Mobile GNU+Linux History
Mobile GNU+Linux History
A look back at where we came from.
The Journey of Mobile Linux
This video explores the history of mobile GNU+Linux devices and how they evolved over time, setting the stage for modern Linux phones like the Librem 5 and PinePhone.
Historical Milestones
Early Days
- OpenMoko - One of the first attempts at an open-source smartphone
- Nokia Internet Tablets - N770, N800, N810 running Maemo
- Nokia N900 - The legendary Maemo smartphone
- Maemo operating system development
- The merger into MeeGo
- Nokia N9 with MeeGo Harmattan
- The end of Nokia's Linux phone efforts
- Android's rise to dominance
- Ubuntu Touch attempts
- Firefox OS brief appearance
- Community projects keeping the dream alive
- Purism Librem 5 - Privacy-focused Linux phone
- Pine64 PinePhone - Affordable community Linux phone
- Multiple operating systems available
- Growing ecosystem of mobile Linux software
- The technical challenges solved over the years
- Why certain design decisions were made
- The dedication of the community
- How far the ecosystem has come
Maemo and MeeGo Era
The Gap Years
The Renaissance (2019+)
Why This History Matters
Understanding where mobile Linux came from helps appreciate:
The Future
2019 marked a turning point with real hardware becoming available to regular users, not just developers. The legacy of Maemo, MeeGo, and other projects lives on in today's mobile Linux efforts.