FreeRunner no longer has a free run at open source

A week before the release of the new iPhone, comes the lower-key launch today of Openmoko’s Neo FreeRunner open-source phone. The FreeRunner is more targeted towards the mass-market consumer than its predecessor the Neo1973, a handset that only caused excitement in the Linux community. The unlocked $399 FreeRunner features a touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, motion sensors and an open-source operating system. Developers are encouraged to develop applications, tinker with the operating system and even redesign the phone, as Openmoko has published its mechanical CAD files. When we first wrote about Openmoko 18 months ago, it seemed a novel and even revolutionary concept from its parent company - Taiwan’s First International Computer. Since then, Google has announced its open-source Android project, the LiMo Foundation - a... [read full story]