cellphone-sized X86 PC motherboard potential OpenMoko platform?

[Thomas Gstädtner]

There are some things that are not true here.
True is, that x86 is on the bottom of popularity, because of the
disadvantages.
Also it's true, that linux runs on x86. Linux's also running on SPARC - but
nobody would use SPARC in a phone, so that is simply no reason for using
x86.
But it is not true, that skype only runs on x86. There is skype for Win
Mobile devices [1] (I haven't ever seen a win mobile device using x86) which
mainly are ARM/XScale based. Skype is also working on getting their software
running on Symbian (Series60) - a platform only used on ARM.

It is also false that flash/shockwave only runs on x86. My Nokia 7710 (ARM9
based) has opera mobile with flash-plugin and it works perfectly.
The Nokia 770/N800 - also ARM based - has a flash-player as well.

So I still see no reason for having a energy comsuming x86-monster in my
phone. :)

[1] http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/mobile/

2007/6/10, Matthew S. Hamrick <mhamrick at cryptonomicon.net>:
>
> Before we run off and predict that the sky is falling, let's consider
> a couple of things:
>
> 1. This is a prototype. This is not a product. This is a system that
> demonstrates how small you can make a device with the new C7-S
> processors. Also... take a look at how many discrete components are
> on the board. Now open up any of your mobile electronics and compare.
> It's doesn't completely destroy your BOM cost to have these
> components, but it does add a bit of manufacturing cost. Adding $12
> to the cost of the phone is pretty much a deal-killer for "mobile
> phones," but not for "smart phones" and "mobile terminals."
>
> 2. No. the only reason for an x86 cell phone is not to run windows.
> ARM is very popular for WinCE devices. Less popular is MIPS. And
> somewhere at the bottom of the popularity scale is x86. But... it is
> there. There's also an operating system called Linux that's been
> known to run on x86 devices. And... if you were wanting to build a
> mobile phone with the Skype libraries installed, right now, your only
> option is x86.
>
> 3. CDMA. I agree, it is odd that CDMA would be their first choice.
> Perhaps they were working closely with a customer that had a specific
> requirement for CDMA, or maybe they engineer they tasked with the job
> of building this thing was more familiar with CDMA. But the major
> manufacturers like Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, etc. all make both GSM and
> CDMA versions of their phones. I sorta got used to companies
> releasing GSM phones first, as there's a larger market. But CDMA is
> definitely an important player in China, South Korea and the US.
>
> So my guess is... somewhere out there in China is a group that wants
> to make a CDMA2000 phone for sale in the domestic market. They're
> trying to build a smart-phone or a "mobile terminal" like the
> blackberry or Treo. Market penetration of Linux phones in China is
> much better than it is here in the states or Europe. So maybe they're
> interested in using an x86-only library on a mobile device. My guess
> is Skype. Furthermore, my guess is they approached Via with the idea
> of using one of their processors. Via referred them to Epia who began
> designing a demo board. The deal fell through and now Via needs to
> find an application for these processors, so publicizing this
> prototype is a way of getting people to think about x86 embedded.
>
> IMHO, the only reason you would want to have an x86 based processor
> like the C7-S (which is still an order of magnitude worse in power
> consumption than ARM processors) is to run x86 specific code. So
> yeah... that could be XP/embedded, but it could also be some x86
> specific Linux library.
>
> Just my $0.02.
>
> -Cheers
> -Matt H.
>
>
> On Jun 10, 2007, at 12:16 PM, Robin Paulson wrote:
>
> >> When you look at the board you see that there is not much space left.
> >> It seems there's no GSM, no WiFi, no other chip already.
> >
> > i've heard talk elsewhere of a built in cdma module. that's an odd
> > choice considering the number of operators switching to gsm, but i
> > would assume via will change/add to this down the track
> >
> >> And as I always say: The only reason for using x86 in small and
> >> embedded
> >> devices is running Windows.
> >> I really don't want to have Windows on my phone. No CE/Mobile,
> >> exceptionally
> >> no XP/Vista. Do you? :)
> >
> > hell no, i ditched win long since. but some people will
> > and there are a number of closed pieces of software only available for
> > x86. flash is one of them, shockwave another. maybe skype, i'm not
> > sure what that runs on
> > add in things like a half decent fpu (compared to arm anyway) and the
> > platform starts to approach desktop functionality for all sorts of
> > applications. as the oqo has partly shown, there's no reason a mobile
> > (pc/phone) can't be a desktop as well with the addition of a proper
> > qwerty kb and monitor when the user gets to the office
> >
> > this is an awesome development, i'm in 2 minds myself whether to buy a
> > pico itx or wait for this next year
> >
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> > community at lists.openmoko.org
> > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
>
>
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