SlashGear Japan
So that’s the idea, but what’s the hardware like? FIC have released a vast definition of the GTA001, but in summary the key points run as follows:
- 2.8-inch 480×640 TFT display
- Touch panel with multi-touch gesture recognition
- Mesh file sharing over USB
- Full GSM features (e.g. calling & SMS)
- GPS suitable for both in-car and on-foot use
- Dedicated emergency paging button
- iPod-quality mp3 player
That’s a pretty ambitious list, and it raises some interesting ideas as to applications and usage scenarios. FIC are working to the principle of needing at most 3 taps to start any task, with every interface feature visible on-screen. They’re also setting themselves the lofty goal of equalling the quality and style of Apple and Sony’s products.
Gesture control seems to be the next big thing in portable tech, judging by concepts like Synaptics’ Onyx that we’ve covered before. FIC have obviously considered capacitive touch panels, but will perhaps pass them over in favour of less-complicated resistive technology as used in all current PDAs. Either way, they envisage a system where lists can be scrolled with two fingers and options selected with one; maps that can be zoomed using a pinching motion and panned by twisting fingers around as if holding a compass.
Powered by a Samsung S3C2410 ARM9-based processor, with 128mb of RAM, 64mb of flash memory as default, it’s overall an interesting idea – a straightforward, easy and intuitive cellphone that’s capable both of being a basic collection of essentials for the nomad traveller and a pocketable powerhouse, depending on the needs of the person who owns it. On the basis of more choice, more flexibility and more transparency being only ever a good thing, I’m hoping it succeeds.
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44 Responses to “FIC Linux Cellphone – can it capture the imagination of the open-source community?”
Jay G November 7, 2006
The only thing missing from this cell phone (and the reason I’m not jumping on board) is WiFi. Add WiFi and you would have me hooked. When it was first /.’d it was rumored to have WiFi.
Is anyone aware if you can somehow expand it to include WiFi capability?
NeutralEwdison Then November 7, 2006
there will be wifi soon :)
+1Jay G November 7, 2006
If it’s here, or promised, by February I’m game. My current phone has about that long (I hope) before it finally beats the ghost.
NeutralAnonymous November 8, 2006
I need WiFi and GPRS for when I’m not in range of any networks. If it gets those, I will be so hooked.
NeutralGODMODE November 8, 2006
This is so sick. As we all seem to agree, it needs Wifi to truly be a killer. Maybe its already in there? Specs seem scarce. Lets see what happens!
NeutralVincent Nguyen November 8, 2006
Thanks for everyone’s response. Yes, I too had the same questions and concerns about 3G support as well as WiFi. Please keep in mind that this is indeed the first version so all the bells and whistles will not be on it. That being said, we were told that the second version should have WiFi.
NeutralMutatoe November 8, 2006
The only thing i miss is a Camera on the back, when it had one i would be the first person who buy it :D
NeutralMacGyver November 8, 2006
Imagine being able to get NEAR your house, and then all outgoing calls switch over to your wifi voip, or if it sees a unsecured wifi, it could give you the option to use voip instead. Off the top of my head I can think of about 10 features that no other phone can give me right now. Picture what XBMC did for the Xbox, open-source hardware can be made to do anything if the cpu is right.
NeutralOne last thing, am I reading that right? It has more ram than storage space?
Ben November 8, 2006
Slashdot shows the price will be USD 350.00 for the dev. edition later this month. would be sweet if the public version (avail. Jan 07) woul dbe in that range. I’d buy one..
NeutralJosh November 8, 2006
Great Thing!!!
If there will be WiFi, 3G, UMTS? onboard i’d buy one!
NeutralMONSTERKILL November 9, 2006
Forget that … I’d buy some for the whole company if they come out with a WifiG Bluetooth2 version! The other OS (who’s real name I shall not utter here) has failed us spectacularly and cannot be relied on in the real world on a _daily_ basis. I hope open source development is the way to go.
NeutralJames November 9, 2006
I’ll definitely get one when it’s out, i like the freedom and customization on this phone
Neutralanonymous November 9, 2006
Wifi and a camera would drive me crazy with eager to obtain this beauty ;)
NeutralNemo November 9, 2006
I like it, in fact it’s probably one of the phone i’ll get when it comes out.
Neutralerick November 9, 2006
great it’s open source, we will get tons of hacks on it
Neutralsinder112 November 10, 2006
I am definitely going to be purchasing this phone the day it becomes available. I think it’s an amazing step in the right direction with cell phones. Can’t wait to get my hands on and tinker with it.
NeutralMARCOZ December 9, 2006
FIC WIFI CAMERA = PERFECT
Neutralfriend January 3, 2007
Try Zuiko for taking photos. Please no camera…
Neutraladleron January 3, 2007
Sound absolutely Crazy … I’ll wait 2 Wifi
NeutralSalva January 11, 2007
Looks like you guys have a major competitor… Apple iPhone… Must have been a devastating blow
Neutraldavidm January 11, 2007
Salva, you’re confused. :) This is an open phone with GPS and a 640×480 display.
