MeeGo flexes its muscle, previews developer support

[Odd_gunnic]

Unlike maemo which is more community driven, it looks like MeeGo is garnering for developer (and manufacturer) support from the corporate developers. Big names like BMW, Asus and EA sound off their MeeGo support:

[URL="http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/announcements/2010/04/public-support-meego-project"]

[Laughing Man]

I wonder how accurate that list is (and how many companies will actually be supporting it). Though if it's true then it seems that's the benefit of having an open platform (as in not locked to one device like the iPhone or even Maemo currently is). If Meego is a success then you'll find it spread on alot of platforms similar to how Android is spreading.

Then onward to OS domination! =P

[bandora]

Yes!!!!!! Finally!! :) Can't wait for this!

[Odd_gunnic]

Allow me to voice my ignorance for a moment here;

I know its open source and all, but does this mean Nokia and Intel will get royalties?

I ask because Nokia unlike Google or Apple, will be competing in hardware sales for their own OS.

[kojacker]

Inclusion of EA is a bit weird, but welcome

“As the #1 worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile is excited about MeeGo and how it will help us to more efficiently and economically bring our great games to consumers,” said Farshid Almassizadeh, VP Worldwide Operations, EA Mobile.

[ysss]

I assume that at this point they're not making any resource investments and commitments (financial, manhours, etc) other than verbal support to be included in this program?

I will wait til there's measurable development before popping open the champagne ...

[Rob1n]

Allow me to voice my ignorance for a moment here;

I know its open source and all, but does this mean Nokia and Intel will get royalties?

I ask because Nokia unlike Google or Apple, will be competing in hardware sales for their own OS.

No, Nokia & Intel will not get any royalties.

And yes, they'll be competing in hardware sales. Presumably they believe that the larger market (phones, tablets, PCs, etc.), along with reduced OS development costs, will offset that. The larger the potential market, the more apps will get written, and that'll drive more sales. They're already in a similar situation with Symbian (I think it's offered royalty-free now anyway), and seem to be coping.

[Bundyo]

Selling through Ovi Store accounts for 70%/30% model. On top of that is applied 40-50% operator billing tax if you buy through one and at last on top of all that you have VAT. So yes, Nokia probably gets some money after all :) For distribution.

[GeraldKo]

Selling through Ovi Store accounts for 70%/30% model. On top of that is applied 40-50% operator billing tax if you buy through one and at last on top of all that you have VAT. So yes, Nokia probably gets some money after all :) For distribution.

Yes, but there's no reason that the Ovi store will be a monopoly for MeeGo apps. So the situation for Nokia making money on software will be same as with hardware -- not through exclusivity (royalties, patents, etc.) but by selling in a competitive marketplace.

[wmarone]

Yes, but there's no reason that the Ovi store will be a monopoly for MeeGo apps. So the situation for Nokia making money on software will be same as with hardware -- not through exclusivity (royalties, patents, etc.) but by selling in a competitive marketplace.

They've already said there's infrastructure in place for branded stores. Hopefully there are plans to keep the back-end between the stores synchronized and the front ends branded, otherwise you end up with horribly fragmented stores.

[Bundyo]

I didn't say they will be. Yes, they are working on such an infrastructure for partnering shops, but my guess is that it won't be free too. Anyway, that's for paid apps, for free apps (especially WebRuntime) you need to do one time registration and a fee of 50EUR. Maybe free Maemo/MeeGo apps will fall in this category, but for Symbian I understand there will be more fees even for free apps (not much more though, only to get a product ID). We at least have Extras.

[ChoMar]

i dont think you can really charge anyone for free (Open Source) apps with MeeGo.
I have compiled and installed software in an Linux environment before and im sure its also possible with MeeGo.
Maybe if they Tivoize it with the closed Mode, but they *said* this wont happen.
If the Community is active enough, there will be lots of free apps an many HowTos about them.

[johnel]

The companies involved in MeeGo can to a certain degree control the implementation of their version of MeeGo.

For example, Nokia's implementation of MeeGo includes binary-only software (battery management & phone app) and you cannot redistribute the image.

Also correct me if I am wrong, but do you have to enter the IMEI code from your n900 to download the image & agree to a license agreement?

Also the development of the gui part of MeeGo is closed (for the time being)?

I know this all sounds a bit "Richard Stallman" (I might even start playing the flute) but it is something that concerns me.

[attila77]

Yes, but there's no reason that the Ovi store will be a monopoly for MeeGo apps.

There *is* a reason. You will be able to install (in the DRM mode) only software signed by the manufacturer (at least this is how Harmattan’s security model works). In other words, you will only be able to install commercial stuff that Nokia signed off on. So it’s actually very easy for Nokia to ensure it gets a cut from anything bought, either directly by selling through Ovi or indirectly from a federated store.

[johnel]

At some point in the future I will upgrade my n900.

One of my main criteria is "How open is it?" - I want control over the device I bought and not relinquish that basic right to a corporation.

If I buy a MeeGo device I want one where all the source code (of MeeGo) is available and where development is performed out in the open.

I hate to say it but Intel's version fits that criteria more than Nokia.

However Intel insist on the minimum requirement of a SSSE3-enabled processor. Older computers need not apply. These kind of systems would benefit enormously, save a few from the "land fill" and be more environmentally friendly.

[Odd_gunnic]

There *is* a reason. You will be able to install (in the DRM mode) only software signed by the manufacturer (at least this is how Harmattan’s security model works).

On the DRM side does this theoretically mean there would be various storefronts from different manufacturers with DRM restricting the use on a different branded device?

I would really like it if they embrace the Android model of one market place.
Of course Nokia's case is unique in that they have their own services like music and maybe even 1st party apps

[attila77]

I hate to say it but Intel's version fits that criteria more than Nokia.

