Moblin
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Moblin 2.0 beta impressively demoed on video
We'll admit, we were pretty skeptical that Moblin would ever amount to much after seeing the 1.0 build, but it looks like the elves at Intel have been plenty busy: the 2.0 beta is now available, and it's looking pretty sharp. Unlike the first build's more traditional Linux interface, 2.0 drops you into an attractive unified application shell reminiscent of HP's MIE that also allows you to run regular Linux apps. Apps are grouped into "zones," which function like virtual desktops, and switching between zones is handled by a taskbar-like interface. Of course, even Intel isn't immune to sticking widgets all over everything, and the main screen (called the m_zone) has plenty of 'em, from calendars to Twitter to browser history thumbnails. All in all, it's really slick stuff -- check a quick video after the break.[Via Hylke's Home; thanks Joey-Elijah]Read - Ars Technica hands-onRead - Moblin.org
Intel turns Moblin over to the Linux Foundation
If you love something, set it free -- and if it truly loves you back, it will return as the market's dominant MID and netbook OS. We're pretty certain that's what our mom said to us when we were kids -- it's a fairly hazy memory -- and it sounds like Intel's heeding that advice with Moblin, turning over "stewardship" of the fledgling OS to the Linux Foundation. It's an interesting move that seems to be more about politics more than anything else -- Intel still employs all the lead developers, so it'll basically be in charge of things, but companies that want to use Moblin can do so secure in the knowledge that it's formally controlled by a neutral body. Very clever. So -- now that that's out of the way, can everyone get back to work on that insane concept MID we've been drooling over for two years? Thanks.[Thanks, Chris]
Intel and LG partner up for some hot MID action
Intel's been talking up MIDs for a while now, and it looks like LG's ready to buy in -- the two companies just announced that they'll be cooperating on a series of devices running Intel's Moblin OS on the Moorestown platform. Interestingly, the release says the first product will deliver the "functionality of today's high-end smart phones," which seems to suggest that Intel's willing to shift some product definitions around. Still, we wouldn't expect a straight-up phone out of this one -- we're hoping for something more like Intel's crazy concept MID shown here. We'll see what these two come up with over the next year, it should definitely be interesting.
Video: Moblin finds a home with the Samsung NC10
Now that Moblin is out in all of its alpha release glory, we've been preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the flood of videos we're sure to receive as folks start installing the OS all over the place. For our inaugural Moblin Movie, the kids over at Laptop Magazine have got it happily running on a Samsung NC10 and -- despite booting off a USB thumb drive -- the speed of the thing is pretty impressive. WiFi and ethernet did their thing with minimal effort, the mouse and trackpad worked like a charm, and all in all things look swingin'. But don't take our word for it -- catch the video after the break.
Alpha version of Intel's Moblin OS released for brave netbookers
It's been nearly a year since we were first confused about what this whole Moblin thing was going to be, but now here it is released to the wild, roaming about in alpha form and looking to find a home for itself in your netbook. If you haven't been following along, Moblin is a custom flavor of Linux that Intel has been whipping up for installation on devices using its chips, particularly the Atom but Core 2 processors as well. It's based on Fedora and, as of this release, is confirmed to work on Acer's Aspire One and Dell's Mini, though Eee peeps can check it out too -- so long as they don't mind living without WiFi. Mind you, this is still a very early version and there's a ways to go before a final release, so feel free to sit this round out if you're not into the whole bleeding edge thing. [Via Ars Technica]
Intel's Moblin OS for netbooks and MIDs gets a boost from Taiwan
Intel's Linux-based Moblin OS may have lost some considerable ground to Windows XP in the netbook space, but it looks like the company is far from ready to throw in the towel, and it's now getting a bit of a helping hand from the Taiwan government. Apparently, the government will be helping Intel open up a new development center in Taiwan, which will be tasked with furthering the development of the OS and, hopefully, attract the interest of local companies like ASUS and Acer. Any further specifics are expectedly a bit light at the moment, but the development center is apparently on the fast-track, with it reportedly set to open in December of this year.
Eee PC modded by Intel engineers to boot in five seconds
Sure, we've seen projects like SplashTop boot a stripped Linux build quickly, but Intel engineers at the recent Linux Plumbers Conference took things a little farther last Thursday, starting up modified versions of Fedora and Intel's own Moblin Linux on an SSD-equipped Eee PC in just five seconds. That's all the way to an idle CPU and disk, not cheating and starting a window manager while background services thrash in the background, mind you -- and it's fast enough that the splash screen was removed from both distros. The changes are being sent back to the Moblin and Fedora trunks, but if you're curious, a detailed overview of the changes awaits at the read link.[Via SlashGear]
Intel getting ready to release Moblin source, working on Moblin 2
Intel's got big plans for Moblin, that Linux-based "core stack" that's being optimized for all sort of mobile devices, from MIDs to carputers, and a big part of those plans is letting the community play a part in its development -- the company is just about to release the source for the first version of Moblin, with an alpha-level release of Moblin 2 to follow. Intel says its focus right now is decidedly on Atom, but that it's looking forward to seeing the community drive Moblin in other directions. There's no word on what Moblin 2 will offer, but it sounds like Intel is hoping that by getting Moblin out in the open, it'll become a de facto standard. Not a bad idea, but we'll see how it goes.Read - Intel getting ready to release Moblin sourceRead - Intel working on Moblin 2
Xandros announces support for Intel's Moblin platform
Intel's Moblin tech is getting some big love at Computex -- first Canonical dropped the Ubuntu Netbook Remix on us, and now Xandros has announced plans to support the MID- and netbook-targeted system additions in future editions of its Linux distros. If that seems a little confusing, it's because it is -- Moblin was never supposed to be a standalone Linux OS, but rather a standardized Linux core stack designed to maximize the potential of Atom-based mobile devices. Of course, one of those mobile devices is a little machine called the Eee that just happens to run Xandros, so it looks like Eee owners should look forward to better battery life, faster booting, and "expanded Internet and media capabilities." Now the real question: is that enough to get people to stay away from the recently-revived-again Windows XP?
Intel working on Linux car-computing initiative
We've been hearing about in-car computing forever, it seems, but it looks like the concept might finally be taking off: Microsoft is busy with Auto, there's a proposed .car TLD, BMW is working on in-car internet access, and now Intel is looking to smart up your ride with a vehicle-oriented version of its Moblin OS. The Linux-based system will run on -- what else? -- Atom processors, and carmakers are expected to use it to control everything from in-car systems to nav and multimedia functions. What's more, third-party developers will be able to build apps and services for the platform, in contrast to the mostly-closed systems being proffered by competitors. That's pretty cool, but let's hope there's some virtualization going on between the userspace and the in-car systems controller -- we're not exactly ready to run Firefox on the same machine that's in charge of the brakes.[Image is of that Atari-fied 1979 Buick Riveria]
Ubuntu Mobile and Moblin get investigated
Still confused about the whole MID thing? Fret not, as you're certainly not alone in nodding your head furiously up and down. About the recent Bossaconference 08, one particular fellow managed to get some quality face time with Ubuntu Mobile and Moblin and break things down in bulleted fashion. Put simply, the former is a handheld (read: not phone / desktop) Linux OS that's optimized for touching and meant to be seen on 4- to 7-inch displays. As for the latter, it's merely a "project site for embedded Linux development," not an operating system in and of itself. Think you're ready to get schooled further? Tap the read link and dust off that Trapper Keeper.[Via jkOnTheRun]