I wish for a modular phone.
But I would buy this phone with wifi and a camera.. The design isn’t very nice though, it looks like a plastic food storage container. Needs a little more ‘tech’, without going overboard. And please give it a non slip finish.
I wonder what’s up with the multi touch though. I had a touch screen years ago and wondered what could be done with the effect, but if Apple patented it…
I’m hoping for an FIC product release via open source channels.
NeutralRalph January 11, 2007
Say hello to the new iPhone, with Wi-Fi, and much much more. Aple has the patents, so it looks like this product is gnna be in trouble soon.
-1me January 12, 2007
“Say hello to the new iPhone, with Wi-Fi, and much much more. Aple has the patents, so it looks like this product is gnna be in trouble soon.”
You was heavily intoxicated while writing this right? Because this one was rather moronic.
Hope the sobering up did the trick and that you’re laughing of it now. Anyway, Apple’s iPhone lacks a lot of things, like battery capacity, as every other gadget made too fancy for it’s purpose. Maybe some Tesla Coils or a portable nuclear powerplant does the trick?
Would also love to get my hands on a Trolltech Green Phone.
Neutralme January 12, 2007
“Looks like you guys have a major competitor… Apple iPhone… Must have been a devastating blow”
You can’t even leave your house with it, why bother to waste money? Or should I drag some kilometres of cable along with the charger?
NeutralKory January 12, 2007
Um, how do you guys plan to buy this phone? It doesn’t look like FIC sells any non-computer components in the U.S.
Does anyone know where one of these can be purchased?
NeutralEwdison Then January 12, 2007
it is not out yet, but very close to hitting distribution channel :) we’ll have a full review of it soon as fic is almost ready on sending us one unit
NeutralAl January 21, 2007
[quote comment="15801"]“Say hello to the new iPhone, with Wi-Fi, and much much more. Aple has the patents, so it looks like this product is gnna be in trouble soon.”
You was heavily intoxicated while writing this right? Because this one was rather moronic.
Hope the sobering up did the trick and that you’re laughing of it now. Anyway, Apple’s iPhone lacks a lot of things, like battery capacity, as every other gadget made too fancy for it’s purpose. Maybe some Tesla Coils or a portable nuclear powerplant does the trick?
Would also love to get my hands on a Trolltech Green Phone.[/quote]
omg… omfg… your the biggest fucktard in the world. I mean honestly…. he made an excellent point in saying that APPLE HAS PATENTED THE EXACT SAME TECHNOLOGY… and you respond by bashing its battery capacity???? its not even going out til june ur so fucking stupid omfg go kill urself plz die die die
-3spat February 1, 2007
Finally a phone that does not waist space with a camera. I will buy this phone that is for sure.
NeutralIt has everything that i want although wifi would be nice to have on board too.
Looks a lot like the iPhone concept but than developer friendly. The iPhone does win it on looks though.
This looks like the next generation of smart phone’s: no space wasting keyboard when you can have a touch screen that can transform into any keypad you like.
Ewdison Then February 1, 2007
it will be well worth it, affordable and expandable :) i’m going to put up a review once we got our unit in
Neutralbbb8 February 7, 2007
no camera please, camera will take alot of space, and will make the price go higher, WiFi is a good idea but no camera, and AI wtf is ur problem?
+3damien February 7, 2007
i agree, camera will make it bulky, and Al learn some respect before you speak
+1Ben May 8, 2007
Anyone know when this will come out? im eager to get my hands on one! WIFI>camara
NeutralPhilip June 17, 2007
I will get one !
NeutralSounds like a promising phone.
Hopes it makes it to the market …
Open source is absolutely the way to go.
anon July 2, 2007
Bash the iPhone all you like, but at least it actually *exists* — how’s the battery life on that non-existent phone of yours, friend? ;)
This looks like vaporware to me.
+1Steven July 3, 2007
You can add wifi by plugging a mini wifi card into the usb slot.
Neutraljeff July 9, 2007
I want one if for no other reason than Apple (which does generally produce excellent product) has alienated me (and many) by signing an exclusive service agreement with ATT/Cingular. This is against the very nature of Open Source which provides the end user with almost unlimited options and choice. Shame on Apple for supporting (creating) a defacto Iphone service monopoly!! jbd
+2Ben September 6, 2007
Umm, as this phone was concepted before the iPhone, doesn’t that mean that they might have nicked stuff from here?
Sorry, I don’t really care about open source, but I do care that an interesting product seems to have been plagerised
-1高隔间 January 9, 2008
Yes I agree with Jeff.
-1