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OLPC's Negroponte offers India help in realizing $35 tablet dream, probably has a few other motives
The late Joker said it best: "If you're good at something, never do it for free." The truth ingrained in that very statement makes the bold words of OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte all the more curious here. In an open letter to the Indian government published in the Times of India, Nik Neg has seemingly eased up on his apparent grudge against the nation, but there's a decent chance that something's in it for him. Largely, no one with any link to reality believes that India will indeed deliver $35 laptops -- their $10 laptop eventually soared to $100 before evaporating completely. But in the letter, Negroponte offers the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development "full access to all of [OLPC's] technology, cost free," further urging them to "send a team to MIT and OLPC at your earliest convenience" in order to talk about world domination, the latest Cricket happenings and janky PCs that may or may not ever land in the classroom. Of course, some are surmising that the scheme will enable the MHRD to easily give up their own aspirations, buy a truckload of XO-3s and save face in the process, but hey -- so long as the children win, it's all good. Right?
OLPC should have an XO-3 prototype ready by the end of the year
Last time we spied the XO-3 tablet concept from OLPC, we were told to expect the thing to ship in the far-distant year 2012. Much has changed since then in the tablet arena, however, and Nicholas Negroponte, the project's founder, is saying they'll have a working prototype ready by December of this year, to be shown off at CES in January of 2011. Many details are still up in the air, but the initial device will be designed for use by children in the oft-neglected developed world, "testing many of the things that combine a laptop, an iPad and a Kindle." Word is they'll be starting with that Marvell Moby reference design, with a 9-inch-ish dual mode LCD for outdoor readability (thanks to Pixel Qi, presumably). The prototype will have a glass screen, but the goal is "100 percent plastic, unbreakable and almost extruded out of a machine," said Negroponte, something that won't happen until 2012 most likely. The best, and possibly wildest, claim of all is the $75 price tag that they hope to slap on this thing when all is said and done. We suppose the veracity of that claim will come down to how long this actually takes to make it from prototype to production. There's video of NickNeg discussing it after the break.
The Engadget Show - 007: Nicholas Negroponte, PlayStation Move exclusive demos, Dr. Richard Marks, Joystiq's Chris Grant, and more!
Well kids, this was one for the record books. If you didn't catch the live stream of the show (or you weren't there in person), here's your chance to get in on the action. On one of our biggest shows ever, Josh sits down with visionary technologist (and the man behind the OLPC project and MIT's Media Lab, amongst others) Nicholas Negroponte for a chat, tries to figure out why we can't get train schedules on our phones with new correspondent Rick Karr, and Paul and Chris Grant grill Dr. Richard Marks about the PlayStation Move. Oh, and it's not just talking -- we demo the Move in-person, even checking out some never-before-seen demos Sony has whipped up. All that, and music from minusbaby and visuals from notendo. Did we mention the hundreds of giveaways? No? Okay... just watch the thing! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel Special guests: Nicholas Negroponte, Richard Marks, Christopher Grant Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Glenn Gapultos Music by: minusbaby Visuals by: notendo Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 007 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 007 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.%Gallery-88680%
OLPC reshuffles, gets new president and COO
There's been a rash of defections at OLPC lately, with NickNeg himself looking to leave soon, so it's nice to hear that the charitable endeavor is filling in the vacancies. Only it's not, really. Although Negroponte has said that's he looking for someone "similar to Kofi Annan" to lead the project, it looks like he's just shuffling people around, instead promoting part-time CFO Charles Kane to President and COO. Negroponte is going to focus on fund-raising and promotion, while Kane will handle the day-to-day matters of actually manufacturing and distributing the laptops. That's certainly a good first step -- and perhaps Charles Kane is really Kofi Annan's long-lost twin -- but with developers suddenly miffed over Negroponte's overtures to Microsoft and talent leaving from the top, it seems like OLPC would do well to bring in some fresh vision and leadership, no?
OLPC head of software and content resigns, possibly over transition to XP
The recent shakeups at the top of the OLPC hierarchy have apparently claimed another victim, as OLPC News is reporting that Software and Content chief Walter Bender has just left the project. Rumor is that Nicholas Negroponte is going to transition the OLPC XO entirely to Windows XP to spur sales soon, and Bender is reportedly unhappy about that. What makes this all the more interesting is that when security director Ivan Krsti?? left the OLPC project last month, he specifically said he was unhappy that the restructuring no longer required him to work with Bender, and said that he could no longer "subscribe to the organization's new aims or structure in good faith." Looks like something's afoot at OLPC, and the old guard isn't happy about it. What say you, NickNeg?
