Engadget

Editorial: Intel keeps pushing MeeGo, but why?

Nilay Patel — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:08:00 EST

If you hadn't noticed, Intel's running huge MeeGo ads all over the place today, including here on Engadget. That's got our attention for a few reasons: first, our editorial staff wants the hair-trigger audio playback and content-obscuring animation disabled as badly as you do, and second, we're sort of wondering what Intel is trying to accomplish by pushing MeeGo now that Nokia has strongly backed away from the OS in favor of Windows Phone 7. It's hard to understand, especially since Intel's directing these ads at developers -- who's going to develop apps for a platform that has zero shipping mass-market devices? And even if there were a groundswell of MeeGo development action, why is Intel leading the charge, when it has yet to ship any chips suitable for a phone or tablet, and MeeGo tablet development appears to have completely stalled out? It's very curious.

Now, we have great faith in Intel -- the company is smart, capable, and big enough to succeed at anything it wants to, and it's made it very clear at MWC that devices with Medfield mobile processors will ship sometime this year and be competitive with the best of what ARM can offer. That will be an enormous and noteworthy accomplishment when it happens -- Intel's been promising a serious mobile chip for years now, and it'll be exciting to see the company finally join the race. But let's be honest: any viable Medfield device will be running Android, not MeeGo. To quote Nokia's Stephen Elop, the battle of devices has become a war of ecosystems, and MeeGo simply doesn't offer an ecosystem that's competitive with iOS, Android, or what Nokia and Microsoft are planning to build with Windows Phone 7. It's a harsh truth, but it's inescapable. Sure, maybe Intel can convince a second-tier manufacturer to ship a Medfield / MeeGo device -- it's using the Atom-based ExoPC Slate to demo the MeeGo tablet UI, for example -- but it's simply not going to entice the Samsungs and HTCs of the world to invest the serious capital required to make MeeGo a success without some sort of major industry disruption.

Now, that disruption isn't impossible to imagine -- let's say one of the various IP lawsuits aimed at Android is successful, or something -- but unless and until that happens, we'd say Intel's far better off investing its resources into working with a vendor on a top-tier Android handset that can run with something like the Motorola Atrix 4G or the HTC Thunderbolt. That's a sure way to get back into the conversation -- and after years of empty promises around Moorestown, Medfield, Moblin, and now MeeGo, getting back in the mobile conversation is something Intel desperately needs to do.

Oh, and figuring out how to make ads that don't autoplay audio wouldn't hurt, either.

Editorial: Intel keeps pushing MeeGo, but why? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Indamixx 2 music tablet now on sale: $699 for beta hardware

Darren Murph — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:36:00 EST

So, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that $699 is $300 less than the purported $999 price tag we had originally heard would be affixed to the Indamixx 2 slate. The bad news? It's just a rebadged iiView M1 Touch, which can be had for around $500. That said, those who fork out the premium will get a copy of Transmission 5.0 running atop MeeGo, not to mention a 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, 2GB of RAM, a mini HDMI output and a 250GB hard drive. Those who'd prefer to snag a model that dual boots into Windows 7 can do so if they're willing to part ways with $779, with both models including a mouse, free shipping and a gratis carrying case. Not exactly a bargain, but for those in desperate need of a music-centric tablet, it ain't like you've got a ton of options.

Indamixx 2 music tablet now on sale: $699 for beta hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag

Darren Murph — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:20:00 EST

Indamixx -- get it?! -- may be a relative dark horse in the race to tablet supremacy, but those looking for something a touch outlandish can't possibly ignore the company's latest. The self-titled Indamixx 2 slate has just recently broke cover, with a prototype boasting Intel's single-core 1.66GHz Atom N450 (a dual-core chip is slated to hit the finalized version), 2GB of RAM, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, Ethernet socket and analog audio input / output jacks. There's no exact word on the screen size or resolution, but the kicker is the software -- this guy's loaded with Transmission 5.0, a music-centric OS that's actually built around MeeGo.

The creators say that they chose MeeGo due to its fondness of multitouch inputs, and based on the videos we've seen of it running, it definitely looks like a wise choice. Moreover, those looking to use this for more traditional tasks will be thrilled to know that they still can, and considering that it's Linux underneath, the limits are near-endless when it comes to tweaking options. For those in no position to wait for the final build, you can hit the source link in order to snag "beta hardware" for $999; we're hoping that those who wait will be treated to far more sensible pricing, but there's no question that we're intrigued either way. Hop on past the break to see this bad boy get down.

