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Sidekick LX 2009 / Blade Will Run NetBSD

* GEEK ALERT *

Wow, here’s a nice shift. Remember all those concerns you guys had about Microsoft switching the Sidekick to *cringe* Windows CE? Well worry no more. The next Sidekick will run the free open source NetBSD operating system. Yes, you read that right. Don’t worry, you won’t have to know how to use the command line to make a phone call, your Sidekick LX 2009 will have the same old Danger User Interface we all know and love.

How do we know this?

- We’ve confirmed this via sources that wish to remain anonymous, but we know that’s not good enough for you guys….

- A job posting (also posted here) looking for “a talented NetBSD software developer interested in helping Danger (a subsidiary of Microsoft) ship the next generation of Danger’s Sidekick platform.” (full text of job description below)

Location: Redmond, WA
Client: Microsoft.
Job Description:

Seeking a talented NetBSD software developer interested in helping Danger (a subsidiary of Microsoft) ship the next generation of Danger’s Sidekick platform. Specifically, we’re looking for NetBSD developers interested in commercializing the NetBSD platform for an embedded mobile computing device, focusing on performance and optimization, bug fixing, and integration with Danger’s higher-level platform code, with an emphasis on kernel and driver support.
Qualifications:
- 8+ years of software development experience
- 8+ years experience with C
- Strong understanding of OS concepts (particularly with NetBSD) such as multi-threaded program design and synchronization, processes & memory protection, etc.
- Strong communication skills
- Strong understanding of the NetBSD/GNU software development process and embedded development & debugging techniques
- Deep understanding of NetBSD, including timers, RPC, TCP/IP, etc.
- Experience with ARM processors highly desirable

- A post on a NetBSD mailing list from a Danger employee saying “that Danger is actively and openly working on NetBSD”. Full post:

Subject: Arm support for TI SDP2430, ARM 1136, ARMv6 and ARM VIPT cache
To: None From: Martin Fouts
List: port-arm
Date: 09/25/2007 12:46:40

I’ve just attempted to send-pr a patch that adds support to release-4 for the TI SDP2430 evaluation board, the ARM 1136 processor core, ARM V6 cache support and VIPT support for ARM.

The work represents the effort of Matt Thomas and Cliff Neighbors of 3AM Software Foundry for Danger, Inc. as well the efforts of many people at Danger, including Marty Fouts, Todd Poynor, Ken Sumrall and others. It builds on the previous OMAP port to NetBSD submitted by “Picovex” containing the port to OMAP by Scott Anderson and others at Danger.

Matt Thomas is currently committing the changes to the matt-armv6 branch.

The port is reasonably stable: It has self-hosted on an NFS mounted file system on the SDP2430 board.

Now that Danger is actively and openly working on NetBSD, we will be making some of our other drivers and ports available to the community as they become stable.

- There’s also this post about porting yaffs (Yet Another Flash File System) to the NetBSD/Sidekick.

’nuff said.

Possibly Related Posts:
  • So, what does NetBSD mean for you?
  • Sidekick LX 2009 - A Clearer Picture
  • Sidekick LX 2009

  • 45 Responses to “Sidekick LX 2009 / Blade Will Run NetBSD”

    1. MrOtsKrad Says:

      This is nucking futs….cant wait :)

    2. RockStarr Says:

      Ehhh i’ll probably have it for 2 months then go back to the iphone.

    3. meems Says:

      Cool beans! Can’t wait!

    4. Vince Offer Says:

      The ShamWow ™ can absorb 50% of the 2009 Sidekick in one squeeze!

    5. MrOtsKrad Says:

      booooo iphone

    6. kelson clisby Says:

      i cant waight to get my hands on this sick new sidekick lx/ blade i have the tony hawk one right now and i love the sidekick franshise

    7. dave Says:

      ook, so does any1 know exactly what this means!?!?
      because i have noo idea wtf theyre talking about. lol
      does this mean the sidekick wont be as locked down?

    8. debra Says:

      Wo0t cant wait finally the new sk is gettin better so microsoft buy it wasnt such a bad idea after

    9. recks Says:

      Yea wtff that mean break it down 2 normall ppl

    10. joe Says:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

    11. count Says:

      Yeah I’m with that guy dave what the does this mean.

    12. almir Says:

      lol wut does this mean thenn?

    13. dave Says:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

    14. dave Says:

      ^^but thnxxx for answering my question; DESPITE ur negative comment along w/ it

    15. FEZ Says:

      woahh.

      sounds REALLY REALLY good.

      Can’t wait <3

    16. joe Says:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

    17. brandon Says:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      Your really getting on my nerves.

      Open OS is nice and will open up more oppertunites, but hopefully the developers will still be able to make some cash! I personally liked the locked down OS.

