Hi, tanguyr wrote: > source: > http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2008/gb20080612_288518.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business > > the killer quote: > > Jaaksi admitted that concepts like these [DRM, intellectual property > rights, SIM locks and subsidised business models]"go against the > open-source philosophy", but said they were necessary components of > the current mobile industry. "Why do we need closed vehicles? We > do," he said. "Some of these things harm the industry but they're > here [as things stand]. These are touchy, emotional issues but this > dialogue is very much needed. As an industry, *we plan to use > open-source technologies but we are not yet ready to play by the > rules; but this needs to work the other way round too*." I see no problem with this position. Linux doesn't need Nokia, Nokia doesn't need Linux. If Nokia uses Linux it'll be because it suits their needs and satisfies their constraints, or because they believe it can do so in the near future with their help. When I am using my cellphone, I'm mostly unaware of the OS. Every Linux phone out there has a bunch of closed components, including, usually, the GUI. Through maemo and GNOME Mobile, I'm happy to try and understand the needs of mobile device makers and contribute to making a software stack that suits those needs, without compromising my standards on freedom. But I'm not going to insist that someone use software which doesn't cover their constraints. Currently, free software does not meet all needs. In the mobile industry, if you're a handset manufacturer, a big part of your constraints is "here's the hardware we're putting in the phone. Here are the regulatory constraints we have. Here are the conditions under which I can have this hardware on this date at this price." And a completely free software solution does not meet those constraints. I'm happy to see companies like Nokia invest in R&D to create a free software stack that moves closer to fitting their needs. It's a lot better than companies like Motorola, shipping a Linux kernel with an in-house stack on top, or even Android, the "we swear, it'll be free soon" javaish-based proprietary stack. Cheers, Dave. -- maemo.org docsmaster Email: dneary@xxxxxxxxx Jabber: bolsh@xxxxxxxxxx _______________________________________________ maemo-users mailing list maemo-users@xxxxxxxxx https://lists.maemo.org/mailman/listinfo/maemo-users
