OpenMoko's FreeRunner interface gets peeked, inspected

For those folks who don't mind -- nay, who strongly prefer -- a terminal screen on their smartphone, we know you've already thrown down the plastic on OpenMoko's FreeRunner. If you're going insane waiting to get your hands on it, what better to do than read through a remarkably thorough writeup detailing the user interface and all the goop behind the pretty scenes that makes this thing tick? Oh, and if you're just now getting up the courage to see what the brouhaha is all about, you've chosen the perfect time to get schooled. See that read link? Hit it.

[Via BoingBoing]

[Josh L @ Jul 9th 2008 11:52AM]

Is that screenshot to scale? Those keys look mighty small. I wouldn't enjoy typing on that thing for very long, especially if I were tying console commands.

[PeterF @ Jul 9th 2008 12:03PM]

It is impossible to have things "to scale" on a computer screen. There are so many DPIs around, that designing it to scale on one screen wont be to scale on another.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 9th 2008 12:23PM]

Calm down, I believe its just an onscreen keyboard.

[Shinigami @ Jul 9th 2008 1:50PM]

Lowest Ranked (strike that out and write Highly Ranked)
Its onscreen keyboard with awesomely small keys. Totally unreadable.
Are there any others with bigger buttons and bigger writings on them?

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jul 9th 2008 3:19PM]

Hopefully, the device would support themes - then interface can be changed to whatever you wish at any later time.

Otherwise that alone in my eyes (literally) make it unusable.

[white_ultras @ Jul 15th 2008 5:25PM]

Perfect keyboard for stylus users, if you ask me. Stylus the pencil, remember?

[cuban, the paris hilton of tech @ Jul 9th 2008 11:53AM]

awful, cant these linuxopensource mostlytalentless people get out of their caves?
touch reality, it wont bite (too much)

[Jay @ Jul 9th 2008 12:20PM]

Why don't you try learning how a command line works....it won't bite

HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN WINDOWS
-google.com
-[insert problem]
-download random executable
-click random executable

HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN LINUX
-google.com
-[insert problem + distro]
-find line of code
-copy and paste

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 9th 2008 12:25PM]

I hate to point it out but both of your instructions only contain 4 steps...

[fred @ Jul 9th 2008 1:01PM]

Why don't you try learning how a command line works....it won't bite

No, but it will gouge out a chunk of your brain and stomp on it.

Oh and good luck finding the "code" that will work without generating error messages.

[Shinigami @ Jul 9th 2008 1:48PM]

Jay
Let me correct you please:

HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN WINDOWS
-google.com
-[insert problem]
-download random executable
--use brains
--delete random executable
--find a better solution :P

HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN LINUX
-google.com
-[insert problem + distro]
-find line of code
-copy and paste
--repeat from start till the problem is fixed or PC dies xD

[JMMGoalster @ Jul 9th 2008 2:02PM]

How to Fix A Windows Problems:

If you can't figure it out, push Alt+F4, it fixes everything

[superaktieboy @ Jul 9th 2008 3:35PM]

for both a reinstall'll do :/

[Technodragon @ Jul 9th 2008 3:45PM]

@ Jay

Based on my experiences converting my Asus EEE (701) to eeexubuntu, and having a Ubuntu dual-booting on my desktop, I have my own 2 cents as far as the troubleshooting:

HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN WINDOWS
-google.com
-[insert problem]
-follow the steps using point-and-click GUI or the RARE time actually go into the registry
-possibly reboot
-ether break windows so badly you have to reinstall OR everything works fine now.


HOW TO FIX A PROBLEM IN LINUX
-discover some *basic* functionality issue has been overlooked by the uber133t command-line-obsessed FOSS zealots
-google.com
-[insert problem] + distro
-wade through pages of people complaining about the same usability issues as you, with a few smart-ass responses by Linux geeks arguing about what distro/fork is better, why Gnome or KDE sucks, and occasional suggestions for solutions that automatically involve the command line, even though there may be a way to do *exactly the same thing* through the GUI
-2-3 pages into the thread, maybe get pointed at some wiki that tells you how to do it through the command line
-follow link to the most poorly organized wiki article you've ever seen, that misses some "obvious" step that was obvious to all uber-linux-nerds, but leaves the rest of us computer users scratching our heads
-google the problem again *repeatedly*, piecing together a solution ON YOUR OWN from fragments of different threads
-Voila! 3 days of pure aggravation and hair-pulling later, it's either fixed or bricked

Don't get me wrong, once it's *working*, I love Linux. However, just getting things to that point can be one hell of an ordeal.

