What is Digg?87 Comments
- rnawky, on 06/21/2009, -9/+51Meanwhile Apple takes BSD (open source) and adapts it to the iPhone OS and doesn't release the source code and profits greatly off it.
- PatrickBrown, on 06/21/2009, -1/+41Although Open Source DOES lead to cross platform.
- GoldenChaos, on 06/21/2009, -0/+37This is NOT the source code for all of WebOS. This is the same misleading information that happened with the whole "Kindle source code released!" debacle. These are just the modified GPL parts of WebOS; Palm is required under the GPL license to release their modifications of any GPL component. Other companies have to do the same thing, but for some reason we only make a big deal about it over a select few cases.
So no, WebOS is NOT open source, nor was any of its proprietary source code released. It was, however, derived from many open source components - but the proprietary components are not, and will not be released (just like for the Kindle software). So you won't be seeing WebOS on any other device that isn't made by Palm - ever (unless Palm licenses the software). The same goes for the Kindle, which also had the same huge misunderstanding. - stoanhart, on 06/20/2009, -0/+28Neat! I didn't expect they would release all the drivers they wrote for their phone; with these out there, it should not be long before Android can be run on the Pre.
- drstock, on 06/21/2009, -2/+26BSD uses the aptly named BSD license, which allows you to pretty much take the code and do what you want with it. Linux is released under the more restrictive GPL which requires you to release any derivative work under GPL.
- InactiveCargo, on 06/21/2009, -5/+28Open Source != Cross Platform
- kgdoom, on 06/21/2009, -0/+22WebOS uses the Linux kernel, which under GPL requires modifications to be made public.
- Feldon, on 06/20/2009, -2/+23That's the idea and also give freedom to do with it as you wish.
- marx2k, on 06/21/2009, -0/+20Open source is what allows easy cross platform.
- h4mx0r, on 06/21/2009, -1/+21Go Palm! They're no longer a sinking ship anymore eh?
- drr104, on 06/21/2009, -1/+19Maybe I've missed something, but isn't this just existing GPL code they've used/patched? And not anything new like the WebOS interface?
A quick look over the package list and I don't see anything too exciting; but it would presumably help someone build their own OS for the handset.
It's late - I could well be wrong... - meridian, on 06/20/2009, -0/+17Along with updated version 1.0.3 today
- anshuman, on 06/20/2009, -0/+15Super cool. I think all opensource champions/users/bloggers should cheer this to max. All linux users , get behind this phone. lets trumpet this to top phone used.
(btw_ i just wished it was gsm capable , cdma ties to network and its not that good to be tied) . - weeFred, on 06/21/2009, -0/+13I'm an android user myself, but this is awesome. The more competition and choice the better the mobile market is for everybody, and webOS really is shaping up to be great competition.
- Johnglave, on 06/20/2009, -2/+14So WebOS is open source? If so you must be able to run it on other phones?
- sgarrity, on 06/21/2009, -0/+12Note the use of libgpod ("a shared library to access the contents of an iPod") - presumably something to do with their ability to sync with iTunes.
- deff, on 06/21/2009, -0/+12The Android source has been available for a while.
http://source.android.com/download - vitriolix, on 06/21/2009, -1/+13How does it show that? Android's entire code base, including its platform SDK are all available under an OSS license.
- burrgrinder, on 06/21/2009, -3/+15Yawn. Microsoft has used BSD code before as well. The license explicitly allows it.
Also, Apple releases almost all of their BSD modifications back to the community through the Darwin project. Their UI remains closed source, but their kernel and system utilities are freely available.
http://www.opensource.apple.com/
Apple's XNU kernel: http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/xnu/xnu-122 ...
Launchd, Apple's version of cron: http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/launchd/lau ... - NerveBand, on 06/21/2009, -0/+11Sadly its the latter.
- SmSpillaz, on 06/21/2009, -0/+11Uhh, is this the actual source code of WebOS from top to bottom (i.e the UI) or just the modifications to the kernel and other GPL'd bits they were using in order to comply with the GPL?
- wwwluckyro, on 06/21/2009, -0/+11@spectre_25gt
It's a "because you can" thing. - sockpuppets, on 06/21/2009, -5/+15That only works if you have your liver replaced along with it.
- monkeyrun, on 06/21/2009, -0/+10I doubt that includes their UI layer.
Probably just parts of the kernel and drivers they modified, and obligated to release under GPL. - scottied, on 06/21/2009, -0/+9Awesome! HUGE asset for open source and free/libre software
- sgarrity, on 06/21/2009, -0/+8So, is the source code of the actual Palm WebOS available, or is this just the customized versions and modifications to packages that they've built the WebOS on top of?
- zwaldowski, on 06/21/2009, -1/+9Because it'd be cool.
- zwaldowski, on 06/21/2009, -1/+8Well, ***** Android on the iPhone. WebOS, here we come...
- booyahbitch, on 06/21/2009, -8/+15To be fair, they actually purchased a distribution of BSD and adapted it to the iPhone...as well as OS X.
- vitriolix, on 06/21/2009, -0/+7From skimming the list of packages on their open source site, it looks like just their drivers and modifications to the traditional linux stack, not the high level application toolkits, ie, the stuff the users actually interact with
- theghoul, on 06/21/2009, -2/+9Opensource. Is there anything it cant do?