    18. ??``` Says:

      im confused, wut does this NetBSD do anyways?

    19. sidek!ick user Says:

      WWOOOOOOT. HORRAYY FOR BETTER APS!!! I knew danger would come through!!! The sidekick is now ready to compete with todays phones. Before it relied on people who text. But now its basically for everyone! The microsoft purchase was a damn good thing if you ask me.

    20. MrOtsKrad Says:

      It means..

      * GEEK ALERT *

      If your not, don’t worry about it. You’ll understand more once the device comes out :P

    21. Phlaymz Says:

      Gotta remember tho, it was tmo locking up the sidekicks, not danger. So all that open os stuff is only as good as the network that lets it stay open…

    22. MrOtsKrad Says:

      Holla!

    23. employee Says:

      Phlaymz on January 31, 2009 at 12:41 pm said:

      Gotta remember tho, it was tmo locking up the sidekicks, not danger. So all that open os stuff is only as good as the network that lets it stay open…

      And where did you get this false information?

    24. Anonymous Says:

      employee on January 31, 2009 at 1:19 pm said:

      Phlaymz on January 31, 2009 at 12:41 pm said:

      Gotta remember tho, it was tmo locking up the sidekicks, not danger. So all that open os stuff is only as good as the network that lets it stay open…

      And where did you get this false information?

      It’s not entirely false information, sorry. It’s true that carriers do request Ringtones be locked down. As far as Applications though, that’s false. That’s the same everywhere and I’m quite happy about that. Look at the G1, there was some Application that would corrupt your address book. (Google it, you’ll find it.) That would never happen on a Sidekick/Hiptop due to Danger reviewing EVERY application that goes on their device *so* throughly.

    25. joe Says:

      brandon on January 31, 2009 at 10:55 am said:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      Your really getting on my nerves.

      Open OS is nice and will open up more oppertunites, but hopefully the developers will still be able to make some cash! I personally liked the locked down OS.

      Wow, you guys have feelings over the internet, smh.

    26. anthony Says:

      There is nothing wrong with android not reviewing apps before letting it to market. There isn’t a central company reviewing every computer app you download! You are supposed to make your own intelligent choice and decide for yourself. This frees the market up and lets some bad apps in, but it brings in way more innovative apps as well without the developer worrying about doing all the hard work just to be shot down in the approval process.

      Btw I’ve always loved the

    27. anthony Says:

      There is nothing wrong with android not reviewing apps before letting it to market. There isn’t a central company reviewing every computer app you download! You are supposed to make your own intelligent choice and decide for yourself. This frees the market up and lets some bad apps in, but it brings in way more innovative apps as well without the developer worrying about doing all the hard work just to be shot down in the approval process.

      Btw I’ve always loved the smooth ui from the sidekick. Being able to seamlessly multitask was great. I hope the battery life is good.

    28. dave Says:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      actually NO, u didnt hurt me thats one of the last things a little negative comment over the internet would EVER do to me. and wtf? go cry to my mommy?!? what r u like 12?!? like really, its pointless 2 even form an argument via internet, so whatever its done. BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SIDEKICKS which we are originally here for.

    29. joe Says:

      dave on January 31, 2009 at 9:11 pm said:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      actually NO, u didnt hurt me thats one of the last things a little negative comment over the internet would EVER do to me. and wtf? go cry to my mommy?!? what r u like 12?!? like really, its pointless 2 even form an argument via internet, so whatever its done. BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SIDEKICKS which we are originally here for.

      Still arguing?………….

    30. bob Says:

      joe on February 1, 2009 at 12:33 am said:

      dave on January 31, 2009 at 9:11 pm said:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      actually NO, u didnt hurt me thats one of the last things a little negative comment over the internet would EVER do to me. and wtf? go cry to my mommy?!? what r u like 12?!? like really, its pointless 2 even form an argument via internet, so whatever its done. BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SIDEKICKS which we are originally here for.

      Still arguing?………….

      Just stop being a **** man. Give the guy a break, okay?

    31. meems Says:

      I guess you were wrong joe because if you read the article above this one it says
      “What does it mean for you? Nothing. You still won’t see any Non-Catalog 3rd party applications, you won’t see a “Jailbreak”, you won’t see free rangt0n3z… none of this will happen with the Blade running NetBSD as it’s foundation. Sorry to burst any bubbles”

      Wonder how it feels to think your a genious but your wrong!
      joe Says:

      January 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm [ Quote ]

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps

      ^^^^ Guess He Does!

    32. dave Says:

      bob on February 1, 2009 at 6:58 am said:

      joe on February 1, 2009 at 12:33 am said:

      dave on January 31, 2009 at 9:11 pm said:

      joe on January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am said:

      dave on January 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm said:

      joe on January 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm said:

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps.

