Bonum Certa Men Certa

Linux to Fill the Gap Left by Exploding iPhones and Overweight Sub-notebooks

Summary: Linux seems poised to replace Apple and Microsoft in different market segments, especially as things go awry for them

AS A reminder, Apple is attacking Linux-powered phones in all sorts of ways. There is nothing perfect about Apple's own products, which are also very expensive and some say "dangerous".



There is an ongoing investigation into Apple's exploding products that it tried hiding. More and more iPhones are reportedly exploding. From the UK-based Register:

Yesterday, it was eight. Now the total of iPhones that have allegedly exploded - or at last suffered a catastrophic cracking of the screen - has risen to 11.


Computer Weekly (also UK-based) writes:

A French man claims he was injured by an exploding iPhone as he was texting a friend.

Yassine Bouhadi, a 26-year-old supermarket watchman, said he was hit in the eye with a glass shard when his iPhone exploded. He said he is planning to consult a doctor and sue for damages, the French news agency AFP reported yesterday

[...]

This is the second report that an iPhone has exploded in France. The French cases follow a report of an exploding iPod owned by an 11-year-old girl in Britain.


On a sarcastic note, Apple could do this deliberately. iPhones do have a kill switch. In theory, Apple could also apply to the battery what some apply to applications. Think about remote deletion of people, not just applications or eBooks like 1984.

“It's far more impressive than the iPhone, which does enjoy a great deal of marketing though.”Apple obviously has some scandal its hands and Linux is in a good position to capitalise on it. Smartphones that are based on a Unix-type system are in a league of their own as Windows Mobile is lagging well behind.

Nokia has just officially unveiled the N900, which looks like a wonderful little tablet that makes use of Compiz, GNU, Linux, and a lot more. It's far more impressive than the iPhone, which does enjoy a great deal of marketing though.

Here is a new video of the N900. The colours are a bit "lost in translation" to Ogg (how odd).





Direct link



Coverage in the news includes:

The new Nokia N900

Nokia today marked the next phase in the evolution of Maemo software with the new Nokia N900. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device


Nokia unveils its first Linux phone

The world's largest handset maker, Nokia unveiled on Thursday its first phone running on Linux software, aiming at improving its offering at the top end of the market.

The focus of cell phone business has shifted to services and software following Apple and Google's entrances to the market in the last two years.


Nokia Bets on Linux in iPhone Battle: Sources

Nokia Oyj will try again to tackle Apple Inc's iPhone in the top-end of the handset market with a bet on Linux software, several industry sources told Reuters.


Linux Smartphones Coming From Nokia

Nokia N900 shown off in all its Linux-based loveliness

Nokia bets on Linux

Nokia is going to use open-source Linux software Maemo on a high end smart phone.


Nokia announces Linux-based smartphone

Even the Microsoft press wrote about it positively, whereas Apple enthusiasts were fixated on the iPhone impact.

Nokia will abandon the Symbian OS on its high end smartphones and instead roll out new Linux-based devices in a fresh bid to take on the iPhone, according to advanced reports on next week’s Nokia World event in Germany.


Interestingly enough, based on other new reports, Nokia may soon announce sub-notebooks which run GNU/Linux only. Windows does not run on ARM after all.

Rumour: Nokia to launch ARM-based netbook



[...]

According to unnamed industry sources quoted by DigiTimes, the company is looking at releasing the device - which is likely to be manufactured by either Compal or Foxconn and released to Original Design Manufacturers for rebranding - some time towards the middle of next year.


Regardless of what Nokia does next, the Zaurus is sort of back in a big way under the name "Netwalker". Sharp is bringing out sub-notebooks that are based on ARM processors and these run Ubuntu. Here is some new coverage:

Sharp intros 5in ARM-based netbook

Asus may not be so keen on ARM-based netbooks, but Sharp certainly is. Today, it launched the PC-Z1 Netwalker, a weeny netbook based around a 5in display and Ubuntu Linux and an ARM Cortex A8-derived CPU.


Sharp launch Linux based Netwalker in Japan

The Ubuntu Linux on the PC-Z1 is a based on the Ubuntu 9.0.4 for ARM port, and with Firefox and OpenOffice, still leaves around 2GB free on the internal flash storage.


NetWalker Sharp : NetWalker, Sharp's Latest Ubuntu Netbook... Is the Zaurus back? – Hands-On !!!

While wer're still waiting for Kei to come back from a Sharp press conference in order to shoot some live photos of the beast, he's telling us this little baby is pretty snappy despite its Fressscale CPU. With its very compact size of only 161.4x108.7x19.7mm and 409g, the NetWalker is really worth the investment if you want to surf the Web on the go and check email. Compared with the average Netbook, the NetWalker will put to shame any EEE or other Atom wannabe compact Netbook due to its freaking small size and weight... But don't ask much anyway, the CPU may not be able to handle heavy tasks like a ION Based Netbooks.


