Crowdfunding an Ubuntu smartphone (right now)

[Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller]

Am 26.09.2013 um 11:06 schrieb Parchet Michaël:

> Hello,
> 
> Is there a device on production with witch I can choice the os I want install or install several os (multi boot) ?

Almost. The GTA04A5 can go on production (again) as soon as we get enough orders.

-- hns

> 
> Best regards
> 
> mparchet
> 
>> Le 25 sept. 2013 à 21:32, "Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns at goldelico.com> a écrit :
>> 
>> 
>> Am 25.09.2013 um 20:45 schrieb Stefan Monnier:
>> 
>>>> I don't see reliability as a problem because it depends on what type
>>>> of reliability you are thinking of: component, software, hardware,
>>>> production, or availability.
>>> 
>>> Small production runs means very few people have a chance of
>>> discovering, let alone, fixing the various problems that can show up.
>> 
>> Production problems show almost immediately, even if there is only one
>> person. And they show after making let's say 20 units. I.e. it does not need
>> to produce let's say 1000 units to find real production problems. And if
>> you produce 1000 and find that 5 are bad, you don't worry as much as
>> if you have 2 bad in 20.
>> 
>>> 
>>>> In essence it goes to a modular approach - but "modular" typically drives
>>>> cost up (at least for the version having the highest production numbers)
>>>> and is in strong contradiction with miniaturization of handheld devices.
>>> 
>>> In my part of the world, phones have been getting bigger rather than
>>> smaller.
>> 
>> Only in dimensions - but they became much slimmer in the same step.
>> I.e. the volume has been constant.
>> 
>>> And while modularity has a cost, it can be offset by economies
>>> of scale (both in terms of production as in terms of
>>> developping/debugging the kernel support) if that module can be reused
>>> in more places.  Free Software strives on standards and modularity.
>> 
>> Of course it can. It is a matter of calculation.
>> 
>>> Also, if you can upgrade the screen and the CPU separately, you might
>>> attract a few other users, who aren't so interested in Freedom but do
>>> like the idea of customizing their phones.
>> 
>> That is a dream that is not realistic. Every display has a different connector
>> (there is no standardization!). And every CPU has different signals and
>> power supply needs. I.e. you can swap an OMAP3505 for an OMAP3530
>> or an DM3730 but nor for an OMAP4 or OMAP5 or Snapdragon or i.MX6.
>> Because they are not designed for this way of use.
>> 
>>> I'd be very happy to have a Free Phablet (and I actually wouldn't
>>> necessarily need it to have cell-phone connectivity, as long as VoIP
>>> works well), even if that's not my favorite form factor: at this stage,
>>> I'm willing to settle for anything smallish.
>>> 
>>>> It would be sufficient to bundle buying power (by summing up # of
>>>> units for different projects), so that we get existing modules
>>>> cheaper.  I.e. if all projects would use let's say an DM3730+Memory,
>>>> they still can be soldered into different devices. Or  WLAN/BT and
>>>> UMTS are already coming as SoC/MCP "modules".
>>> 
>>> Right.  That is a lower-leve of modularity than EOMA but it provides
>>> similar benefits (not only direct cost, but also development&debugging).
>>> 
>>>> So the trick is to use a bigger shopping bag and make a different meal
>>>> out if it every day.
>>> 
>>> Exactly.  The various "Free Hardware" communities need to pool
>>> their resources.
>> 
>> Yes but I have no idea how this could happen.
>> 
>> BR,
>> Nikolaus
>> 
>> 
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