- surreal1111, on 06/21/2009, -2/+8soooo. how long before I can run WebOS on my iphone? :)
- KibibyteBrain, on 06/21/2009, -0/+6Umm, so that Pre owners could run Android Apps? That would only make the Pre even better than it already is. You do realize you can run the Android platform on other OSes...
- dualityim, on 06/21/2009, -2/+8Too soon, sockpuppets, too soon.
- devophl, on 06/21/2009, -0/+5CDMA has about half the US market with Verizon and Sprint. But CDMA is barely used outside of the US. Its estimated that over 80% of the world's cell phone users are on a GSM network with the bulk of those not being in the US. So if you're outside the US, it makes NO sense to have a CDMA phone. Palm knows this.
But I believe Palm did this to fill a void in the US on CDMA. The iPhone is a juggernaut and Palm can't (at least at this point) compete directly against Apple. Apple will likely sell 5 times as many iPhone 3GSs as Palm will sell Pres this quarter. If the Pre had been released on AT&T initially, it would have been dead on arrival. The only hope Palm had was to get it onto a carrier that had no access to the iPhone in hopes that it can pry open a door that's basically shut.
My suspicion is that when Palm has a GSM capable phone later this year, it won't be sold in the US. It would be stupid for Palm to offer it to AT&T and I'm not sure T-mobile has the network needed to take advantage of the Pre. I also suspect that the Pre might gain some traction outside of the US where phones are judged more on functionality than glitz. Apple's attempts to keep the iPhone and its apps under tight control is leaving an opening for Palm and I think that will play well in Europe and Asia. I think the release of WebOS code is just another sign that Palm wants to differentiate itself from Apple and maybe go after the Android world as well.
Then if the Pre and WebOS become more than a niche platform, you might see it try and tackle the iPhone on GSM in the US. We'll see... - seinman, on 06/21/2009, -0/+5GSM version is coming in September, I believe.
- devophl, on 06/21/2009, -0/+5If this is true, then its not much of a release. Most of this stuff is already available in some form since Linux has been on embedded devices for a while.
But I think Palm's modifications might be noteworthy for another developer to look into WebOS on another cell phone platform. Then Palm licenses the WebOS interface for profit?? - fitzfan, on 06/21/2009, -1/+6They are still posting losses, The ship is sinking at a slower speed than before, but it is still sinking. They can only post losses for so long before they become insolvent. They wont sell enough Pres to be profitable this year, but if they can't break even by 2010 they are toast.
- cactus476, on 06/21/2009, -1/+6Yay! Looks like Palm has learned from their Zire 72/T5/T3/E2 wifi driver debacle.
Edit: Looks like Palm still has freely downloadable software updates and manuals from 2000; nice! - zwaldowski, on 06/21/2009, -1/+5And a "because I'm in a contract" thing and a "I don't like CDMA" thing.
- nadadingsda, on 06/21/2009, -0/+4It has been mentioned above but I will repeat it here: They didn't release the whole WebOS source code, just their modifications of existing open source kernel/applications/libraries, which the GPL requires them to do. It should also be mentioned that Palm violated the GPL by releasing their modifications 2 weeks after shipping their product.
- KAMiKAZOW, on 06/21/2009, -0/+4@Deleted: You are confusing WebOS with Symbian. Symbian is mature and fully open. The Qt port to Symbian is still beta, though (Qt is said to be more developer friendly than native Symbian APIs).
- wowza194234, on 06/21/2009, -1/+5This is a very good thing
- kanojo1969, on 06/21/2009, -3/+7This is fantastic, it will be interesting to see what becomes of it - it's possible that it could usurp android for hacking on if it proves to be friendly to other hardware and a decent community grows around it. Highly unlikely - I doubt Palm is interested in supporting an effort to get other phones running this - but still, it's a cool thing.
Apple really have no clue. This whole iPhone fascination is going to be quite temporary. - jonsterling, on 06/21/2009, -1/+5OK, I suppose it would be cool. But in the same sense of cool that it is to run a C64 emulator on your iPhone. So, not stupid. Just not that useful.
- warp99, on 06/21/2009, -0/+3"It should also be mentioned that Palm violated the GPL by releasing their modifications 2 weeks after shipping their product."
They didn't violate the GPL since they made the offer of source to customers who purchased their phones. Having the source available on a public server is only one method of distribution. Here's the actual language:
GPL 3 License
"b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge."
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html
GPL 2 License
"b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, "
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.h ... - Johnglave, on 06/20/2009, -1/+4What about running it on the iPhone?
- KAMiKAZOW, on 06/21/2009, -0/+3 Not releasing the drivers would be a GPL violation.
- HonoredMule, on 06/21/2009, -0/+3CDMA is pretty dominant here in Canada as well, and the GSM providers (at least on the East Coast) are also the less reputable ones.
What I see so far in this code release is that Palm respects the GPL. I have the impression that Palm is a more open and responsible player in the market than even Google, but that has less to do with the licensing/availability of the code and more with how it's being wielded without leverage granted to anti-consumer interests. Even Android is a more controlled platform with evidence of aggressive business-types and lawyers behind its operation. - sandipc, on 06/21/2009, -0/+3uh, the iPhone and Pre use the same ARM processor now
-
Show 51 - 87 of 87 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is