SplashTop instant-on OS hacked to run other programs, boot off flash drives

DeviceVM's SplashTop "instant-on" OS is based on Linux, even though it's locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means -- it's already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP's support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we'd there's a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?

[Thanks, george85]

[wasabi @ Jul 30th 2008 1:24AM]

oh nice. i will definitely try it.

[ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:36PM]

so what do think about it?

[ShadowKain @ Jul 30th 2008 3:53PM]

Try it? Without an unlock tool, good luck. I hope your good at this :D

[David W. @ Jul 30th 2008 1:44AM]

So I guess I'm a bit naive as to how this works?

If for instance I wanted to just browse the internet and didn't want to wait for a slow computer to boot up, could I just load this from a flash drive and be good to go?

[Ryback @ Jul 30th 2008 2:16AM]

That's the point of the splashtop. Now these guys has made it available for everyone (with some technical know-how) and you can add more features to boot!

[El Taco @ Jul 30th 2008 2:23AM]

sounds like it from the description. It's not the first time this has been done. Knoppix Linux boots off a flash drive.

[Mike10010100 @ Jul 30th 2008 2:59AM]

Yes, but is it a limited internet, or could I use firefox to access other computers via the internet?

If so, this would be a good solution. Put this puppy on a netbook and you have instant access to any pc in the world.

[anabouboula @ Jul 30th 2008 2:13AM]

F I S T!

[Rick @ Jul 30th 2008 2:33AM]

Please keep your fisting to yourself.

[Etaanaru @ Jul 30th 2008 2:36AM]

Paper! I win. It's 'rock,' not 'fist' by the way.

[neofolklore @ Jul 30th 2008 7:42AM]

HOMOEROTIC!

[OneLove @ Jul 30th 2008 12:13PM]

...O F FURY!

[anabouboula @ Jul 30th 2008 2:13AM]

ohh...Fail!

[Ryback @ Jul 30th 2008 2:14AM]

Will this make my Aspire One boot faster?

Very nice hack. /\/\4d pR0p5!

[andres @ Jul 30th 2008 1:12PM]

it seems you have run out of letters, have some of mine
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvqxyz

[Evan @ Jul 30th 2008 2:14AM]

typo

"...HP's support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we'd there's a one-click unlocker in...."

"we'd bet there's" is how it should read

[StPaddy @ Jul 30th 2008 2:19AM]

I want this for my Eee

[Josh @ Jul 30th 2008 2:24AM]

Hum...this plus arcade cabinet equals win!

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jul 30th 2008 6:54AM]

pick one of these:
"we'd [assume, think, bet our thesaurus] there's a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon."

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 30th 2008 7:24AM]

You forgot "cream our pants if"... ;)

[nephersir7 @ Jul 30th 2008 9:36AM]

Great news! Just ordered my P5Q Deluxe mobo!

[JustFrozen @ Jul 30th 2008 4:25PM]

I wonder what the boot time is off the flash drive. If it's double or worse, it kinda makes the whole point moot

[Randavance @ Jul 30th 2008 11:22PM]

hacked?
For Christ sake it's open source, how much "hacking" needs to be done?

[linuxamp @ Jul 31st 2008 12:38AM]

Envy IOS Firefox with extensions... sounds nice.

[ricord @ Oct 26th 2008 2:58PM]

A very light Splashtop booting directly on the browser homepage would be very useful in mobility!!