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Intel's Linux-Powered Mobile Internet Device
An anonymous reader writes "Intel is set to launch an ultra-mobile PC dubbed Mobile Internet Device or MID which will run on Linux. The PDA-sized devices will target 'consumers and prosumers' instead of mobile professionals. From the story: 'MID tablets will run a simplified finger-friendly user interface optimized for the small screens, based on the Gnome desktop but with an Intel-developed master user interface layer to serve as an equivalent to the desktop. Developers will next month see the first MID-specific OS -- a tweak of China's RedFlag Linux known as RedFlag MIDINUX -- while the IDF schedule itself includes a stream of ultra mobile sessions including one on Designing for Linux-based mobile Internet devices.'"
Linux powered? What happenned to Microsoft's origami.
HAHAHAHAHA! I guess intel saw how craptacular MS's other embedded devices were (think mobile phones) and decided to go their own way....
Oh - and what you all came to the comments to get (wtf link to a zdnet blog anyway?) a link to a gallery of pics. It looks surprisingly nice.
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
If it doesn't have the horsepower, bandwidth, battery life and mic/speaker (Bluetooth) to function as a VoIP terminal, then no one will want to learn any new skills to use it, or carry around something that smartphones already beat. But if it does, then the entry of Intel into both the PDA and Linux markets, even just as a reference platform, will be very welcome. Even if it just gives Intel the feedback it needs to better tailor components for other vendors into those markets.
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make install -not war
What about those psycho people who spend all their lives getting Linux installed on their XBox/router/phone/wrist-watch? It's bit dull if it already runs Linux.
Maybe they'll try and install Windows on it instead.
Peter
It's also using the Hildon GTK+-based libraries for a user interface which form the most user-visible part of Maemo - the Linux base which Nokia is using in their 770 and N800 Internet Tablets. Those have the advantage of using ARM processors, rather than chunky x86 ones meaning standby/resume is not something you need as the power consumption is that much lower. Interesting times.
I wonder how locked-down the device will be? Since it's using Linux, I hope they'd be smart enough to only lock it down enough that the non-tech consumers don't hurt themselves. I'd love to have a version of Ubuntu on it, instead of the Midinux that they've developed.
Truly, though, as long as I can write my own programs for it, I'd run whatever linux variant that I had to.
A 6" screen and dual-core 800Mhz? Very nice.
The bad part? "next year's release of the products." NOW. WANT NOW.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
All these screenshots look strikenly similar to those from the Nokia N800 built with the Maemo platform.
I hope maemo catches up and that they get some more developpers working on that framewaork
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
This thing seems to be simply an intel iteration of the 770. I love mine and with the right apps is very finger navigable.
If they hit the $199 pricepoint they will be a success. If they aim for the current pricing of the new N800 they will lose big time.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
"finger-friendly"... heheheh... uh.. heheheheheheheh!
Unless they charge out the ass for this thing, I can't see how they'd be able to sell enough units to even cover the R&D costs.
Are you MAD? Have you seen what Ultra Mobile Computing can do? (for maximum comic effect, check out the UI in the lastish sequence with the two girls going to the party).
But seriously, I suspect from red flag being the software partner that the target market is Chinese - not you.
That said tho', I'd love to have one if they're anything near as nice as they look....
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
I don't see much R&D going into it, just engineering improvements (i.e. smaller stuff) of existing technology. Most of the real work will be creating a good UI.
Personally, I will be purchasing the Neo-1973 mobile device that is currently in development. It will be built on the new OpenMoko open-source platform and is scheduled to hit the market in September this year.
ilovegeorgebush
My Son has a PSP and it is really nice. But I would not dream of buying one for myself due to its closed nature. But a Linux device to carry around, to avoid lugging the laptop is a great concept. Playing games, reading books, and viewing media. Reading cooking recipes in the kitchen etc. There are so many uses for a device like that.
... if the price is right.
I want one
Max M - IT's Mad Science
Here is my list of features:
Ability to play audio and video is optional — as is the ability to make phone calls. If they figure out, how to make reasonably fast IP-over-cellular, I'll buy it — and for a good price (not that of a phone/player, but for that of a laptop)...
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Yeah, but will it run Lin... eh nevermind.
But what is a Prosumer?
What you get when you cross a consumer with a prositute.
You see prosumer is the code word for consumers who're are whores for new & expensive products. It's a polite way of saying 'stupid early adopter'.
Um, yeah, actually, I -would- want to make sure the latest Ubuntu would run. Imagine that.
And why would it not have the drivers? If Midinux has the drivers, there's nothing stopping Ubuntu/Gentoo/DSL/etc from having them also.
Truth be told, it's not Ubuntu that I want, but Kubuntu. I like a lot of the stuff that KDE has like KIO slaves, and I like the attitude of the Ubuntu distro people. They have a tendency to run their distro like I'd want if I were there, and I tend to stick to it.
It's not 'the Slashdot crowd' anyhow, it's the entire human race that will never be truly happy. If we could be, we wouldn't be where we are today, and we certainly wouldn't continue striving for better all the time. If you aren't happy being part of the human race, maybe you should consider other options? (That's a joke, for all you idiots out there that don't have a sense of humor. You know who you are.)
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
It can not succeed as "just another tech-toy" it has to meet a need. That is where the linked articl was very thin. Will it replace my Pocket PC and is it better? Just running Linux is not enough.
It's true: having a USB master in a small, mobile device running Linux is valuable. Even Treos are themselves USB slaves, so they can't use USB peripherals. I looked for years for a USB hub with a master controller, which never arrived. If I want my Pilot to use a cheap USB webcam, I'm SOL. But one of these could do the trick. If only it would cost $100 - maybe in 5 years this original model will.
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make install -not war
I love my Nokia N800, and I really think there is going to be a huge market for these types of devices. Especially if WiMAX ever takes off. I think typical cell phones are worthless for general internet usage, but the Nokia N800 is very usable for normal web pages. I can watch videos from YouTube on it (although not quite flawlessly, it needs just a bit more speed), and use all my favorite websites quite well. I can ssh into my home machine and with VNC I get my entire desktop from my Linux box right on the Nokia screen and it looks fantastic (and is usable). Skype is supposed to be released for it in a couple of months, which will really be great since it will then become a mobile video phone. Once WiMAX is put into use, these types of devices are going to really take off since it will mean internet access everywhere. No need to hunt down a hotspot.
would like to welcome our new, improved, prosumer-friendly, linux-powered, intel-device sort-of-pda-thingy, finger-friendly overlords.
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