Continue reading Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag

Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Meego for In-Vehicle Infotainment 1.0 launched today, all testing recommended on a closed course

Darren Murph — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:22:00 EST

We got a glimpse into the world of MeeGo for In-Vehicle Infotainment late last month when BMW, GM, Hyundai and a few others announced that the fledgling OS would one day show up front and center in their motorcars, and now v1.0 is out for the world to try. Of course, we'd probably recommend a helmet and a wide open -- preferably private -- roadway before you let a barely-tested system take over critical functions in your vehicle, but we digress. Those interested in digging into the first public release of MeeGo for IVI can do so right now by visiting the source link, and while we still aren't hopeful that this will begin supplanting existing (awful) infotainment systems in the very near future, at least we've got some progress to smile about. Head on past the break for a brief overview.

[Thanks, vgrade]

Continue reading Meego for In-Vehicle Infotainment 1.0 launched today, all testing recommended on a closed course

Meego for In-Vehicle Infotainment 1.0 launched today, all testing recommended on a closed course originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MeeGo becomes infotainment operating system of choice for BMW, GM, Hyundai and more

Sean Hollister — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:36:00 EST

It's getting to the point where it's not terribly easy to keep track of all the in-car entertainment initiatives our wondrous connected future has in store, but here's two names you'll want to remember: GENIVI and MeeGo. The former is an industry alliance that now includes automakers GM, BMW, Hyundai and Peugeot Citroen alongside the likes of ARM, NVIDIA, Nokia and Intel, and MeeGo is the Linux-based OS that they've just decided will soon be powering our cars. Don't expect this to affect your daily drive anytime soon, but in the long run we wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Moblin-Maemo base underpins future revisions of Terminal Mode and OnStar.

MeeGo becomes infotainment operating system of choice for BMW, GM, Hyundai and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance

Nilay Patel — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:07:00 EST

As promised, Nokia and Intel have revealed the pre-alpha version of MeeGo for handsets today, supporting the Intel-powered Aava reference phone and the Nokia N900. What's most interesting at this early stage is the UI, which appears to have taken a big Nokia-influenced step away from the Intel-designed MeeGo netbook and tablet UI -- and we're definitely detecting some hints of Android and webOS here and there. Seriously, just check out that task switching interface. Of course, MeeGo is open-source, so we're sure Nokia has some deeper UI customizations in store -- like homescreen widgets, which are notably missing here.

On a deeper level, this build of MeeGo includes the base MeeGo APIs, including Qt and the MeeGo touch frameworks, the Firefox-based browser, a photo viewer, and some basic UI elements like the status bar, app launcher, and virtual keyboard. There are pre-built images for the Atom-based Aava handsets available now, but N900 owners will have to do a little building until someone makes an image available. Be warned, though: there's a long enough list of known bugs, and while that's totally fine for pre-alpha code, it might not be too fine for your device. That's not going to stop us from installing this thing, but you be careful, alright? And let us know how it goes. Video of the UI after the break.

P.S. Given that the N8 is destined to be the last Symbian N Series device, we can't help but feel it's being overshadowed by MeeGo before it's even out. Can we pre-pour one out? Is that a thing? It is now.

Gallery: MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance

Continue reading MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance

MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype plays World of Warcraft beautifully (video)

Darren Murph — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST

Intel has managed to make Moorestown-based phones do an awful lot of things on stage. Multitask, scale photos sans lag, and automatically correct your grammar before it comes out of your mouth. But believe it or not, one thing we haven't seen the Aava Mobile-built reference design do is play the full PC version of World of Warcraft and / or Quake III (from within Moblin) for over an hour on a full charge. Well, until this week's Computex event. Peek a couple of videos just past the break if you're in disbelief, and trust us when we say that it had no issues keep the frames flowing at a comfortable clip. The future is bright, people.

Continue reading Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype plays World of Warcraft beautifully (video)

Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype plays World of Warcraft beautifully (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel's Atom Z6xx series isn't targeting Windows Phone 7, but 'full Windows experience' still an Atom priority

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:31:00 EST

As many times as Intel has tried and failed to shoehorn its way into the phone arena, you'd think it'd want to pimp as many notable platforms as it possibly could -- but strangely, Windows Phone 7 is notably absent from Intel's fact sheet on the just-announced, smartphone-focused Z6xx series of Atom cores. Instead, the wording of the paperwork clearly spells out that Android and MeeGo / Moblin are the focal points right now, which is leading everyone to wonder whether Intel's looking to steer clear of Microsoft's mobile strategy altogether. Granted, Microsoft's focus is clearly on ARM right now with its Qualcomm partnership having been announced back in February, but we're sure it wouldn't take too much pressure from Intel to get an x86 build of Windows Phone out there if these guys really wanted to play ball. We reached out to Intel to get some clarification on the issue and got this in response:

"Intel's goal is to ensure we offer our customers a choice of software that runs best on our processors. Yesterday's announcement was focused on Linux OSs, however our strategy is to also support a full Windows experience on Atom as we do with Menlow, Intel's first generation atom chip for mobile devices and Pinetrail, Intel's chip family for netbooks. Stay tuned."