      1st off, that was uncalled for; noo need to be a ****. and yea , for ur information i am in highschool ur point?. my god, i ask one simple question and automatically get a negative response.

      Aww, did I hurt you? You want me to call the Waammmbulance? ROFL. Go cry to your mommy dude.

      actually NO, u didnt hurt me thats one of the last things a little negative comment over the internet would EVER do to me. and wtf? go cry to my mommy?!? what r u like 12?!? like really, its pointless 2 even form an argument via internet, so whatever its done. BACK TO TALKING ABOUT SIDEKICKS which we are originally here for.

      Still arguing?………….

      Just stop being a **** man. Give the guy a break, okay?

      meems on February 1, 2009 at 8:16 am said:

      I guess you were wrong joe because if you read the article above this one it says
      “What does it mean for you? Nothing. You still won’t see any Non-Catalog 3rd party applications, you won’t see a “Jailbreak”, you won’t see free rangt0n3z… none of this will happen with the Blade running NetBSD as it’s foundation. Sorry to burst any bubbles”

      Wonder how it feels to think your a genious but your wrong!
      joe Says:

      January 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm [ Quote ]

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps

      ^^^^ Guess He Does!

      lol thnxx;
      no biggie though, lets start talking about sidekicks agen, becuase thats what we’re here for right? to find outt info on the sidekick. but agen, thnxx

    33. joe Says:

      meems on February 1, 2009 at 8:16 am said:

      I guess you were wrong joe because if you read the article above this one it says
      “What does it mean for you? Nothing. You still won’t see any Non-Catalog 3rd party applications, you won’t see a “Jailbreak”, you won’t see free rangt0n3z… none of this will happen with the Blade running NetBSD as it’s foundation. Sorry to burst any bubbles”

      Wonder how it feels to think your a genious but your wrong!
      joe Says:

      January 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm [ Quote ]

      Smh @ Dave, you can’t read for ****, or you must still be in High School. -_____-

      It means we are going to be able to install 3rd party apps

      ^^^^ Guess He Does!

      Lmao, you don’t know **** about Danger nor Sidekick brand, so why are you here? Let me guess, you are one of those idiots that think the OS we have now is impossible to open? Lol. NetBSD will be open I guarantee you, hiptop3 is an unreliable source, try researching around the internet and stop listening to hiptop3!! ;P

    34. Wow Says:

      Vince Offer on January 30, 2009 at 9:09 pm said:

      The ShamWow ™ can absorb 50% of the 2009 Sidekick in one squeeze!

      ShamWow. You’re gonna say “wow” every time.

    35. PlanBForOpenOffice Says:

      Seeking a talented NetBSD software developer interested in helping Danger (a subsidiary of Microsoft)

      should read

      “Seeking a loner NetBSD software developer interested in helping Danger (a subsidiary of Microsoft)… ready for career change”

      Because what are your chances of A) having any standing with your MS colleagues and B) of staying long term an experienced NetBSD developer?

    36. UncleRage Says:

      @ Joe.

      You’re a moron. And I mean that in a “you’ve no idea of what you’re talking about” kind of way. Not just in the, “You’re a real asshat” way.

      *BSD doesn’t have to mean open for the consumer. The BSD license does not preclude closing source, limiting client exposure or insinuate freely available *SDK’s. The primary restriction imposed by the BSD license is to site the source — not release modifications or implementations of it.

      Educate yourself before you spout idiocy.

      And quit being a jerk.

    37. employee Says:

      Sorry Joe. Your wrong. You need to do a search on NETBSD.

    38. joe Says:

      employee on February 3, 2009 at 4:04 pm said:

      Sorry Joe. Your wrong. You need to do a search on NETBSD.

      You failed as a Mcdonalds “employee”.

      Lolz

    39. joe Says:

      UncleRage on February 3, 2009 at 3:50 pm said:

      @ Joe.

      You’re a moron. And I mean that in a “you’ve no idea of what you’re talking about” kind of way. Not just in the, “You’re a real asshat” way.

      *BSD doesn’t have to mean open for the consumer. The BSD license does not preclude closing source, limiting client exposure or insinuate freely available *SDK’s. The primary restriction imposed by the BSD license is to site the source — not release modifications or implementations of it.

      Educate yourself before you spout idiocy.

      And quit being a jerk.

      Goo goo gah gah, stop b!tching, I bet you are one of those geeks that joins the sidekick bandwagon because you had the sidekick since the first one? nobody cares, the sidekick needs to die, T-Mobiles new signature phone is the G series, get with what’s modern and leave the past alone, so if this new sidekick is going to have yet another closed OS then it will be another piece of **** that will be overpriced. The G1 is $179, how much will this sidekick 09 be? $400. What a waste, I was hoping Danger would go bankrupt! Dammit!