[Jonathon @ Jul 9th 2008 11:57AM]

I've followed this project for a while now, but I'm currently a little lost with where their UI is currently and where it is heading. I think there are about 3 different versions that mix different aspects. That said, I played around with one of the interfaces and it was pretty slick.

[Josh L @ Jul 9th 2008 12:08PM]

#BEGIN STANDARD LINUX FAN REBUTTAL#

If (for some unfathomable reason) you don't like [feature x], just change it yourself! Because everybody who uses a computer should have a working knowledge of C/++/#/Python/BASH/Perl! This is Open Source, after all!

#END STANDARD LINUX FAN REBUTTAL#

[superaktieboy @ Jul 9th 2008 3:36PM]

lol search on google for the following term: Eunix you'll see what Josh means :P

[Ivan @ Jul 9th 2008 12:13PM]

i still think they should change that name.... OpenMoko = OpenBooger [in spanish]

[Charles Han @ Jul 9th 2008 12:15PM]

well its a start, come now other linux platform didn't look that good till it got refined. Look at ubuntu when it started and now. Vast improvement, its the best looking out of the lot. Hopefully, there would be a good developer community for this phone. As it is now, it may flop.

[Dankoozy @ Jul 9th 2008 12:16PM]

The only thing i don't like about it is that it's a touchscreen-based iClone.

[PeterF @ Jul 9th 2008 12:31PM]

Really? Every touch-screen based thing is now a clone of an iPod touch or iPhone? I remember these Windows Mobile devices that are over a decade old that have touch screen.

[Tush @ Jul 9th 2008 12:49PM]

Why can't it be what it is? Why do you see it as an iClone? The openmoko was announced at about the same time the original iPhone was. They're both just touch-screen based phones.

Open your eyes, there's another world out there not dominated by Apple. There are other products that aren't trying to be the iPhone. Other users who want other things.

[Laughing Man @ Jul 9th 2008 5:00PM]

Actually the OpenMoko and Neo 1973 were announced long before the original iPhone was even a concept.

[Asher Pat @ Jul 9th 2008 12:29PM]

How do you know a product is threatening the Divine Company our our Lord Jobs?

The Apple Media Collaborators try to ridicule it. All the more for that, OpenMoko will be a thorn in the side of the iCult. It's form factor is better and when its price will fall to $200, it will vanquish the poseurs' favourite phone.

[Asher Pat @ Jul 9th 2008 12:31PM]

How do you know a product is threatening the Divine Company our our
Lord Jobs?

The Apple Media Collaborators try to ridicule it. All the more for
that, OpenMoko will be a thorn in the side of the iCult. It's form
factor is better and when its price will fall to $200, it will
vanquish the poseurs' favourite phone.

[Paulmichael @ Jul 9th 2008 1:47PM]

You wanna know how HARD you just failed?

1) You double-posted, which practically guarantees a low ranking.
2) The second post has some odd line breaks.
3) The comment itself has some clear grammar/spelling mistakes.

Commenting on a blog isn't rocket science, folks.

[bob @ Jul 9th 2008 12:55PM]

Apparently it will have 4 hours talk time and 72 hours 'f***ing about with stuff to try and get it working until you finally go insane' time.

[innesm @ Jul 9th 2008 12:56PM]

This is a frickin wacky comment system. Replying to my message that I can only see when I click through the confirmation email...

[Tush @ Jul 9th 2008 12:50PM]

Mine is on it's way to my door.

[beto @ Jul 9th 2008 12:57PM]

Ugh this phone is pissing me off so much. So I had 3 days to think if I needed the camera, I thought it was ok not to have one.

-Then one day thinking if it was too bulky, it is, but I want to try it.
-Next, I find no videos or tutorials of the NEWLY released thing.
-All this time I keep thinking that 400bucks is a lot.

FINALLY yesterday I was about to order and after typing my billing/shipping address (in Mexico) I find out I have to pay 69.99 for shipping, SRSLY?!

Now this, I'M NO EXPERT, I've NEVER used Linux. I just want a different phone, and I like the concept around this one, of letting it be "free".

So today I thought "man, how come no one has complained about shipping??" well I have a sister in Houston and tried her address in the billing/shipping info and shipping to US is 6 dollars. *sigh**rollseyes* OK OK they have a huge market in the US, and like only me in Mexico. But 70 dollars.

I want to see videos, I want to see it working and I've sent mails to them telling them how their marketing sucks, god im such a sad ranter. :(

[Tush @ Jul 9th 2008 1:12PM]

There are videos on youtube. Search for "openmoko freerunner".

