Openmoko is a discontinued project to create a family ofmobile phones that areopen source, including the hardware specification, the operating system (Openmoko Linux), and actualsmartphone development implementation like theNeo 1973 andNeo FreeRunner.[1] The whole project was sponsored by Openmoko Inc.
The first sub-project wasOpenmoko Linux, aLinux-basedoperating system designed for mobile phones, built usingfree software.
The second sub-project was developing hardware devices on whichOpenmoko Linux runs. The first device released was theNeo 1973,[2][3] in 2007, which was followed up by theNeo FreeRunner on 25 June 2008.[4] On 2 April 2009, Openmoko suspended development of their third device, codenamed GTA03, to focus on the FreeRunner.[5][6] In 2010, development of the GTA03 was continued by Golden Delicious Computers under the new codename GTA04, which includes major hardware revision, and the first unit was shipped on 10 October 2011.[7] Unlike most other mobile phone platforms, these phones are designed to provide end users with the ability to modify the operating system and software stack. Other Openmoko-supported phones are also available.[8]
Project Openmoko was announced 7 November 2006[9] by its foundersFirst International Computer (FIC).[10] The Initial core team for Openmoko project includedWerner Almesberger,Michael Lauer,Sean Moss-Pultz andHarald Welte.
The nameOpenmoko is anacronym for Open Mobile Kommunikations.[11]
The codename for the phone product series,GTA, is an abbreviation of "GSM-TI-AGPS" which indicates the main components of the phone.[12]
Originally Openmoko Inc. developed its own operating system for the phones, which was calledOpenmoko Linux orOm. It uses theLinux kernel, together with agraphical user environment built using theX.Org Server. TheOpenEmbedded build framework andopkg package system were used to create and maintainsoftware packages. The initial version namedOm 2007 used theGTK+ toolkit and theMatchbox window manager.Om 2008, which was released in August 2008, added support for theQt toolkit andEnlightenment 17. Despite continuous improvements both of these versions did not reach a stable state. As a result, Openmoko started developingOm 2009, which had the goal of providing a stable environment based on themiddleware fromfreesmartphone.org, a project that was financed by Openmoko. However, this version was not finished either, and in April 2009 Openmoko cancelled the development of software.
This task was taken over by several efforts of the community. Several groups have created modified versions of the original software orported other systems to work on the phones. Among others, the Openmoko phones now supportAndroid,Debian,Gentoo,Qt Extended Improved, QtMoko, andSHR.
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Manufacturer | FIC |
---|---|
Type | smartphone |
Release date | 9 July 2007 (2007-07-09) |
Media | microSD,SDHC capable |
Operating system | Openmoko Linux,Qtopia (bothLinux-based) |
CPU | Samsung s3c2410SoC @ 266 MHz |
Memory | 128 MBSDRAM 64 MB NANDflash |
Display | 2.8 in. VGA (480×640) TFT, 282 pixels/in. |
Input | touchscreen buttons |
Connectivity | GSM GPRS Bluetooth 2.0 AGPS USB 1.1 slave and host 2.5-mm audio jack |
Power | 1200-mAh removablebattery[13] |
Dimensions | 120.7 × 62 × 18.5 (mm) |
Successor | Neo FreeRunner |
Openmoko hardware aspires to the termopen-source hardware although in various areas the availability of cell phone components and legal requirements prevent full conformance to this term.[citation needed]
As do many other vendors, Openmoko Inc., notoriously failed to meet the publicly announced hardware release dates, and postponed releases many times.
The first supported phone, theNeo 1973 GTA01 (version: Bv4), was distributed exclusively through openmoko.com from July 2007 to February 2008.[citation needed]
The second revision of hardware based on the GTA01 design is theDash Express, anautomotive navigation system. The Dash Express has a faster CPU (Samsung 2440) and Wi-Fi ability.
The third hardware platform, theNeo FreeRunner codenamed GTA02 is an improved version of the Neo 1973.
Both the Neo 1973 and the Neo FreeRunner lack an integrated camera.
TheNeo 1973 (codenamed GTA01) phone was a "developers only" release. The device is named after the first year ofcellular telephone communication: the inventor of the cellular phone,Martin Cooper, made the first call in 1973. The phone released was inconsistently-namedNeo 1973 orNeo1973.[2] The Neo 1973 was sold from 9 July 2007 to February 2008. It was priced atUS$300 for the basic model, orUS$450 for a kit including more tools for hardware work.
The initial releases of the Neo 1973 were hampered by supplier shortages, which forced the shipping date to slip, and hardware development difficulties exacerbated by the small size of the core team.[14] Furthermore, other platforms have been ported to the Neo 1973, includingQt Extended,Debian andAndroid.
The phone supports the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHzGSM frequency bands. Many Linux and unix programs used ondesktop and server platforms, including utilities and games, have been successfully run on the phone. In addition to Linux, theNetBSD,FreeBSD andL4 kernels have been adapted by users to run on the platform or are under development.
