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Bypass Windows With Fast-Boot Technology
thatnerdguy writes "Phoenix Technologies, a developer of BIOS software, is working on a new technology called Hyperspace that will allow you to instantly load certain applications like email, web browser and media player, without loading windows. It could even lead to tailoring of computers to even more specific demographics, like a student laptop preloaded with word processor, email and an IM all available at the press of a button." Why is this story setting off alarms in my brain?
That's not "fast-boot technology". It's "just another software program". One with a great purpose, but not worth distinguishing as "technology".
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
Wait! Wait! We're still relevant. x86 BIOS is still useful for some things!
"Phoenix is currently in talks with most major PC manufacturers, with the notable exception of Apple."
Because (at the risk of being accused of Trolling), Apple will eventually bring out iRightNow which will pretty much do the same thing but in White only and at three times the price?
AT&ROFLMAO
Load applications quickly without loading windows?
Isn't this called Linux?
Seriously though, it really is old technology.
http://www.linuxbios.org/
Bears don't normally eat things that talk and move backwards.
This sounds very similar to virtualization technologies being developed that allow an application, say a database, to run in a virtual environment on a server without having an underlying OS. Why not virtualize a desktop as well? Why not run a simple OS with networking capabilities?
My concern would be data security, as if you wanted to run a word processor or any app that needs access to your hard drive or thumb drive, you would have to have appropriate security built into the miniOS to handle reading and writing. An option would be to provide some onboard flash storage for Hyperspace to use. How much can you enable the end user to customize the user experience without opening up the system to security risks?
Why boot up a bloated OS just to check your mail or run instant messenger? Sandbox every application that boots this way, and you increase your security, raise your battery life, whiten your teeth, etc.
People always say, "Well all this person does is check email! Why do they need a fancy computer/operating system/office suite." The real question should be, why do they need an OS at all?
I love my desktop, and I'll probably keep one until they get something that I can wear that does all the same stuff, but I'm fricking sick to death of dealing with people's computer issues, when they only really need a web browser. Handing out knoppix disks works well enough, as a stopgap, but reducing things to a more simple state is highly desirable.
ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
It may be sad, but it's a legitimate concern that has to be addressed before it becomes mainstream technology. The article does not address this concern at all and I would be very interested to hear what Phoenix is doing to ensure the security of this system.
Asus already offers this.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=885&num=1
It does use Linux BTW and the Motherboard is very Linux Friendly.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
I think this will be no more than toy - BIOS manufacturers often introduce neat features that are dropped and forgotten.
For example:
- Ancient versions of AMIBIOS had a Windows 3.11-like mouse-operated GUI (I had one on a 486 PC purchased in 1995). It was a lot easier to use than "modern" text-based BIOSes in 2007. And if the computer had no mouse, you could use the keyboard for navigation.
- I bought an ASUS motherboard about six years ago and it had a feature that spoke about any failures, e.g. no video card or bad memory, instead cryptic beeps that are common today.
Besides, phones and PDAs are "boot" faster not because the initialization procedure is faster (my PDA boots in about 30 seconds) but because they sleep instead of powering off.
Nasty issues to be handled in embedded BIOS applications:
I guess you can cram this in 4M of flash if you are top notch programmer, 128M if you are not. Either way the hardware won't add more than $20 to the cost of the laptop, so I suppose it is a good thing, as long as you can disable it.
It does open an interesting option: If a user only needs email and web access, they don't need to install an OS at all.
That's excellent, thanks for the link even if you were just trying to hijack me thread ;)
I was thinking that building apps directly into the BIOS is just like having single purpose Word Processors back in the day, but the technology in the article does sound excellent, and for example talks about running an antivirus scanner in the BIOS to save on overhead even while you're using another OS for your applications, so it could actually be very handy. I think it makes use of virtualisation to help get around the whole driver thing, not very sure at this point though, as I dont know much about virtualisation, especially on the hardware side.
which is totally what she said
Wild turkeys can fly. Domestic turkeys are too fat.
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/turkey.htm
(search for "unable to fly")
As someone who's had flocks of wild turkeys fly over his head, I can attest to their ability to fly first hand. I've also seen them fly away after being shot. That's why you always aim for the head; their feathers are too tough for shotgun pellets.
He installed a device into his head which functions as an alarm. It allows him to have an alarm without the need for an external device.
As to why it's going off....maybe he put AM instead of PM?
I don't always use unix-like operating systems; but when I do, I prefer FreeBSD.
Yes. Amiga had a 32-bit preemptive multitasking OS in ROM in the 80s.
Making laws based on opinions that stem up from false informations leads to witch hunts.
From your link:
We hold this truth to be self-evident, that those in Congress who vote on legislation they have not read, have not represented their constituents. They have misrepresented them.
Sadly, I think that signing something they haven't even read is rather strongly representative of their constituents.