Build error on Android rowboat

I was building the code for TI omap3evm and I found that on FC14, I was getting the error from the make file of kernel. It told "Mixed implicit and normal rules". On a bit of googling, I found http://www.mail-archive.com/bug-make@gnu.org/msg06220.html

The file "hardware/ti/sgx/GFX_Linux_KM/eurasiacon/build/linux/omap3630_android/kbuild/../../kbuild/Makefile.kbuild" need to be modified as follows:

Change "all %:" to
all:
    (Build command)
%::
    (Build command)

Middle men

http://www.pcworld.com/article/219776/rim_nokia_docomo_dodge_googles_dumb_pipe_menace.html

OK, losers consortium has taken shape. But, what are they driving at? The whole discussion is centered around how to enable the service provider to be the middle man and extort money from poor end user. With what face is Nokia and RIM going to face end customers now? A smart phone today costs 20-30k (INR). After taking such huge amounts from end customer, they want to create means for the letting the service provider loot the customer! Shame on them.

May be your service provider is subsidizing your phone. However, that reminds me about the phones (LG-LSI110) that Reliance used to sell for 3K! I am pretty much sure that it didn't have electronics and plastics worth even Rs. 1000. However, the phone came with the note that its cost is 10K and it is owned by Reliance. This was about 7 years back. I doubt there will be any change today. Anyway, would you prefer to get a smart phone at a subsidized cost when you pretty well know that this amount will be recovered from you through monopolistic practices of the service provider?

Well, I recently used a Galaxy tab to download and test an application (ZXing). The ability to customize your smart phone by pushing an apk to it after enabling USB debugging was probably the only reason needed for paying 30K for that device. Well, Nokia, go back and make some good Android phones and I will buy them (Yes, I would prefer to buy android from Nokia over any other vendor) when they become available.

Has Linux lost the Desktop war?

http://www.techeye.net/software/linuxs-chance-has-gone
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/207999/desktop_linux_the_dream_is_dead.html?tk=hp_new

Those are the two interesting links that I came across recently. They make the statement (rather convincingly) that the Linux has lost in the Desktop front. I look at it from a different perspective. I would say that Desktop has lost its place as a PC (personal computer).

Today, we can clearly see that Desktops are rapidly getting replaced with smart phones and MIDs. And, what are the two most interesting players in that domain? Though a subject of argument, Android is surely one of the forerunners for the title. Next, look at the cloud computing. Though in RC stage, Google chrome OS has made generated enough buzz among the tech community. I am sure that with the weight of Google behind these two distributions, Linux will stay close to you though the Desktop might not!

$35 tablet

Well, today I saw this news about $35 tablet

http://androidos.in/2010/09/the-truth-about-35-android-tablet-from-indian-government/

As per that page, governments claim of developing a tablet here in India is false. The blogger claims that the tablet is imported from China. But, the government claims that it is developed by a student in Vellore. Now, have a closer look at the Chinese one

If you see that closely, this device is based on ARM11. It has 256MB RAM. Well, I have been looking for the specs of the Indian tablet. Guess what I found:

http://armdevices.net/2010/07/23/indias-35-tablet-is-based-on-my-video/

The device seen there is very much speculated to be the Indian device that is priced at $35. However, that seem to be something made by a private company and not by universities or government. More details of this can be found here: http://www.allgosystems.com/html/android_stamp_i.mx233.htm

If that were the device which Mr. Sibal was talking about, then it is pretty clear that there is a difference in the processor itself (this one uses ARM9, i.MX233) and they are indeed different apart from the plastic out side. Sadly, I could not find more details on the stuff Mr. Sibal was talking about. The best I could get was this: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/11/35-tablet-makes-an-appearance-on-indian-tv-video/

Well, now I am confused. What is the spec of the stuff that government is going to bring out? Who is this AllGo guy? Did the student after making it at campus go and join this AllGo? Was this a reference design that Freescale or someone like that floated and everyone copied? Did the student who designed it, copy the stuff from somewhere else?

The government tablet seems to have 3G support and 2G RAM. The AllGo one does not have 3G and the RAM is only 128MB. Well, I really doubt 2G RAM is a mistake. Else that itself will cost > $35. May be its 2GB flash.Well, I think I will wait for a while till more information is available.