What's getting us here is Intel's seemingly careful phrasing: "full Windows experience on Atom." Does that mean that Intel wants to keep Atom up in the Windows 7 end of the horsepower spectrum and avoid Windows Phone for the foreseeable future? It seems like a tough sell to say that Android is playing in an entirely different ballpark than Windows Phone is, and we're not sure that Intel can effectively argue that distinction -- but hey, with the Z6xx series' iffy power consumption stats, maybe it's for the best.

[Thanks, R2V2]

Intel's Atom Z6xx series isn't targeting Windows Phone 7, but 'full Windows experience' still an Atom priority originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Confirmed: LG's Moorestown-based GW990 won't be made

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:43:00 EST

Considering the almost complete absence of love in the commercial marketplace for Moorestown and Moblin -- and the fact that there's no sign of MeeGo building serious momentum just yet -- we're sure that Intel would've just loved for the drop-dead-sexy GW990 to serve as the platform's crown jewel for 2010. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, because we've just been able to confirm that the 4.8-inch beast (and potential Dell Mini 5 foil) has been wiped off the product roadmap. Though we don't know exactly what happened, the fact that Moblin is effectively dead and MeeGo isn't ready for prime time might be part of LG's justification for killing it off; if you might recall, the GW990 was introduced before MeeGo was official, and the original plan was to have it on the market in the second half of this year. Then again, this might be just as well -- we weren't impressed by the fact that LG was positioning the phone as a closed device back at CES, and there are still plenty of open questions as to how Intel and Nokia plan to offer apps on MeeGo -- so let's just hope this form factor reemerges from LG's labs soon enough, yeah?

Confirmed: LG's Moorestown-based GW990 won't be made originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap

Richard Lai — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST

Good morning to you too, Dell! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or ~~Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon)~~ Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta "netbook tablet" featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively, but there's a lot more so keep reading after the break.

Update: thanks for pointing out the Moblin logo, thoughtmonster!

Continue reading Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel gives MeeGo 1.0 its first public performance (video)

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:44:00 EST

Here we go open source fans, the first debut of MeeGo 1.0 running on Intel silicon -- an Acer Aspire One netbook (the 532h, from the looks of it) with a Pinetrail processor to be precise -- sporting a simplified UI that looks to have inherited far more Moblin DNA than Maemo. You've got tasks, appointments, most-used apps, and a quick-launch bar all up front. We're also seeing 3D gaming support; Zones, Applications, People, Internet, Media and Settings tabs; and real-time social networking integration for Twitter, Facebook, and instant messaging with task bar alerts. Can't wait to see how the MeeGo user experience translates to a smaller, say, 4.8-inch Moorestown device or the TI OMAP-based followup to the Nokia N900 later this year. Until then, check the video after the break.

Update: Second video added showing MeeGo running on a TV, an ~~unidentified~~ AAVA Moorestown-based smartphone (see after the break), and digital coupon machine. It's worth mentioning that this is Intel's take on the MeeGo UI and Nokia's will likely look much different. [Thanks, Atlantian, pdexter]

Continue reading Intel gives MeeGo 1.0 its first public performance (video)

Intel gives MeeGo 1.0 its first public performance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia: MeeGo "door is not closed" on N900

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:19:00 EST

Now that we have clarity with regard to a Windows Phone 7 update on the HD2 (sorry, folks), let's move on to the next contentious platform: Nokia's N900 and MeeGo. As Nokia's only Cortex-A8 handset, there's plenty of hope that Nokia sees fit to upgrade the N900 to MeeGo once the unified Maemo and Moblin OS is ready for consumers. Hope all but crushed yesterday after CNET reported the following from an unnamed, but apparently official Nokia source:

"Maemo on Nokia N900 is not upgradeable to MeeGo."

We ran this past Ray Haddow, Senior Manager within Nokia Communications who took the quote back to the project team in Finland. According to Ray, the "the door is not closed" with regard to MeeGo on the N900 -- a final decision has not been made. This also echos the words of Valtteri Halla when he announced the MeeGo repository in early March. In response to questions at the time, this one-bodied half of the MeeGo Technical Steering Group had this to day:

"N900 is a natural tool for Nokia to drive MeeGo support for our designs and for the ARM CPU architecture in general. We want to have baseline HW that is powerful, easily available for anyone and form-factor stuff so that one HW works for most platform and application development needs.

