When we first hit the press there was a large response from the hacker community that was something like “oh man, I can’t wait to hack this thing”. Well, frankly, we’ve loved that response. We wanted to use a more open & hackable platform, and I’m sure we will get there in the not so distant future.
One of the main criteria in our design process and platform selection was affordability. Our device guru, Tom Zeran, recognized the TI Locosto chipset as a leader amongst the more affordable options and thus we went forward. But we just weren’t sure if Locosto could run a heavier platform, so we built our own lightweight, purpose-built OS… Peekux.
TI’s underlying real-time OS is Nucleus (by Mentor). Its a widely-used RTOS. TI has compiled in device drivers, and other stacks and turned it into their own platform. We then wrap it with our own proprietary GUI and network libraries to create Peekux, and then our email app sits on top of it. All of it is built together as a single image, so there is no distinct OS vs app on our device.
So how could one develop applications on top of it? Honestly, Peekux is so purpose-built for our emaill app its not really re-useable. Nucleus doesn’t come with capabilities like windowing, multi-threading, etc, so building other apps on top of it would be difficult so all that functionality was built by us, but only for the purpose of email. As an example our “window” objects are “inbox” and “email editor”. So if you wanted to say build browser you would have to build it off of “inbox” or “email editor” GUI objects… ouch.
Another approach would then to be to build off of TI’s Locosto platform, beneath Peekux. One would have to get a development agreement with TI in order to do so, or maybe somebody out there is more familiar and can share some knowledge here on what can or cannot be done on the Locosto platform?
Lastly, one could try to build their own OS bottom-up. We’d love it if somebody could do that and find a way to run another platform on our chipset, such as Mobile Linux or J2ME, which would then open up our little Peek to the mobile application developer world. Like you we’d love to have all kinds of cool apps being developed by all kinds of cool developers.
But one word of caution – you will need help from us. We have limited access for our devices solely to our email server in the network. While our customers pay a flat rate for unlimited data, we pay on a per usage basis with the carrier so we are protective for now as we’re a poor start-up. Having said that, we have ways to open this up on a customer by customer basis, so reach out to us if you want us to give you broader access. The only caveat is that we expect you to blow us away with what you develop!
Jackie Cheng | 28-Sep-08 at 8:39 pm | Permalink
What’s the total amount of space available if we take out Peekux? That would narrow down on how we can build on a mobile linux.
dan | 29-Sep-08 at 7:35 am | Permalink
There is 16MBs available of flash, we dedicate 8MBs to the OS, and use all of it.
There is 4MBs of memory available.
Mark B. | 13-Nov-08 at 10:40 am | Permalink
What about keeping functionality mostly as-is, but add support for some kind of scripting language. PeekScript or something like that.
You would have a “special email” type that would contain the script and the Peek could try to run this.
The scripting language wouldn’t have to be all that crazy, ‘Turbo Pascal’ level maybe.
phonehacker | 16-Nov-08 at 1:58 pm | Permalink
Its mostly a worthless device, very underpowered to do anything useful with, so why would anyone want to hack it.
Securix | 03-Dec-08 at 2:15 pm | Permalink
The same was said about the Netpliance iOpener, but that didn’t stop people from ripping it apart. It’s a neat, low-cost, purpose-built device, yet there’s always the possibility that someone can make it do stuff it was never intended to do.
Securix | 03-Dec-08 at 4:30 pm | Permalink
The same was said about the Netpliance iOpener, but that didn’t stop people from ripping it apart. Like the iOpener, The Peek is a neat, low-cost, purpose-built device, yet there’s always the possibility that someone can make it do stuff it was never intended to do. That’s the fun and challenge…
jcohen9229@mac.com | 18-Dec-08 at 2:51 pm | Permalink
micro-usb and peek in hand ready to go
Tom | 16-Jan-09 at 1:22 am | Permalink
Why not someone come up with a simple codes in email and then email it to website that will send back more info. I remember having T900 Motorola in 2000, sending sms to pick up info of news etc. Since Motorola would really could sell there T900 software then Peek is able to expand.
Tom M. | 16-Jan-09 at 1:37 am | Permalink
I realized there is other Tom in here so I add M. that way it not confusing. Sorry…
Wanda Rwanda | 03-Feb-09 at 9:21 am | Permalink
Why don’t you do a hardware hack and put an XBEE or a Wireless SD like Eye-Fi then i don’t have to pay for service and i could write an email anywhere. Then when i get near a wireless network………boom it sends my emails. Why don’t you serv up a text reader………so i can email you a website…….and then you email me all the text on the front page of that site. Why don’t you rig up a website so i can put in the name of a company and its city……and you go to google maps and give me the address and phone number ……..so i can use your product to google someone.
Wanda Rwanda | 03-Feb-09 at 9:24 am | Permalink
Why don’t you just drop your OS…..and turn your Peek into a super low cost text reader…..like Kindle but for a quarter of the price. Then i don’t even have to pay i can just jack it into my USB and boom…..books on the go. Not a lot of storage space but more than enough for several books……and if i lose the Peek……whoopty dooo……buy a new one.
Wanda Rwanda | 03-Feb-09 at 9:45 am | Permalink
This would be the most awesome device ever if you just put wi-fi on it. Drop the radio connectivity and pick up wi-fi then i could send my email from anywhere. Why don’t you put a sd card slot on this thing?
Wanda Rwanda | 03-Feb-09 at 10:00 am | Permalink
All of my other suggestions are moot bc you have already shipped your product so you can’t change anything at all about the hardware…….Make an update so that i can plug the PEEK into my computer via USB (like you did for the update) and just leave it there. While it is connected it can download all of my emails via USB (paying for service on this is what is killing your market.) Then i can just grab it. Here is my scenario…..I plug this thing every night and it sends the emails i have written during the day. Then over night it downloads all of my emails (for free) and all of my RSS feeds (you need to create a site so i can put my RSS feeds on it…..and every night it will update my Peek, then i will know if my sites have been updated.) Emailed headlines from news or favorite websites would be cool. It would kinda be like the 21st century version of having the daily newspaper delivered to me. My point is that if i never had to pay for service… and i could get emails and maybe some headlines….any info…for free……..I would buy one of these for every member of my household. Just think of 4 of these in every home. It would be great for the commute to work, or waiting on the bus for school, or to read the headlines i have personally selected and emailed to me. It would still use your email client, but instead of using a service plan, you would be using your internet connection. Then you could use all the money you make to create PEEK 2.0 with some hardware tweeks like wi-fi, a camera, Audible text reader, a headphone jack.
Mike C | 04-Feb-09 at 2:42 pm | Permalink
Hey all– I’m looking for a way to have multiple folders on my peek, which would be updated automatically by rules running on an exchange server. (This is currently what goes on in my Outlook folder). Does anyone know of a good starting point of digging into this?