Negroponte talks about Classmate 2, other low-cost laptops
As should be clear by now, OLPC's Nicholas Negroponte is never one to shy away from discussing the competition (among other things), and he's now made some of his opinions on Intel's new Classmate 2 laptop (a.k.a. Netbook) and other low-cost laptops known in a brief interview with Laptop Magazine. On the updated Classmate, Nick Neg was able to bring himself to say that Intel "made many steps forward" and says that he's glad they adopted mesh networking, but he adds that the display is "still really very weak" and that "480 lines does not work" (no complaints from us there). He also doesn't mince words about Intel entering the domestic laptop market with the Netbook, saying that he's "astonished" that it's doing so and he "cannot imagine that Dell, HP, Lenovo and others will keep any allegiance to a supplier that competes with them." Nick Neg further adds that it's "fine" that others are entering the low-cost, educational laptop space, and that "kids will benefit," although not necessarily those in the poorer countries OLPC is targeting, where he's still promising to deliver a $50 laptop sooner or later.
Negroponte says role at OLPC not changing, Windows coming soon
It's just been a few short days since Nicholas Negroponte seemed to make it clear that his role at OLPC would soon be changing, but it now seems like that may not be the case, with Nick Neg telling Laptop Magazine that his role will "not be changing drastically" once a new CEO is put in place. He also went on to say that "replacement" is not the right word, and that he had never held the CEO title nor used it, adding that he'll now go under the title of "Chairman and Foreign Minister." With that out of the way, Negroponte also dropped word that "a Windows operating system is in the process of being fine-tuned on the XO as we speak," and that it "should be available on the XO in less than 60 days," which is about the firmest word of a release date we've heard so far.
Negroponte looking for CEO to replace him at OLPC
After a stay that's been anything but uneventful, OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte has announced that he'll be stepping down as CEO of the organization, and that he's now searching for a successor, although he'll be staying on as Chairman. That word comes from an interview Negroponte gave to BusinessWeek, where he admitted that "management, administration, and details are my weaknesses," and even went so far as to say that the organization needs to be managed "more like Microsoft." He also revealed that the search for a new CEO had actually begun last year, but had ratcheted up in recent weeks, during which time the organization was also reorganized into four operating units, including technology, deployment, market development and fund-raising, and administration. No word on any contenders for the top spot just yet, but Nick Neg described the ideal candidate as someone with a "leadership profile similar to that of Kofi Annan," adding that he hopes to have the search concluded by April or May.
Negroponte says he'd welcome Intel back to OLPC
He's already made nice with Microsoft, and it now seems that OLPC head Nicholas Negroponte is extending an olive branch of sorts to Intel as well, despite the all-out lambasting of the company he doled out only yesterday. According to Infoworld, Negroponte calls what happened with Intel "very unfortunate" and says that he hopes "there's a way of rebuilding it in the future because there's no interest in OLPC pushing Intel out." In case you missed it, Intel up and left the OLPC board of directors last week after it claimed that OLPC insisted it give on cooperating with the competing Classmate PC if it wanted to stay in the OLPC fold. Negroponte, however, now says that the idea that OLPC is anti-competition is "ridiculous" and that it wants to "see as many laptops out there as possible and kids have the widest choice possible." For it's part, Intel says it's willing to talk with OLPC, although it maintains that there are "differences" that they've so far unable to resolve.
Uruguay places the first OLPC XO order; Negroponte says Windows is "key"
The OLPC XO found itself in a couple different headlines today, first with the Laboratorio Tecnológico de Uruguay stepping up to become the first official government purchaser of the "$100" laptop, committing to buy 100,000 of the green machines, with the potential to buy a further 200,000 by 2009. The deal's been coming for a while but was just made official today, marking the first major order for NickNeg's baby -- and a big win over Intel's Classmate PC, which was also in the running. Speaking of NickNeg, the man with the plan also made the news today by saying that OLPC has been working with Microsoft from the start, saying "It would be hard for OLPC to say it was 'open' and then be closed to Microsoft. Open means open." Apparently, OLPC has been earmarking some of the first engineering models from each developer build for Microsoft, and Redmond has pushed for and gotten changes in the device, particularly the inclusion of an SD slot. There's still no word on if we might see an XO preloaded with XP, but from the looks of things, it's going to happen sooner or later.[Thanks, Wayan]Read -- Uruguay places the first official OLPC XO orderRead -- NickNeg says OLPC is working with Microsoft
Quanta begins OLPC XO production ramp-up
Quanta Computer has finally received the green light to ramp up production of Negroponte's OLPC XO. The not-quite $100, open-source laptop should start shipping in quantity by October at a current cost of $176-per with the option of solar, foot-pump, and pull-string chargers presumably at additional cost. For those keeping track, that's about 4-months later than NickNeg's original estimate. Of course, as Nick likes to remind everyone, it's not about the laptop at all, it's about education. Former Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, effusively described it as "an expression of global solidarity." Good, 'cause even humanitarian efforts will need a logo in Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong.
Negroponte's OLPC aims for production launch in July
With countries lining up their orders and important prototyping milestones falling by the wayside, it's high time for an OLPC launch schedule, eh NickNeg? Indeed. According to the AP, the XO machines will be handed to kids for testing in February with Quanta Computer ramping up to ship several million production units by "July or so." When faced with skepticism over the capabilities of the little XO, NickNeg retorts, "I have to laugh when people refer to XO as a weak or crippled machine and how kids should get a 'real' one. Trust me, I will give up my real one very soon and use only XO." Ok Nick, we'll hold you to that.
