Let’s be clear: this is not a phone (yet) for the masses, but I think it is definitely heading in that direction. It has GPS, accelerometers, GPRS, Bluetooth, WiFi and an open software stack on which practically anything could be developed. I love this phone for what it will be able to do – but it’s not there yet.
OpenMoko: Software and Hardware bugs
July 22nd, 2008OpenMoko: Software stacks
July 21st, 2008My OpenMoko arrived a few days ago, and comes with the stock OM2007.2 software. I upgraded it with the opkg update command and then tried to use it for a few days at the LUGRADIO Live 2008 event. It didn’t go that well, so I started hunting around to look at the other software stacks. There are three different software stacks for the phone. This is described in some detail here.
LugRadio Live UK 2008
July 20th, 2008For the first time, and allegedly the last, I wen’t to LugRadio Live UK 2008 in …. Wolverhampton. I’d never been to Wolverhampton before; it was just about everything I had expected.
OpenMoko Freerunner: The Arrival
July 20th, 2008On Thursday 17th July my OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner arrived from Truebox. I’ve taken a series of pictures which you can see below. I’ve been anticipating the release of the GTA02 for about a year. That’s largely because it has taken much, much longer than FIC/OpenMoko had planned to develop the hardware for the phone and get a (semi) usable software stack.
Lawyer gets it: the free ride is over (and never really existed)
June 5th, 2008I just read this article. To quote:
Open source software had its origins in the free software movement. By now, most open source users understand that free refers to freedom, not to price. The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users. You are not free to do whatever you want with the open source software and may find yourself in a legal fight if what you do restricts the freedom of the software. (ed. emphasis mine).
Okay, this isn’t strictly true as it’s really referring to Free Software (GPL) rather than Open Source which includes BSD and MIT licenses which are less restrictive. After all you can pretty much do what you want with BSD and MIT licensed software including taking it proprietary.
Of course you’ve never been able to do what you like with Free Software. Read the rest of this entry »
Travel to the USA?
June 3rd, 2008Just when I thought I didn’t need any new reasons not to travel to the US a new one pops up:
Europeans and other potential enemies of the US are to be forced to deposit their personal details on the Department of Homeland Security’s computer system 72 hours before they get anywhere near the place.
The new rules will apply to citizens of the UK, and other countries whose citizens can travel to the US under the “visa waiver program”, from January next year. The prime motivation for the scheme is increased concern in Washington that European grown terrorists can exploit the visa waiver program to get into the US and wreak havoc.
Such a beautiful, interesting country populated by really great people; sadly governed by (apparent) idiots.
BSI legal challenge by UKUUG
May 2nd, 2008After my mini rant yesterday, it appears that the legal challenge to the BSI has actually happened. A judicial review of the decision making process of the BSI will at least look at why, and how, the BSI changed its mind regarding approving OOXML (DIS 29500) against the technical recommendations of the subcommittee.
Of course, what we really need, is a fully transparent process at the BSI where they publish their proceedings and are fully accountable for the decisions that they make. We need a fair BSI whatever the standard is that they are reviewing and considering approval for. Otherwise, the BSI will, unfortunately, continue to be seen (even if it is unfair) as a ‘for hire’ rubber stamp approvals agency.
BSI UK’s standard body sells out?
May 1st, 2008Prior to the BRM the BSI voted no. At the BRM the BSI indicated that the specification wasn’t ready. Prior to the vote, the BSI’s technical committee said no; the BSI group still voted yes. Against the advice of the technical committee. Why would they? With a single decision they have shone a very bright light on the contradictory processes that seems to exist at the BSI.
What’s interesting is the reaction to it. John Pugh MP has already raised questions, the UKUUG is seeking legal advice of the matter and numerous people are asking “just what is going on”.
One thing seems clear though; in one stroke the BSI devalued itself, devalued the standards process and made themselves a bit less relevant in an open standards world. It also raises questions about how they make decisions. With corporate interests controlling how and what the BSI approves, can we trust any new or existing standards coming out of the BSI? They have questions to answer and the silence is deafening.
The myth of multiple “competing” standards
May 1st, 2008A cracking post from Rob Weir about the myth that having multiple document standards is ‘good’ for the consumer and that the market should be left to decide. I particularly like this bit:
How many spreadsheet formats does Microsoft use internally for running their business on? Why should governments be denied choice in the same field that Microsoft itself exerts its right to chose?