That said, please do not take this yet as a commitment to fully productise MeeGo on N900. I am quite confident that we will end up having a really good developer distro for N900 already but committing to stabilise a consumer-grade MeeGo 1.0 (first half this year) for N900 is another story. That is a product business decision beyond my scope. Also, we do not yet know about MeeGo 1 release content. I am not yet sure if I would be personally ready to let my Maemo5 go for the first MeeGo release in my daily N900 use. Let's see."

So, looks like another long game of wait and see, eh?

Nokia: MeeGo "door is not closed" on N900 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MeeGo repository going public later this month, coming to Nokia N900

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:12:00 EST

Valtteri Halla -- Nokia employee and one-half of MeeGo's Technical Steering Group -- has blogged up a storm this week about the first baby steps that'll get the platform off the ground from its Moblin and Maemo roots, and from the sounds of things, we'll be able to get our first glimpse at it on production hardware before the month's out. Currently, the plan is to open up MeeGo's code repository to all comers "by the end of this month," targeting both Atom boards and the N900. Now, we certainly wouldn't say that MeeGo's decision to use the N900 as an early target device is indicative of an official upgrade down the line -- but this is particularly interesting in light of the fact that we've never gotten a commitment out of Nokia to bump its latest MID to Maemo 6. And besides, considering that the average N900 customer is a bit of a hacker in his or her own right, let's be honest: a code repository that supports the phone is just about as good as an official gold build anyhow.

MeeGo repository going public later this month, coming to Nokia N900 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

LG GW990 to be among first MeeGo phones

Nilay Patel — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:21:00 EST

Intel and Nokia certainly surprised a few of us yesterday when they decided to merge Moblin and Maemo into the new, more terribly-named MeeGo OS, but it looks like LG is ready to roll with it -- the Moorestown-powered LG GW990 we saw at CES will be one of the first MeeGo phones when it launches later this year. Of course, that doesn't mean much of anything beyond branding, since the GW990 uses a custom UI on top of the x86-based Moblin core and we doubt there's any of Maemo's ARM-based code involved there, but it's a definite sign of things to come. So, Nokia -- are we going to see a Moorestown N900, or what?

LG GW990 to be among first MeeGo phones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype hands-on

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:03:00 EST

The LG GW990 got the lion's share of the attention, but Intel showed off a second Moorestown-based MID (or giant smartphone, if you like) back at CES from Finnish startup Aava Mobile -- more a prototype reference design created to show off Moblin 2.1's capabilities than a retail-ready product -- and it's back in force here at MWC this week. What's really striking about this thing is just how much smaller it is than the GW990, probably a good 70 percent smaller by surface area while still managing a shell just 11.7mm thick. Besides Moblin, the proto fully supports Android (though we only saw it on Moblin at Intel's booth) and will naturally support MeeGo going forward. It's got a front-facing cam, noise cancellation, compass, GPS, WiFi, and 3G plus that next-gen Atom core, but don't plan on buying it any time soon -- Aava's stressing that this is just a starting point to get carriers and VARs off the ground. That's probably just as well, though, because the Moblin implementation on here was totally useless; the UI looked like little more than a proof of concept with awful, stuttery performance, bugs left and right, and... well, a distinct lack of features. Maybe we can get a sweet skin over MeeGo down the road, but shorter term, this could make a killer high-end Android device without totally encroaching on the Mini 5's large-and-in-charge attitude. Follow the break for some video!

Gallery: Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype hands-on

Continue reading Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype hands-on

Aava Mobile's Intel Moorestown prototype hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:52:00 EST

Well this one is a... doozy? Today Nokia announced a rather bizarre partnership with Intel. Namely, the two companies are merging their odd, half-finished, Linux-based OSs into one crazy little package called... MeeGo. No, really. Intel is mixing its peanut butter Moblin with Nokia's chocolatey Maemo to create a "software platform that will support multiple hardware architectures across the broadest range of device segments, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems." That broad enough for you? According to the company's press release, the new platform will begin baring fruit (AKA devices) later this year, though the specific types of devices weren't touched upon. Nokia's CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo claims that the union will "create an ecosystem that is second to none" through openness, though at this point it's largely bluster. Why the two monoliths have decided to pair up on these decidedly niche platforms rather than focusing energies on their front and center products is anyone's guess, but luckily you can attempt to decipher more detail in the PR, included for your convenience after the break!

Continue reading MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin

MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Live from Nokia's (and Intel's) MWC 2010 press event

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:35:00 EST

We've just been sent into an Auditorium here at ONCE in Barcelona -- just seconds away from the Fira convention center -- and we're about to get underway. Keep it locked!

