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Preview of Linux Based FreePad 30

Posted by CmdrTaco from the stuff-to-read dept.
suwalski writes "ZDNet is running a sneak-preview of the upcoming FreePad, as announced on Slashdot awhile ago. The FreePad is a wireless device that can be used as a wireless phone and as a web browser. The technology appears to be finished, and the FreePad looks like a toy that could be in your house pretty soon." Provided you live in scandanavia ;) Its a lengthy article with lots of good stuff: standards in open source, certification, wireless protocols in europe vs the US.
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Sneak Preview of the FreePad. More

Sneak Preview of the FreePad.

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  • I wonder if it supports ethernet? Alot of us have DSL connections at home and wireless networks that we would like this to fit in.
  • First get them to use Linux
    Next get them to "free as in speach"

    Free as in beer is getting greedy...

    Getting people to use Linux for imbeded systems helps a great deal...
    Getting them to open the source is a good thing...
    It's easyer to sell em on the benifits of open source when the software is just a support side to the real product... the hardware...
    Then you get em to open the source so we can contribute to the support side making the product better....

    Grandma test... hmmm
    You know... if this works.. maybe my grandmothers first computer will be a FreePad... or maybe not.. she's a bit nervous around high tech...

  • The Usefulness of the FreePad (Score:3)

    by hayfever ( 113254 ) on Saturday September 02, 2000 @01:15PM (#808748) Homepage
    From looking over the posts about the FreePad, I get the same message over and over again. If it's not "free as in beer", we're not interested; it's not powerful enough; etc... Some people need to realize that there IS a word larger than the geek compound. Sure, the open source community would be happier if it used XFree86 and an open-source browser. However, what about this closed source stuff? Most open-source is GPL'd, which they might have trouble with if they need to make substantial modifications to the programs for use on their embedded systems. Remember, they designed their distro from scratch. They have access to the source for Opera and Nano-X, and they said code will be released into the community. Perhaps Opera and Nano-X will be released as Netscape was, from closed to open. And as for the power issue. These systems are not targeting the geeks of the world with their 1ghz servers and Transmeta laptops. They are targeting John Doe's grandmother, who is 78 years old and has never used a computer. They are targeting Jim Corporate who discovers that he can use this instead of lugging projectors and overheads around the office for presentations. They are targeting everyday people, trying to make their lives better. And they are doing it with Linux. What does this mean? This means that, if it catches on, a whole generation of suits will be given a reason to start using open-source software. This means that people may start to realize that open-source /= security problem. This is a chance to get Linux into the hands of the people who WILL make a difference, the consumers. We can try all we want to force Linux on the world, but unless your average consumer starts asking for Linux, it won't make it in a Wintel world. Let's give FreePad a chance, and hope it sets the world on fire.

  • Apparently it was tested thoroughly to make sure it was Grandmother-compatible. Does that mean all those grandmothers are out of work now?

  • Nano-X has always been Open Source! (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I'm not quite sure why several people here have got the idea that NanoGUI/Microwindows is closed source, as it has always been Open Source. Nano-X is based on Mini-X, which was completely public domain. As some people insisted on more protection for their code, we decided to go for the MPL with a "convert to GPL if you wish" clause. This ensures that it can be linked into proprietory projects whilst still ensuring that changes to NanoGUI itself are contributed back to the community, and it can be converted to GPL if you want to link it into a GPLed project. NanoGUI (or Microwindows as it is called now) has exactly the same license as Mozilla will have once it relicenses itself in order to be GPL compatible. See http://www.microwindows.org/ [microwindows.org] for more information.
  • I thought Opera wasn't open source.

    Well.. it's not!
    Has never (afaik) been and probably never will be either...


    --
  • My folks have laptops, but they don't want want to risk having all that personal information (under Windows 95 and Windows 98) connected to the Internet. I can't really blame them.

    Something like this, though, with a modem and possibly a separate keyboard port... it would be small and light enough for them to carry, versatile enough to use everywhere they go, and convenient and *safe* enough (with virtually no stored state) to keep in touch with.

    There's been a couple of close calls... the iOpener has the problem that it's tied into their ISP, and the one that comes set up for NetZero is too bulky. Something like a notebook-sized dedicated workslate, though, would be just the ticket.
  • No, a "web-pad" is like having an actual notebook that you carry around and use, sort of like a large palm pilot; a laptop is generally larger, but more importantly has to be unfolded; it's inconvenient on planes and many other places.

    Of course, I probably still wouldn't get one because it would get lost or stolen too easily, but at least I could live with a web-pad...

    Of course, I'd still want to run whatever OS I want; I'd be happy with one optional lap-top style port or bay for a device, at least for installation purposes. And of course, built-in networking...

