The open source GNOME project just scored some major vendor support. Google and Motorola have joined the GNOME Foundation's advisory board and agreed to sponsor the foundation, bolstering the group's free, open source GNOME desktop environment. It's no surprise that Google supports open source projects, but the new, increased support of GNOME by both Google and Motorola is interesting in its implications for Android, Google's Mobile OS.
GNOME just recently launched Version 2.24 of its desktop, which featured, among other things, new mobile desktop capabilities. The fact that Google, which just released its first Android phone, and Motorola, which just threw its lot in behind Android, are choosing now to bolster their support of GNOME provides a window into Android's future roadmap. The synergies between the GNOME and Android are pretty compelling.
In the release announcing its increased support for GNOME, Google said that it was simply looking to bolster a fruitful open source project:
"Google is proud to support the many endeavors of our colleagues in Free and Open Source software development." said Chris DiBona, Open Source Programs Manager. "We're pleased to continue our collaboration with the GNOME Foundation through our membership on the Foundation's Advisory Board."
Motorola, for its part, focused on GNOME's mobile Linux strength, and the features it called out are telling:
“For mobile Linux, Motorola believes in open standards and open source technologies,” said Christy Wyatt, Vice President, Software Platforms and Ecosystem, Motorola. “The Gnome Foundation allows us to expand our reach to the vibrant Gnome communities and be active in projects that we currently utilize from the Gnome stack, SQLite, gStreamer, and Bluez to name a few."
Bluez is GNOME's standards-compliant Bluetooth stack, something the first version of Android shipped without. GStreamer is GNOME's multimedia tool, providing for audio/video playback and streaming, as well as capture, mixing and non-linear editing, another set of functions the Android-based G1 phone was pretty light on. SQLite, GNOME's simple, mobile transactional database, would also be a nice addition to any Android-based phone.
Motorola is busy working on its Android-flavored phone, hiring several Android developers and making plans to hit the market in about a year. Perhaps its move to have a stronger voice in GNOME is a signal that its Google phone will be a bit more GNOME-like.
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