This hardware platform can be emulated in software with a high level of compatibility using a version ofQEMU included in theOpenmoko software suite.
Shortly before the shipping of the successor, theNeo Freerunner, the OpenMoko project released theCAD files, theschematics and other development resources of the Neo 1973 and Freerunner under aCreative Commons license, theCC BY-SA 3.0.[15][16][17][18] Theschematics are available for download from OpenMoko[19] andWikimedia Commons[20] under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license.
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Manufacturer | FIC |
---|---|
Type | Smartphone |
Release date | 3 July 2008 (2008-07-03) |
Units sold | 10,000 (2009)[21] |
Media | microSD,SDHC capable Wolfson WM8753 Codec |
Operating system | Openmoko Linux,Qt Extended,Debian, Stable Hybrid Release,[22]Android,Gentoo (allLinux-based),Inferno |
CPU | Samsung S3C2442 SoC @ 400 MHz |
Memory | 128 MBSDRAM 256 MB NANDflash |
Display | 2.8 in. VGA (480×640) TFT, 286 pixels/in. |
Input | touchscreen 2 hardware buttons |
Connectivity | GSM Bluetooth 2.0 GPRS AGPS WiFi (802.11 b/g) USB 1.1 slave and host 2.5-mm audio jack |
Power | 4.4 Wh (1200 mAh @ 3.7V) removablebattery[13] |
Dimensions | 120.7 × 62 × 18.5 (mm) |
TheNeo FreeRunner (codenamed GTA02) was the successor to the Neo 1973. The changes include a faster processor (clocked at 400 MHz), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, twoaccelerometers and 3D graphics acceleration. It was released for the mass market on 25 June 2008.[4] It was intended for users with a high demand for customizability.
The Neo FreeRunner started shipping on 24 June 2008 and was priced individually atUS$250[23] and at US$200 each if purchased in multiples of five.[24] A debug board is available for US$99.
The Neo FreeRunner includes features that were not present in the development release of the phone (Neo 1973).[25] The changes include802.11 b/gWi-Fi, SMedia 3362graphics accelerator, two 3Daccelerometers, Samsung 2442SoC, and 256 MB of flash memory.[25]
As of the 2008.08 software revision only the GSM phone module is working reliably; the Freerunner's hardware does not yet have fully functional software interfaces. The software development is split betweenQtopia underX11,GTK+,FSO,Debian.[26] There are also some derivates of the Openmoko main distributionSHR and FDOM (Fat and Dirty Openmoko). Thevanilla Qtopia distribution is recommended by Openmoko for users not wishing to use early development stage software, and FDOM for those who want to test the latest features and fixes without worrying about stability.
It is also possible to runInferno on OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner.[27]
Android has been patched to run on the OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner by at least two different developers.[28]
OpenWrt can be compiled for the Neo FreeRunner.[29]
The Neo FreeRunner makes an appearance inWilliam Gibson's 2010 novelZero History, as the phone initially used by the character Milgrim.
On 2 January 2008 the Dash Express, aGPS device, with hardware developed by Openmoko Inc. was announced running Openmoko Linux.[30] This device, initially codenamed theHXD8, seems to use little or none of the openmoko user-interface, simply using patches to the kernel developed by Openmoko Inc, and running an application fromDash Navigation on it to provide navigation and a user interface.
There is a lack of reference material for what happened to the GTA03 (codename of 3D7K). Openmoko built 3 working prototypes which had capacitive touchscreens and a fully transparent curved case[citation needed] .
The latest product from Openmoko Inc. was theWikiReader, a device to read Wikipedia articles offline.[31]
The German engineering firm "Golden Delicious Computers" began producing the GTA04 with an 800 MHz Cortex-A8 ARM (1 GHz) processor, an 800 MHz C64x+ DSP (digital signal processor) core, and a 3D graphics accelerator.
With those specifications and the 512 MB RAM combined with 512 MB NAND Flash and 32 GB expandable microSDHC, it would have been similar in performance to theiPhone 4 andiPhone 4S.[32][33]
Golden Delicious GTA04 board is designed to exchange the GTA02 board in the Neo FreeRunner housing - and the GTA01 board in the Neo 1973 housing.
This was a release of the Openmoko Beagle Hybrid, a platform using theBeagle Board as a basis for developing and prototyping a next generation Openmoko phone.[34] The following month, Golden Delicious stated their long-term goal of bringing such a phone to market.[35] The new GTA04 board fit into the Neo Freerunner case and connected to the existing display and other components.[36] The first batch of GTA04A3 EA (early adopter) started shipping on 10 October 2011.[37] Version GTA04A4 first batch started shipping on 31 January 2012.[38] The design for the next revision, GTA04A5, contained some minor but relevant upgrades in design and parts, and replacement of end-of-life components. The production wascrowd funded.[39]
It is also possible to order a ready made phone calledOpenPhoenux or GTA04 Complete.[40]
Hardware: