[PLUG] What smartphone platforms allow free software?

Eric House eehouse at eehouse.org
Wed Aug 19 19:15:50 UTC 2009


Does anybody know of a place to find out what smartphone OSes are
potential open source software platforms?  Ideally there'd be some
discussion of what's involved in installing software without the
permission/involvement of the carrier or device maker.

* I know from experience that it's possible on Windows Mobile and
  PalmOS, though the latter is becoming less relevant.

* I believe it is not possible on iPhone or Palm WebOS without
  "jailbreaking" the phones.

* I belive it's possible for Symbian OS devices, but in the US, who
  cares?

* I don't know much about Android or Blackberry.  It's a good sign
  that Sourceforge has a few apps for each, but I don't know and can't
  tell from the documentation what it takes to install.  For example,
  would I need a "Developer edition" of an Android phone to install
  unsigned apps?

(There are multiple levels to this discussion, alas.  For example, on
WinMo unsigned apps can use the network but can't send/receive NBS/SMS
messages.  And I think carriers have the ability to block installation
of all unsigned apps, though I don't know of any who've chosen to
cripple their phones to this extent.  Yet.)

Why do I care?  I write/maintain an open source mobile game (see .sig)
for fun, and I happen to need a new cellphone.  I might as well buy
one that I can develop for.  The newer OSes are more familiar in being
based on open source foundations, but -- and I find this more than a
bit ironic -- are trending away from being open platforms.

Thanks!

--Eric
-- 
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* From the desktop of: Eric House, xwords at eehouse.org                        *
*       Crosswords 4.2 for MS Smartphone and PocketPC is out: xwords.sf.net  *
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