[PLUG] What smartphone platforms allow free software?
Carl Karsten
carl at personnelware.com
Wed Aug 19 20:28:27 UTC 2009
On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 2:15 PM, Eric House<eehouse at eehouse.org> wrote:
> 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!
I recommend watching http://carlfk.blip.tv/file/2213225 "Android App
Dev 101 (part 1 of 3)" (follow the Next: links.)
I just recored and posted it, so don't ask me about details. I did
get an Android 5 weeks ago, love it. GF plays tower defense on it,
graphics are nice.
--
Carl K
More information about the PLUG
mailing list