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OLPC BTest-2 XO beta machine sequel arrives
Good things happened with that last round of test XO test machines, and now OLPC has shipped out round two, with an improved screen (now with real-live diffuser action), and at last the appearance of a touch pad. The main thrust of BTest-2 is mesh networking and suspend / resume functionality, the industrial design is relatively unchanged, since there wasn't enough time to implement changes found in BTest-1. The third BTest of this trilogy will be supposedly much more rugged -- for instance, Jean Piché already noticed some trackpad woes: "Because of blotches and air bubbles, I almost tried to peel off what seemed like a protective strip of paper on the trackpad. It's a mylar sheet not to be removed!" Thanks for the heads up, Jean. Now what nerdy prof do we need to mug to get a bit of BTest-2 up in the HQ?[Via OLPC News, photo courtesy of Jacob Kaplan-Moss]
Quanta confirms one million OLPC XO orders
According to InfoWorld (via Yahoo News), contract manufacturer Quanta Computer has confirmed that they've received orders for one million of the long-awaited OLPC XO laptops anticipated by children and geeks alike, with orders expected to further increase throughout the rest of the year. If that goes as planned, Quanta says it could ship as many as ten million of the laptops before year's end, which would go a long way towards getting the little green laptop down to its intended $100 price point, possibly even ahead of the 2008 target date for a price drop. Quanta also revealed that NickNeg is apparently not the only one obsessed with the project, with company president Michael Wang saying "this is our chairman's pet project, it's his life." Not that there's anything wrong with being obsessed with a gadget, of course.
OLPC project readies first large-scale XO test
The OLPC project has shipped a few test units here or there, but it's finally ramping things up in the lead-up to July, when they'll start producing five million of the lime-green things. This shipment, however, is quite a bit more modest than that: 2,500 laptops are heading to Brazil, Uruguay, Libya, Rwanda, Pakistan, Thailand and possibly Ethiopia and the West Bank. Soon after that will come Indonesia and a few other countries. Strangely, this Reuters report still seems to imply that the pull-string "salad spinner" generator is new on the scene, or perhaps not even ready yet, which doesn't bode well for the project that is no doubt in need of finalizing designs. But no matter, all we needed to know was that these things were finally getting into the hands of OLPC clients around the world that are the ones that will actually be committing these absurd amounts of dollars to their children's education, who cares if they work![Thanks, Sparky]
Classmate PC swallows OLPC: won't somebody please think of the children?!
It's just Intel's reference design for the UMPC V2 and Intel Classmate PC. Still, it's good to know that it can play nice with the little OLPC XO. Especially when their parents can't.
Video: Hands-on with OLPC
Nick Negroponte's OLPC made an appearance at CES, in partner Marvell's booth. Marvell supplies the 802.11 b/g chipset, as well as a chipset made exclusively for mesh networking. Fortunately for us (but unfortunately for Marvell) we all know why everyone showed up, and it definitely wasn't for ICs. Take a look up top, or download at the bottom.[MP4] Download the video
Hands-on with the OLPC! Finally!
You know, we've been covering the OLPC so long that it started to feel like we'd never actually be able to get to hold one. And then last night happened. Oh sweet beautiful lords of gadgetude, we wrapped our mitts around the $100 ~$150 portable of Negroponte genesis and were, well, ok with it. Not that it should be all that surprising considering the price, but the keyboard was a bit crappy, kind of cheap feeling and rubberized, like the Sidekick II, but the effect doesn't carry over to full QWERTY. The trackpad was rather good, and the plastics felt pretty solid. Not too flimsy for a machine of its class, seemingly decent build quality and all. The screen looked decent enough as well, but the peeps manning the booth didn't flip it into monochrome mode, which was kind of a bummer. We dug flipping it into tablet mode, but then the reality set in: we only had a few minutes to play with this thing, and it has an almost entirely symbolic interface. Meaning that we (and the booth attendees) who weren't familiar with its workings weren't able to easily find our way around. Still, we'd plunk down a Benjamin or two (or three) for one -- ya hear us, Nick? Nick! Hands-on with the OLPC! Finally!
