Computex and Gigabyte's Slick UMPC, Linux SmartPhone

MojoKid writes "Computex Taipei is brimming with new technologies as usual this year and the first day of the show has proven to be a Tech Geek's nirvana of sorts. Highlights of the show for the handheld crowed include Gigabyte's slick UMPC, FIC's Linux-based Smart Phone, and Asus' sub-$300 Eee notebook PC shown at an Intel keynote address."

eee is the Intel Classmate

[stoolpigeon]

Interesting Guardian article [guardian.co.uk] explaining that the asus eee is the Intel Classmate - Intel's response to the OLPC.

FIC's Neo 1973

[superbrose]

Some more info [linuxdevices.com] about the Neo 1973 Linux phone. Interestingly it can run Windows Mobile, too.

It would be nice to have the option to install Linux on other smartphones too. The only interesting project I know at the moment is Xanadux [xanadux.org], but since most phones have to be reverse-engineered, development is much slower than it could be.

Re:Nice $300 notebook

[evilviper]

once they're too small to have a full sized keyboard, they should lose the right to call it a notebook.

Why? Most of us don't have massively fat fingers, and a 3/4 size keyboard is quite comfortable for typing.

In any case, at 22.5cm [1], it's more than wide enough to accommodate a full keyboard.

[1] According to: http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/3951/asus_introd uces_new [ehomeupgrade.com]

Re:Will any smart phone measure up to the iPhone?

[suggsjc]

Apple's iPhone has slain the competition before it has even hit the market

Spoken like a true fanboy without a grip on reality.

Will either, for instance, offer the freedom to develop for the platform that developers enjoy with the iPhone?

Wow, what a completely uninformed statement. Jobs just said that 3rd party development will be allowed, but has released ZERO details as to the extent of what will be allowed. There are NO API's and NO developer tools at the moment. Windows CE and Linux BOTH offer that, so the real question is will Apple allow the same freedom as the other platforms.

But I digress, I've followed the Neo1973 for a pretty good while now and it is still in development. There are already a few devices in the wild, but there is about to be a larger developer batch going out soon. The difference between it and other platforms is that it is COMPLETELY open. The hardware is fully documented (minus some binary userland drivers for ) and the software is available for all to see and modify.
Here is the wiki for the OpenMoko platform [openmoko.org]

I just want to know who modded this insightful as there was only complete speculation and blatant bias. That said, I do think that the iPhone is going to be an amazing device, but to say that there is no point for other manufactures to even develop smart phones any more??? You've GOT to be kidding me.

Has anyone noticed

[overshoot]

that FIC seems to be doing their best to discourage interest in the Neo1973 phone?

They may be showing it under glass, but if you search their website there is zero reference to it. Me, I've been lusting after it since December and really lusting since my Treo got crunched in February. Looks like I'll have to resurrect an old Zire instead, though.