If 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??
"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."<a class="user" href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html">http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html</a>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, "<a class="user" href="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html">http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.h ...</a>
CDMA 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.
after apple f**ked up again in firmware 3.0 with changes just to break libgpod - Im jumping ship. Maybe pre/webOS (the pre is fugly) or android. Cant be bothered with cat & mouse with apple anymore.
You already basically have it. It's called Safari. WebOS is basically a webkit browser environment except that the web apps but part of their code is stored on the phone instead of the webserver.
johnglaveJun 20, 2009
What about running it on the iPhone?
devophlJun 21, 2009
If 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??
sandipcJun 21, 2009
uh, the iPhone and Pre use the same ARM processor now
Closed AccountJun 21, 2009
"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."<a class="user" href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html">http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl.html</a>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, "<a class="user" href="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html">http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.h ...</a>
honoredmuleJun 21, 2009
CDMA 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.
ldogJun 22, 2009
Very cool that WebOS is open source. But why does that automatically make it better than Android on the iPhone? They're both open source.
ldogJun 22, 2009
Not if they're divided into kernel modules and binary blobs, like the nvidia drivers are.
paulsmith288Jun 24, 2009
after apple f**ked up again in firmware 3.0 with changes just to break libgpod - Im jumping ship. Maybe pre/webOS (the pre is fugly) or android. Cant be bothered with cat & mouse with apple anymore.
aristotle0dudeJul 19, 2009
Do you like Javascript and a handful of API calls? What's wrong with Java? It's not C/C++ but it is better than Javascript.
aristotle0dudeJul 20, 2009
You already basically have it. It's called Safari. WebOS is basically a webkit browser environment except that the web apps but part of their code is stored on the phone instead of the webserver.