Continue reading Live from Nokia's (and Intel's) MWC 2010 press event

Live from Nokia's (and Intel's) MWC 2010 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MSI rolls out U135 netbook pre-loaded with SUSE Moblin

Donald Melanson — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:22:00 EST

Dell may have been the first to experiment with Moblin on an Atom-based netbook for developers, but it looks like MSI is the first to actually get one intended for regular consumers out the door, with it now announcing that it's shipping a version of its U135 netbook pre-loaded with Novell's SUSE Moblin OS (version 2.1, of course). Apart from that, the netbook itself apparently remains the same as the U135 we got our hands on last month, which packed a 10-inch screen, a 1.66GHz Atom N450 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard drive. No word on any difference in price just yet, but it should be available sometime next month.

MSI rolls out U135 netbook pre-loaded with SUSE Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

LG GW990: first Moorestown smartphone gets official, runs Moblin

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:26:00 EST

Loyal readers will already know all about the LG GW990. A Moorestown device we first showed the world from the floor of CES yesterday. It's now official, it runs Moblin, and it's launching in the second half of this year.

In case you missed it the first time around, the GW990 brings Intel's power sipping Moorestown CPU (compared to its current generation of CPUs), a 4.8-inch panoramic widescreen display, HD Video, 3D gaming, aGPS, WiFi, 1850mAh battery, digital compass, HSPA radio, and 5 megapixel camera. As you can see above, that display splits into 3 vertical panels when held in landscape mode giving you independent control over each. Much to look forward to here. Hands-on as soon as we can get it. Until then, another pic after the break.

Gallery: LG GW990 busted running Moorestown with heaps of want

Continue reading LG GW990: first Moorestown smartphone gets official, runs Moblin

LG GW990: first Moorestown smartphone gets official, runs Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel brings out Atom SDK wanting more apps, acts oblivious to Windows

Vlad Savov — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:25:00 EST

Intel wants people to develop apps for the x86 instruction set. Think about that a little, let it sink in. Now that you're appropriately unimpressed, let's discuss this new developer kit that's just been brought out. Designed to assist coders in that overwhelmingly challenging and new environment known as Atom-powered netbooks, the SDK has now hit Beta and is being distributed to developers of apps for Windows and Moblin. Yes Moblin, the light and snappy Linux flavor intended to spur on the sinking ship known as the MID category, still hasn't been abandoned by Intel, even if its original goal now seems out of reach. Intriguingly, apps approved by Intel will "sell at stores opening next year," which perhaps hints at grander plans than the mere optimization of software to undernourished hardware.

Intel brings out Atom SDK wanting more apps, acts oblivious to Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell Mini 10v reviewed with Ubuntu Moblin Remix

Darren Murph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:54:00 EST

Dell's "highly experimental" Mini 10v with Ubuntu Moblin Remix may not be ready for the mainstream just yet (though it is on sale to everyone who dares), but it's more than ready for the enthusiasts over at ArsTechnica. After purchasing a $299 base unit, they proceeded to take a closer look at just how Moblin fared on a netbook -- probably because the actual hardware specifications are the same as always. Reviewers noted that the UI they were graced with looked an awful lot like the shell they saw back in May, though this build was decidedly more stable and "complete." That said, they still managed to uncover a few bugs, and they were indeed saddened to find that the integrated web browser was downright "weak." All told, critics were impressed with the progress on Moblin, but they still proclaimed that it has a long ways to go before it'll be "ready for regular users." If you've been thinking about exiting your comfort zone and picking one of these up, you owe it to yourself to give that read link a tap.

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Mini 10v reviewed with Ubuntu Moblin Remix originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget Podcast 164 - 09.27.2009

Trent Wolbe — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:04:00 EST

It's been a crazy week in news, and after a couple cross-country flights the podcast crew is together and ready to break it all down. Join Josh, Paul and Nilay as they take on Microsoft's Courier tablet concept and rumored Pink smartphones, dish on the HTC Leo and Windows Mobile, debate the finer points of net neutrality, and talk over the highlights from the Intel Developer Forum and the Tokyo Game Show. Yeah, there's a ton here -- grab a snack and tune in!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Today

Hear the podcast

00:02:34 - Microsoft's dual-screen Courier booklet emerges, isn't near production
00:06:18 - Codex and InkSeine -- the roots of Microsoft's Courier?
00:33:30 - Microsoft's Pink phones revealed?
00:43:00 - HTC Leo looking confirmed for O2 UK debut, will be free on the right plan
00:46:20 - Steve Ballmer talks 'three screens and a cloud' and more with TechCrunch
00:50:00 - Ballmer: Windows Mobile 7 should have been out, like, yesterday
00:55:58 - FCC chairman formally proposes net neutrality rules
00:58:45 - AT&T, Verizon poised to fight FCC's net neutrality stance on the wireless front
01:10:00 - AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works
01:13:56 - Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones
01:18:07 - Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing)
01:17:25 - Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action
01:21:15 - USB 3.0 has a SuperSpeed coming-out party at IDF
01:22:44 - Video: Intel's Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files... on a hackintosh
01:28:40 - 13 PS3 motion control games confirmed for next year, motion-enhanced Biohazard 5 coming Spring 2010
01:30:03 - Nintendo finally confirms new $199 Wii price

