Tizen is a Linux-based operating system that’s strongly backed by Intel and Samsung, among others. While its Linux roots could make it an appealing option to hackers, geeks, and open source enthusiasts, it isn’t really designed to give you more control over your device — it’s designed to give hardware companies and wireless carriers more flexibility and another alternative to Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.
But now that Samsung and Google are playing nice and sharing intellectual property, does it still make sense for the world’s biggest seller of Android phones to try branching out with a new operating system?
Maybe… the company has been working with Tizen for years, and plans to show off some of its first devices at Mobile World Congress in late February. Whether these phones will ever actually launch to the public remains to be seen.
Here’s a roundup of tech news from around the web.
- Samsung Zeq Z9000 Tizen phone leaked ahead of MWC
A leaked image of Samsung’s upcoming Tizen phone, along with specs (including a Snapdragon 800 chip and 4.8 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel display are out ahead of an official announcement.[MovePlayer] - Now that Samsung, Google are cross-licensing patents, does Samsung still need Tizen for phones?
While Samsung is getting ready to show off one of its first Tizen smartphones, the company’s recent licensing agreement with Google could give the company more control over its Android implementation — so does Samsung still need Tizen? [Tizen Experts] - How to install XBMC on D-Link’s discontinued Boxee Box
The Boxee Box may not be supported anymore, but you can install the software Boxee was based on and keep this aging hardware useful. [CNX-Software] - Google Chrome for iOS update adds data compression
Google is bringing some features that had been Android-only up until now to its web browser for iOS. [Google] - LG confirms the G Pro 2 smartphone exists… doesn’t bother saying anything else about it
Well… that’s one way to deal with rumors and leaks… I guess. [Droid Life] - Google makes it easy for Chrome app developers to bring apps to Android
I’d be happier if you could use Chrome extensions in Chrome for Android, but I guess letting web developers quickly and easily package their apps for distribution in the Play Store as native apps is pretty cool too. [TNW]
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Ubuntu Touch is interesting, but I’d rather have Firefox OS.
I’m interested in Sailfish and Ubuntu Touch. Ubuntu Touch has the same repos as the desktop version so I can install all the same packages I do on my notebook. I use a lot of command line utilties with Bash/Python scripts and modify several files in the file system (one time or based on context). Sailfish allows for this also but a little less so than Ubuntu Touch because from what I’ve seen, the repos for Sailfish/Jolla doesn’t have very many packages.
So my question is, does Tizen allow these kinds of things or is it as limited as a typical Android phone from a desktop Linux user point of view?
Thanks.