    It wouldn't surprise me if they had a lot of MediaGX's lying around, though... ;)
    ---
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [ncsu.edu].
  • You can always connnect an ethernet adapter to the pad's USB-port. Of course - then it's not wireless anymore.
    --
  • I'm pretty sure that they're aiming the "Web Pad" at the audience who owns laptops as status symbols but who don't understand how to use them. :) For you, a laptop is still better because of the keyboard. If eventually a device is created that allows for hand gestures or something to replace keyboards (voice recognition doesn't always work, for example airplanes) than all laptops will start to look like the webpads, but for now you need the keyboard. Try typing on the touchscreen, you'll realize how much harder it is because of the absence of feedback.

    I really hope these things have, for ports, 1 usb, 1 ethernet, end. You don't need anything else, and two ports is enough. Heck, most people's TVs have only two ports (coaxial and RCA), don't need to confuse them any more. Maybe give them more USB ports to avoid needing hubs, but no other kinds of ports. Like you were saying, once you can make a device to replace the keyboard you can have full-featured laptops that have the general PC-like features, but not for the current audience.

    I hope they're using NatSemi Geodes, because those things rule. Imagine, you've got CPU, RAM, video, northbridge, southbridge, super i/o, all on one chip. That's about as integrated as you get. Think, pretty soon you can start making cases with built-in motherboards because all they need is different sockets and ports. Pop in a new chip, and bam, you've got a complete system upgrade. No more motherboard-processor incompatibility :). And with MB's and cases integrated, you can make the power connectors a lot simpler.
  • After all this seems to be another technology that no one has asked for like HDTV.

    I've asked for this several times. In fact I've begged for it.

    Added to this it also seems to provide services that can already be provided by existing tech, as some posts have already pointed out. If I can already get internet on my tv, though a console, why would i need this.

    Can that TV console pull up an XTerm and let you recompile the kernel on you're server? How is the text on that TV? No, not the large artistic fonts..the paragraph text. Is it even legible?

    This boils down to a cool, quiet, roaming X display terminal. With it I could leave that hot, noisy server in the office, and go to a more comfortable place to compute. My wife will stop complaining that I spend all day in the office. Just think, I could ignore her in person now!!

  • Provided you live in scandanavia ;) Its a lengthy

    its scandinavia not scandanavia....
  • Every time I hear about these "cutting-edge" webpads, I remember that they're basically only more sophisticated programmable remotes. Most people would be able to use the Internet more productively on a standard notebook, with a keyboard. These devices seem designed to facilitate home automation and other tasks (perhaps connecting to embedded web servers in consumer electronics) within the home. As such, they are no more functional than a high-end programmable remote (i.e. Pronto). The only difference is that these use Linus and standard Internet protocols for communication. But, functionally, these units are not at all superior to their predecessors and they cost a **** of a lot more.

  • Wow! (Score:1)

    by Money__ ( 87045 )
    This thing kicks ! !

    From the article:
    Tuning the user interface for ease-of-use was greatly facilitated by availability of source code for both the browser (Opera) and the graphical windowing system (Nano-X).

    Other critical requirements, which Janson says have all been achieved, include:

    Fast startup -- the FreePad is ready to access the 'net within 6 seconds of turning on power, and 1 second is "coming soon".

    Quiet, fanless operation -- there are no fans, and no spinning hard disks inside. The FreePad uses Flash memory (M-Systems DiskOnChip) instead of a disk drive, and Screen Media has invested significant R& efforts in minimizing power consumption and, therefore, internal heat generation.

    Decent speed -- since high processor speed and low power consumption are mutually exclusive, Screen Media worked hard to come up with highly efficient software that would run fast on a modest speed processor. Embedded Linux, the Opera browser, and the Nano-X windowing system were important parts of the solution.

  • Yes, friends, McDonald's, that international restaurant of new and original sandwich names and children toys, has announced their license of the FreePad device in service in all of their McDonald's throughout the world. Instead of their usual plastic trays, McDonald's will now use a device based on FreePad.

    Said a McDonald's spokesperson, "We saw it and it came to us immediately. We could allow our consumers to see updated news and advertisements while they ate."

    What's more, those who Super Size their FreePad-based trays get use of internet browsing and email while they eat. Even some stores have integrated Muzak into speakers found on either side of the handles.

    In a related story, Bill Gates has decided to clone himself for the new molecular computer . . .

    [sorry, it's hot and it's what the freepad lookslike!]

    Dragon Magic [dragonmagic.net]
  • They used DECT because it is more standard in
    Norway, or so I parsed it from the article.

    It will be sold separately outside Scandinavia,
    and they're working on getting 802.11 in potential
    US-versions. The article *did* mention a Californian office...

