Dear all, we are happy that we can make an announcement to the Free and Open Hardware Community, right in time for X-mas and New Year:
We have finally tested, understood and patched the bugs of the first GTA04 sample board (a.k.a. GTA04A2) and have successfully started U-Boot. We can access the important peripherals like display, touch screen, and MMC card. So we are very confident that the already scheduled redesign (GTA04A3) will work right from the beginning and boot Linux. This looks like the start of the aera of new Openmoko devices. -- what it is -- For those who have not followed or are new to this project, the GTA04 is a OMAP3 based Smartphone Platform/Module [1] that fits as a motherboard replacement into a Openmoko Neo1973 or Freerunner case [2]. It is more or less the idea to squeeze a BeagleBoard into a handheld and was started by connecting a Openmoko Display to a BeagleBoard [3]. It will finally come with UMTS (HSPA), GPS, WLAN, Bluetooth, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Altimeter, Compass, FM and an optional camera. An expansion B2B-connector allows to base a custom design on this module. A demo video of the GTA04A2 controlling the display and blinking the illuminated buttons is here [4]. A brief project description is [5]. Please excuse the low quality of the pictures, since our small team has so far focussed on hardware and software. The difference to off-the-shelf smartphones is that it will be well documented (CC-BY-SA) and schematics will be included in the spirit of the original Openmoko devices so that you can access all the nice peripherals we have designed into it. And through the expansion connectors you can also use it as a module in your design. And, it is a community project. Everyone is welcome to contribute. The driving force behind this project is Golden Delicious Computers (www.goldelico.com), a specialist for embedded hard-, firm- and software development located in Oberhaching near Munich, Bavaria, Germany. -- next steps -- A closed and safe process would be that we silently redesign the board (i.e. develop a GTA04A3), order some sample boards and test them. If everything finally works, we would order components and sit there and wait for them to arrive. Then, we would announce generaly availability in big ads in NYT and FAZ. In this mode, you may deduce, that you will not be able to get a GTA04 earlier than Summer next year if we don't run out of money before. -- early adopter program -- Therefore, we have thought hat we offer an early adoper program to the benefit of everybody. The idea is that you can order a GTA04A3 immediately. At a fixed price (280 EUR). And we take the risk that prices of components will change. You only take the risk that we may need more time to get the components and have to spin another PCB. Using your money, we will order the core components with a long lead time (OMAP, Memory, UMTS module) as soon as possible - and early enough before the GTA04A3 design is finished. This makes sure that we have enough components for the first batch to be produced. And we will not spend the money for anything else so that you could even visit us to see your chips... But please don't touch. Once, the GTA04A3 boards arrive, we will test some of them and if everything looks ok, we will produce your early adopter devices. Only in the case that the A3 board has another serious flaw, we will have to design a GTA04A4 board first. This all speeds up the process dramatically so that we currently estimate delivery of the first units by March 2011. The price has been set very low so that it just covers component and production cost at a reduced feature set (there are not all peripherals installed but UMTS and GPS will be). It might be possible to retrofit some of them. Please note that it does *not* include the LCD module, case and battery, because it is a motherboard-replacement to existing Openmoko units (Freerunner and Neo1973). And, we can't specify yet which version of the OMAP3 we will get (600/720/1000 MHz) and how big the RAM/NAND flash will be. But expect something similar to the BeagleBoard. Please note that we also have chosen to switch from a GTM501 UMTS module to a GTM601 which has even better performance (HSPA+). -- how to participate -- Here is the link to the EAP offer with more detailed conditions (there are some restrictions): http://www.handheld-linux.com/wiki.php?page=GTA04-Early-Adopter You can also support us by purchasing a Openmoko Beagle Hybrid development tool to extend your existing Beagle Boad or by donations. The git repositories and binary downloads of our U-Boot and Kernel can be reached through [6]. And, come to FOSDEM 2011 to see and touch a GTA04 and discuss with us about this new gadget. We wish you all merry christmas and a happy new year. -- links -- [1]: http://download.goldelico.com/gta04/images/DSC00710.jpg [2]: http://download.goldelico.com/gta04/images/DSC00708.jpg [3]: http://projects.goldelico.com/p/ombeagle/ [4]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjFKQx18DgA [5]: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/GTA04 [6]: http://projects.goldelico.com/p/gta04-main/ _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community