For better or worse, it's not that surprising since Intel is in the hardware business, and Nokia is moving towards a services based business.

However Intel insist on the minimum requirement of a SSE3-enabled processor. Older computers need not apply. These kind of systems would benefit enormously, save a few from the "land fill" and be more environmentally friendly.

That's SSSE3, not SSE3 (which makes the issue that much worse).

[attila77]

On the DRM side does this theoretically mean there would be various storefronts from different manufacturers with DRM restricting the use on a different branded device?

I would really like it if they embrace the Android model of one market place.
Of course Nokia's case is unique in that they have their own services like music and maybe even 1st party apps

It was stated that the stores would be federated. This means that you would see one source/store on your device, but the actual content/apps could be coming from different places. With the DRM mechanism mentioned above the manufacturer can ensure only content they want gets sold/run on a particular device. Note that this means nothing with regard to the OPEN mode - it's not the manufacturer that is potentially depraving you but the publisher of the software (as he makes the business choice of what distribution channel he will use and in what mode will its software install).

[johnel]

It was stated that the stores would be federated. This means that you would see one source/store on your device, but the actual content/apps could be coming from different places. With the DRM mechanism mentioned above the manufacturer can ensure only content they want gets sold/run on a particular device. Note that this means nothing with regard to the OPEN mode - it's not the manufacturer that is potentially depraving you but the publisher of the software (as he makes the business choice of what distribution channel he will use and in what mode will its software install).

It really depends on what "terms & conditions" you have to sign when you publish an app.

E.g. "You agree not to sell the application via other distribution channels", "...sell the application for a lower price elsewhere.."

Then again we can speculate all we like I just hope there are not any "gotchas" until things are released.

[attila77]

It really depends on what "terms & conditions" you have to sign when you publish an app.

E.g. "You agree not to sell the application via other distribution channels", "...sell the application for a lower price elsewhere.."


Yes, bad wording on my part, I meant publisher as in distributor, whoever has the DRM keys, e.g. Vodafone, Ovi, etc, not the development studio that actually makes the app.

[Venemo]

I think there will still be an App Manager where we'll be able to add the Extas repository (and others).

[attila77]

No doubt about that, the question is whether you will be able to run Extras stuff *alongside* commercial software. You can always switch to Free mode by booting into the unsigned kernel (which is roughly what we have on Fremantle), but then you can't run the apps you bought (DRM funk)

[nMIK-3]

^^
And its mentioned from Nokia multiple times that Maemo 6 will be fully compatible with DRM technologies..

I guess we wait and see what happens.

[ChoMar]

What really bugs me is that ill probably have to use the open Kernel for OpenS apps (wich arent released via Ovi), wich means that ill either have to work ONLY with the open Kernel (wich should be possible since i can install the "closed" features like Powermanagement myself) or have to use a multiboot-system. Multiboot-systems are an absolute no-go for me in any productive System so this isnt helping.

[johnel]

Look at this way.

When MeeGo is released for the n900 we can then evaluate it and see how Nokia plan to use the DRM elements of the platform.

If I have to switch kernels by duel booting then my next MeeGo device will not be made by Nokia.

[attila77]

Actually, nobody guaranteed there WILL be a DRM supported version of MeeGo for the N900. The distribution/DRM thing is IMHO also one of the reasons why Nokia is hesitant about offering an 'official' MeeGo N900 release.

[ysss]

Heh... I don't think we'll hear anything about the DRM side of things until there are 'reasons' to want them. To lust for things protected by the DRM.

It's the same story on other platforms.. DRMs are the walls to protect the goodies within. Nobody wants to deal with DRM just for DRM's own sake.

[Laughing Man]

No doubt about that, the question is whether you will be able to run Extras stuff *alongside* commercial software. You can always switch to Free mode by booting into the unsigned kernel (which is roughly what we have on Fremantle), but then you can't run the apps you bought (DRM funk)

From what I remember on the presentation, I think the DRM was for certain things such as preventing you from say an unsigned kernel. So as long as the extras stuff doesn't do anything to interfere with the DRM then you would be able to run them alongside.

Though if this is the case I'm hoping someone will either crack the DRM or find a way to run the unsigned kernel yet still use DRM content. Unless they come up with an absurdly fast way to switch between DRM mode and DRM-free mode.

[slaapliedje]

Inclusion of EA is a bit weird, but welcome

“As the #1 worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile is excited about MeeGo and how it will help us to more efficiently and economically bring our great games to consumers,” said Farshid Almassizadeh, VP Worldwide Operations, EA Mobile.

If ONLY that would mean EA would start releasing games for normal Linux!

[Odd_gunnic]

Intel also demonstrated a cross platform toolkit for netbooks and handhelds. I suspect nokia will reveal their meego/symbian^4 cross platform toolkit as well.

For a developer who is recompiling, does this mean they would have to subscribe to the lowest denominator, or can optomization be done during recompiling...

I'd hate to see their tablet demographics handicapped by the mid-tier phone market.

[slaapliedje]

Intel also demonstrated a cross platform toolkit for netbooks and handhelds. I suspect nokia will reveal their meego/symbian^4 cross platform toolkit as well.

For a developer who is recompiling, does this mean they would have to subscribe to the lowest denominator, or can optomization be done during recompiling...

I'd hate to see their tablet demographics handicapped by the mid-tier phone market.

Wouldn't that be qhat QT is? Cross platform toolkit that runs on symbian and Maemo/meego, Linux, windows, Mac, etc.

[Odd_gunnic]

Slaapliedje I see what you're saying, I guess I meant a specific toolkit for changing button configurations from one platform to another?