Talk:Compulab EM-X270

From Openmoko

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(open-source drivers)
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
==open-source drivers==
 
==open-source drivers==
 
is there any word on the openness of drivers? a big part of the appeal of the neo is that the majority of the drivers (where legal) are open-source. any widespread adoption of these modules will probably stall straight away if there are no open drivers/useful documentation available [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 00:59, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 
is there any word on the openness of drivers? a big part of the appeal of the neo is that the majority of the drivers (where legal) are open-source. any widespread adoption of these modules will probably stall straight away if there are no open drivers/useful documentation available [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 00:59, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
They provide the Angstrom Linux which is based on Open Embedded. So I would assume that drivers are the standard drivers of the Linux kernel. Well, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and GSM may only be available as (USB) serial data interfaces to some black-box modules.  [[User:Hns|hns]] 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)
 +
 +
looks like the wi-fi driver will be binary only: [http://compulab-systems.com/web/linux/x270/x270_kernels.html]
 +
that page has more info on drivers, etc. for the cm-x270 (similar to the em-x270) and other compulab boards [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 23:25, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
Last I checked, the wifi was non-functional under Linux.  Unfortunately, that suggests that it doesn't have open drivers, but perhaps it was only a temporary situation. [[User:Wisp|wisp]] 19:20, 7 November 2007 (CET) -- apparently I was wrong.  Support is now planned for December http://www.compulab.co.il/x270em/html/x270-em-os-support.htm [[User:Wisp|wisp]] 19:35, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
At least GPS and GSM are indeed serial data interfaces but not black-box modules. I have added the link to the data sheets (which include the AT command set) on the main page. [[User:Hns|hns]] 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)
 +
 +
from http://www.compulab.co.il/x270em/download/x270-em-linux-doc.pdf
 +
Wireless LAN
 +
Wireless LAN on EM-X270 supports 802.11b. Currently Angstrom Linux for EM-X270 does not enable
 +
this interface automaticaly. The driver for wireless LAN chip present on CM-X270L is provided by the
 +
chip manufacturer and therefore redistributed by CompuLab in binary form. The driver is called bgw200
 +
and can be enabled using
 +
echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/wlan/pwr_on
 +
modprobe bgw200
 +
iwconfig eth1 essid <your_ESSID>
 +
You can use Linux standard iwconfig, iwscan, iwevent, iwgetid, iwlist, iwpriv, iwspy utilities.
 +
 +
[[User:Filippo|Filippo]] 01:42, 4 February 2008 (CET)
  
 
== emulation ==
 
== emulation ==
  
 
in lieu of developing on actual hardware, an emulator would be mighty useful. does one exist for the compulab hardware? is it much of a process to put one together? [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 01:22, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 
in lieu of developing on actual hardware, an emulator would be mighty useful. does one exist for the compulab hardware? is it much of a process to put one together? [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 01:22, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
== Case ==
 +
 +
The device is a "pure" module with everything except a case. To get one, we will need
 +
# someone who can make a mechanical construction
 +
# someone who can nicely design it (and decide about colors, materials, haptics)
 +
# someone who can produce low quantities at a reasonable price (< $50 per units)
 +
 +
Ideas? Proposals? Links? Friends? Volunteers?
 +
[[User:Hns|hns]] 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)
 +
 +
What would really be the best is if we could find a company who built a touchscreen phone based on this (with case and all) - purchase and reflash :)
 +
[[User:Wisp|wisp]] 19:41, 7 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
[http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/hdr.php?p=custom_plastic_cutting Sparkfun.com] are set up for making cases.
 +
 +
There's also [http://www.absprototypes.net ABS Protytpes]
 +
 +
[http://ponoko.com Ponoko]
 +
 +
[http://rapidobject.com Rapid Object]
 +
 +
[http://www.rapidprototyping.co.nz Rapid Prototyping New Zealand]
 +
 +
[http://www.redeyerpm.com/Default.aspx Red Eye RPM] [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 03:24, 8 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
== small quantity order ==
 +
 +
There are a number of resellers, including one in the US who will deal in small quantities, as found on [http://www.compulab.co.il/sales-and-support/contact-us.htm Contact us]. Is anyone interested in contacting/negotiating with them? Dr. Schaller? [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 02:41, 8 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
I have been in contact with the one responsible for Germany/Austria. They just act as a sales agent and handle the import - but it does not change the sales policy. I.e. you still have to be a company and order an evaluation kit and have the price scales. So the approach is to have Handheld-Linux Shop to work as an intermediate to collect individual orders (worldwide), keep away warranty issues etc. from CompuLab and issue a single order towards CompuLab. So if we split up this into many resellers with small quantities, the price will not go down. [[User:hns|hns]]
 +
 +
that's a bit shitty - they're not playing easy are they. one would think they don't want to sell any anything. well, i dug a bit and it appears we at least don't have to buy an eval kit for 2000 if we claim non-commercial [http://www.compulab.co.il/sales-and-support/non-commercial.htm as seen here] [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 08:09, 8 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
We have started to take orders for the Group Buy: [[http://www.handheld-linux.com/wiki.php?page=CompuLab%20PDA%20Module]]
 +
 +
== discussion mailing list ==
 +
 +
Is there a mailing list where we can better handle discussions for this project? Adding text here is fine but it is quite difficult to track changes and updates. [[User:hns|hns]]
 +
 +
i guess community, it's been talked about there already, might as well get into the meat of it [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 11:06, 8 November 2007 (CET)
 +
 +
== comparison with neo1973 ==
 +
 +
maybe we need a table here to compare with the neo? [[User:Myfanwy|myfanwy]] 21:12, 8 November 2007 (CET)

