Ubuntu is working on their own PDA

[greggh]

http://blogs.eweek.com/lundquist/conten ... u_804.html

Shuttleworth is making regular stops in Boston these days following the acquisition and development of a company developing software for Linux-based handheld devices. The Ubuntu plans, which may include their own personal digital assistant, reminds Shuttleworth of the development of the personal computer. The development of more powerful and power conserving CPUs, the open platform, touch screens and applications being developed for mobile applications places the handheld market in a strong growth position this year, contends Shuttleworth. "We're working on our own PDA, " said Shuttlewoth explaining that the handhelds, desktops and server versions of the company's software rounds out the product line.

It will probably look like a brown Zune

Seriously though, I don't know why SHuttleworth is wasting Ubuntu's time with producing a branded PDA.

[allix]

Seriously though, I don't know why SHuttleworth is wasting Ubuntu's time with producing a branded PDA.

I agree, people want a decent video editor for example, why can't he put his money on developing that or other software that people have requested for years.

[Vogateer]

Maybe I'm alone here, but I read that and got excited. If Ubuntu makes a PDA that syncs worth a damn with linux machines, and it has a decent way to input text, I might buy the thing. Selling a PDA sounds like a better way to make money than making a video editor to me, as well.

[snarkout]

Maybe I'm alone here, but I read that and got excited. If Ubuntu makes a PDA that syncs worth a damn with linux machines, and it has a decent way to input text, I might buy the thing. Selling a PDA sounds like a better way to make money than making a video editor to me, as well.

Quoted for great justice.

I agree 100% - the ability to have a real PDA with genuinely useful cal, appointment, etc, software that synced with linux would rock. Way more than video editing.

[allix]

you can already put linux and the bsds on PDA's however there is not a decent video editor to get those freaking mac heads away from imovie .

[snarkout]

I don't give two shits with what's running on the PDA, I'd care that it's useful *with* linux.

[davijordan]

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileAndEmbedd ... rUMEDevice

[Vogateer]

I'm sure it would be nice to have a great video editor, but if Canonical is going to make a profit, then I don't think a video editor is going to help them do that. There just aren't enough people editing video on linux to make it a money making venture, and if Canonical's not going to make money doing it, then why expect them to?

I think it would be great if Ubuntu started selling their own boxes or devices. Selling devices that run Ubuntu could at least make them some money, and since they're more likely to make money from businesses, I'd say it makes sense to work on a PDA instead of a video editor.

I'd be on cloud nine if Ubuntu worked really closely with someone to release something like the EeePC, where they made sure everything on the laptop was in working order with free and open drivers, and any updates would be tested against that hardware to make sure it works. The worst thing about the EeePC is knowing that Xandros benefits, and after Xandros signed that patent deal with Microsoft, I want nothing to do with them. It's not that I have a beef with proprietary software companies, but that patent deal was underhanded and unfair to the developers who wanted to make sure patents couldn't be used to limit the freedom of their software, and everyone knows it. The more I think about it, the less I want the EeePC, which is unfortunate, because the device looks great and the hardware is really what I'd like to have.

[davijordan]

Could be interesting.


http://www.ultramobilegeek.com/2008/04/ ... oblin.html

[greggh]

A video demo of Ubuntu Mobile OS running on a yet to be released new MID

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/gig ... -mobile-ui

Kind of looks like a miniaturized version of gOS