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Cellphones Handhelds Linux Business Operating Systems Linux

A Different Kind of Linux Smartphone: Samsung To Sell Tizen-Based Model Z 105

Posted by timothy from the complicated-model dept.
As The Next Web reports, Samsung is finally bringing to market (in Russia, to start) a phone, the Samzung Z, running the Tizen OS. Like Android, Tizen is based on the Linux kernel, but it's intended for HTML5 apps rather than Android apps. It's not Samsung's first Tizen device, though; the second-generation of its Gear smart-watches are running Tizen as well. "Samsung earlier revealed plans for its first Tizen smartphones to be launched during its second quarter of business in 2014, which runs April to July, so it seems like smartphones other than Samsung Z could still be on their way. The Samsung executive said that Tizen devices could account for as much as 15 percent of Samsung’s mobile shipments per year, but Android will still be its main business."
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A Different Kind of Linux Smartphone: Samsung To Sell Tizen-Based Model Z More

A Different Kind of Linux Smartphone: Samsung To Sell Tizen-Based Model Z

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  • Only thing I want to know: (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @05:16AM (#47145399)

    how hackable?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      But does it run Linux?

      • Re: Only thing I want to know: (Score:5, Funny)

        by binarylarry ( 1338699 ) on Monday June 02, 2014 @05:38AM (#47145465)

        It's got an HTML5 userland, so you know the apps will be TOP NOTCH.

        • Re: Only thing I want to know: (Score:4, Informative)

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @06:11AM (#47145541)

          You can also use Qt for developing. Since Qt has an improving support for Android too, eventually developing cross-platform apps may become easier.

        • as opposed to that well-known and respected technology, UIs written in Java.

          • Re: Only thing I want to know: (Score:5, Informative)

            by NotInHere ( 3654617 ) on Monday June 02, 2014 @07:51AM (#47145727)

            1st Android introduced a declarative (XML) way to write UIs (I admit I don't know whether this XML gets parsed by java or native code) and

            2nd There is no JVM in Android, its Dalvik VM. Google only took the language, but not the whole technology.

            • Re: (Score:1)

              by Anonymous Coward

              Google didn't take anything, Dalvik was written by single person and it was taken in use by Android Inc, what Google bought much later.

          • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

            by Anonymous Coward

            Java is one of the main obstacles in the development of efficient applications. Between the blatant lie of the code portability, the huge system requirements, and the lousy pre-baked code pieces every single developer is using it's only a matter of time before it causes the collapse of our civilization.

            Mark my words, some time in the near future all the Java-based appliances/phones/computers/blu-ray players, etc will get together and become Skynet. And in a shorter time lapse we will have hordes of T-1000s

            • .... Only to crash when some script kiddie uses a drive by java exploit to serve all of the killbots with adware.

            • Mark my words, some time in the near future all the Java-based appliances/phones/computers/blu-ray players, etc will get together and become Skynet. And in a shorter time lapse we will have hordes of T-1000s hunting us down the streets.

              But mankind will catch a lucky break when humans refuse to install the Java updates.

            • So that's why Java apps are so slow. They're secretly plotting world domination while you wait for them to load!

        • will be TOP NOTCH

          Yep, same thing they said about Bada OS.

          • Re: Only thing I want to know: (Score:5, Funny)

            by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @10:15AM (#47146467)

            Where Bada went wrong is that they made a custom search with Google, creating Bada-Google. If they went with Microsoft, they would have had Bada-Bing

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by gl4ss ( 559668 )

            incidentally tizen is the bada replacement or rather this tizen is the bada successor. thus their 10-15% predictions etc shit.

            meanwhile nokia is putting android out in this(sub 100 bucks unsubsidized segment, nokia x).

      • Humorous comment, but given that colloquially "Linux" = "GNU/Linux," seems a valid question. It seems that, at least early on, you could get xterm running on it: https://lists.tizen.org/piperm... [tizen.org] this of course doesn't say anything about the shell, underlying libraries, etc. ... but there might be hope.

    • Only thing I want to know: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      I just want a real open source phone OS (Android doesn't count because it's practically useless without the Google adware/spyware). One that's not anti-consumer, doesn't spy on you, try to get you to buy things from its app store, doesn't treat the users like morons (hello iOS!) etc. Basically like Linux is on the desktop. I'd gladly PAY a bit extra for this, 10 or 20 bucks (they can't make that much more off me from sell my data, and I don't buy from app stores anyway, so that's a good deal on their part).

      • adware-less Android (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        I just want a real open source phone OS (Android doesn't count because it's practically useless without the Google adware/spyware).

        Can someone please tell me, just what are these mysterious Google applications that they think Android just can't be used without? And if you think you can supply these applications on another platform, are you really sure it can't be done for Android -- that Android is the one OS in the history of civilization that good apps simply can't ever be written for, or ported to?

        The o

        • Re: adware-less Android (Score:1)

          by Anonymous Coward

          Same AC here.