Microsoft's anti-ARM FUD has already begun and the story about the vanishing Android is one that we last mentioned yesterday. The CEO of ASUS denies interest in ARM-based devices shortly after actually developing some but never releasing any. Since ASUS claims to have gotten "closely tied up with Microsoft," this is not particularly surprising. See for example:



"Microsoft is losing the war," claims Oiaohm. "They're losing it too slowly," replies MinceR, though Oiaohm insists that "the rate of their weakening is accelerating."

"Microsoft has burned through 40 to 60 billion in cash savings over the last four or five years, they are losing at a tremendous rate," remarks Twitter. "Right now, they are borrowing money and firing people. This really is the end game," he adds.

“Windows 7 is repeating the same mistake. We have kind [of] crossed the threshold of how much faster business needs computers.”
      --Oiaohm
Tony Manco weighs in by saying: "as long as Microsoft pays people to use its OS, it's no good."

"It's a facade," claims Twitter, as "they selectively crush one company only to see two or three spring up. [...] what Microsoft does to companies is immoral and illegal. As Microsoft loses money, they lose influence and won't be able to get away with their usual tricks. It's a death spiral."

"Vista was the start of major cracking up of Microsoft power base," claims Oiaohm. He adds that "Windows 7 is repeating the same mistake. We have kind [of] crossed the threshold of how much faster business needs computers."

Nevertheless, Microsoft wants to dictate for the market what computers can be put up for sale and how much the operating system will cost, not just which single operating system it will be. One reader wrote the following for us:

How Microsoft tries to crush the netbook concept ahead of Windows7 launch



I have noticed that DELL has recently removed their "Open Source Computers" section from the consumer products in its website (left menu).

I think Microsoft is waging a war against any OEM offering competing products ahead Vista7 (Including their own XP) launch in order to maximize profits and make sure consumers have no choice but to pay them once again.

This could also explain the recent disappearance of GNU/Linux from netbooks, (and the lack of new-generation models with new features), with ASUS as the most egregious case, but also ACER is not shipping GNU/Linux anymore in new products, and Dell has severely reduced its offer of consumer products with Ubuntu GNU/Linux installed.

It is shocking to realize how strong the chokehold of Microsoft is over the hardware market and how it comes to dictate not only what software you can or can't use with windows, but what hardware and what not you can buy. I wonder why no competition authority has investigated more deeply the Microsoft-Intel and Microsoft-Big-OEMs collusion and anticompetitive practices, forcing the unbundling of the monopolistic OS from computers, investigating the exclusionary deals and contracts Microsoft forces OEMs to sign. I wonder how many court exhibits are available out there (even if outdated) on this issue.

I recently came across this article (I don't know if you have already referred or commented it) which explains how Microsoft tries to kill a whole market (netbooks), imposing conditions that seek to allow OEMs to manufacture only crippled, unattractive machines, in order to suffocate a range of products that has enabled a space for competing Operating Systems they have every interest in killing for good and never [make] available for consumers anymore: GNU/Linux and (to a lesser extent) Windows XP.

I have checked your articles under the "hardware" tag, they are an excellent record of how Microsoft is trying hard to kill netbooks and any GNU/Linux OEM preinstalled machine, but didn't find any reference to the PC world article, which includes 5 more well documented examples.

Unbundling of Windows and OEM hardware is essential for competition, I don't know why competition authorities have failed to see that this must be addressed since it is the main monopoly enabler for Microsoft in the computer market (even when Microsoft does NOT manufacture computers, unlike Apple or SUN)

There is a long time ongoing worldwide movement campaigning for consumer rights and unbundling Windows Licences and new computers that I think needs more visibility and coordination:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9783390-7.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20071011024722/http...

http://devolucion.org/

http://www.racketiciel.info/

http://nao.quero.imposto.ms/

http://www.aduc.it/dyn/sosonline/modulistica/m...



Fortunately, there is already a federal investigation into it.

Related:



Recent Techrights' Posts

Traf-O-Data, the Company That Jeffrey Epstein's BFF (Bill Gates) (Co)Founded 53 Years and Went Out of Business Due to Heavy Losses
Who will die first, Bill or Microsoft?
A Note on SimilarWeb
Or why SimilarWeb is meaningless for more than 99% of the sites on the Web
IBM Said to be Shutting Down Offices or Sites in the United States
the press can no longer avoid admitting that IBM moves many jobs to India
LLM Slop as Attack Vector on the Reputation of Linux
The attacks on Linux have escalated to information warfare
 
