Symbian Blog: Articles by dalarub

Build Your Own Phone…

Apr 14th by dalarub

Why not? What is preventing the independent developer community taking full advantage of the platform? Well, that could be a rather long list, but I am going to single out one very basic issue – lack of a proper open hardware/open software development vehicle, that is, reference hardware with a relevant processor, and of course… a MODEM!

We have seen that the best way to engage with independent developers has been through a truly open hardware platform like the BeagleBoard, where the data sheet is not secret and the base port is available in source code form. This had to be the starting point if we were going to do something about modems. Having a truly open modem is still a step further; the cost of development of the stack, including the conformance and safe for network testing makes it nearly impossible for the weekend enthusiast. Don’t despair though, there are solutions other than porting Symbian to the HTC ADP1 or the Nokia N900… off-the-shelf GSM/UMTS modules. Read more »

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Delivering on promises…come out to play.

Oct 21st by dalarub

It was beginning of July when I speculated with EPLing the Symbian Kernel (EKA2), giving the process a three months window… and you may think ‘Does it takes three months to change the license notices on the files boilerplate???’.

Err, no, no, that does not take three months, but assembling a suitable kit with a true ARM instruction set simulator, a fully open source baseport for an inexpensive Beagleboard and a freely available toolchain from ARM to build it all… DOES take three months… and a bit, since we are now well into October.

Well, I guess what I am trying to say is that it is time for anyone that has not been exposed to EKA2 before to come out and play at very little or no cost and test the capabilities of the state-of-the-art real time, multitasking, SMP-ready kernel that has, is and will be shipping in millions of smartphones. Read more »

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Security package in EPL…tick…what’s next?

Jul 8th by dalarub

Not a week had gone by since joining the SF when the first big task landed on my still-getting-to-grips-with-my-new-job shaky hands… take the security package through the Architecture Council and obtain approval for EPLing asap. Easier said than done, as you can read in Craig’s post We’re Off and Running! it was a steep learning curve for all of us involved, despite everyone’s, and I mean this, everyone’s common goals to move the code to EPL. There’s that, true commitment to open source. Read more »

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