[beto @ Jul 9th 2008 1:23PM]

Thanks Tush but I've seen them all and they're all either 2, or 6 months old or a year old. The newest videos (added this past week) are just "unboxing". I don't understand why the company wouldn't add videos, unless the functionality is sucky. Just like in one video "openmoko freerunner premier" it takes ages to boot up. Is it like you turn it on?

[img eL @ Jul 9th 2008 1:25PM]

beto, contact people through the group sales section in openmoko wiki @ openmoko.org see what they got going, U may be able to Freerunner for less.

[innesm @ Jul 9th 2008 1:27PM]

Your comment about the $400 phone needs larger quotation marks round the word 'free'.

[beto @ Jul 9th 2008 1:33PM]

Thanks img eL, I already contacted openmoko.com, and I got this GREAT response, responding all my inquiries and whatnot:
"Hi Alberto,

Thanks for your interest. The store opens tomorrow.

Cheers,

Pat"

yay. I guess its not a phone for the basic user, I'm giving it a lot of thought.

[Shinigami @ Jul 9th 2008 2:01PM]

beto
if you are not open OS expert, I don't recommend buying this thing.

About shipping - there was a thing (nozzle, 50 gram weight) I thought of ordering to see how long it takes. It costs $11. I tried to order and it said "shipping will cost $130". You can imagine the rest :)

[DarkLight @ Jul 9th 2008 2:44PM]

Dude, don't blame OpenMoko, blame UPS/whatever...

I mean, try to buy ANYTHING online with shipping to Mexico...

...Yes, the shipping prices are MONUMENTAL, no matter where you go or what you buy.... And you can't even say it's justified, because on top of that, they will charge you the customs duty when it arrives... I live in a border city, and when I bought a computer recently, shipping to El Paso? $27.. Shipping to my house, like 50km from there? $160

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jul 9th 2008 3:32PM]

beto, I would recommend to wait a bit - probably next revision.

First revision would be bought by mostly developer and geeks. Price point of $400 is hard to swallow otherwise. This is like a hint that this is phone not for everybody.

Second revision they must find a way to cut costs. If China would get a wind about such phone, there are big chances that they would start producing them in million quantities bringing prices down.

IMHO, it makes a lot of sense to wait for next revision, unless you are familiar and/or willing to experiment with F/LOSS.

[Reader @ Jul 9th 2008 1:34PM]

Holy shit tits... Comment section is killing my brain these days.

[whiskey @ Jul 9th 2008 6:59PM]

Let us answer today's question... Why a terminal on a Cell Phone...

Those of you who are old enough would remember that Jailbroken iPhones actually needed to access a terminal at first to start programming and running some code to it.

Well, with this phone, there's no need to JailBreak but there might be a need to port... That is compile code from source using the tools on the phone so it runs using the phone's hardware specific instructions... But what's so great about that? you ask...

How about porting all those nifty emulators to be used on your phone? How about some other software (like, just to give you some example, VNC)... How about being able to use the hamachi command line client to access your entire music collection from your VPN. Or using another program to transfer your phone files to another computer... This way you might get to theme it (yaaaay, colors, icons, wallpapers, custom ringtones, yaaay).

The on screen keyboard is too small? Hack it to look (or even behave) like the other ones, or create a new one yourself... Maybe you remember that the Nokia Internet Tablet has a Palm emulator (imagine that on this baby, all those other programs and games).

Why the command line? because it's easier... Instructions are quite simple:

"Copy paste this commands and press enter,
when asked for your password, just write it and press enter,
wait,
enjoy",

rather than

"go here,
download this,
click save as,
place it on your desktop,
have at hand winrar,
scan the file with your antivirus,
open the file by doubleclicking it,
press next 10,000 times,
reboot your pc,
go to start >> all programs >> nifty company name >> nifty program name
then go to the button that says 'press here', press it,
click 'accept' on the UAC permissions dialog 15 times,
wait,
enjoy".

[ThePengwin @ Jul 9th 2008 8:27PM]

Terminal? i can fsck and grep on my phone!? Do want!

Wait, No SMS?!

.....Still want :D

[kingu @ Jul 10th 2008 7:37PM]

Too bad it got sold out so quickly, i want a 900Mhz model, but when i went too see if there were any available, only the 850Mhz network ones were left.

[nanobis @ Jul 15th 2008 9:07PM]

the idea interests me but i have no knowlage of linux or of command lines.

probly not a good idea to get it then.