next smartphone thoughts

[Hetz Ben Hamo]

Hi,

I read your email and I was quite amused how you gave "Free" to iOS. In what
terms is it free? can you get the iOS code under *any* license? no. Can you
modify it? no.
On the Android side you're "yelling" it's not GNU. It isn't, but you can get
gingerbread code (AOSP) without any issue.

No, you don't need to write your application in Java. You can write them in
Perl, Shell, whatever, as long as you're installing the needed libraries. I
have full Bash, Apache, OpenSSH (server & client), PHP and other stuff
running just find on my Nook Color, and I'm sure you can do it too on Galaxy
S2.

As for preventing access from APK to parts of your device, I'm sure that
there are applications which can help you limit the access. I haven't played
with it before.

So my recommendation: Take Galaxy S-2 (or the new LG which is faster then
S2, don't remember it's name) and use it. Until you do, install Android SDK
on your machine, and use the emulator to run Gingerbread, and play with it,
install stuff on it, see how do you feel with the system.

Good Luck,
Hetz

2011/8/26 Erez D <erez0001 at gmail.com>

> It is time to get a new smartphone. so i have to choose one.
>
> Some history:
> for a long time i wanted a GNU/Linux phone, and when the moco arrived, i
> was happy.
> While I was thinking of getting a moco, happy about the freedom but not
> happy about it lagging technology-wise, there was a new better gnu/linux
> phone - the Nokia N900
> This was really good news, the biggest cellular manufacturer - nokia, is
> thinking open source is the way.
> So I got myself an N900, and was very happy with it. i compiled a kernel,
> installed gnu/linux programs on it, and actually used it as a computer.
> Then nokia abandoned the N900's OS - maemo (when the N900 was around 1 year
> on the market) , in favor of a new one, called Meego. that was sad for the
> N900 users as it ment no more support for the N900.
> But it was not that dire  for the open source people, as meego was supposed
> to be another GNU/Linux open source os. it's like replacing debian with
> redhat. That is not nice for maemo lovers/users, but it's not like
> abandoning open source whatsoever.
> But then nokia decided to abandon meego in favor of windows mobile... this
> was a major shock.
>
> I thought a company like nokia has some unwritten obligation to it's
> customers - not to abandon their products after such a short time,
> especially if these products were only half baked to begin with (N900 came
> with no mms, no videocall, calender not full baked) etc...) awaiting updates
> to make it fully baked.
> so i was wrong and felt abandoned twice ... (once for maemo for meego, once
> for meego for wp7)
>
> now for my problem - i need to get a new smartphone (from work), and wanted
> a gnu/linux one.
> My options:
> 1. iphone - not gnu/linux nor open. actually this is the closest as can be
> in terms of free as speech.
> 2. symbian - deprecated. should be open somtimes (i wouldn't get my hopes
> up for nokia promises)
> 3. webos - gnu/linux but deprecated
> 4. maemo - gnu/linux but deprecated
> 5. meego (N9) - though about it, but once bitten from nokia - twice shy.
> nokia does not even say they expect to continue with meego
> 6. android - live and kicking, actually the most popular. it is somehow
> open, and linux kernel. not gnu though.
>
> So i have to choose one of these.
> I thought about android (galaxy s2). but i do not like it that i need to
> program only in java, and that when i install apps, even simple as "clock
> widget" - they require full access to my addressbook, to my setting and to
> the internet.
> I would love to block it via other ways (selinux/apparmor/iptables etc...).
> I miss my linux apps. (can run in any way a gnu/linbux dist under chroot ?)
> can i write non java apps and give to my friends ?
>
> what are your thoughts on the issue ?
>
> thanks,
> erez.
>
>
>
>
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> Linux-il at cs.huji.ac.il
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>
>


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