Pepper folks shake a little software onto the OLPC
The OLPC kids seem pretty set on their "Sugar" GUI, with its complete disregard for traditional UI forms in search of a new, kid-friendly OS experience. However, there's a new game in town, in the form of Pepper Computer, which has ported its Pepper Pad OS over to those brightly colored XO machines. The port makes plenty of sense, since Pepper's own computers run on similar AMD Geode procs, and both OSes are similarly based on Linux. Pepper Pad was also initially built with younger users in mind, and given the fact that Pepper's OS is quite a bit more mature than OLPC's current offering, it's hard not get attached to the idea. Of course, the absence of a touch screen on the XO might put a bit of a damper on things, but it seems the trackpad can take over just fine in its absence. It doesn't seem like this new development will have much effect on the OLPC project as it relates to those millions of laptops NickNeg is hoping to ship to kiddies in developing countries, but it's nice to know we'll have such an OS option when we snag our own XO off eBay.
Rwanda joins the fray, getting "hundreds of thousands" of OLPC XOs
Here's an idea: just release these OLPC XOs to every country in the world and be done with it. Sadly, that isn't likely to happen, but at least Rwanda is joining the growing list of countries ready to get their palms on the green machines. According to OLPC, Rwanda will be receiving "initial test units and technical support at no cost within a few days." After Quanta ramps up production in July, the nation expects to receive "hundreds of thousands" of the wee laptops late this summer at an "initial cost" of $150 apiece, with future units expected to cost a bit less. Rwanda's government, of course, is footing the entire bill, and hopes to actually provide a computer to "all primary school children within five years." So for any school-aged Rwandans out there itching to crank up Doom or surf the net on Opera while disregarding those grammar and arithmetic lessons, your countdown can officially begin.
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 caught playing Super Mario Bros. 3
We've always considered computers to be entertainment machines first, means to an end second, and tools for learning a distant third, so it's no surprise to see thrill-seekers everywhere squeezing every last drop of excitement from the recently-shipped OLPC XOs. While we've already witnessed someone getting their fix of 1992 by hitting up a few rounds of Doom, the latest case of "installing noneducational software on laptops geared for learning" involves none other than Super Mario himself, as a clever individual has not only got Super Mario Bros. 3 up and running on the XO, but captured a video of the feat as well. So go on and click through to sneak a peek yourself, you know you can't resist.
OLPC: video conferencing for the children
Sure, the OLPC XO has had its built-in VGA webcam for a little while now, but with a mere 400Mhz processor, it took a bit of working to get the laptop up and running in a live video chat. However, those open source hax0rs aren't easily dissuaded when it comes to broadcasting their scurvy mugs across the internets, and have finally managed the first OLPC-to-OLPC transatlantic chat, with "extremely smooth" 15fps video and simultaneous audio. While the bad news here is that if you fire this thing up right now, you'll probably be looking at a dork on the other end, the eventual hope is that kids will be able to chat via the mesh network by just simply clicking on a buddy icon in the mesh view.
$150 laptop brews trouble for big names in edu-PCs
It seems like for every new OLPC announcement, we get a pair of fresh competitors. The latest to put a bid in for the cheap-o laptop market is the Atlanta-based Lite Appliances, which is prepping the "LiteComputer" for a $150 target price by shunning brand names like Microsoft, Intel and AMD. Instead, Lite Appliances is basing the computer on the Blackfin processor from Analog Devices, and a full-on custom OS, complete with web browser, media player, IM and VoIP. The PC is designed to function with web apps such as Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets and ThinkFree Office, and skips a HDD for flash memory -- though you can add storage via USB. The $150 figure is a tad bit misleading, since you'll have to add $100 to that cost if you want a laptop with an LCD (silly you), but even at $250 this thing sounds pretty competitive with other similar offerings. Lite Appliances will be showing off its OLPC killer at CES in January, and has hopes to have the laptop ready to ship in mid-2007.[Via Wired]
Opera hits the OLPC XO
It looks like those not satisfied with the OLPC XO laptop's pre-loaded browser will have another, less open source option at their disposal whenever they manage to get their hands on one of the little green machines, with the Opera team reporting that their browser "runs beautifully" on it. Getting it running in the first place, however, took a slight bit of effort, requiring them to enter the somewhat hidden shell mode and install the browser from the command prompt. Once that business was taken care of, they went into full hyperbole mode, with Opera CTO Håkon Wium Lie saying that seeing Opera run on the OLPC for the first time was a "revelation" and that "no browser has ever been more beautiful" -- due in no small part to the screen's 200 dpi resolution. Not so revelatory, however, is the browser's ability to handle extensive Javascript, which apparently caused the laptop to freeze on occasion, though they say they're working on that, as well as an OLPC skin so it won't look too out of place next to the other apps.[Via Slashdot]
