We've already seen Google's Android mobile OS get
shoehorned onto Nokia N810 tablet, but it looks like the Internet Tablet OS is about to get even more flexible with ports of Ubuntu and the Qt toolkit. Nokia is
acquiring Qt developer Trolltech, so it's no surprise the Qt is making the jump, but it looks like it'll be mostly a third-party-targeted framework, with the ITOS interface and bundled apps still using GTK+. Nokia told Ars Technica that it's exploring cross-platform possibilities between ITOS and Series60, and that it wants to see if GTK+ and Qt can coexist on the tablets like they do on the Linux desktop. That's pretty ambitious for a low-powered tablet, but we're all for more flexibility -- which seems to be in the cards with the Nokia-sponsored port of Ubuntu to ARM. Several pre-Hardy Heron versions have been ported and run off SD cards, if you're feeling adventurous -- we're not sure what the advantages are, but it's nice to know that Nokia's keeping things wide open.
[Via
Digg]
posted Apr 24th 2008 10:31PM
Hmmm...
I support instruction set architecture diversity.
Should anyone really trust a company named TROLLtech?
Yeah -- that was just about the most pointless (not to mention stupid, unfunny) comment you could make (next to this one, of course). Trolltech has been around for quite some time and has been making great products, and as far as I know (I could be wrong though) their employees don't frequent sites like this and post troll comments (unless their company is far less productive than I originally thought).
BIRDMAN! get in here
nice avatar :P
Would've been a funny comment if Trolltech hadn't been such a famous company already... fail stamp.
They were a company founded in Norway, now owned by our neighbors. In Norwegian folk culture the trolls (thrull) were mythical creatures that was relative dumb huge creatures that lived in the woods. Had in a lot of stories the same role as a dragon in other parts of the world has.
So the name is probably derivated from 'technology from the land of the trolls' - Trolltech
http://www.angelidakis.com/2blog/troll.jpg
there you have a typical skogtroll (wood throll).
And troll as internet mischief is also probably based in the same scandinavian folklore:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)
"The word likely gained currency because of its apt second meaning, drawn from the trolls portrayed in Scandinavian folklore and children's tales; they are often ugly, obnoxious creatures bent on mischief and wickedness."
That should answer your comment.
@Geir - Skogstroll would have to be translated with forrest-troll as wood-troll would just mean that it's made out of wood (trä-troll).
It still says troll(tech)
Wow, you're right! I didn't realize that until you pointed it out for the second time. NOW I get your joke!
Hm. Maemo might be replaced by Ubuntu Mobile. Part of me is sad, part of me is happy. But I think it'll be more happy than sad in the long run (embracing standardization).
Ubuntu Mobile coming to the Nokia tablets is great. It has a far greater set of packages then Maemo and a far greater user base. That and hopefully the large userbase will be more likely to come with support for the PowerVR GPU on the Nokia tablets.
The only thing im worried about is the fact that Ubuntu mobile is geared more for the MIDs, which are supposed to run off the Atom Proc. This could mean that the OS in general is geared for a more powerfull CPU then the ARM core the Nokia tablets use, or could move in that direction.
Nokia's shown itself to be really quite good with supporting the development community for the n770/n8x0. I'm probably going to get the next version of the tablet after the n810, even though I probably wouldn't need to what with it being an open platform and Nokia being so good about updating the older products like my humble N800. I think this sort of behavior should be rewarded.
One thing I really like about Ubuntu Mobile is that it looks like it has a great UI https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileAndEmbedded/UserInterface (at least IMHO).
Hopefully they don't forget about the 770 users out there. The OS and apps crash on it way too often. It would be great to have a different OS to run on it. If it ends up working well, a n810 my curb any desire I have for an eeepc size laptop..not that it would matter as the are about the same price.
I need to get meself a Nokia tablet just so I can experiment with Ubuntu OS and it's specs on it.
HELL YEAH!
Nokia sux. lousy quality and horrible customer service!
This message brought to you by the ever failing Motorola, desperate Korean manufacturers and Sony.
Now, what else can we say to try to damage Nokia's good name?
Cool, little hardy heron !
Qt rocks