Fun with mobile devices

Welcome

Codebits 2008Marcus Bauer - bearstech.com

What is the talk about?

Presentation of a mobile platform: the Openmoko Freerunner

● What is it?● What can you do with it?● What software stacks exist?● How do you develop for it?● Ideas for hacking - be creative & innovative

Thought experiment

Let's go back to 1980IBM PC - the begin of personal computing:

Thought experiment

● 4,77 Mhz● 16KB - 256KB RAM memory● 360KB floppy disk● optional 10 MB harddisk● no networking● big box on your desktop● 80x24 character screen (no graphics)● 25 kilograms, 150 Watt

Thought experiment

● Let's jump back to 2008 - Openmoko Neo:

Thought experiment

● 128 MB RAM● 450 MHz CPU● up to 8 GB flash storage● fully networked: not just on the desk but

everywhere● 120 grams

=> it fits in your pocket!

Thought experiment

● don't compare to a desktop computer,you will miss the opportunities

● think like somebody from 1980 suddenly offered this gadget

● free your mind from quad core CPUs, 1TB harddisks and Gbit Ethernet

To repeat the Mantra: It's cool - it fits in my pocket and can go everywhere

Thought experiment

More hardware features:

● networked everywhere by GPRS,prices are dropping

● power needs: 1 Watt (solar panel)● location based services: built-in GPS● universal connectivity: USB

data acquisition● accelerometers: fun● high resolution 285dpi VGA screen 640x480

Thought experiment

Even printing and scanning via USB possible.Think beyond limits - unleash your mind!

Software Stack

What do we have?What can we build upon?

Software Stack

Hackabable1, a distribution by Bearstech integrates Open Source for easy development:

● Debian-> 15.000+ packages

● GNOME mobile implementation-> industry heavy weights

● full LAMP stack-> easy integration with the web

Software Stack

Debian

● available for ARM

● apt-get install

● build and package management tools

Software Stack

GNOME mobile supported by

● Moblin (Intel)● Limo Foundation (many major manfs & ops)● Ubuntu

=> good base for development, future proof=> mature, well documented

Software Stack

LAMP

● Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP

● python, ruby...● sqlite, a lightweight alternative● even postgres possible if need for

transactions

=> mobile device development is no longer only for specialized embedded developers

Software Stack

A word about embedded development

● GTK apps work everywhere, just recompile for ARM or i386: the netbook and mobile worlds are growing together

● full toolchain on the device, start in 5 minutes: apt­get source ­b hello

● for speed up compiling use distcc

Software Stack

tangoGPS - an Open Source GPS Application● with friend finder and POI support

Software Stack

A word about open source and the power of communites

● wikipedia

● openstreetmap.org - collaborative mapping

● starting you own projects: gain experience

Create, Hack & Innovate

What can you do?Some ideas...

Create, Hack & Innovate

● tourism: lbs guides & information systems

● lbs based social networking

● location games - “scotland yard”

● disaster recovery - “Myanmar|Birma”

● NGO 3rd world databases - think vaccination

Create, Hack & Innovate

Needed skills:

● either web or embedded● CSS, Javascript, PHP, etc...● C, C++, Python...

Several devices are availableplus support for the contestGTD in 30 hours: possible hacks, shortcuts...

Create, Hack & Innovate

Now it's your turn!

Create, Hack & Innovate

Questions? Go ahead!

Create, Hack & Innovate

Last not least: bearstech is growing and we are looking for talents...

Thank you for listening!

Ressources

http://www.bearstech.com/

http://www.hackable1.com/

http://www.tangogps.org/