Justin Pearse writes, at ZDNet UK . . .

Samsung's Yopy offers a browser, MP3 player, and Compact Flash all in one little box.

Long after the rumours broke out, Korean electronics giant Samsung has launched its Yopy PDA, which the company says is the first Linux PDA.

The device, which has no wireless capability, uses an ARM processor and features a 4-inch colour LCD screen, embedded HTML browser, MP3 player and Compact Flash slot. According to a company spokesman, future versions will feature a range of add-on devices, including a TV tuner, GPS module, wireless GSM modem and digital camera that will attach to the unit via its Flash slot. Here are a couple of pictures of the Yopy:

photo 1 photo 2

Samsung is also planning Bluetooth and voice recognition integration in future iterations.

This is the first in a new range of PDA devices from Samsung, all of which will be based on Linux. Samsung believes that the open source approach is vital for the device to attract developers to write applications for consumers. “With Linux, anyone can write applications for you,” said the spokesman, “This is the advantage against the proprietary route of Windows CE — Linux is freely available to anyone.”

The spokesman admitted that cost was a significant factor, with a lack of royalties meaning more resources are free to put into developing the device.

The Yopy is expected to retail for between $400 to $600.

Key Features

• Internet & email access via mobile phone or wireless modem
  
• MP3 player, voice recording, MPEG, radio broadcast receiver, games
  
• High-performance CPU
  
• PIM, dictionary, calculator, notepad, world time, alarm, etc.
  
• Color TFT LCD display
  
• Handwriting recognition

• 3D sound stereo audio CODEC
  
• MP3 Player, voice recording, radio broadcasts, alarm
  
• 3.9-inch true-colour TFT LCD
  
• Backlight
  
• 1400mA Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
  
• Dimensions: 128.8 x 83.5 x 19.9mm
  
• RS232C & USB Serial port
  
• CompactFlash slot
  
• IrDA standard included
  
• Audio in/out jack
  
• Front-view speaker

  (Source: Samsung Electr-Mechanics)

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.