linuxdevices.com — Garmin has posted Linux source code for its Nuvi 8xx and Nuvi 5xxx-series GPS navigation devices. The Nuvi 8xx offers a 4.3-inch, 480x272 display, and appears to be based on a Marvell PXA-3xx processor, Gnome Mobile Linux, and GeoClue location technology.
Jul 3, 2008 View in Crawl 4
stonekeeperJul 4, 2008
WHOOSH!!!
yoshi39Jul 4, 2008
Correct me if I'm wrong but this should mean that they already have their navigation software running on the linux kernel so porting it to the pc should be trivial but to be honest I doubt they would do it as I suspect they make the most money off of the hardware then the software
truck87bpJul 4, 2008
If a Garmin can talk to the driver, why can't Ubuntu talk to me? Isn't it open source?
jay019Jul 5, 2008
He said it ran linux not vista :P
gigaJul 5, 2008
Gnome runs on more than just Linux. They could have said Gnome *BSD. They didn't say Gnome is Linux, they are saying they use Gnome ON Linux.
gigaJul 5, 2008
Doing the bare minimum to comply with the licences is fine with me. Why? Because the licences are so strict that the bare minimum essentially means they are contributing code back to the community, it just means the upstream devs have to go through a bit of effort to get the modifications if they want them. It is certainly better than all the companies out there that don't comply with the licences.
gigaJul 5, 2008
"All they care about is money"Shame on them! Why should a for-profit commercial entity care about money? That's just greedy!I think the main reason this article is popular is that it means that more commercial entities are moving away from proprietary software systems and the device is more easily accessible to the hackers out there. We generally don't care if Garmin did it to please the users.
tripzeroJul 7, 2008
Now if Garmin could release good mapping software for Linux.... There's a big whole, and a big need... Who's going to fill it?
tripzeroJul 7, 2008
I think the most successful of companies (those with good images) area balance between being pro consumer, giving them what they want at a price they can afford, and boosting their bottom line. Microsoft, for example has a generally negative image as being bias towards profit at the expense of consumers (producing lock-in products, flexing monopolistic muscles, etc), where Google on the other hand has the perception of being pro-consumer, pro-openness, and just happens to also make lots of money.It's a matter of perception, but I personally believe that the more balanced companies are the most successful. Garmin probably doesn't see the market potential, or they don't have the resources to persue the Linux market. However, i don't see them as being a pro-profit-at-the-expense-of-the-consumer company.
slikstaJul 9, 2008
Gonna have to remember to never buy a magellan device. Thanks for the info.
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