Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica) [LWN.net]

Ars Technica uses a blog posting from Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin as a jumping off point to look at mobile Linux vs. Apple's iPhone and iPad. "'It has been impossible for an independent open source developer such as Funambol to access certain basic parts of iPhone (such as the calendar, and presumably this is the same on iPad) whereas on Android, there are no similar limitations,' he [Hal Steger, the VP of marketing at Funambol] told us in an e-mail. He thinks that Apple needs to reach out to open source software developers and loosen its restrictions on the iPhone software platform."

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Ipad has only a very small lead

Posted Feb 2, 2010 0:54 UTC (Tue) by kragil (guest, #34373) [Link]

The Ipad will create a market for tablets, but I think that Android based
devices that have OLPC (Pixel Qi) screens without the need for backlight
like the Notion Ink Adam will be much more compelling to consumers.

They will offer a superior reading experience and probably have flash, add
to that all the services Google offers and you have a very compelling
device.

Competition will drive the prices down (399 will probably be the maximum
they can ask for).

My prediction:
Apple will sell lots of Ipads, but Linux will be on a lot more tablets.

PS. Google should have bought Lala.com. Music is important for such a
device.

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 2, 2010 10:14 UTC (Tue) by sylware (guest, #35259) [Link] (6 responses)

still... the android platform is way too close (drivers and many "platform" components).
Moreover the user space is that java only thingy... erk!

I speak for myself.

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 2, 2010 11:16 UTC (Tue) by alextingle (guest, #20593) [Link] (5 responses)

No, you speak for me too. I wavered on Java for a long time, before coming down firmly on the side of "ick!"

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:59 UTC (Thu) by slowpoison (guest, #43922) [Link] (4 responses)

That's why I'm more excited about Chrome OS tablets.

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 7, 2010 4:06 UTC (Sun) by dmag (guest, #17775) [Link] (3 responses)

Ya, I booted Android on my EEE PC and was disappointed by the "simplicity" of the browser. Might be OK for a phone, but I want more sophistication on my netbook. I liked Crome Zero better, (but I still couldn't figure out how to change the fonts).

I predict in a few years, someone will finally understand the killer app for phone/netbook browsers: A button that reformats the text column to fit your screen exactly, without changing the font size.

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 8, 2010 15:20 UTC (Mon) by nye (guest, #51576) [Link] (2 responses)

What's wrong with Opera's 'Fit to Width' button?

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 9, 2010 12:54 UTC (Tue) by dmag (guest, #17775) [Link] (1 responses)

I didn't see that button when I booted Android. ;)

Opera has a FTW button? FTW! Sounds neat, I'll have to try it on my netbook.

-=Dan=-

Linux Foundation: mobile Linux needs "magic" to beat Apple (Ars Technica)

Posted Feb 9, 2010 16:23 UTC (Tue) by nye (guest, #51576) [Link]

Hmm, I hadn't realised Opera mobile supported such a small range of devices (not owning a portable computer myself).