Techrights Has Dealt With More Potent SLAPPs Than Violent Microsofters Begging to Hide What They Did to Women
I became accustomed to SLAPPs
Links 04/04/2025: Fury in South Korea, Flight MH370 Remains Mystery
Links for the day
Gemini Links 04/04/2025: Anger and Raspberry Pi CM4
Links for the day
Links 04/04/2025: LLM Slop Bubble Bursting and Korea Music Copyright Association Bans Slop 'Music'
Links for the day
Why Microsoft's Shares Sank Almost 20% in Recent Months (the Bubble is Imploding)
verified press reports from the past 24 hours
GNU/Linux Rises to Almost 5% in Algeria While Windows Sinks to All-Time Low
GNU/Linux grew tenfold
Where to Get More Gags
A valued reader recommended that to us
Links 04/04/2025: Tech Stock (Inc. GAFAM) Fall, Google Pretends to Do End-to-End Encrypted Emails (With Google in Control)
Links for the day
To Participate in Fedora Diversity You Must Use Proprietary Software
Not for the first time either
Yandex About to Be Three Times Bigger Than Microsoft (Bing) in Asia
That's about 60% of the world's population
Gemini Links 04/04/2025: Decoupling Updates, Elaho as Gemini Client
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, April 03, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, April 03, 2025
Microsoft's Trouble in Africa and Asia
A new all-time high for GNU/Linux
Brett Wilson LLP Reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
The saddest thing in all this is that law firms can maintain high standards shall they wish to
Links 03/04/2025: Tariff Pains and C.D.C. Cuts
Links for the day
StatCounter: Microsoft is Masking a Disaster, It's Way Behind DeepSeek Already and Interest in LLMs Has Waned
it turns out the money "raised" for "Open" "AI" may not even exist at all
Links 03/04/2025: SoftBank Money for Microsoft "Open" "AI" Probably Doesn't Even Exist, Wikimedia Foundation Blasts LLM Nuisance While Microsoft Admits Demand Has Shrunk
Links for the day
Gemini Links 03/04/2025: Patch Panel and Pictures
Links for the day
Islamic Republic of Iran: GNU/Linux at All-time High This Month, Windows Falls to 12%
Vista 10 is up this month despite being "end of life" (EoL) soon
Indonesia: All-Time Highs for GNU/Linux
What's noteworthy right now is the growth of GNU/Linux
statCounter Says GNU/Linux Usage is Up Again (Internationally)
some preliminary April data
Only on April 1st Can the Free Software Foundation Associate With Microsoft's Open Source Initiative (OSI)
We saw some pranks that day linking the FSF to Microsoft (e.g. "endorsing" Windows)
Confirmed in the Mainstream Media: A Lot of Microsoft "Workloads" Were Just LLM Slop (Helping to Fake Growth for Years, as Microsoft Had Paid "Open" "AI" to Become a "Client") and Demand is Rapidly Waning, Datacentres Canceled and/or Shut Down
Anything to facilitate further accounting fraud
Taiwan's Media Covers Closure of Microsoft's "AI" Lab, It's Time to Talk About the Gradual Death of Windows and Implosion of the "AI" Bubble
Earlier this week we showed that mostly Asian media had the 'nerve' to mention Microsoft silently shutting down its 'AI' lab
IBM Gets Rid of Kelly Chambliss as Mass Layoffs Reported in IBM Consulting, IBM Loses Key Contracts/Graft
IBM Consulting has been in disarray lately
More Gains for GNU/Linux, Based on Web Surveys
the Steam site shows rapid growth for "Linux" this month
Slopwatch: Anti-Linux Articles, Not Even Written by Humans
Why aren't Web sites more vocal about this problem?
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, April 02, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Links 03/04/2025: Apple Fined Over Secret Surveillance, "Elegant Writer For A More Civilized Age"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 02/04/2025: Books and Cold Tea
Links for the day
Links 02/04/2025: More Layoffs, Nokia Again Takes Advantage of Illegal and Unconstitutional Patent Court With Nokia Staff as 'Judges'
Links for the day
Links 02/04/2025: Seizures and Returns to Windows of 24 Years Ago
Links for the day
LLM Slop Helps Obscure and Distort News About Layoffs (IBM, GAFAM)
It's hard to find accurate information
Links 02/04/2025: Microsoft Developers Are Threatening to Go on Strike, World Backup Day Noted
Links for the day
Gemini Protocol Has Growing Appeal (the Web Got Too Bloated and Full of LLM Slop)
For any "data plan" with bandwidth limits or "tiers" it would be cheaper to use/browse Geminispace
The Web Can Survive LLM Slop, But Only If We Collectively Shun and Discourage Serial Sloppers
Doing nothing ought not be a possibility
Amid Secret Shut-downs and Mass Layoffs at Microsoft (4 Waves of Layoffs in 3 Months of 2025) Some Microsoft Staff Expected to Go On Strike
workers going on strike
Gemini Links 02/04/2025: No more on Mastodon and Gemini Mention Script in Go
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, April 01, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, April 01, 2025
My Motion Disbarring or “Striking Off” Brett Wilson LLP for Enabling Violent Americans Who Try to Crush Microsoft Critics in the United Kingdom by Multiple SLAPPs
"Guns for hire" (for Microsoft people who received Microsoft salaries)
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Hijacked Again by Patent Litigation Industry, as President Cheeto Prioritises Aggressors
The "mafia" has taken over the "industry" and the Federal system (justice and constitutions trampled upon)
Ubuntu Slop and FUD Manufactured With LLMs and Funded (by Oneself) 'Studies'
Slop and FUD are ruining the Web