    40. itsNobi Says:

      joe on February 3, 2009 at 8:37 pm said:

      UncleRage on February 3, 2009 at 3:50 pm said:

      @ Joe.

      You’re a moron. And I mean that in a “you’ve no idea of what you’re talking about” kind of way. Not just in the, “You’re a real asshat” way.

      *BSD doesn’t have to mean open for the consumer. The BSD license does not preclude closing source, limiting client exposure or insinuate freely available *SDK’s. The primary restriction imposed by the BSD license is to site the source — not release modifications or implementations of it.

      Educate yourself before you spout idiocy.

      And quit being a jerk.

      Goo goo gah gah, stop b!tching, I bet you are one of those geeks that joins the sidekick bandwagon because you had the sidekick since the first one? nobody cares, the sidekick needs to die, T-Mobiles new signature phone is the G series, get with what’s modern and leave the past alone, so if this new sidekick is going to have yet another closed OS then it will be another piece of **** that will be overpriced. The G1 is $179, how much will this sidekick 09 be? $400. What a waste, I was hoping Danger would go bankrupt! Dammit!

      hmmmm…..ad hominem abusive…..the first logical sign that you have nothing worth listening to.

      lol

    41. bsanchez Says:

      This is very creepy. MSFT putting money into developing a product which is in direct competition with Windows Mobile? Where’s the catch? I thought that MSFT bought Danger because it needed hardware of their own for a MSphone of some type. Like what they did with the Zune to go after the Ipod’s business. Has Android shifted WinMo’s strategy so much they’re putting their greens into an opensource platform?

    42. joe Says:

      itsNobi on February 4, 2009 at 1:36 pm said:

      joe on February 3, 2009 at 8:37 pm said:

      UncleRage on February 3, 2009 at 3:50 pm said:

      @ Joe.

      You’re a moron. And I mean that in a “you’ve no idea of what you’re talking about” kind of way. Not just in the, “You’re a real asshat” way.

      *BSD doesn’t have to mean open for the consumer. The BSD license does not preclude closing source, limiting client exposure or insinuate freely available *SDK’s. The primary restriction imposed by the BSD license is to site the source — not release modifications or implementations of it.

      Educate yourself before you spout idiocy.

      And quit being a jerk.

      Goo goo gah gah, stop b!tching, I bet you are one of those geeks that joins the sidekick bandwagon because you had the sidekick since the first one? nobody cares, the sidekick needs to die, T-Mobiles new signature phone is the G series, get with what’s modern and leave the past alone, so if this new sidekick is going to have yet another closed OS then it will be another piece of **** that will be overpriced. The G1 is $179, how much will this sidekick 09 be? $400. What a waste, I was hoping Danger would go bankrupt! Dammit!

      hmmmm…..ad hominem abusive…..the first logical sign that you have nothing worth listening to.

      lol

      Lolz

    43. ray s Says:

      Aaahhhh this wack. I got a iphone. Iphone better then sidekick lx 2009. (Cough) my bad

    44. loler Says:

      so funny how people read something and come here to ask questions
      it’s as if they have never heard of google
      lool @ fools
      obviously they’re not learning anything in high school these days

    45. itsNobi Says:

      bsanchez on February 4, 2009 at 4:49 pm said:

      This is very creepy. MSFT putting money into developing a product which is in direct competition with Windows Mobile? Where’s the catch? I thought that MSFT bought Danger because it needed hardware of their own for a MSphone of some type. Like what they did with the Zune to go after the Ipod’s business. Has Android shifted WinMo’s strategy so much they’re putting their greens into an opensource platform?

      Not really. its called diversification. windows knows that there are ppl out there who spit on their mobile platform, so instead of competing with something different, you own it. now M$ has a new revenue stream from a market it never would have had before. so, what if this new sk out sells every phone M$ has licensed it mobile platform for? it doesnt matter. so long as both sell, that money in their pockets. what they did do, though, is include M$ features in the newest sk to, not only, draw more ppl to M$ products, but to continue having ppl pick a side in the “M$ vs everyone else” tech war.

      meaning?

      they put in the outlook shizznit, etc., also, with this being a windows phone, i bet it will be pretty hard to switch your default search engine to google. lol. that’ll suck.

      and thats your lesson in economics.

      that being said. i hope that they dont lock you into windows programs(etc), but just make it a default. phones that give you options are a much bigger draw. we have a pretty stable OS, and moderately stable phone…..and keyboard that i love……i prolly love the os and keyboard the most (its what makes the phone worth having. it makes stuff easy to do….i ‘want’ better apps, but dont ‘need’ them)……..but if i have to be owned by M$ in that i cant seemlessly use google products, it will make me get the g2. M$ can really ruin this for a lot of ppl even though they arent using a windows OS

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