Apparently this OS upgrade is different from previous firmware changes in many regards: It doesnt' break application compatibility for most applications. OS2008 Chinook applications should work under OS2008 Diablo. Also, the mail client is finally changed! We welcome the Modest client.
There are more, but the update is not yet official. We'll know all the details when it comes in the release notes.
Finally, Brighthand also has an editorial called "It's not the hardware. It's the user experience that's broken." This mirrors many of my thoughts in a previous editorial basically stating that the software experience needs to catch up with the hardware excellence. It's coming. I hope.
On a final note: The ThoughtFix studio is now under construction in the new apartment. There's much unpacking to do, but expect more video and live shows in the near future.
5 comments:
"We'll know all the details when it comes in the release notes."
In almost 3 years we haven't had a real release notes, why do you think now we could have it?
This was also true of the Sharp Zaurus - another innovative pice of hardware in its time, but the software experience was lacking.
This seems to be true for most Linux based devices - maybe because Linux hasnt had the development phase on mobile consumer devices as much.
Or maybe, gasp, because most of the Linux developers still are just amateurs - as there are few companies developing sofware commercially - as there is no real consumer market. Chicken - egg -chicken.
Well let's see what the alternatives are:
Windows Mobile - it is a usability nightmare and a architectural nightmare too so the product from the biggest software company shows that this is not about commercial influence to get it done right.
Even the Internet experience with PocketIE is a nightmare on it's own.
What is nice is the big software portfolio, that's where Microsoft always had it's only really strong point.
PalmOS - those devices are nice but fall into the category of PIM PDAs, where they really shine. But when it comes to surfing the Internet they fail too.
iPhone - they shine in many aspects and what really matters is their 3D acceleration(!) for compositing, zooming, scrolling and smoothness.
In conclusion:
The hardware of the N8x0 offers (at least to some degree) 3D acceleration but the *closed* drivers are not available to the users.
That's where many Linux developers fail - they deny the possibilities of OpenGL-only frameworks. In contrast Compiz showed the demand for such things.
And @viipottaja, there are amateur developers in the Linux world but there are really many, many high profile developers.
You have to consider the paid ones and the ones working in their free time.
Time is a strong aspect here (as is money of course).
Thanks for the link love for both those pieces.
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