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symbian_vs_linux.txt
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symbian_vs_linux.txt
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Symbian vs linux
Hardware:
Symbian - runs on ARM archs with an emulator on i386 for development.
Can not be adapted easily for new platforms (and it is not legal to
do this anyway).
Linux - runs on many architectures ( > 20 ) including ARM.
can be adapted to other architectures by the vendors relativly easily
and it is legal to do so.
Result: Linux
OS:
Both - have protection, memory paging.
Symbian - has networking and filesystem in user space thus gaining more
stability (although if those crash it is a serious problem) while
paying for performance.
Linux - has a lot more in kernel but this introduces instability.
Result: tie
Cost (license cost per phone deployed):
Symbian - proprietary (considered cheaper than WM).
Windows Mobile - proprietary (considered expensive).
Linux - free.
Result: Linux
Realtime:
Symbian - has an "Event" driven model for development.
also has the ability to run both the real time event system
and user applications on a single CPU and guaranteeing performance.
Linux - API is also Event driven. Has priority support. Real time
better than symbian. Expected to get very good realtime in
the upcoming years.
Result: tie (at this point in time and linux in the long term).
Development languages:
Symbian - usually a special version of C++ with eclipse plugin.
Some other language packs exist but are more rarely used.
Special version of java exists.
Linux - Almost any language you like with no need to
beg for the vendor for it.
Result: Linux (if you have the time to config your dev env)
Configuration:
Symbian is an end product - this means it's almost a no
brainer to configure.
Linux is a very flexible kernel - you have to be a rocket
scientist to configure it.
- On the other hand - you can ask your vendor to do it or
the core team at your enterprise.
Result: tie (Symbian better for smaller businesses and
Linux for bigger).
Pace of progress:
Symbian - commercial - rate of progress is quite slow.
Linux - quite fast (tousands of lines per day).
Result: Linux
Openess of code:
Symbian - clients can get an SDK with the code and adjust it.
NOT OPEN SOURCE.
Linux - truly open source (GPL).
Result: Linux
Ability to hide kernel code:
Symbian - clients can hide their extensions to the kernel.
Linux - theoretically clients CAN'T hide their extensions
altough no one has been sued till now.
Result: Symbian
Industry:
Symbian - Already a running system on 110 million phones.
Linux - quite a newcommer.
Windows mobile - also a strong contender.
Result: Symbian
Business:
Symbian - Nokia has quite a hand in Symbian but wants Symbian to
become a standard and so is releasing some of the control.
The motivation: to create a market for Symbian applications.
Some competitors of Nokia are fearful but Nokia does try
to alleviate the problem.
Linux - Very little control of vendor on client.
Result: Linux
Exendibility:
Symbian - has a few extensions by third party and Nokia.
Windows mobile - already has a small market of applications.
Linux - any open source application (vendor has to make a
repository).
Result: Linux
Future:
It is expected that the market will fragment into 2 segments:
1. Embedded devices which will only be used as phone + some
applications and will be cheap.
- in this market Symbian will be a valid choice for some time
to come.
Future (2):
It is expected that the market will fragment into 2 segments:
2. Full devices which will have everything and the kitchen sink.
Full devices will be a challenge both for WM and Symbian which
will have to add core functionality.
Linux has all the advanced features for both.
Result: Linux