Although this version doesn’t contain Wi-Fi (so it is less interesting for Devicescape members), the mass market version due out later this year will include Wi-Fi support.
The platform, based on the open source community project called OpenMoko. OpenMoko is a very complete Linux based environment for mobile phones, and while the Neo is the reference there is also work to get it running on other mobile phone platforms.
Devicescape users who are attending the Linux World 2007 show in San Francisco can add the show’s free hotspot network to their ‘My WiFi’ list to have their devices connect automatically.
No need to see that captive portal just to sync your email, or to make that VoIP call home. I’ve tested it on my laptop (running Linux of course since this is Linux World), and my Nokia N95 mobile. Check out my history below, and please leave a comment if you use the service while you’re at the show.
While a lot of the blogging today has been around the Apple announcements this morning, I wanted to post something about the Linux World show, happening this week in San Francisco. I’m sitting at the edge of the show floor right now, having completed a first pass across the floor, and I thought I’d share the things that caught my attention.
Devicescape has been mentioned the news lately about its contribution of our Wi-Fi stack to the opensource movement and we wanted to set the record straight as to why we contributed our technology to the Linux kernel. Simon Barber, a founder of Devicescape and Chief Scientist had this to say:
Q: Why did Devicescape get involved and donate the new wireless stack to Linux/open source?
“We saw the beginnings of a Linux wireless sub-system that had the potential to grow in ways that were not conducive to what we thought would be best for the industry or our customers. We had already developed a very advanced stack specifically for Linux and decided that we should contribute it to the kernel and have it sit as the standard open source model on which the community could build. This allowed us several advantages such as the much wider range of testing than we could have gotten on our own and the constant improvements and additional code support that the open source community provides. In addition, contributing the kernel also helped position Devicescape (then Instant802) as a leader in the wireless space.”
Q: How is the new stack better than what the Linux kernel already had?
“Prior to the Devicescape/Instant 802 contribution, the Linux kernel had poor chipset support, limited features, multiple disparate APIs and the code quality was often poor. For example, it relied on 802.11 chipset hardware or drivers to provide many of the 802.11 MAC functions. Our contribution expanded the functionality to include all the features that could be managed in software as software. This allowed for a common interface and for wi-fi features to be the same and shared across all chipsets. The user space architecture and consistency of the features and interface means it’s much easier to innovate, create new additions and make significant advances in all areas of the code. In addition the common codebase and reduction in code duplication that was happening before goes a long way to improving the quality of the wireless experience on Linux. Basically, we gave a native 802.11 capability to wireless for OEMs.”
Some background on Simon Barber: Simon Barber is the Chief Scientist for Devicescape Software and was one of three founders of the company in 2001. Prior to founding Devicescape, Simon worked for the research labs at Hewlett-Packard focusing on developments in location-based services, VoIP, and wireless. Simon has additional experience in the wireless and VoIP fields having worked at FireTalk and at Orange on their GSM network.
To read the press we’ve received about this lately check out the following articles:
I attended the July Geek Sessions event last night in San Francisco. On the panel, to present their experiences with surviving the hockey stick, were Sandy Jen from Meebo, Nick Heyman from VideoEgg, Rod Gorodetzky from digg and Jonathan Abrams from Socializr (and formerly Friendster).
I’d missed the first event because I was on my European odyssey, which if it was anything like last night’s is a shame. The panelists provided some interesting insight into the problems they faced scaling up websites to cope with an exponentially growing userbase.
In addition to that, the folks from Arcscale gave away a number of skate boards, B-Hive gave away an iPhone, and there was an open bar and hor’deurves served after the presentations.
