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 Originally Posted by xandros9
It's been toyed with numerous times in several threads - it's ultimately possible though, but there's probably little chance a relatively scrappy community (even compared to WP) could put together enough to make one. (and certify it, and manufacture it...)
but who knows, i'd love to be wrong
Here is what I've thought about from time to time...
I really love the Pixi form factor, but it seriously needs more horsepower. So, what about designing a new mainboard for the Pixi, using the same radio board, keyboard, and screen?
When I consider this, I usually have two possible paths:
1) Reuse a processor from another webOS device, maybe the OMAP3630 from the Pre 2. Then reuse the 2.2.4 kernel and drivers.
Problems:
a) Forget getting a data sheet from TI for the 3630; for whatever reason, info for the comms parts is on lockdown. (3530? No problem.
b) Drivers for keyboard, screen, etc. may not be portable (I haven't dug in enough to know what kind of interface they're using).
2) Use a processor for which a) info is available, like maybe one of the ones on a BeagleBoard or other hobbyist board and/or b) for which the Linux kernel rev needed to run Open webOS is available.
Problems:
a) I don't think Open webOS contains any of the support for the gesture area (is that in the kernel mods that were done?).
b) As stated before, Open webOS doesn't even have a phone app.
I don't know enough about the software structure to make educated decisions, but I'm down for tackling the hardware side. I think reusing the existing comms board, screen, keyboard, cases, etc. helps significantly, and reverse engineering those bits (for instance, my understanding is that cellular parts just talk UART, which should be easy to sniff and reverse engineer) shouldn't be impossible. Other bits, like the battery charger circuit, can probably also be easily reused.
Anyway, just my looney delusions of grandeur.
OM
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