OLPC XO: yes, it plays Doom
What good is another bonafide learning tool without a dash of fun beneath the hood? While OLPC XOs have just recently started rolling off production lines (and heading to eBay, most likely), it seems a few folks with a thing for 1992 have put the long-awaited machine to its best use yet. While Quanta Computer is slated to start a "test production" of these gizmos any day now, these bandits tested out its compatibility with a retro classic by installing (and successfully playing) the original Doom. Although this title has been the focal point of quite a few ports throughout the years, we'd say this rendition is definitely vying for king of them all, so be sure to continue on for the YouTube presentation.
OLPC XO emulation software hits the internets
While OLPC's XO laptops are just now starting to roll off the assembly lines in Taiwan, everyone's chomping at the bit to get their hands on one. Until the lean green machines start turning up on eBay after reaching Libyan shores, however, curious folks (like us) will have to settle for running the XO in software emulation. OLPC News has just published instructions on how to install the emulator on a Windows PC or on Mac OS X (pictured), but to accomplish either, you'll need VMware. Bonus points if you manage to paint your laptop the same OLPC green as the XO for the full effect.[Via OLPC News]Read - OLPC XO emulation for WindowsRead - OLPC XO emulation for Mac OS X
Circuit City to sell $100 Compaq laptop on Black Friday
With all this talk about OLPC's mythical $100 laptop, it was only a matter of time before a more established brand-name company tried its hand at pulling off a similar trick without NickNeg and company. CNET reports that Circuit City will be selling a Compaq Presario model on Black Friday (that's the day after Thanksgiving, or November 24, for you non-Yanks) for $100, sorta. If you agree to get a Vonage subscription for a year and can handle the assorted rebates, then this lappy is yours for a Benjamin. That's not such a bad deal, considering it comes with a Celeron M 420 CPU, 15-inch screen, DVD and CD burner, 512MB RAM and a 60GB hard drive. Of course this isn't the first time that we've seen rebates drive down computer prices so much -- there was the HP setup that we saw over Labor Day, which included a CRT, and a burner for the same price after rebates too -- but a laptop is something to take stock of. It's very tempting, but we'll wait until the price drops that low organically, sans rebates and subscription plans, thanks. [Via TechDirt]Read - CNETRead - Black Friday 2006
OLPC Update: Brazil to get test machines, Thailand pulls out
We last heard from our friends at OLPC a mere 10 days ago, when the non-profit's latest computer moniker changed from 2B1 to XO. But OLPC News is now telling us that there's a few new updates from everyone's favorite pastel-colored lappy. First up is news from Brazil, where IDG Now! Brasil reports that the country will receive 50 test laptops from OLPC, making it the first nation to have actual, live, working models. Meanwhile, across the world in Thailand, the whole notion of a $100 laptop has now become a bit less attractive to the new military government. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was a big fan of NickNeg's pet project, but sadly, his countrymen kicked him out of office in September, making Thailand somewhat of a tough sell now. iTeau, a Thai blogger, adds that Thailand's new information and communication technology minister has said that he doesn't think that XO will work, and has ridiculed it as a "toy." Read - OLPC NewsRead - IDG Now Brasil [in Portuguese]Read - ThanNews [in Thai]Read - iTeau's Dirt
Quanta Computer to start a test production of OLPC's 2B1
Last we heard from NickNeg's OLPC, the organization had just signed a big deal to sell 1.2 million laptops to Libya. Today, we've just found out that Quanta Computer is readying to start a "test production" of those laptops, with sample units to be available starting in November. According to DigiTimes, Quanta said it expects to start making these cute green machines by early 2007 and will have shipped 10 million units by early 2008. Fanfare aside, DigiTimes also cited unnamed "sources within Taiwan's IC design sector" that there are doubts as to what countries are going to actually buy these machines, with only one country (Libya) having confirmed an order so far. Or as OLPC News put it: "Would Libya be your first round draft pick if you were thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about helping developing world children through information and communication technologies?" Touché, OLPC News. Your response, OLPC?[Via OLPC News]
OLPC invites hackers to test, break 2B1's security systems
One Laptop Per Child has put out a call out to hackers attending this past weekend's Toorcon computer security conference, asking them to assist in breaking the 2B1 laptop "before there is a billion of them out in the field," according to TG Daily. A representative from the project, Ivan Kristi??, said at Toorcon that the OLPC will "create the largest monoculture in history" and that it has the potential to spawn "very scary" security problems. In particular, the 2B1 computers can transmit code from one computer to another in a mesh network to share programs, documents and media, and an uplink alike. In addition, the computers will serve as their own backup, using another laptop to restore the one on the fritz -- which requires a secure and unaffected disk image. Surely NickNeg doesn't want his pet project of millions of computers to turn into legions of zombies that do nothing but issue DDoS attacks or spam campaigns.
