Edelweiss to launch first ALP-powered smartphone?

It's somewhat difficult to believe that the Access Linux Platform (also referred to as ALP) still has proponents out there, but apparently, Edelweiss could be gearing up to launch what would be the very first ALP-powered handset available on the open market. Slated to launch exclusively in Russia, the touchscreen-driven smartphone would boast a 3.5-inch 854 x 480 resolution screen, quad-band GSM / tri-band UMTS support, 8GB / 16GB of internal capacity, GPS and a 3.2-megapixel camera with Auto Focus. Word around the block has it that the device was actually designed by Emblaze and will eventually be manufactured by Sharp, but that's if the teaser site actually leads to anything tangible.

[Via PalmInfoCenter]

[Gnormie @ Oct 14th 2008 9:10AM]

Those specs are actually pretty impressive, though tbh I can't really get along with the design, if that's a 3.5" screen the casing must be pretty close to the size of the HTC Touch HD, which would be the better option in this case.

And using the Access Linux platform now? Very bad timing, most open source developers will be flocking to Android for the mobile market because potentially it gives them a much larger market for their creations.

[Jay Kaplan,dds @ Oct 14th 2008 9:16AM]

What hole in the market does this fill?

[iEye @ Oct 14th 2008 9:19AM]

The "A-hole" market of people who secretly want one but are ashamed for laughing at it before it was released...

iPhone away!

[Rudolphe @ Oct 14th 2008 9:26AM]

It's sad that all the iTards think the iPhone was the first touchscreen high powered mobile device.... IE: iEye and friends.

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th Account Happy @ Oct 14th 2008 9:44AM]

@ rudolphe

its true

[j_g_puff @ Oct 14th 2008 9:45AM]

Yes, I hate him too, but you've got to rank him up for his 'A-hole' comment. I actually guffawed.

[chickenator @ Oct 14th 2008 11:51AM]

me too ranked him up

[Frankie @ Oct 14th 2008 12:18PM]

Together we can get him out of this hole. I ranked him up as well. (The a-hole thing was clever)

[Gordon @ Oct 14th 2008 9:25AM]

I, for one, welcome our Android overlords.

Huh? There are still other Linux/mobile platforms out there still? :)

[Frankie @ Oct 14th 2008 9:26AM]

yeah, I think they would have benefited by using the Android OS which has recently become the most popular linux-based mobile Operating System.

[Ike Turner @ Oct 14th 2008 9:40AM]

"has recently become the most popular linux-based mobile Operating System."

Without a single unit shipped!

OMG Jesus Christ our lord and Saviour! Google is the WINnAR!!

Seriously..Google/Apple/MS/Sony fanboys are awsome! Yeah!

[Frankie @ Oct 14th 2008 10:44AM]

@ike turner
Would you like to combat what I said? To reiterate: Anodroid is the most popular linux based mobile OS. Is it not? And please don't tell me OpenMoko is the most popular. What does the number of units shipped have to do with popularity anyway, or would my comment be more valid on Oct 22nd?

Me acknowledging the success of Android makes me a Fanboy? Wow "ike turner" you're an idiot.

I'm tired of intellectually lambasting flamers like you...

[Sarig @ Oct 14th 2008 12:33PM]

Define mobile? There are non-phone mobile linux distros out there already.

[Frankie @ Oct 14th 2008 1:26PM]

@Sarig
Oh really?!!? I had no idea that there were mobile versions of Linux, like Ubuntu MID edition... I had no idea that the guys at XDA-devs are getting closer to having a fully functioning version of Linux running on the HTC Universal. Damn, where have I been, please, help me catch up to speed.

Seriously speaking now; Based on your comment I can deduce that you knew what I meant when I said "Linux-based mobile OS" otherwise you would not have mentioned "non-phone mobile linux distros", So, what were you trying to prove again?

Considering that this discussion is about a phone I didn't feel the need to specify. But, just for you: "Based on the anticipation of the T-Mobile G1, with 1.5M estimated preorders in 3 weeks, combined with the media frenzy, and mainstream availability, and distribution by the 2nd largest GSM cellular provider in the US, I feel as though Android is the most popular Linux-based operating system to be functioning on a mobile phone"

Is it really that serious Sarig? Leave it alone.

[John P @ Oct 14th 2008 9:33AM]

Regardless of whether it is Android-based or not, this phone looks comparable/good against other current minimalist-era phones, and has some pretty nice specs to boot. If it functions well, why not release it? That's the spirit of the free market and perfect competition.

[S* @ Oct 14th 2008 9:40AM]

There's a logic indeed, if you know that Edelweis in Italian sounds "stella ALPina" :-)

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 14th 2008 10:12AM]

Wow! Nice competition!!

1. Multi-touch iPhone
2. Touch-screen Symbian
3. The long-dreamed Android
4. Now the ALP- Touched version
5. Oops! I forgot our old Windows Mobile


Mobile OS development is very hot!!!

[Benson @ Oct 14th 2008 10:45AM]

What is it with Russia getting the cool high-res handsets these days? I'm used to getting snubbed on devices in favor of Asian and European joints, but the Russians?

[SHoe @ Oct 14th 2008 12:15PM]

Would be so ironic if this bastard off-spring of Palm / Palm OS (that is what ALP is) was to be come successful while Palm went on to launch their new OS next year to spectacular failure (having twice turned their noses up at PalmSource/Access Palm OS successers. Palm wasn't going to wait around for Access - no siree! They would rush to get their own Linux based OS out. Great strategy: not only did Palm further splinter the mobile Linux market; they splintered the 'mobile Linux OS with built-in Palm OS compatibility' market.

I might be totally wrong and this might be a dog while the new Palm OS might rock. But hard to imagine it makes any sense for Palm to further segment things and go it alone in a very crowded smartphone market when they could have devices out now based on this OS and not waste precious resources / dollars to launch something else a year from now.

Anyways, I want to check this out.

[puppydogpoo @ Oct 14th 2008 1:46PM]

Not meaning anything negative, it reminds me of the Art Lebedev concept phone: http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/25/art-lebedevs-scartel-wimax-handset-concept-were-moving-to-rus/

[x3qt0r @ Oct 14th 2008 2:16PM]

Linux rocks!

[Shluz @ Oct 14th 2008 5:38PM]

Emblaze...? my aunt work there (in Israel)