Slashdot post but no web store?

Thu Jun 26 01:08:17 CEST 2008

I do not entirely agree with you on this one:

> In all fairness, I don't think he's a troll, it just appears that the
> device doesn't meet his needs. Let me put something out there that is
> VERY VERY clearly stated. The Freerunner is not ready for a consumer
> grade device today. The hardware that will be available soon is
> intended for DEVELOPERS to build their applications on the Openmoko
> platform so that when the device is launched to end-users, there will
> be a wide selection of usable applications. If you buy a freerunner
> before the mass market launch, do not feel upset that a feature isn't
> there because this stage is intended for people writing those
> features.

It states in the wiki (http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo_FreeRunner)
clearly:
*The Neo FreeRunner is a GNU/Linux based touch screen smart phone aimed at
general consumer use as well as GNU/Linux desktop users and GNU/Linux
software developers.

*I agree it is not yet ready for "the masses", but I do expect the hardware
to be capable and sufficient once the software has been taken care of. The
neo1973 hardware was for developers. The FreeRunner is for developers AND
users.
I expect that in due time the gsm (call, sms, mms), gps, wifi and Bluetooth
will be fully functional and I want a smooth UI on a phone with a medium
battery lifetime. I do realise that it will take some time and I will be
patient. But if that is never going to happen, then Openmoko should have
informed his intended users better.
I have not yet read a anything that said these goals could not be reached
(with a sufficient amount of time and effort).

Have a little faith ;-)

y

On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 12:44 AM, Kevin Dean <kevin at foreverdean.info> wrote:
> In all fairness, I don't think he's a troll, it just appears that the
> device doesn't meet his needs. Let me put something out there that is
> VERY VERY clearly stated. The Freerunner is not ready for a consumer
> grade device today. The hardware that will be available soon is
> intended for DEVELOPERS to build their applications on the Openmoko
> platform so that when the device is launched to end-users, there will
> be a wide selection of usable applications. If you buy a freerunner
> before the mass market launch, do not feel upset that a feature isn't
> there because this stage is intended for people writing those
> features.
>
> That said, advanced Linux users, or people who just like poking around
> at cool things can have a ton of fun with these devices at this early
> stage too. :)
>
> Point by point:
>
> **
> old TI GSM modem, recamping once a minute(!) to the mobile station,
> eating battery like crazy and very unreliable. A TI engineer asked me
> if they (openmoko) got the chips for free, as they are so ancient - no
> EDGE, GPRS w/ 2KB/s. Openmoko is likely the last buyer.
> **
>
> This may actually be truish. From what I understand, 3G GSM modules
> are essentially 100% "closed", non-free or restrictive. Take your
> pick. Openmoko's goals are openness and the current landscape doesn't
> allow that to be met with 3G. This is why there's a potentially
> "ancient" system. The Model T got people around. :) This ancient GSM
> module makes calls and sends SMS messages just fine.
>
> The battery thing is being dealt with, it's a matter of the software.
>
> ***
> audio quailty on the headphone is lousy due to a hardware bug - as mp3
> player useless
> ***
>
> A bug I reported (http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ticket/1377) means it
> fails at being a personal audio player for now. The headset that came
> in the box with the 1973 and the Freerunner aren't particularly good,
> but that's ENTIRELY a subjective thing. I connect my 1973 to my car's
> AUX input and it sounds just fine. The issue he has is with the
> headset, not the jack. Either way, his assessment is true - headset
> quality and audio issues make using the Freerunner as a DAP impossible
> today.
>
> ***
> headphone only mono. i.e. only one side works
> ***
>
> This is wrong, mmontour corrected it it on Slashdot.
>
> ***
> headphone unusable for making phone calls due to EM-interferences
> ***
>
> Not sure if it's EM interference, but all the software I've used
> simply couldn't route the GSM stuff to the headset. I'm assuming it's
> a software issue but this is true in my experience, the included
> headset can't be used to make calls.
>
> ***
> no bluetooth headset support
> ***
>
> Again, a software issue. There is a bluetooth profit to play audio
> through headsets, I'm assuming that can work on Openmoko hardware but
> hasn't been adapted to do that yet.
>
> ***
> no bluetooth keyboard support (dropped since last version)
> ***
>
> Software issue. ScaredyCat's images do it quite easily. But the ASU
> (latest version) and the FSO do not.
>
> ***
> graphics sluggish and even slower than Neo 1973 despite 2D accel chip
> ***
>
> Fact.
>
> ***
> GPS has >10 minutes TTFF - yes, in 2008 where every cheapo GPS gets a
> fix in 45secs
> ***
>
> I've not gotten a fix EVER on the GPS - it's a software issue, I
> assume because I've gotten the GPS hardware to respond while poking at
> it.
>
> ***
> developer community alienated by Lauer & Co. GNOME knew why they
> kicked Rasterman out.
> ***
>
> Actually, this one might be trolling. I don't know about social
> politics, and frankly don't care. True or not, it's not relevant to
> the hardware sucking or being amazing.
>
> ***
> so called ASU software is pre-alpha and reinventing the wheel once again
> ***
>
> Fact.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 6:17 PM, Andy Selby <andyfrommk at googlemail.com>
wrote:
>>> That said, Openmoko is getting a lot of attention right now because of
>>> that article, so it's probably a very good thing to have some form of
>>> anticipation building message or teaser product there to keep the hype
>>> going...
>>
>> Not all of it good, If anyone has mod points on slashdot can they mod
>> this guy down? http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=595147&cid=23939209
>> He's obviously registered that account just now to troll on the project.
>>
>
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