New Linux Smartphone Offers Tons of Features

Ed Hardy · 03-09-2003, 11:46 AM

A German company is going to introduce this week a new wireless handheld that runs Linux and includes a GPS receiver, Bluetooth, a lot more.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Ne...ns_of_Features

Rand · 03-09-2003, 02:31 PM

The future is upon us. This stuff is getting very cool!

Just waiting for reliable, affordable, wireless broadband here in the US....

Regards,
Rand

imported_argent · 03-09-2003, 03:23 PM

Their webpage says: "A 133MHz Intel StrongARM processor, 32MB of RAM and 16MB of Flash ROM, provide excellent computing power and performance. Data backup and protection is provided via a standard 32MB MMC Card."

Interesting user interface. You enter text by scrolling to the appropriate column and clicking one of three buttons on the side, so it's genuine one-handed operation. So long as you're right-handed. I don't know what lefties will do.

Scott R · 03-09-2003, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by argent
Interesting user interface. You enter text by scrolling to the appropriate column and clicking one of three buttons on the side, so it's genuine one-handed operation. So long as you're right-handed. I don't know what lefties will do.

It's creative alright. But it hardly seems efficient. They call this thing a messenger, but I don't see how anyone could use such an input method to enter emails or any sort of text at length. And at $600? I just don't see it happening. RIM is supposed to be offering a low-cost Blackberry phone within the next 6 months I think, and Danger should have all the kinks out of their cheap (free) SideKick by then and have one available in color (which will probably still be under $200). Then there's the Treo. And even the overpriced Kyocera 7135 offers better text input (via either Graffiti or possibly predictive text via the numeric keys - not sure about the latter) in their more phone-centric design. It's nice to see people think outside the box, but I just don't see this one working out in the marketplace.

Scott

Scott R · 03-09-2003, 04:24 PM

I'd still like to see a smaller Nokia Communicator style device come out along the lines of the sketches I put together here:
http://www.hipnetic.com/geek/treo_new2.gif

Scott

gfunkmagic · 03-10-2003, 01:44 AM

What do they mean "integrated GPS module?" Are they refering to something like GPSone or to something like satellite GPS? This is a very important distiction BTW!! Integraton of satellite GPS funtionality akin to the iQue 3600 or Samsung SPH-M400 in a mobile of that size would be absolutely incredible IMO!

gfunkmagic · 03-10-2003, 01:53 AM

Quote:

It's creative alright. But it hardly seems efficient. They call this thing a messenger, but I don't see how anyone could use such an input method to enter emails or any sort of text at length

Agreed. I don't like that inferace at all. That seems so much more complicated than a thumb board. Check out their description of this scroll card system works. Every keystroke would require from 2-5 inputs depending on how far each character is in relation to the previous one on the scroll card (one or more inputs for the scroll wheel and one for the function key)! I don't like that all all. No thanx...