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 164 - 09.27.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action

Nilay Patel — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:24:00 EST

Although Intel made some waves yesterday with the announcement of the smartphone-capable Moblin 2.1 release, the reality here on the ground at IDF is pretty much status quo: phones and other connected devices based on the next-gen Moorestown mobile platform are nowhere to be found, and the actual products on the floor are the same chunky MIDs we've all come to know and ignore. But while the devices remain somewhat uninteresting, Moblin itself has some terrific potential from what we've seen -- there's deep location and social networking integration with a unified contacts list that works a lot like Palm's Synergy, standard Linux apps can be easily ported over and run without any fuss, and manufacturers and developers can even ditch the standard UI and develop whatever they want on top. It's definitely cool stuff -- we just wish Intel had given us this demo on a compelling hardware instead of an older Menlow-based Compal MID, you know? Video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing)

Nilay Patel — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:25:00 EST

Dell just announced the first shipping Moblin netbook, a developer-edition Mini 10v that runs Canonical's Moblin Netbook Remix. No pricing info yet, but it'll go on sale tomorrow, September 24, on Dell.com. We're told they have units on the show floor for us to play with, we'll be back with way more details soon.

Update: Dell tells us the Moblin Mini 10v will be $299 to start and available with the usual customization options, but that they're not really aiming it at consumers just yet -- the idea is to give Moblin developers best-of-class hardware to work on. That said, nothing's stopping you from snagging one tomorrow, since they won't be requiring proof that you're actually a dev. You sneaky Linux-loving dog, you.

Continue reading Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing)

Filed under: Laptops

Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel Atom dev program launched, seeks to inspire netbook-centric applications

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:48:00 EST

So, here's the situation. The current fleet of netbooks would be rendered next to useless with Vista loaded on, but having Windows XP on there forces manufacturers to regurgitate specification lists. Rather than using the introduction of Windows 7 to fully pursue a world where netbooks can actually run around freely with 2GB (or even 3GB!) of RAM and chipsets powerful enough to open seven Excel sheets simultaneously, Intel is today sparking up its Atom Processor Developer Program. The reason? To "spur a new wave of applications for... netbooks, with support for handhelds and smartphones available in the future." Call us calloused, but that sounds a lot like a company pushing for "lite" software that functions on sluggish hardware.

Granted, we know that's not exactly the case here -- after all, even we wouldn't argue that some applications could benefit from being re-written to operate on a 10.1-inch display -- but it still feels like Intel's pushing software programmers to cater to underwhelming hardware rather than innovating its chips to work faster and more efficiently. There's no doubt that this feeling is compounded by just how long we've been waiting for a new wave of Atom CPUs, but at long last, we digress. The program actually has quite a few positive merits, such as striving to "reduce overhead and streamline the creation of new applications" for smaller devices -- something that would benefit every user regardless of processor. So far, both Acer and Dell have voiced their support for the program, giving us at least a modicum of reassurance that the Aspire One and Mini lines aren't vanishing anytime soon. Hit the read link for the glorified details, if you're into that type of thing.

[Via jkkmobile]

Filed under: Software

Intel Atom dev program launched, seeks to inspire netbook-centric applications originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Moblin 2.1 eyes-on

Nilay Patel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST

Intel wouldn't let anyone touch it -- or even close the browser out to the home screen -- but we just got a quick glimpse of the new phone-oriented Moblin 2.1 running on an unnamed Compal MID and an Acer netbook. It's certainly pretty, and the widgets look nice, but we're not going to be happy until we can poke at it ourselves. One more pic after the break!

Continue reading Moblin 2.1 eyes-on

Filed under: Handhelds, Software

Moblin 2.1 eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones

Nilay Patel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST

Intel just announced a new version of Moblin designed for phones, running on an Atom-based phone. The interface has been redesigned for handheld usage, and there's a lot of widget-based social networking integration, as well as a panels-based navigation system that allows you to flip through multiple running applications. There's no hard date on when this might ship, but it was demoed running on a MID -- which we'll be scoring the show floor trying to find just as soon as the keynote is over.

