| Gnome initiative targets mobile and embedded apps |
Apr. 19, 2007
 The Gnome Foundation has launched a Mobile & Embedded Initiative (GMAE), it announced today. The Initiative aims to "advance the use, development and commercialization of GNOME components as a mobile and embedded user experience platform," according to its mission statement.
The Initiative appears to be focused on maintaining a GMAE "Platform," a subset of the Gnome desktop stack that, like Gnome, will be licensed under the GNU LGPL (Lesser General Public License). The LGPL "allows for royalty-free use in proprietary software products, but encourages contribution of platform code changes back to the community," the GMAE said.
The GMAE Platform provides C, C++, and Python APIs (application programming interfaces), and initially comprises:- GTK+ (Gimp ToolKit), the "core user experience toolkit"
- GStreamer multimedia support
- Telepathy instant messaging and presence
- BlueZ Bluetooth stack
- E-D-S contacts and calendaring
- Avahi network service discovery
Current GMAE software stack architecture
Additionally, GMAE participants plan to "grow the platform aggressively," adding new technologies and functionality over the coming year. New components under consideration include the Java Mobile and Embedded platform (JME), GeoClue geolocation service, HAL hardware information system, PulseAudio audio management service, and Tinymail mobile email framework.
Besides Platform growth, GMAE's stated objectives include plans to:- Increase community and commercial visibility of GMAE technology and participating organizations
- Coordinate investment in the GTK+ and GNOME platform, documentation, and developer tools
- Increase development focus on the "mobile experience," particularly the integration of GNOME desktop and GMAE technology
- Facilitate healthy development collaboration between participating organizations, the GNOME community and related projects; and between GNOME platform, desktop and GMAE developers
- Pursue standardization opportunities for the platform, and potentially at the user experience level
- "Ensure that Software Freedom is a reality beyond the desktop, and available in the hands of users around the world"
Initial Initiative participants include existing Gnome Foundation members Access, Canonical, Debian, Igalia, Imendio, Intel, Nokia, OLPC, MatchBox maintainer OpenedHand, and Red Hat, together with CodeThink, Collabora, FIC, Fluendo, Kernel Concepts, Movial, Nomovok, Openismus, Vernier, Waugh Partners, and Wolfson Microelectronics. Additionally, the Initiative "involves" a large number of open source projects, which currently include Avahi, BlueZ, Cairo, GPE, GStreamer, GTK+, Hildon, Maemo, Matchbox, OpenMoko, Telepathy, and Tinymail, along with industry organizations that include CELF, the Linux Foundation, and LiPS, the GMAE said.
The Gnome project was founded in the late 1990s in order to provide a freely licensed alternative to Trolltech's Qt library, which at that time was not yet available under the GPL, yet was becoming a popular alternative to even more closed Unix GUI frameworks, such as Motif. As such, it has largely been developed as a desktop technology, to date.
Vernier LabQuest
(Click to enlarge) |
However, with embedded processors gaining power, and memory getting smaller and cheaper, Gnome has started finding its way into embedded systems. For example, the Nokia-sponsored Maemo project adopted stripped down versions of various Gnome libraries for its Linux-based 770 and N800 Internet tablets. Other high-profile Gnome users in the embedded space include the One Laptop per Child initiative, the OpenMoko free mobile phone software project, and test and measurement equipment vendor Vernier Labs, whose LabQuest device (pictured at right) runs Gnome software.
Bill Weinberg, principal analyst at LinuxPundit, stated, "This initiative augments a thriving commercial and community ecosystem around Gnome for mobile and embedded applications. Building on freely-licensed GTK+, GStreamer, and other Gnome software, GMAE provides a level playing field for companies and developers [and] for products and projects, offering a platform for innovation and collaboration."
Additional details about the GMAE initiative can be found on its website, here.
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.
Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.
Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.
Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.
High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.
Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.
Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.
Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed