14 years
Linus Torvalds, the inventor of the Linux kernel, has an absolute disdain for mobile phones. All of the ones he has purchased in the past, the man writes on his personal blog, ended up being “mostly used for playing Galaga and Solitaire on long flights” even though they were naturally all phones run on open source operating systems.
Things have changed now, he adds, now that he has caved and bought Google’s Nexus One a couple of days ago.
Torvalds has owned a number of phones before, including Google’s G1 device and ‘one of the early China-only Motorola Linux phones’, but it took for Google to add multi-touch capabilities to the Nexus One before he finally broke down and bought one from the company’s web store.
And he’s loving it:
But I have to admit, the Nexus One is a winner. I wasn’t enthusiastic about buying a phone on the internet sight unseen, but the day it was reported that it finally had the pinch-to-zoom thing enabled, I decided to take the plunge. I’ve wanted to have a GPS unit for my car anyway, and I thought that google navigation might finally make a phone useful.
And it does. What a difference! I no longer feel like I’m dragging a phone with me “just in case” I would need to get in touch with somebody – now I’m having a useful (and admittedly pretty good-looking) gadget instead. The fact that you can use it as a phone too is kind of secondary.
While Google hasn’t disclosed how many phones it’s sold so far, the company is believed to have sold closer to 100,000 than 1 million devices. But at least one of them made one of the most famous software engineers in the world one happy camper.
As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the world of technology, especially in open source software and operating systems, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this discussion. My expertise extends to the Linux kernel, its development, and the larger open source community. My insights are informed by a keen understanding of the industry's history, major players, and evolving trends.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about Linus Torvalds and his experience with mobile phones:
1. Linus Torvalds:
Linus Torvalds is a renowned software engineer and the creator of the Linux kernel, which is the core of the Linux operating system. His influence in the open source community is unparalleled, and his opinions carry significant weight in the tech world.
2. Linux Kernel:
The Linux kernel is the fundamental part of the Linux operating system. It manages hardware resources and provides essential services for all other parts of the operating system. Torvalds' expertise lies in the development and maintenance of this kernel.
3. Open Source Operating Systems:
Torvalds expresses a preference for mobile phones running on open source operating systems. Open source software allows users to access, modify, and distribute the source code, fostering a collaborative development model.
4. Google's Nexus One:
The Nexus One is a mobile phone developed by Google. It gained attention for being part of the Android platform and for its notable features, such as multi-touch capabilities and Google Navigation. Torvalds eventually purchased the Nexus One, marking a departure from his previous disinterest in mobile phones.
5. Multi-touch Capabilities:
The mention of multi-touch capabilities refers to the phone's ability to recognize and respond to multiple touch points on the screen simultaneously. This feature enhances user interaction and enables gestures like pinch-to-zoom.
6. Google Navigation:
Google Navigation is a GPS navigation system integrated into Google Maps. Torvalds sees the addition of this feature as a turning point, making the phone more useful, especially for navigation purposes.
7. Pinch-to-Zoom:
The article highlights Torvalds' decision to purchase the Nexus One when it gained pinch-to-zoom functionality. This gesture involves using two fingers to zoom in or out on a touchscreen device, adding to the phone's appeal for Torvalds.
8. Google's Web Store:
Torvalds mentions buying the Nexus One from Google's web store, emphasizing the changing landscape of purchasing technology directly from the internet without physically experiencing the product beforehand.
9. Google's Device Sales:
While the article doesn't provide specific sales figures, it mentions that Google is believed to have sold a significant but not excessively high number of Nexus One devices. This underscores the impact of the device, with Torvalds being one of the satisfied customers.
In conclusion, Linus Torvalds' transition from a mobile phone skeptic to a satisfied Nexus One user reflects the significance of specific features like multi-touch capabilities and Google Navigation in shaping user preferences within the tech community.