    This thing could be neat, and if the motherboard
    in the unit supported higher frequencies, I'd go
    for a Transmeta Crusoe whenever these mythical
    beast are available.

    Time to visit ma as an excuse to buy a new toy ;)
  • ``the FreePad looks like a toy that could be in your house pretty soon''

    Only if it's as the name suggests . . . FREE! (as in beer)
  • Too bad it's Opera and Nano-X not Gecko and XFree.
    It would be nice if they could give some code back to the community. It seems that we will get some wireless drivers (if not the supporting apps) out of this. All though I don't get DECT DMAP here in the US. Oh well... still nice to see linux making in roads into the consumer market.
  • This sounds like a cool little web pad, but I don't think I want to use a "Cyrix Media GX" processor running at only 166Mhz. I'm sure having all that stuff on a chip is great for production, and all your standard web-surfing, but this still won't be very powerful.

    What I *really* want is the "web-pad" that works like a laptop, and has some decent specs, (say, a good desktop from a year or two ago, not three or four years...) but I gues I'll be waiting a bit longer.

    And yes, if you read the article, the specs are in there; I'm sure someone will post them, regardless.
    ---
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [ncsu.edu].

  • "The only difference is that these use Linus and standard Internet protocols for communication."

    Linus is going to get quite tired from doing all this communicating ;-)
  • Tuning the user interface for ease-of-use was greatly facilitated by availability of source code for both the browser (Opera) [...]

    I thought Opera wasn't open source.

    -jfedor
  • I've been looking for a nice webpad for a while now. I don't mind if the processor is not very powerfull or if the memory is rather tight, since I would expect the applications to run on my main home machine, and only display on the webpad.

    Does anybody know if micro-X can work as a remote Xwindows server? I'm a bit concerned about the statement that only certified software will be allowed on the machine. Does that mean no xterm?

    The other thing I'd like to know that wasn't mentioned in the article, is what will be the input device. Handwriting recognition? One of the snapshots showed a keyboard drawn on the screen, which could mean the whole pad is touch sensitive, or it could mean you'd touch the screen with a pen.

    Either way, it is something you can use to read your morning e-mail while sitting in the garden instead of sitting in your dark den in front of your machine.

  • It sounds they could do it somewhat like the Debian folks with the stable and unstable set of packages. You can contribute and it can be added to the official set of packages but has to be run through some testing, first.

    Screen Media therefore will offer its open source development community a means to certify programs for the FreePad. "It's really not very complicated to combine open source with quality assurance," says Janson. "Once you have passed this qualification test process, your software can become available for use as a downloadable option for the FreePad. Maybe those who do this should receive a license fee, or something," adds Janson. But the precise methods to do this remain to be defined.

    Personally, just like I trade raw power and extra features for efficiency in a Palm PDA, I'd go for one of these as a webpad. Number crunching and compiling can get done on my desktop.

  • Correct me if I'm wrong (I may well be), but isn't Nano-X Free? It seems to be licensed under the MPL, and "Alternatively, the software can be licensed under the GPL, if desired", as their web page says.

  • Check out dectweb.com [dectweb.com]. It is by far the best site I have found. DECT is a really cool standard allowing for multiple base stationsand multiple handsets plus a host of other features. The downside of DECT of course is that it is european only. It's also right in the middle of the sprint PCS band. I purchased one of these phones in holland (I believe it was holland) real cheap but it gets interference in the states, heh...
  • Huh. You want the "web-pad" that works like a laptop, and has some decent specs, (say, a good desktop from a year or two ago, not three or four years...) Well, what's wrong with a laptop? Only difference there is that you can run whatever OS you want. The people running these things don't CARE what's inside it, and for what the OS in it can be used for, it doesn't make much of a difference.

    Speaking of which, I think that's a typo. They either mean they're using a Cyrix MII, or a National Semi Geode, because the Media GX is out of production.
  • The "X" key is too close to the "S" key :-)
  • Although they could have chosen better software like XFree and Gecko, it's nice to know they're using an Actual graphical browser and a good operating system. From what I gather of the device it looks good and cool, but my question is what's the point? Why not just get a computer and a phone?
  • Does anyone have more information on the DECT standard that they mention in the article?

    there's some DECT info here [linuxdevices.com]

  • Does anyone have more information on the DECT standard that they mention in the article? I would assume that 802.11 would be a better idea, though cost of the circuitry and power usage are two reasons I could think of which would prevent it's use. 512kbit/sec really isn't that bad, even if you're getting more than that on DSL or cable, odds are that you aren't going to need that kind of bandwith to get on the web, and its probably being shared anyway. Also they mention that it won't be sold directly, but only as part of a subscription service like i-opener. Won't anyone make something cheap that will hook up with the LAN/Internet connection that I already have and pay for...

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