It finally happened, and hardly anyone noticed. A major Linux announcement got the Apple treatment from the media, and generated major consumer excitement. Granted, Linux snuck in under the guise of the Nexus One, but if the media excitement over Google’s “superphone” is any indication, millions of people will be picking up Linux personal computers in 2010. While not quite the “year of the Linux desktop” Linux enthusiasts have been hoping for, it’s still a major win for Linux and FLOSS.
It’s long been argued that FLOSS advocates should be looking at the next generation of computing devices. That strategy is paying off. More than 1.4 million Google Android (that’s Linux) devices shipped in the third quarter of 2009. It’s too early for numbers in the fourth quarter, but you can bet that they’re even higher. In three months, that’s 1.4 million users adopting Linux for personal computing. Granted, still a minority next to other smartphones, but the Nexus One looks ready to give other smartphone vendors a run for their money.
