The Overclocked Too many questions, all the right answers.

Scheduled for October 2007 Launch

TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 7, 2007 – Canonical Ltd., the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, announced more details on Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded Edition at Computex 2007 in Taipei.

Following discussions at the Ubuntu Developer Summit in Seville Spain and a great response from the developer community generally, the target specifications and technical milestones for the project have been agreed.

The OpenMoko project has debuted what could be the ultimate geek handset: a Linux-based mobile phone, complete with an open-source operating system and application suite.

The Neo 1973 handset, which starts at $300, has been under development for the last six months. OpenMoko encourages developers to get their hands dirty by supplying a complete software development kit along with the phone. The advanced edition even comes with a Torx T6 screwdriver for those whose hacking isn't limited to software.


Manufactured by First International Computer, of Taipei, the Neo 1973 is intended to be a hacker's mobile phone, an open platform that anyone and everyone can programme and play with. The idea is that a multitude of small-scale tweaks and developments will create something with which large companies can't complete, the same way that Linux has proved successful.

Safety concerns surrounding the reliance of cell phone batteries have been thrust into the spotlight this week following the tragic news of the death of a Chinese labourer who was killed when a phone battery abruptly exploded while in his breast pocket.

According to a report posted by the Associated Press, official Chinese state media news agency Xinhua has confirmed that welder Xiao Jinpeng died from sustained injuries on June 19 while working at the Yingpan Iron Ore Dressing facility in Gansu Jinta.

Falling in lust with an expensive device like the iPhone sets owners up for a hard fall if it stops working.