Re: GNUstep Handheld

[H. Nikolaus Schaller]

Hi Andreas,
if I look at your requirements, take a look at the PinePhone and start with
modifying the Ubuntu Touch image provided by Pine. It is likely that you can
install GNUstep almost the same way as you do on any other Ubuntu PC.

I have a developer device which almost runs a stock Linux kernel and it
did simply start a 32 bit Debian Jessie root-file system (although it is an
aarch64 processor) with X11 and touch out of the box. So I could also
install the mySTEP packages without any efforts.

But I haven't had time to investigate or make anything else (GPS, LTE,
charging, WiFi, Bluetooth, Audio) really working. Or switch everything to
a newer Debian release (libjpeg and some others are not easily interchangeable
between Jessie, Stretch, Buster etc.).

Well, it is not really rugged but cheap enough to replace a broken unit...

BR,
Nikolaus


> Am 06.05.2020 um 17:00 schrieb Riccardo Mottola <riccardo.mottola@libero.it>:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Andreas Höschler via Discussion list for the GNUstep programming
> environment wrote:
>> I am investigating a niche project for which a handheld device with the 
>> following features is required:
>> 
>> • runs GNUstep so that Objective-C apps can be built
>> • mobile device (handheld, tablet,...), ideally rugged
>> • GPS receiver
>> • GPRS/LTE for connecting to the internet (SIM slot) (pppconfig)
>> • price tag < 600 EUR
>> 
>> The supply with this hardware should be save for the forthcoming years (at 
>> least 5 years).
>> 
>> Any ideas before I am forced to burry the GNUstep approach and have to take 
>> the iOS route?
> 
> I think here the most informed person is Mr. Nikolaus Schaller! (I put
> him in cc, but usually reads this list)
> 
> It looks all very nice, but remember that GNUstep's UI might ot be best
> suited, so.... he worked on myStep which is more tuned for pen / touch
> usage and has tried and also produced some very nice examples.
> 
> Personally I am still "toying" around with the Letux400 and albeit there
> are speed issues, the art backend works What is "missing" is screen
> scaling in GNUstep..
> Said short, under 1024x768 our screen is unusable. You get mega-icons
> and mega-menus, even if you scale down the size. Some resolution/scaling
> would be a very nice addition here (and the opposite is true, if you
> have high resolution... even on a non-retina display, you get small items).
> 
> Riccardo