Latest revision as of 01:42, 4 February 2008

Contents

[edit] open-source drivers

is there any word on the openness of drivers? a big part of the appeal of the neo is that the majority of the drivers (where legal) are open-source. any widespread adoption of these modules will probably stall straight away if there are no open drivers/useful documentation available myfanwy 00:59, 7 November 2007 (CET)

They provide the Angstrom Linux which is based on Open Embedded. So I would assume that drivers are the standard drivers of the Linux kernel. Well, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and GSM may only be available as (USB) serial data interfaces to some black-box modules. hns 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)

looks like the wi-fi driver will be binary only: [1] that page has more info on drivers, etc. for the cm-x270 (similar to the em-x270) and other compulab boards myfanwy 23:25, 7 November 2007 (CET)

Last I checked, the wifi was non-functional under Linux. Unfortunately, that suggests that it doesn't have open drivers, but perhaps it was only a temporary situation. wisp 19:20, 7 November 2007 (CET) -- apparently I was wrong. Support is now planned for December http://www.compulab.co.il/x270em/html/x270-em-os-support.htm wisp 19:35, 7 November 2007 (CET)

At least GPS and GSM are indeed serial data interfaces but not black-box modules. I have added the link to the data sheets (which include the AT command set) on the main page. hns 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)

from http://www.compulab.co.il/x270em/download/x270-em-linux-doc.pdf Wireless LAN Wireless LAN on EM-X270 supports 802.11b. Currently Angstrom Linux for EM-X270 does not enable this interface automaticaly. The driver for wireless LAN chip present on CM-X270L is provided by the chip manufacturer and therefore redistributed by CompuLab in binary form. The driver is called bgw200 and can be enabled using echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/wlan/pwr_on modprobe bgw200 iwconfig eth1 essid <your_ESSID> You can use Linux standard iwconfig, iwscan, iwevent, iwgetid, iwlist, iwpriv, iwspy utilities.

Filippo 01:42, 4 February 2008 (CET)

[edit] emulation

in lieu of developing on actual hardware, an emulator would be mighty useful. does one exist for the compulab hardware? is it much of a process to put one together? myfanwy 01:22, 7 November 2007 (CET)

[edit] Case

The device is a "pure" module with everything except a case. To get one, we will need

  1. someone who can make a mechanical construction
  2. someone who can nicely design it (and decide about colors, materials, haptics)
  3. someone who can produce low quantities at a reasonable price (< $50 per units)

Ideas? Proposals? Links? Friends? Volunteers? hns 17:37, 7 November 2007 (GMT)

What would really be the best is if we could find a company who built a touchscreen phone based on this (with case and all) - purchase and reflash :) wisp 19:41, 7 November 2007 (CET)

Sparkfun.com are set up for making cases.

There's also ABS Protytpes

Ponoko

Rapid Object

Rapid Prototyping New Zealand

Red Eye RPM myfanwy 03:24, 8 November 2007 (CET)

[edit] small quantity order

There are a number of resellers, including one in the US who will deal in small quantities, as found on Contact us. Is anyone interested in contacting/negotiating with them? Dr. Schaller? myfanwy 02:41, 8 November 2007 (CET)

I have been in contact with the one responsible for Germany/Austria. They just act as a sales agent and handle the import - but it does not change the sales policy. I.e. you still have to be a company and order an evaluation kit and have the price scales. So the approach is to have Handheld-Linux Shop to work as an intermediate to collect individual orders (worldwide), keep away warranty issues etc. from CompuLab and issue a single order towards CompuLab. So if we split up this into many resellers with small quantities, the price will not go down. hns

that's a bit shitty - they're not playing easy are they. one would think they don't want to sell any anything. well, i dug a bit and it appears we at least don't have to buy an eval kit for 2000 if we claim non-commercial as seen here myfanwy 08:09, 8 November 2007 (CET)

We have started to take orders for the Group Buy: [[2]]

[edit] discussion mailing list

Is there a mailing list where we can better handle discussions for this project? Adding text here is fine but it is quite difficult to track changes and updates. hns

i guess community, it's been talked about there already, might as well get into the meat of it myfanwy 11:06, 8 November 2007 (CET)

[edit] comparison with neo1973

maybe we need a table here to compare with the neo? myfanwy 21:12, 8 November 2007 (CET)

Personal tools

open-source drivers

is there any word on the openness of drivers? a big part of the appeal of the neo is that the majority of the drivers (where legal) are open-source. any widespread adoption of these modules will probably stall straight away if there are no open drivers/useful documentation available myfanwy 00:59, 7 November 2007 (CET)

emulation

in lieu of developing on actual hardware, an emulator would be mighty useful. does one exist for the compulab hardware? is it much of a process to put one together? myfanwy 01:22, 7 November 2007 (CET)