          The Google Play Store, for one. Yeah I know there's F-Droid and others, and you can sideload, but for an average consumer who just wants his angry birds? That's unacceptable.

          Also, maps as was mentioned, and the integrations with Google services (contacts and settings backed up, for example). And Google no longer wants to open source anything. Anything added since 4.0 has been closed, and they are replacing the open apps with closed ones (which means the open ones won't be maintained unless the

      • I just want a real open source phone OS (Android doesn't count because it's practically useless without the Google adware/spyware). One that's not anti-consumer, doesn't spy on you, try to get you to buy things from its app store, doesn't treat the users like morons (hello iOS!) etc. Basically like Linux is on the desktop. I'd gladly PAY a bit extra for this, 10 or 20 bucks (they can't make that much more off me from sell my data, and I don't buy from app stores anyway, so that's a good deal on their part).

        In other words, Nokia N900 for this decade. Unfortunately, the only real upgrade I'm seeing is the Neo900, but I'm not exactly holding my breath.

  • Replicant (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @05:17AM (#47145403)

    We need a good Replicant based Linux distribution that lets users replace their spyware laden operator's distro with a privacy perserving os that does everything a linux box can.

    http://www.replicant.us/

    • Re:Replicant (Score:4, Insightful)

      by gmuslera ( 3436 ) on Monday June 02, 2014 @06:45AM (#47145603) Homepage Journal
      Tizen or Android, the problem are usually the drivers, not so easy to replace. Anyway, Tizen ecosystem is more pure linux than Android, so odds there should be better.

      • How does that work? When you say the drivers are the problem, do you mean the drivers are insecure and allow for loss of privacy?

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by rvw ( 755107 )

          How does that work? When you say the drivers are the problem, do you mean the drivers are insecure and allow for loss of privacy?

          He probably means the availability of drivers

          • He probably means the availability of drivers

            Since the OP is talking about privacy concerns, more likely he means the possibility of replacing the manufacturer supplied binary drivers with free/opensource ones that can be audited. To that end one needs to reverse engineer the binary drivers, and he presumes this job would be easier on Tizen (standard Linux) than on Android.

        • Things like graphics drivers, for example, are often only available for Android because they link against Android's libc. This tends to be true of any userspace blob on mobile devices.

          This is why Jolla developed libhybris and why Canonical is using it. Samsung, at least, might be able to deliver glibc userspace binaries.

          • > Things like graphics drivers, for example, are often only available for Android because they link against Android's libc
            I guess legal, or maybe technical, obstacles don't allow bundling Android's libc and using it with LD_LIBRARY_PATH or equivalent tricks?

    • If you can put Ubuntu on a tablet, can't you do the same with another Debian distro?

      Replicant isn't the solution, though. There is too much profit to be made in the shovelware consumer space to release FOSS drivers and bare OS's for hardware, and not enough nerds (like me) who will pay for that option. Your best lookout for a privacy-enabled phone is Blackphone, but again that's a corporate entity. Profit is the driving force, which means no open-source implementation.

  • This is getting interesting (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    If this thingy got Android emulation/virtualisation/whatever layer - may be its time for me to refresh my java script skills.

    Idea of programming apps for my phone is really intriguing, especially if i can get access to hardware!

    Nothing fancy so far.

    • Re: This is getting interesting (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      That idea is alive for at least past six years. I can program for (and also *on*) all of my mobile devices, with any programming language and with full access to hardware: Openmoko Neo Freerunner, OpenPhoenux GTA04 and Nokia N900 - and Neo900 will join them soon.

    • you can do that already with Cordova - HTML-based apps running all locally (ie you code a website and run the whole thing on your phone, roughly). Or run it remote data but code the GUI as a single-page-app using Angular.js

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by wed128 ( 722152 )

      Why not just write android apps? Why wait?

  • screw Linux, try the Hurd phone (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @05:39AM (#47145467)

    The Hurd-based GNUphone looks like a brick, feels like a brick, and is a brick. Sure you can talk into it, and everyone can call you on it, but they only call you crazy.

  • I used to like Samsung and its Android phone products. In fact, I owned the galaxy series S, S2 and S3. I skipped the S4 and really didn't see the point of the S5. These phones in my opinion, were just overpriced! I am now looking at getting the One Plus One.

    • Re:I cooled off on Samsung... (Score:5, Informative)

      by markus_baertschi ( 259069 ) <markus@mELIOTarkus.org minus poet> on Monday June 02, 2014 @06:28AM (#47145579)

      I had a SGS2 and have a SGS4 now. They are fine phones. I want a replaceable battery and a SD card slot. This reduces the field for me a lot.

      For my wife I bought a Moto G and I suspect I will replace my SGS4 with a phone in the same class, once it needs to be replaced. Phones are rapidly approaching the phase where most middle class phones are good enough. Two years ago a high-end device was necessary for a good experience, these days this is no longer true.

      Life will become tougher for phone manufacturers.

