OpenMoko branches out with new $99 WikiReader device

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/openmoko-branches-out-with-new-99-wikireader-device/

by Shamiq • 17 years ago

17 10 17 years ago

Shamiq2• 17 years ago

I was really really hoping the OpenMoko phone wouldn't have been such a flop AND cost a ton. My guess is you need the resources (more that just money) a company such as Google can provide to currently develop and popularize an Open Source phone.

Any genius here capable of shaking up that market?

pavlov• 17 years ago

How about the Nokia N900? It's a fully open Linux phone made by a company with a lot of resources (and the need to push the platform, in light of Symbian's failure to live up to expectations).

http://maemo.nokia.com/n900

Shamiq2• 17 years ago

Any ideas on cost?

jfager• 17 years ago

One of the things that made OpenMoko's FreeRunner interesting was that it was also an open hardware platform - all parts used had publicly available documentation, there was a debug port with direct access to all low-level hardware, and effort was made to make it hardware-hacker friendly. The N900 looks nice, but it's not near as open as the FreeRunner.

codedivine• 17 years ago

Anybody interested in this device? I don't see who would want to buy it?

stcredzero• 17 years ago

If one could lower the cost to $20 or lower, and include WiFi with an open mesh mode, then I could see a market for this. (But it would be grade school children!)

far33d• 17 years ago

Free app on a device I already carry around all day vs. $99 single use-case app... no brainer.

windsurfer• 17 years ago

Exactly! This would be great for those people that find computers too complicated.

OpenMoko branches out with new $99 WikiReader device

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