Continue reading Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones

Filed under: Software

Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones

Nilay Patel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST

Continue reading Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Eee PCs rumored to ship with Moblin in October, Chrome OS on the horizon

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EST

How about a minor spy story to kick-start your weekend? According to our man Sascha at netbooknews.de, a "safe source" who shall remain nameless but who most certainly has ties to Stasi (or, at the very least, owns a trench coat) has divulged some choice nuggets: The first Eee PC pre-installed with the open source OS will hit the market in October, and the company is currently considering the possibility of making this an option for all its notebooks at some point in the near future. And if that weren't enough to stoke your dreams of an Operating System Renaissance, the company is also reportedly working "closely together" with Google to deploy the Chrome OS on its machines at some point in the not-too-distant future. All rumors and innuendo, sure, but interesting -- and, as we've seen the company play with Moblin in the past, certainly not a shocker. As always, we'll keep our ears to the ground, and we'll keep you posted.

Filed under: Laptops

Eee PCs rumored to ship with Moblin in October, Chrome OS on the horizon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Doug Anson, Dell's operating system Renaissance man, digs Chrome OS, Moblin

Tim Stevens — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:17:00 EST

When it came to Android, Technology Strategist Doug Anson wasn't exactly coy in indicating that Dell was evaluating the OS for inclusion on its netbooks. He calls this time of OS intrigue, with Linux, Android, and WebOS gaining favor, a sort of "renaissance," saying: "These alternative operating environments are truly 'different' from the traditional Windows platform - they don't attempt to simply 'mimic' Windows" -- forgetting, perhaps, that the foundation of all of those alternatives was itself an attempt at mimicking various flavors of Unix. Anson says that while Dell is not ready to sign on to Chrome OS just yet, it is evaluating it for future inclusion in its little mobile products, and goes on to say that the company is "very interested" in Intel's Moblin, another lightweight Linux flavor and possible Chrome OS competitor. Confused by all these disparate OS choices with similar goals? You're not alone, which is perhaps another reason why the big two continue to dominate.

Filed under: Laptops, Software

Doug Anson, Dell's operating system Renaissance man, digs Chrome OS, Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel doesn't view Chrome OS as a threat to Moblin, just wants world peace

Darren Murph — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:09:00 EST

Here's an interesting one. While one would assume that Intel would be quaking in its boots with the emergence of Chrome OS, Michael Chen -- director of Intel's embedded sales group and ultra mobility group in Asia-Pacific -- recently proclaimed that the company isn't worried at all. In fact, Intel seems pretty stoked that Google has introduced an operating system that will undoubtedly rival its own Moblin. To quote: "Our long-term goal is providing hardware for devices with different operating systems... more competition will drive up more innovations and that's good for consumers." Furthermore, we're told that Intel is looking forward to providing chips for machines based on Chrome OS, and frankly, we reckon that Intel's foothold in hardware and software makes it easier to brush this whole thing off. Must be nice, right?

Filed under: Handhelds

Intel doesn't view Chrome OS as a threat to Moblin, just wants world peace originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel and Nokia officially partner on mobile devices: "the possibilities are endless"

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:54:00 EST

Just as we heard, Intel and Nokia have today announced a long-term partnership that just might / might not revolutionize the way you live. The all-too-mysterious release doesn't go into great detail about what exactly the partnership will lead to, but it's clear that the two are joining hands in order to "shape the next era of mobile computing." Indeed, the duo has stated that they expect "many innovations to result from this collaboration over time" and they are hoping to "define a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks, enabling the development of a variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile internet services." It's hard to say if we'll be seeing a Nokia UMPC, MID or smartbook in the near future, but we have to wonder if the world is even interested. An Intel-powered smartphone? Color us interested. An Intel-powered Nokiabook? Meh.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Intel and Nokia officially partner on mobile devices: "the possibilities are endless" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard running Moblin

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:47:00 EST

Among the approximately two gazillion other things we saw at Computex this year, ASUS has demoed one of its Eee Keyboard PCs running Moblin. Currently just a prototype, it's unclear whether or not this guy sports different hardware than the device we've been seeing (we're guessing not), or whether this will become available when the XP version does sometime this month. That said, we're hoping that you can sleep better at night knowing that such a beast exists. We sure can. Video after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard running Moblin

Filed under: Laptops

Video: ASUS Eee Keyboard running Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Elektrobit Moorestown MID reference design is more like it

Nilay Patel — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:23:00 EST

We're kinda-sorta coming around on the MIDs now that we've gotten a chance to play with Moblin 2.0, but it'll take some great hardware to really convince us (or hell, anyone) -- like this promising first Moorestown reference design from Elektrobit. Yeah, it's not quite the amazing mockup device that Intel's been showing off for a couple years, but it's still pretty attractive, and it's actually pretty small at just a half-inch thick with a four-inch HD screen. You're also looking at HDMI out, either WiMAX or 3G mobile broadband, and voice capability. Sadly, none of this will ship until Intel delivers the Mooretown chips, so we won't be able to do anything except sniff vapor until 2010.

