troll, it just appears that the > device doesn't meet his needs. Let me put something out there that is > VERY VERY clearly stated. The Freerunner is not ready for a consumer > grade device today. The hardware that will be available soon is > intended for DEVELOPERS to build their applications on the Openmoko > platform so that when the device is launched to end-users, there will > be a wide selection of usable applications. If you buy a freerunner > before the mass market launch, do not feel upset that a feature isn't > there because this stage is intended for people writing those > features.
It states in the wiki (http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner) clearly: *The Neo FreeRunner is a GNU/Linux based touch screen smart phone aimed at general consumer use as well as GNU/Linux desktop users and GNU/Linux software developers. *I agree it is not yet ready for "the masses", but I do expect the hardware to be capable and sufficient once the software has been taken care of. The neo1973 hardware was for developers. The FreeRunner is for developers AND users. I expect that in due time the gsm (call, sms, mms), gps, wifi and Bluetooth will be fully functional and I want a smooth UI on a phone with a medium battery lifetime. I do realise that it will take some time and I will be patient. But if that is never going to happen, then Openmoko should have informed his intended users better. I have not yet read a anything that said these goals could not be reached (with a sufficient amount of time and effort). Have a little faith ;-) y On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 12:44 AM, Kevin Dean <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In all fairness, I don't think he's a troll, it just appears that the > device doesn't meet his needs. Let me put something out there that is > VERY VERY clearly stated. The Freerunner is not ready for a consumer > grade device today. The hardware that will be available soon is > intended for DEVELOPERS to build their applications on the Openmoko > platform so that when the device is launched to end-users, there will > be a wide selection of usable applications. If you buy a freerunner > before the mass market launch, do not feel upset that a feature isn't > there because this stage is intended for people writing those > features. > > That said, advanced Linux users, or people who just like poking around > at cool things can have a ton of fun with these devices at this early > stage too. :) > > Point by point: > > ** > old TI GSM modem, recamping once a minute(!) to the mobile station, > eating battery like crazy and very unreliable. A TI engineer asked me > if they (openmoko) got the chips for free, as they are so ancient - no > EDGE, GPRS w/ 2KB/s. Openmoko is likely the last buyer. > ** > > This may actually be truish. From what I understand, 3G GSM modules > are essentially 100% "closed", non-free or restrictive. Take your > pick. Openmoko's goals are openness and the current landscape doesn't > allow that to be met with 3G. This is why there's a potentially > "ancient" system. The Model T got people around. :) This ancient GSM > module makes calls and sends SMS messages just fine. > > The battery thing is being dealt with, it's a matter of the software. > > *** > audio quailty on the headphone is lousy due to a hardware bug - as mp3 > player useless > *** > > A bug I reported (http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ticket/1377) means it > fails at being a personal audio player for now. The headset that came > in the box with the 1973 and the Freerunner aren't particularly good, > but that's ENTIRELY a subjective thing. I connect my 1973 to my car's > AUX input and it sounds just fine. The issue he has is with the > headset, not the jack. Either way, his assessment is true - headset > quality and audio issues make using the Freerunner as a DAP impossible > today. > > *** > headphone only mono. i.e. only one side works > *** > > This is wrong, mmontour corrected it it on Slashdot. > > *** > headphone unusable for making phone calls due to EM-interferences > *** > > Not sure if it's EM interference, but all the software I've used > simply couldn't route the GSM stuff to the headset. I'm assuming it's > a software issue but this is true in my experience, the included > headset can't be used to make calls. > > *** > no bluetooth headset support > *** > > Again, a software issue. There is a bluetooth profit to play audio > through headsets, I'm assuming that can work on Openmoko hardware but > hasn't been adapted to do that yet. > > *** > no bluetooth keyboard support (dropped since last version) > *** > > Software issue. ScaredyCat's images do it quite easily. But the ASU > (latest version) and the FSO do not. > > *** > graphics sluggish and even slower than Neo 1973 despite 2D accel chip > *** > > Fact. > > *** > GPS has >10 minutes TTFF - yes, in 2008 where every cheapo GPS gets a > fix in 45secs > *** > > I've not gotten a fix EVER on the GPS - it's a software issue, I > assume because I've gotten the GPS hardware to respond while poking at > it. > > *** > developer community alienated by Lauer & Co. GNOME knew why they > kicked Rasterman out. > *** > > Actually, this one might be trolling. I don't know about social > politics, and frankly don't care. True or not, it's not relevant to > the hardware sucking or being amazing. > > *** > so called ASU software is pre-alpha and reinventing the wheel once again > *** > > Fact. > > > > On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 6:17 PM, Andy Selby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> That said, Openmoko is getting a lot of attention right now because of >>> that article, so it's probably a very good thing to have some form of >>> anticipation building message or teaser product there to keep the hype >>> going... >> >> Not all of it good, If anyone has mod points on slashdot can they mod >> this guy down? http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=595147&cid=23939209 >> He's obviously registered that account just now to troll on the project. >> > > _______________________________________________ > Openmoko community mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community >
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