[Liverpool] Maemo - back from the ashes?

[Andrew Bates]

On 24 June 2011 16:43, Bob Ham <rah at bash.sh> wrote:

> On Fri, 2011-06-24 at 12:13 +0100, Dan Lynch wrote:
> > Running 100% free software on a phone handset is virtually impossible
> > right now. If you want to make calls that is. The GSM chip drivers are
> > all proprietary. Some friends of mine from FSF use a custom build of
> > Android with all the proprietary stuff removed. Apart from the GSM
> > driver.
>
> It is actually (still) possible to buy a phone with 100% free software,
> the Neo Freerunner:
>
>  http://www.handheld-linux.com/wiki.php?page=Neo%20Freerunner
>
> This has free drivers for the GSM chip (but it requires proprietary
> firmware).  I know a lot of the Android phones are different though,
> they have proprietary firmware *and* proprietary drivers, for the GSM
> chip and other things (3D acceleration, bluetooth, etc).
>
> Yep, the Neo Freerunner is available, but let's be honest...it's severely
lagging behind and was lagging behind when it was released. As for Android
handsets, there is Cyanogenmod as replacement firmware. Or if you really
wanted to, i'm sure you could plonk Mer or MeeGo on there :p


> I'm surprised your friends at the FSF don't have a Freerunner :-)  I
> said I'll be looking at buying a Palm Pre 2.  I should have qualified
> that by adding: until the Openmoko GTA04 is released :-)


Don't forget that the Pre 3 is just around the corner (like literally a few
weeks away), and actually looks really interesting. I wouldn't mind having a
play about with one myself. At least the GTA04 looks like it has more modern
specs (finally has something better than standard GPRS for cellular
data!)...very interesting
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