Cloud OS’s – do we really need them?
What are cloud operating systems?
Cloud operating systems work as services that are provided over a network or the internet. It means that the system and the applications within it, reside on a server and are often used through the browser.
EyeOS is one such cloud operating system. A few weeks ago I installed it on my Ubuntu machine. The installation was very easy, simply unzip the files into your web root folder (you need to have the Apache and php packages installed), run the installation script, and you're good to go.
The iPhone as a platform for OpenSource
The iPhone is a great innovative step in mobile computing and combines a versatile and powerful combination of hardware.
Millions of people have purchased the iPhone, new markets are still being opened up. The AppStore is a big step forward in expanding the abilities of the iPhone and so is the Jailbreaking community.
However, due to Apples restrictive policies and the way the iPhone's OS has been designed, this superb device is very limited as a smartphone. In part due to power management and due to the walled garden principle, the iPhone in its default set-up leaves a lot to be desired.
Users who have bought the iPhone and expect a smartphone, won't get passed Jailbreaking the device in order to get pretty basic features:
- copy paste
- backgrounding
- installation of any software (not just from the AppStore)
- more control over the device (Terminal and tools such as BossPrefs)
- keeping services active even when the screen is turned off (apps such as insomnia)
- theming and customisation
- tethering and added networking capabilities
Apples marketing approach and handing of the iPhone is the Achilles Heel of this device.
Asking someone to pay for the ability to write using a widescreen keyboard, voice commands, or perhaps copy & paste might be a great marketing feat, and Steve "it's Wonderful" Jobs can pat himself on the back for this, but this is not innovation. Quite on the contrary, this serves only to put a damper on user experience.
Most of us who bought the iPhone thought we were buying a pretty smart and empowering device. The adds and commercials looked great and shiny, the iPhone looked like an übersmartphone. Instead we got a dumbed down device missing the most common and basic features and Apples intrusive (killswitch) and restrictive (AppStore and iTunes only) limitations.
OpenSource is the Answer
Apple has given us a great platform, let us build on it. The iPhone could serve as a superb and stable foundation for Linux based operating systems tailored to run on mobile devices. Intel has launched an initiative that could one day see Linux on the iPhone, and other projects exist as well with the same aim.
To be honest, the iPhone is what I want the Neo Freerunner to be.
Perhaps a symbiosis of the iPhone hardware platform and OpenMoko is the answer. How many would not say no to Ubuntu MID Edition on the iPhone, I sure dream of this on a daily basis as I battle to keep applications running in the background on my shiny iPhone 3G.
The advantages are obvious I hope:
- a solid and stable platform
- large developer, user and tester community
- speed of innovation
- fast updates
- hassle free upgrading
- thousands of applications to choose from
- opensource benefits
- customisation
- specialisation (distributions can be tailored to the needs of end users, for example business environments)
- no need to be subject to the whims of a massive corporation
- diversification
It cannot be, in the 21st century, that you need to void your warranty to have copy & paste or applications that run in the background. I'll leave it at that.
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livestation
There have been several attempts at offering live streaming TV through the internet. Livestation is one of them. I found out about it today through LifeHacker and decided to try it. So far I am quite impressed. It works with Mac, Linux and Windows. Registration is free. Channel selection is not bad and should grow. Streaming is quick and quite good in quality.
Take all your music with you wherever you go
For those who like to have access to their entire music collection, but don't have sufficient storage space on their iPhone, Simplify Media is the perfect option.
Install the Simplify Media client on your computer (Mac, Linux or Windows), set up a user account, index your music collection and then install the mobile client on your iPhone. Now, no matter where you are, you can listen to your music collection in streaming format using either WIFI or 3G.
Browse your music by album, song, artist or genre. Pick select songs, or shuffle through your music. Skip songs, or repeat them. Depending on your current connection speed, buffering is usually quick.
Main player window
Info about artists
Lyrics
iPhone 3G Impressions I
I have finally given in and joined the iPhone user community. The phone arrived two weeks ago and here are some of my thoughts on this smart phone.
There are many good reviews on the net covering the design of this phone and the features it has.
Instead I would like to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this phone.
Strengths
Perhaps the main strength of the iPhone is that it allows us to use our fingers. No need for buttons or a stylus. Using your fingers allows you to work quickly and intuitively.
Next up on the list would be location based features in combination with GPS. Click on a contacts address and you are taken to Maps and shown the location. You can then choose directions to that location, either from another location or from your current position.
Multiple network support is yet another feature that makes the iPhone a great phone, make calls or download data through wifi, 3G, gprs, umts or edge. With the iPhone you will rarely be in a situation where you cannot download emails or look something up.
Weaknesses
Since I have been using the iPhone for about two weeks now, I have noticed that certain features are badly needed or very limited. The iPhones firmware is the main stumbling block. It prevents unlocking the iPhones true abilities.
No cut/copy/paste functionality. For a device that aims to shake up the world of smart phones, it lacks the most basic necessities in this sence.
Perhaps the biggest gripe with this phone is that all third party applications are 'sandboxed'. They are not allowed to use/access core features of the iPhones operating system. They cannot for example send notifications, nor can they run in the background. So if you are using an instant messaging client and you need to quickly look something up in Safari or check an Email, the IM application is shut down and will have to be relaunched again.
Finally the iPhone cannot be used as a file storage device. You cannot attach your iPhone to a computer and have it mount as a hard disk. This too is most unfortunate.
Feature Wishlist
A list of features I would like to see implemented on the iPhone 3G:
- Increase the size of keys on the keyboard when in landscape mode
- Click on a geotagged photo and be taken to the stored location on the map
- Safari should cache pages. Often when I hit the back button it reloads the page
- The ability to set a global background image would be nice. Currently the background image does not appear on the home screen
- Have the iPhone mount as a hard disk
- In combination with MobileMe, the ability to sync subscribed calendars would be great
Conclusion
Despite the above mentioned deficiencies I do enjoy using the iPhone and I believe if Apple develops a slightly more relaxed approach to 3rd party applications as well as user friendliness the iPhone will be an even better phone.
Neo Freerunner: Cell Phone for the Masses
According to the Austrian newspaper Der Standard, the OpenMoko project will present it's first consumer product, the Neo Freerunner, at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The phone will come with a 2D/3D graphics processor to allow for complex interface effects. Operation of the phone is done through a touch-screen. Further, the Neo Freerunner supports 802.11 b/g networks, and includes position sensors. For global usage in cellphone networks there will be two versions, a 850 and 900MHz Tri-Band option.
Once more details become available, this may become my next long term phone/PDA.
Related articles:
OpenMoko Launches Neo FreeRunner Open-Source Smartphone for the Masses
OpenMoko To Unveil Open Source Smartphone
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