Linux-powered Mobile Internet Device video walkthrough

If you're the dedicated, hardcore type who can sit through minutes upon minutes of walkthroughs despite painfully bad video quality, this one's for you. Of course, we can assume that even those of you who don't fall in the aforementioned camp would still be interested in a sneak (video) peek at the MIDINUX operating system, which is proudly showcased browsing the internet, entering text, playing back a movie, and playing games. The finalized product could obviously change ever-so-sightly between now and then, but regardless, be sure to click on through for an in-action look at Intel's Linux-based MID, and try not to become too envious, capiche?

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[JohnTitor @ May 5th 2007 7:06PM]

now if only I had Linux on my PDA

[Killian @ May 5th 2007 7:24PM]

does everything have to look like that now?

[North Coast Film @ May 5th 2007 7:27PM]

Iphone interface ripoff?

[Mr. Picklesworth @ May 5th 2007 7:37PM]

I had a bet on this. You're 2 minutes late.

It Looks NOTHING Like The iPhone.


1: The iPhone is not yet released.

2: The iPhone is a phone. Its interface is that of a cell phone; this one is not.

3: Apple did not invent desktop icons. By your logic, I must be running the equivalent of an iPhone because my desktop is smothered in glossy icons.

4: Those icons are from individual programs; they are not all 1st party applications welded to the operating system.

5: You cannot see those icons with this video, thus your claim must be entirely based on those being rounded icons.

[North Coast Film @ May 5th 2007 7:55PM]

I was just noting it looked similar.

Multitouch?

But you are correct it is hard to make an assumption on something unreleased.

But how can you not see the similarities?

[Paul @ May 5th 2007 10:29PM]

Thank god there are other sane people in this universe. I am getting sick and tired of every time we see a product released by another company all the apple fanboys run around screaming its a rip off as if Apple has invented every product imaginable.

[steve @ May 5th 2007 7:48PM]

hmm, I wonder if that is compex/beryl running on that thing? The way the icons fade in and out are exactly the same why I have my apps open and close on ubuntu. Also, the way it switches to the next page of apps is like the slide version of the cube rotate. Other than that, there is firefox, and totem demo'd. But props on the gesters and touch screen setup. This is , more than likley, standard linux apps with a really fitting theme. But that's the beauty of open source software, eh?

[cmonkey @ May 5th 2007 8:56PM]

Actually, while its not probable that they customized a version of /Beryl/Compiz to it, they very well could be running OpenGL accelerated X, since there are several mobile graphics chips, including Intels own 2700g, that support OpenGL ES.

[meist3r @ May 5th 2007 7:54PM]

That's sweet, if someone would get rid of the huge frames on these PDAs and give me multi-node gestures and GoogleEarth-like GPS 3D nav (+bigger screen) I'd buy it. Then I'd just need some intelligent mobile input solution (onscreen keyboard sux).

[Mr. Picklesworth @ May 5th 2007 7:56PM]

Hey, I just realized that grassy background is the same as Gnome's Greenmeadow background!
http://art.gnome.org/backgrounds/nature/2298

Kind of funny :)

[ark_v2 @ May 5th 2007 9:01PM]

Not funny at all. That background is over GNU...so it's open to anyone.

[wellingj @ May 5th 2007 9:02PM]

The interface shouldn't be too surprising to any one.
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS4844817737.html

[3rdsun @ May 5th 2007 8:05PM]

This OS looks promising. Now if UMPCs came preloaded with Linux that would definately bring the price down and save battery life. What with Windows Vista being the memory and money hog it is.

[georgehyland @ May 6th 2007 1:26AM]

Yea..its getting to the point that fanboys will say Apple invented the internet.

[Matt @ May 7th 2007 1:56PM]

Apple might not have invented the internet, but the guy who did is on their Board of Advisors :)

[addabox @ May 6th 2007 2:58AM]

Quick! Start screaming about all the Apple fan boys and their insane rants! It doesn't matter if there are any, everyone knows they're everywhere and insane! Sane people must denounce the invisible Apple fan boys! God, I hate them! They're everywhere! If they were here, I bet they'd be full of shit!

[tominated @ May 6th 2007 7:50AM]

it looks like the love child of the vista and iphone osx interfaces

[lui-g @ May 6th 2007 9:16AM]

what is so revolutionary about MIDINUX? Isn't the Nokia770 (released in 2005) already running Linux & capable of the same features? Am I missing something?

[David @ May 6th 2007 12:22PM]

The finger swipe thing with the pictures looks very familiar. (I don't want to say that it resembles the iPhone because if I do, then I'll have be labeled a fanboy.) As for the icons, the dock-like row of icons on the bottom of the screen looks similar too. Just throwing out there.

[sam @ May 6th 2007 8:06PM]

where can i download this OS? this guy sounds kinda like ET btw

[ug @ May 7th 2007 4:24AM]

There have been Linux handhelds before. The big difference is this is an Intel processor with desktop-class throughput, most useful for web apps/multitasking and video compression/decompression. This device's capabilities would put a Zaurus to shame.

[Johnny @ May 7th 2007 10:38AM]

I will gladly agree, if I must, that Apple wasn't the first to release (since they haven't released yet) a device with this interface. However, it does seem like EVERYTHING is using this same looking interface. And no, I don't mean that they use icons. Of course, all OSes use icons. Not all OSes, until this year, had the row of similar looking rounded icons on the bottom. As somoene else said, I don't see how you can't see the resemblence. Again, I'm not saying necessarily that Apple deserves the credit, but the similarities are definitely there.