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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.
"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
Ubuntu for you - why? Wy would you prefer a Linux distribution currently targetted for desktop and laptop machines over one specifically targetted for the small form-factor and low-power consumption marketplace? Some biases, or comfort zones, need to be overcome when changing technologies.
$199 would definitely be nice but MP3 players are more expensive than that. And this thing is so much more than an MP3 player. I doubt anything below $350-400. But yes, I agree - full-blown but inexpensive PDAs are way overdue (and these things are basically PDAs, of course).
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'.
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