Gamera = AOL for Linux

Uart writes: "AOL is building a Cross-Platform FDO to allow AOL content to be viewed on any number of platforms/environments. This includes a Linux client. Why is this big news you ask? Because it allows many many more people to use Linux, or other non-Microsoft operating systems. An image of the AOL site is right here. BTW, there will also be a Netscape\IE plugin to allow people to access AOL content from their Web browser." Rather then the traditional desktop PC model for viewing, a Linux-client allows AOL to make small devices that /just/ run AOL. Why on Earth would you need anything more? *grin*

Comments

Re:AOL "appliances"

[Greyfox]

Actually this'll be quite helpful in my job. We're doing a small appliance type thing and will want to have it capable of attaching to as many ISPs as possible. AOL is a major one, and having something like this could get us millions of sales we could not otherwise have got. We're doing all the hard stuff behind the scenes, so the average user should know just enough to turn on a TV.

Yes! Linux for the Numbnut!

[1010011010]

I'm actually serious... LOTS of people use AOL because it covers up the complexity of connecting to and using the internet on _Windows_ and the _Mac_, two systems routinely proffered as more user-friendly than Linux. With AOL clients on Linux, those people can use it. Toss in StarOffice and maybe Netscape/Mozilla/Opera, and they've got all they need.

I wonder if the AOL/linux web browser will be Mozilla? The Windows version uses IE... but now AOL has this spiffy portable web browser...

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Re:Yes! Linux for the Numbnut!

[Pxtl]

Heheheh, Gamera and Mozilla. That's awesome! We need more cheezy Japanese monsters on Linux.

sign of the end times

[i244]

aol for linux??

it must be snowing in hell right now

Err...

[Greyfox]

Why? I already HAVE a computer...

Re:This looks much like a fraud.

[signe]

Since I just left AOL recently, I can say with some authority that this is not a fraud. I've actually looked at manda.office.aol.com when I was working there, and I've played with some of the Tokyo project software.

1) First, being, that www.inside-aol.com is obviously not an official or trust-worthy source of information.
2) I may be thinking of a different website but I believe that www.inside-aol.com has done hoaxes before.

True, however that doesn't mean it's immediately wrong.

3) The .jpg tells us nothing of the validity. So they took a screen shot? Whos to say they didn't compose that website, loaded it and then typed "http://manda.office.aol.com" in the Location bar and just didn't press return?

Absolutely. However, in this case that site does actually exist. It's internal to AOL, and not accessible outside. Likely they have an inside contact that sent them the screenshot. I don't believe you can access the office.aol.com network from the PCs in the lobby of the Reston and Dulles AOL offices.

4) Theres something of an informal nature about this website that reeks of hoax, its written in such a manner to imply something informal (read: "The Long awaited.. etc.. blah blah") yet it contains a dubious confidentiality clause at the begining ("Do not distribute or show..."). I dont think that "Do not show..." is common legalese.

Yes, it is a semi-informal site. It's an internal site, for AOL employees. This is not a site that was designed to be used by anyone outside the company, and the people who put it up are not web designers. The "confidentiality clause" at the top is not legalese. It's a reminder. Everyone who has access to view office.aol.com websites has already signed either NDAs (in the case of on-site vendors), or employment agreements that contain much stronger language.

Anyways, you can believe me if you want. I've seen that web site first hand, and can tell you that it's real.

-Todd

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"Numbnut"???

[Anonymous Coward]

Heaven forbid that people continue to make systems and services open enough and usable enough that non-experts can enjoy them. We can't have that, can we? We have to keep our precious Linux hard to use and exclusive so that we all feel special by running the Anti-Windows OS.

I like Linux, a lot, and I use it for more houts per day than most people reading /., I'd wager. But a big part of why I like it is not because of what it is or the political aura around it, but because of its potential to grow into something the "numbnuts" of the world can use as a legitimate alternative to Windows. If LInux gets there (and I believe it will), freeing tens of millions of users from the grip of MS's monopoly will be its greatest achievement, no matter what else it does.

AOL "appliances"

[ClayJar]

This could actually be useful to the general Linux-using public. Imagine, if you will, that AOL puts pressure to get cheap Linux/AOL boxes out there. Notice that if they do that, that means that those cheap boxes are already Linux-friendly.

If Linux/BSD/etc. users can hack systems that weren't made for our OS's to support Linux (BSD, whatever), imagine the utility of a box that was *made* with Linux in mind. The possibilities are positively staggerring (especially when you consider that AOL could make small Linux computers an economy of scale).

we are the aol

[acehole]

we are the aol, lower your firewalls and prepare to install. we will add *our* technological distictivness to your own. Uninstallation is futile!

Gamera Info

[tolldog]

Yahoo given a rundown on this allready. Much more info than some (possibly made up) screen shot.
Story is here.

Looks like Gamera works on RH 6.1 and is built from the Gecko technology.