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iPhone Linux!

Jan 22, 2009  By Shawn Powers
 in

The iPhone is certainly known for its elegance and beauty, but around these parts it's also known for being closed and proprietary. The Open Source community does a little cheer when we hear about jailbreaking the iPhone -- but soon we'll have even more to party about. Led by planetbeing (a member of the iPhone Dev Team), the project has successfully booted the 2.6 Linux kernel on one of the little beasties. It's still very much in the early stages, but now the forbidden fruit will be able to run Linux under its peel.

For more juicy details, check out their blog, or watch the video below:

______________________

Shawn Powers is an Associate Editor for Linux Journal. You might find him chatting on the IRC channel, or Twitter

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Dead project?

Brandon M. Sergent's picture
Submitted by Brandon M. Sergent (not verified) on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 20:45.

What happened? For historical purposes.

All after all my words

Free Music's picture
Submitted by Free Music (not verified) on Mon, 04/06/2009 - 12:15.

All after all my words took:) same wished to tell:) basically yes to have iPhone it cool! the most important kernel!

Come on my site: Free Music

nice blog cobro

Wesley Gibson's picture
Submitted by Wesley Gibson (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 05:05.

nice blog
cobro

Apple can send updates to

Wesley Gibson's picture
Submitted by Wesley Gibson (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 05:05.

Apple can send updates to iPhones by the push of a button, and I simply feel uncomfortable with this world-domination type of power. It will also be cool to use the iPhone in ways that Apple never thought of

No, that isn't how the iPhone

Voice of reason's picture
Submitted by Voice of reason (not verified) on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 11:05.

No, that isn't how the iPhone updates work at all... the user has the option to install or not install updates. The only thing automated by default is a notification that an update is available to download.

cellphone enabled?

LKRaider's picture
Submitted by LKRaider (not verified) on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 15:35.

I suspect that it will take a while (or ever?) for the iPhone to actually work as a linux-based cellphone. Probably it will run as a wifi-enabled mobile system only.

Openmoko?

Andre's picture
Submitted by Andre (not verified) on Sat, 01/24/2009 - 10:24.

Android? I can only think about OpenMoko OS running on Iphone. Don't like Google's concept of freedom.

Why would I do that?

Edmundo's picture
Submitted by Edmundo (not verified) on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 14:13.

Why would I install Linux on my iPhone? What would I win doing that?
If it is just "because I can do so" I think it is not enough.
I have already payed the cost for the OS it currently runs and all the "ecosystem" for the phone was made for that OS.

Because we can. And screw

Anonymous's picture
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:47.

Because we can. And screw apple for blocking linux users from being able to just USE the thing without having to hack it first.

Curious

Jason's picture
Submitted by Jason (not verified) on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 15:34.

Goblin, I can't help but wonder: What on earth you mean by "ecosystem"?

Return to sender

goblin's picture
Submitted by goblin on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 03:24.

Um, Jason, it was Edmundo who used the word "ecosystem", not me...

But I reckon he means all applications and services by "ecosystem".

--
goblin, the "I'm not Edmundo"-guy

Your own reason and no other

goblin's picture
Submitted by goblin on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 03:09.

If you don't want to run Linux on your iPhone, then don't! Linux is all about freedom and choice, and you're about to get one more option, one more degree of freedom. So feel free to do what you want for your own reasons. Actually "because I can do so" is one of the best reasons I can think of.

Personally I like the idea that I control hardware I paid for - Apple can send updates to iPhones by the push of a button, and I simply feel uncomfortable with this world-domination type of power. It will also be cool to use the iPhone in ways that Apple never thought of, or to put my well known Linux applications on it.

My Thoughts...

Shawn Powers's picture
Submitted by Shawn Powers on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 15:12.

I was thinking Android + Sweet Hardware = Awesome. :)

Shawn Powers is an Associate Editor for Linux Journal. You might find him chatting on the IRC channel, or Twitter

We could wait ...

Edmundo's picture
Submitted by Edmundo (not verified) on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 16:11.

Maybe Google could make a second version for their phone ... if just the economics helped =(

Is Android Next?

theillien's picture
Submitted by theillien on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 12:22.

Now that they've got the kernel running it is only a matter of time before they either load up Android or a custom Linux distro. Let's see what they do before my current phone contract expires at the end of February. Maybe I'll own an iPhone after all.