Motorola To Launch Next Gen Linux Based Handsets In 2Q 2008

Motorola plans to launch its next-generation Linux-based "Ming" handsets in the second quarter of 2008, with the hand input intelligence handsets to be available in both high-end and entry-level versions, according to market sources. Previously, the Ming was released only in a high-end version.

While Motorola's R&D center in Beijing will continue to handle the development of the high-end version of the new Ming handsets, the US vendor will outsource the production of the new entry-level Ming handsets to the Taiwan-based Inventec Group, according to the sources, who also noted that the new Ming handsets will continue to support the 2.5G standard.

Motorola on December 17 launched its high-end 3.5G RAZR V9 in Taiwan, and the company plans to introduce in Taiwan a Symbian-based ROKR Z8, Windows Mobile-based Q9 and three entry-level models, including the W360 and W213, before the end of this year, according to Bill Chen, general manager of of mobile device business at Motorola Taiwan.

Handsets supporting the 3G standard will account for 50% of all handsets sold in Taiwan in 2008, Chen projected.

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Microsoft vs Google ?? gOS vs Windows ??

Microsoft's rivalry with Google heated up considerably this past year when rumors surfaced that Google might release its own operating system to compete with Windows. Has Google finally jumped into the fray with its own OS?

Unfortunately, no; gOS is not a "Google OS" nor is it affiliated with Google (though Desktop Linux has reported that Google has seen gOS and approved inclusion of the Google toolbar with the operating system).

gOS is developed by Good OS LLC out of Los Angeles. It's based on Ubuntu Linux 7.10 and runs the Enlightenment E17 interface instead of KDE or Gnome. Despite not being created by Google, the focus of gOS is Google's online applications such as GMail, Google News, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, etc. It's a neat concept for a Linux distribution, but how practical is it?

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Google To Unveil 'Android' Phone Software

Cnet is reporting that as part of Monday's big press conference, Google will unveil their iPhone killer gPhone OS, tentatively codenamed Android. Sources are calling the OS a "a complete mobile-phone software stack" that will be followed shortly after by a SDK (Translation: this isn't just an ad system and will have more than a bunch of lame web apps).

As we mentioned before, CNET affirms that the OS should be open-source and Linux based, but we shouldn't expect to see it in stores soon. The number of companies involved (over 30) will make it difficult to move quickly on this. I'm just glad that this thing is moving out from the shadowy depths of rumorville.

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Asustek P5E3 Motherboard Features Embedded "Splashtop" Linux Variant

Splashtop is a Linux variant that provides basic functionality like wired and wireless connectivity, Firefox, Skype, and simple games. The uniqueness about this software is it that it runs entirely in RAM. That means you don't have to wait for your computer to boot in order to surf or chat on the internet. With the release of the P5E3, Asustek has become the first manufacturer to implement Splashtop in a motherboard.

What does this mean for you? It could definitely be useful if you are extremely impatient and or want to save a few bucks on your energy bill, but the fact that Splastop can't save anything locally could prove problematic. However, future upgrades to the software could this functionality--among other things. In the meantime, the specs on the P5E3 are worth checking out: Intel X38 chipset, DDR3 1800MHz dual-channel memory support, Dual PCI Express 2.0 x16 lanes, ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) allows users to monitor and change CPU power supply, and 802.11n WiFi support.

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