OLPC's pull-string power system going commercial
While some of the parts of the OLPC's XO laptop are still coming together (like the UI), other parts are ready to rock, commercial-style. As we previously saw in a slide showing NickNeg's pull-string power generator (pictured), the theory is that kids will be able to juice up their lappies with the tug of a string, ideally 10 minutes of use for every one minute of pulling. While no laptop with this generator is available yet, that hasn't stopped new startup Potenco from commercializing the power supply, even before the XO is ready to hit the global streets. The company recently claimed at the NEXT2006 conference in Copenhagen that a minute of pulling will yield an hour of light, 25 minutes of talk time on a cellphone, 230 minutes of iPod shuffle use, or 45 minutes on a Nintendo DS. But, as OLPC News points out, no one's really sure how many minutes of XO use that will translate into. We'll let you know how much they cost and when you can get one to charge every gadget in your life once Potenco actually starts selling 'em. Until then, you might want to start practicing with your nearest yo-yo or salad spinner. [Via OLPC News]Read - We Make Money Not ArtRead - Potenco
Encore's Mobilis to compete with OLPC XO, Classmate PC in Brazil
While we didn't exactly expect the educational, beneficial, and "world-changing" laptops that are headed out to children all across the globe to battle it out like Intel and AMD, we guess a little competition can't hurt too much. Just days after getting word that Intel's Classmate PC would be tackling OLPC's XO, only to be joined by a dark horse Indian offering shortly thereafter, we now know precisely who that lucky third wheel is. Encore Software will reportedly offer up "around 50" of its Linux-based Mobilis machines for evaluation within Brazil, setting up a three-way grudge match between Doom-playing ultraportables. The machines will supposedly sport 7- to 7.5-inch LCD touchscreens, six hours of battery life, VGA output, Ethernet / 56k modem, optional GRPS / GPS modules, optional biometric scanner, stereo speakers, microphone, audio in / out, and a bevy of "hot keys" to activate your typical office applications. Although we've no idea how much Encore hopes to make off these things, we sure hope they prepped those demo units for battle before mailing them out.
Intel's Classmate PC to go head to head with OLPC in Brazil
Given the quite disparate price points -- around $400 for Intel's fledgling Classmate PC, $140 for the cute little OLPC -- we would think the two different machines wouldn't be treading on each other's toes too terribly much at this time, but that doesn't seem to be the case in Brazil. Intel just committed to donating 700-800 of the Classmate PCs for a large in-school evaluation. Brazil will be pitting the laptop up against an OLPC prototype they just got in the mail, along with another similarly education-bent laptop from an Indian company. "We're going to put it in the classroom and see how it does," says Jose Aquinto. Walter Bender of the OLPC camp welcomes the competition: "The only way the price is going to continue to go down is competition in the marketplace." Sure sounds like they're getting it.
Microsoft attempting to stuff Windows onto the OLPC
Ever since it got the cold shoulder from those open source junkies over at the OLPC project, Microsoft has been sort of sour grapesey about the whole thing. Now it looks like they've changed tacts: instead of offering up Windows CE to power the fledgling Children's Machine CM1 2B1 B1 XO WhateverTheHeckItsCalled, Microsoft is trying to stuff the entirety of Windows XP into the little box. According to NickNeg, the OLPC has an SD card slot specifically at Bill Gates' behest, since Windows XP requires a minimum of 1.5GB of memory for installation, while the OLPC only packs 512MB of storage. Microsoft has apparently been provided a number of OLPCs to this end, but still hasn't managed to get the thing working. In a perfect world, Microsoft would realise the error of its bloatware ways and prep a stripped down version of the OS to delight enthusiasts the world over with speed and minimalism, but somehow we're thinking that's just a bit unlikely.[Via Slashdot; thanks simosx for the pic]
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 user interface demo vid hits the web
While we saw the OLPC XO-1's OS emulation earlier this week, not everyone (including us) took the time to set up the necessary software needed in order to run it. Luckily, we've just gotten a better glimpse (via an online video on the next page) at how the XO's software actually runs. Although Linux-based, the XO-1's operating system appears to have been very much simplified, with menu bars and icons being kept to a bare minimum. Most notably, the entire desktop interface is entirely pictographic, with no title bar menus and very little in the way of pull down commands, which probably makes it easier to teach kids who may still be learning how to read. The YouTube video shows some of the various standard applications that come with the XO-1: Firefox, an unnamed instant messaging program, a variant of Abiword (word processing), and an application called eToys that looks like a combination of traditional computer games (such as Chinese Checkers) combined with something resembling the children's art program Kid Pix. One quick caveat to you soon-to-be-XO-1-toting Libyan kids: we will so pwn you at Chinese Checkers.[Via Slashdot]
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