[Via Linux Devices]

Filed under: Handhelds

Elektrobit Moorestown MID reference design is more like it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fedora 11 packs a next-gen file system, faster boot times, all the joys and pitfalls of Linux

Paul Miller — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:20:00 EST

Linux just gets sexier and sexier, and Fedora 11 just joined Ubuntu 9.04 in the ranks of super modern Linux distros released this year. Fedora doesn't have all the desktop refinements of Ubuntu, or the wild popularity, but it does act as the underpinnings of Intel's Moblin, and the Sugar OS, and doesn't shy away from the future. Fedora 11 makes the bleeding edge ext4 filesystem the default for installs, which speeds performance and improves data integrity -- Ubuntu offers ext4 as an option, but some application incompatibilities have caused data loss problems, so hopefully Fedora has overcome that. Fedora 11 also has boot times in its sights, with a goal to be at the login screen in 20 seconds, new versions of GNOME and KDE desktop environments (GNOME is default, but KDE 4.2 is looking great) and plenty of other minor and major tweaks. Sure, it's still Linux: most folks who expect to just swap out their Windows environment wholesale are sure to be sorely disappointed, but it's clear the steady march of progress continues unabated -- and hey, it's good enough for Intel and the children.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Fedora 11 packs a next-gen file system, faster boot times, all the joys and pitfalls of Linux originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MID device sales far lower than estimates, only Intel surprised

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:01:00 EST

You know that MID / UMPC craze (remember origami?) that was supposed to change our lives? Well, it hasn't. In fact, if the unofficial numbers reported by DigiTimes are correct, then sales of bulky, Menlow-based MIDs have been a disaster which helps explain why manufacturers have grown skeptical of the platform. DigiTimes is reporting sales of just 30,000 units compared to the 150,000 - 200,000 units Intel ~~promised~~ estimated. Intel claims that the weak sales were due to the global economic downturn but we have another opinion: mainstream consumers don't want a device that is too big for the pocket, provides less functionality than a netbook, and is priced like a laptop. That, and we still haven't seen a compelling usage scenario for this device category -- simply pairing Intel's next generation Moorestown with Moblin isn't a fix. Of course, it's no surprise that Intel got blindsided by the rise of the modern smartphone, that's not their turf... yet.

Filed under: Handhelds

MID device sales far lower than estimates, only Intel surprised originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Acer to join the Moblin Linux bandwagon

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:41:00 EST

Moblin -- the Intel lovin' Linux flavor we've heard so much about recently -- just got some major support from Acer, who plans on slapping it on laptops, desktop PCs, and its Aspire One nettops. According to PC World, a press conference held today saw a wide range of Moblin versions (including Suse, Xandros, Linpus, Red Flag, and Ubuntu Moblin) installed on netbooks from companies that included HP, Asustek, MSI, and Hasee Computer; MIDs by the likes of BenQ and Compal; and even an Eee Keyboard. Not too bad for an OS that wasn't even an OS when we first laid eyes on it, eh? We'll keep our eyes peeled for those machines from Acer. In the mean time, how about that Tony Hawk Ride? Man, that looks sweet.

Filed under: Desktops, Handhelds, Laptops

Acer to join the Moblin Linux bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

Darren Murph — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST

You may be doing your best to plug your ears and pretend that Moblin's no big deal, but blissful ignorance is only effective for so long. At a Moblin press event over at Computex, the Inventec handset you see pictured above was demonstrated. Reportedly, the MediaPhone was a working unit based around Intel's forthcoming Moorestown platform, and the talking head made it clear that we wouldn't see a "netbook experience" simply shoved in here. We also get the idea that this particular device is just the beginning of a short to medium list of similar products, but there's obviously no word yet on what other handset / MID / UMPC makers are swallowing the Moblin pill. Live demonstration video is just past the break.

Continue reading Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

Filed under: Handsets, Others

Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

Darren Murph — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:24:00 EST

Continue reading Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex

Filed under: Cellphones

Video: Inventec's Moblin-based MediaPhone shown at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Foxconn shows off Moblin-running SZ901 netbook

Donald Melanson — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:54:00 EST

Well, it wasn't too hard to see this trend coming, but it looks like Foxconn is among the first out of the gate with a Moblin-running netbook at Computex Taipei, with its new SZ901 model opting for Linpus' just-revealed distribution of the OS. As you might expect, however, there aren't exactly many surprises beyond that welcome addition, with the 10.1-inch netbook packing the usual Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and built-in 3G, along with a glossy finish all around. No word on a price or release date just yet, but this is Foxconn after all, so there's a good chance this one could be showing up under any number of different brands. Head on past the break for a quick hands-on courtesy of the folks at Netbooknews.de.

Continue reading Foxconn shows off Moblin-running SZ901 netbook

Filed under: Laptops

Foxconn shows off Moblin-running SZ901 netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments