[SATLUG] [OT] Cell phone rant / open source idea

[Mark McCoy]

On 7/17/07, Alex Bartonek <bartonekdragracing at yahoo.com> wrote:
> i read that in my linux mag.. its not ready for the
> real world yet.
>

To use software idioms: the newly available GTA01 version of the phone
is a late beta (hardware pretty much set in stone, software updates
will be available constantly), and the 1.0 version is expected in
October.  The GTA01 comes with almost everything that the final
version will (except for 3D acceleration, which should be available as
the hardware is ready).

The exciting part of this project is that devs/users can really watch
the system grow and expand all the time.  The desired finished product
is not only an open phone OS, but also open phone hardware.  The phone
is built with standard parts that really anyone could buy (sort of)
off the shelf (Arm-based Samsung SOC motherboard, etc..).  If "anyone"
wanted to buy in lots of 1000.  :)

The community mailing list is really generating some good ideas.  One
that I like is a GPS location-based smart to-do list, where my work
to-do items bubble to the top while I'm at work, and my home items
rise up at home, of if I am near the store, my phone buzzes to remind
me to stop and pick up the milk, etc...