Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
typodupeerror delete not in
  • Preferences

Comments: 3 +-   TomTom uses Linux, but doesn't support Linux users on Thursday September 27 2007, @10:45AM Michele Alessandrini

Submitted by Michele Alessandrini on Thursday September 27 2007, @10:45AM
handheld
Michele Alessandrini writes "Having bought several TomTom One navigation systems here at work (Italy), I was browsing their web site to find information about maps. There are several pages of documentation about their devices. In one of them, they proudly inform you that their devices use Linux, as a warranty of power and stability. But, when you come to the software (the one used to manage updates, set locations, etc), they only support Windows and Mac OS. Not that surprise, and not that the software is really necessary. But the point is: they probably saved million dollars using a free kernel, and they didn't even care supporting Linux users. Am I the only one disappointed?"
submission
This discussion was created for logged-in users only, but now has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

TomTom uses Linux, but doesn't support Linux users 3 Comments More /

 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.
  • I can't find anywhere on their site where I can get Linux source. I also can't find a copy of the GPL license or any reference to it. They don't even link to kernel.org from what I see. The closest thing I see is that their EULA says that some third-party software has its own terms. Can anyone with the support CD for a TomTom device say whether there's source, an offer of source, or a GPL license file?
    • STFW. Google "TomTom linux" and the first hit is this:

      http://www.tomtom.com/page.php?Page=gpl [tomtom.com]

      where they link to the official sites for the various GPL's packages they use, along with their own mirror of the sources and their diffs. They also provide a pre-compiled toolchain. Seems to me like they are fully in compliance with all the terms of the GPL, and then some.
      • I looked all over the right site, and didn't see it. I didn't need to find which site it was on.

        Yes, it's often possible that Google is a better interface to a site than the site itself, but that shows either a piss-poor design or a desire to make the information difficult to find. I shouldn't have to STFW when I'm already on the right site and looking all around where the information should be mentioned.
Search
Remember folks. Street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph. -- Jim Samuels

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2009 Geeknet, Inc.