Openmoko.org Portal Site

With all the iPhone hype, I’ve just got to wonder just how open the iPhone platform is going to be? While I’ve been hearing about java sdk’s for it, I’ve not seen a download link yet on the Apple site. Is this really a Mac OSx machine under the covers, and just how well will it support java app porting? (*NOTE: the Interop NOC team has been grabbing the iPhone up all over the world and so far all the Interop NOC team folks love it. I just can’t justify that much coin on a phone when I have a mortgage to pay)

Openmoko.org Portal Site

So while the NEO1973 and the iPhone may look similar, the hardware under the hood isn’t. Some key technologies on the iPhone are: Multitouch, and Sensors (accelerometer, etc) missing in the first development platform on the NEO.

So before we jump to conclusions and outright say the iPhone is superior, let me point out that the NEO is currently in a “reference design” that developers can use as a starting point. Like most embedded Linux systems, the NEO uses a toolchain to manage its applications and core functions, however because of its openness we should see a huge collection of legacy Linux apps ported to the platform if developers really do get on the bandwagon.

So anyway, Linux geek that I am, I’m in line for a demo unit available this coming sept/oct timeframe with a classroom full of wireless java geeks drooling at the opportunity to hack at a new platform. A friend at the UH Department of Information and Computer Sciences has been involved with the Japanese DoCoMo revolution, and has been packing her classroom with kids all wanting to write the next killer wireless app.

So I mentioned some key technologies in the iPhone. Multitouch is huge…instead of a single touch point, multitouch allows you to use multiple fingers to resize, reshape, etc. If you really want to see a demo of just how different multitouch can be…check out the YouTube video on Jeff Han at the TED conference in Monterey. His demo is nothing short of breath taking.

Next, the sensors in the iPhone include accelerometers, and to understand just how significant that is, just look at how much fun those games are on the WII! My nieces and nephews don’t care that the graphics are primitive and plastic; that bowling game is outstanding, and tennis was a hoot. Though their favorite game is still pile on uncle Brian.

No the NEO isn’t going to kill the iPhone, yet…but because it’s open, and community developed, I wouldn’t count it out anytime soon. I’m really looking forward to playing with it this fall, and have been lurking on the development site to see what kinds of cool things I can download for it or cobble together myself. Who knows, since the design is open, we may see multipoint touch screens and accelerometers for it yet.

/brian chee