If they're not selling it to the general public, they should perhaps not have a link to where you can buy it.
Computer Science Canada Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
| Author: | Zeroth [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I've bought this phone, the Neo Freerunner, and am just waiting for it to be shipped. Features: Entirely linux based entirely open-sourced, even the wifi, gps, and gsm drivers. 2 3d accelerometers 2d/3d acceleration(think Doom 2 in 3d accelerated glory) AGPS Wifi (b/g) Highly detailed touchscreen Open hardware specs/details. Its... pretty awesome. Anyone else have this, or wants this? Or, has something similar? |
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| Author: | Unforgiven [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I hate cellphones, and commonly make fun of people paying through the nose for a little thing to call people. ...but holy crap that thing sounds awesome. Expensive (for a cell phone, by my standards), but awesome. From the sound of it, it's nearly a hand-held laptop, especially since you can even connect USB devices to it (a keyboard and mouse, maybe?). |
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| Author: | wtd [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I don't see a price listed anywhere. I am offended if only for this reason. Companies that make me click through several links to buy something online, then don't list a price anywhere... well, let's say I just don't wish them well. |
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| Author: | Unforgiven [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
wtd @ Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:57 am wrote: I don't see a price listed anywhere.
I am offended if only for this reason. Companies that make me click through several links to buy something online, then don't list a price anywhere... well, let's say I just don't wish them well. Koolu (based in Mississauga) sells them for about $400 CAN It's running linux, but is there a list of software specifically for it? I've never run linux on a handheld of any kind, so I'm not at all familiar with it. For example, I can't imagine using vim with a touchscreen. |
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| Author: | Zeroth [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
They're not trying to "hide" the price wtd. Its an excellent company, spawned off from FIC, a Taiwan-based OEM hardware developer. The phone is however, only for developers right now. It is usable as a phone, and new software is being added all the time. Heres a great source of info: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page Contains lots of development info, as well as how to setup a development enviroment. A fair warning, it can take about 8 hours to do a full image creation the first time. |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
That sounds very nice, even for $400 CAD. I hope that the Linux on there is as polished as Mac OS iPhone. |
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| Author: | Zeroth [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Not yet, but they are working on it, Andrew. They know there is a huge demand for it. Their target is vertical markets, like hospitals, schools, etc. By making it easy to modify, the hospitals can buy the phones, pay developers for custom software. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
If they're not selling it to the general public, they should perhaps not have a link to where you can buy it. |
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| Author: | apomb [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I dont know about you guys, but that is one butt-ugly phone with limited functionality right now, I'll wait for a more polished version and more software functionality before even considering something like this. |
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| Author: | md [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I'm kinda with apomb on this one; that phone is ugly as heck. And though it is open-source... it's still got a long way to go before it's a usable replacement for my current phone. |
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| Author: | octopi [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Weird, I like how it looks, lol Anything is better than the phone I have right now, its a Nokia 6080. I bought it for $60 after my iPhone stopped working (wouldn't sync, then software fucked up, and since it won't sync I can't fix it) |
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| Author: | Zeroth [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
apomb @ Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:40 am wrote: I dont know about you guys, but that is one butt-ugly phone with limited functionality right now, I'll wait for a more polished version and more software functionality before even considering something like this. If you want it to get better, write an application for it, or improve one that already exists. There is a very active, organized community working on this, and its a great chance to contribute. |
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| Author: | md [ Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
octopi @ 2008-07-23, 10:48 am wrote: Weird, I like how it looks, lol
Anything is better than the phone I have right now, its a Nokia 6080. I bought it for $60 after my iPhone stopped working (wouldn't sync, then software fucked up, and since it won't sync I can't fix it) Still got hte iPhone? I might buy it off ya... |
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| Author: | Dan [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I got an E-TEN gloFiish M700 a month or so ago, it has Wifi (b/g), GPS, FM radio, 2MP cam, Bluetooth, touch screen, full qwerty keybord, 128mb flash memory and 8gb sd card memory. The down side to it is that shamefully it runs windows mobile OS, does not support 3g (only grps and edge) and is only 400mhz. http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/m700.php |
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| Author: | Aziz [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I'll agree it's kindof ugly with half-circle ends. I'd prefer more square edges, even the iphone is a little round IMO. Exactly how would you get service for this, who would support it? |
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| Author: | Zeroth [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Aziz, legally, all GSM providers(which I believe is all of them except for Bell and Telus), must allow unlocked devices on the networks. If they don't, contact the Canadian version of the FCC. They'll listen, trust me. I used to work for Rogers, and we have to allow any compatible GSM phone on our network, so long as the user buys a rogers sim card and a phone plan. I prefer having paid full-price for an unlocked phone, because then I'm not beholden to Rogers. Support, would be the openmoko forums... like any other opensource service. Or, Koolu, where I bought mine from. |
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| Author: | Aziz [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Damn, I'm with Telus. Maybe I should switch to rogers after my contract? My brother has an old chocolote sliding phone that i'd like to have, but it's from bell. |
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| Author: | md [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Dan @ 2008-07-25, 5:12 am wrote: I got an E-TEN gloFiish M700 a month or so ago, it has Wifi (b/g), GPS, FM radio, 2MP cam, Bluetooth, touch screen, full qwerty keybord, 128mb flash memory and 8gb sd card memory.
The down side to it is that shamefully it runs windows mobile OS, does not support 3g (only grps and edge) and is only 400mhz. http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/m700.php How much did you pay for it? |
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| Author: | Dan [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I think it came out to about $450 with shiping and tax, i think targetdirect sells them for about $425 CAD. There are some newer models of it out now that you might want to look in to if you are interested that support 3g and some other goodies. I would recommend waiting tho if you are going to buy as i think some newer stuff will be coming out this year like the android OS phones. |
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| Author: | md [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Oh I'm not getting a new phone for a while - just wondering how it compares to the Freerunner price wise. |
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| Author: | Zeroth [ Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
I just got the freerunner today. A bit buggy in the UI and some of the stuff just doesn't work. But its pretty cool, chock full of features for a cheap prices.  |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Shiny linux-based phone... The Neo Freerunner! |
Nice one Zeroth! I'm sure the UI and the bugs will be ironed out fast. It's open-source lol. |
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