    • I still have my Nexus 4; I'd have upgraded to a OnePlus One if I hadn't just received a Nexus 7 recently. I make so few voice calls nowadays my Nexus 4 was more an internet device anyway. If I could get SMS on my Nexus 7 (for free) I'd dump my phone altogether.

      • You can have SMS on any Android phone with Google Voice and/or Hangouts. There are also other service providers of similar if you look around when you don't like Google.

        The issue is, can you get away from Phone part of the phone? Do you really want to lose the phone?

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Jae686 ( 1203100 )
        IF you COULD buy a OnePlus One....... (unless you have an invite ofcourse.......)

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by elwinc ( 663074 )

      Yeah, that TouchWiz layer is pretty annoying.

      Check out Motorola. The Moto X (4.7" diag) is very highly reviewed & I like mine far better than my earlier Samsung Galaxy Nexus. My mom must bought herself a Droid Maxx (5" diag) that's pretty good also. Being owned by Google, Moto keeps its UI pretty close to pure android.

    • Take a look at the Moto X or the upcoming Moto X+1. I swapped over from the S3 and never looked back. It's a much better mobile experience.

  • A debian phone once more. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2014 @05:59AM (#47145513)

    As someone who watched the 'community process' of the maemo/meego get ignored and decisions regarding the base OS/packaging system forces through by corporate/political types I'm glad to see at least one company producing a debian based phone.

    Access to the OS for C application development outside a VM, EFL/enlightenment as the native application toolkit and access to a QT port.

    HTML5 after that seems like an an necessary afterthought but at least your not running in a VM.

  • Does it have a physical keyboard?

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Yes, one based on the IBM Model M

  • Everyone without fail. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by serviscope_minor ( 664417 ) on Monday June 02, 2014 @06:27AM (#47145575) Journal

    So far, every attempt at producing a smartphone leads the people involved to believe that they willl be DIFFERENT and they will be able to make a phone which doesn't suck without native apps. So fat everyone else has learned the lesson eventually. Android learned it. Apple learned it. Microsoft have learned it. And the Tizen people will need to learn it to have any chance of success.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jbolden ( 176878 )

      Tizen has a fairly nice application framework. It doesn't run Android applications. But that doesn't mean Tizen apps can't be written. And given that Tizen is designed much better for worse hardware they should be faster and more responsive. We'll see how good a job Samsung et. al. did but at least on paper Tizen could produce a far better experience on say a $100 phone in 2020.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Threni ( 635302 )

      Well, no, I think they expect developers will rush to develop apps for "such an obviously soon-to-be-successful platform".

      • Well, no, I think they expect developers will rush to develop apps for "such an obviously soon-to-be-successful platform".

        Especially since this platform promises to be particularly appealing to cost-conscious people.

  • Samsung worked with Intel to develop the Linux-based Tizen platform which is open-sourced Ã" meaning hardware manufacturers that adopt it can freely tinker with the interface.
  • This smartphone has launched with differentiated design some how similar to sony'ish square shaped with curved sides.
  • Intense competition in tech industry have made difficulties in innovative products and every single company even Chinese have made effort to try out in manufacturing new devices...what they are doing is coming up new device with little change like the series of advancement in APPL and Samsung with bigger screen and little added features in it..i think innovative part has disrupted everything in this battle to go first position.

  • More Samsung ? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by David Griffin ( 3485497 ) on Monday June 02, 2014 @08:48AM (#47145959)
    One problem with the last Samsung android phone I had was all the Samsung crap on it. Surely their own OS will be even worse ? Or maybe they plan to create a rival ecosystem to the google one (maps, mail, calendar, drive, now, their own chromebooks). Hmmm

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      One problem with the last Samsung android phone I had was all the Samsung crap on it.

      Bingo. I have been buying Samsung phones (and some other Samsung non-phone stuff) for over a decade now, because they really did make good products; enough so that they always came out on top whenever I happened to be shopping. (It's always a game of leapfrog, but my timings just happened to line up with Samsung's phases.) Yet I am pretty sure my Galaxy S4 is the last Samsung product that I ever buy. The S4's crapware sh

  • Cute timing - earlier today saw Jolla talk about pricecuts :)

  • Anyone who's used Samsung software knows it's a steaming pile of shit (touchwiz anyone). They need to stick to what their good at... Hardware.

    • While I agree for the most part with hardware being DECENT, Samsung really has shitty antennas. I loved my S3, and I love my Note2, but the reception is absolute shit compared to the Motorolas I've had ( the OG droid / Bionic ETC ). The very same places that had been low signal but usable with the Motorola devices either have no signal and / or drop data and calls like flies. Same goes for the WIFI antennas.

      This is on the same carrier network and all. I am not the only one to complain about this either,

  • Unfortunately, it's going to cost over 9000$!!!

  • Tizen can run Android apps with third party software installed. They are not emulated and run natively I believe.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by wed128 ( 722152 )

      Which is amazing, considering that android apps are mostly emulated when they're run *on android*

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