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Meet "Ophelia," Dell's Plan To Reinvent Itself
redletterdave writes "Dell is reportedly working on a project codenamed 'Ophelia,' a USB stick-sized self-contained computer that provides access to virtually every major operating system — from the Mac OS, to Windows, to Google's Chrome OS, to cloud-based solutions from Citrix and Dell — all via the cloud. Powered by Android, Ophelia works just like a USB stick: Just plug it into any flat panel monitor or TV, and boom, you have a computer. Ophelia connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi, and can connect to keyboards and other peripherals over Bluetooth. Not only is the computer portable and power-efficient, but to make it truly accessible, Dell plans to sell the device for just $50."
I'm pretty sure this has been done before.
like raspberry pi in a box
works for Hulu and such. pain to learn/install, but it's cheap enuf.
PCs are cumbersome, heavy and slow. Ophelia provides a computer experience as typical and fast as any other computer -- again, everything depends on the Internet connection -- but at a fraction of the weight. PCs can’t fit in your pocket; Ophelia can. Heck, you could probably stick anywhere between two to five of those computers into a normal pants pocket.
1.) Talk about hyperbole, batman.
2.) I imagine the lag will be horrendous.
3.) Over wireless?
PS: I don't reply to ACs.
Seems like that would be a huge issue.
The two biggest roadblocks to Ophelia - besides most LCD's not supporting this type of USB connection - is licensing these multiple OS's on the cloud and the inherent latencies that are going to hound such a small CPU while it tries to handle graphics, WiFi & Bluetooth network stacks and the throughput of data. $50 is a wonderful price for the hardware. What will the services end of this product cost?
I can't be the only one who's creeped out about this. All my data in "the cloud"... I know, I know, it's been going on for years, but me, I like my data on my own machine away from anyone else. The is just more devolution of the power of the individual & transferring it to others, who may not necessarily have the individual's best interests in mind. Keep your little machine Dell.
I'm willing to bet very, very many internets that Apple hasn't authorized any Mac OS running from this device.
Not.
Gonna.
Happen.
Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
They are going to reinvent booting from the thumb drive, but from the cloud. Sure, some of the traits sound neat. I'd even be tempted to get one to tinker with. But frankly, I don't really see a huge demand for booting from a USB persistently now, and I certainly don't think it is some huge untapped area.
Captcha: Double
The first thing I think of when I hear the name is going insane and dieing in a river
It really is amazing how the IT industry continues to re-invent what was done decades ago.
what use is a tiny computer without a way of controlling it?
How would the community react if the license for the next version of Mac OS X were to forbid VNCing to a Mac from anything but a Mac?
Dumb(er) Terminal
Not noteable, IMO a rubbish article.
It's a lot less seamless over a celluar Mifi device, but still usable.
I don't see why this device wouldn't be usable.
I'm under the impression that the the cellular data bill (assuming the U.S. market, where Dell and Dice are headquartered) would make it cost prohibitive.
Wireless input devices have become a bit blue in the tooth.
They expect me to do serious "desktop work" via portable high-latency device in the 'cloud' environment using Android?
As someone that lives in a low bandwidth/high latency area (Tarawa, Kiribati) I'm consistently frustrated by these technologies - they simply wont work in large parts of the world for a very long time.
It's fine if you are New York or Sydney or London...but in Bairiki it would be useless.
USB-sized self-contained computer revolution has arrived, all you need to take with you is a thumbstick!*
*along with HDTV, Keyboard, Mouse, and pretty damn good internet access since vnc is still a bit draggy on a gigabit lan and subscribe to a service
They expect me to do serious "desktop work" via portable high-latency device in the 'cloud' environment using Android?
Why do you care what operating system runs on the device? You're doing your work on the desktop running on the cloud, the Dell box is just the display for that remote cloud desktop. It coudl be Android, IOS, WebOS, or even a new DellOS and it shouldn't make any difference at all to the end user.
Dell's R&D must be working overtime to come up with a clever new idea like that.
Here's another "someday" idea they can pursue: put a 5" crt, two floppy drives, and a Z80 in a suitcase. Call it a "portable" computer!!
a device that needs other devices to do its basic function is not going to be a game changer... less so a device where the quality of the internet connection will determine the quality of the basic experience itself will be even less so.
If they baked what this thing can do into a good smartphone, *that* could be a game changer. What is on the cards methinks is a smartphone that docks a whole lot better and tighter than current offerings. There's still too much of a "copy to device" kind of thing happening, as soon as these things plug in and you use the device as if it's a full terminal, *that* will be a game changer. When not docked, you have all the data, use cut down software possible... dock it, and you can get more powerful computing but the desktop and everything is the docked device, you just get better resources of whatever you're docked into. Like, you can have photoshop files on the device, you can view the files, share... dock it, you get your desktop, and the computing power to edit the files fully but not in a "copy down, edit, then copy back up" but in a you're working from the docked device, no need for the net.
I feel that this may be the idea that this "game changer" is trying to be, but this flash thing isn't it because it's useless without what it's being plugged into... need to make it useful in its basic form, define the rest of the docking facilities... *then* they can take over the world.
The summary implies this somehow connects to a USB port on a monitor. I was curious how it would then do video. Answer - it doesn't use USB. It's actually made to connect to an MHL port, which isn't nearly as widespread as either HDMI or USB. MHL doesn't use a specific connector - although it's quite common for it to be provided as an alternative to USB over a micro-USB connector (some smartphones do this). But, it's one or the other - you can't do both at once over a USB connector. MHL ports provide power, where HDMI ones don't (well, 5V@50mA, which ain't much) - which is the reason they're doing it that way. (there are also some proprietary connectors with more pins which will accept a USB plug, or a proprietary plug which allows simultaneous USB and MHL)
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
Yeah, there's no other company doing this. Nope, no sir, no one on the planet Earth besides Dell has thought of putting a SOC on a USB stick that runs Android. Surely this will take off and make the company bil- wait? There's others that have done this, to no great success, but plenty of other companies are trying? And it's a fantastically easy market to enter, one with no consumer demand as of yet and uncertainty in the future?
Well... uhm. How about that leveraged buyout eh? I'm sure THAT will save Dell!
Apple selling Android devices.
This is just an announcement at CES. Doesn't mean shit. Dell stopped shipping Linux tablets... why? Dell makes Linux laptops pricier and more difficult to get than Windows ones...why?
So Dell is planning to 'reinvent' itself on an Android based Rapberry-Pi kind of form factor device; which it hopes people will buy from Dell despite its name rhyming with Hell? Good. I'll believe it when I see it.
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
"self-contained", but needs "the cloud"...
It's from Wyse, so it's basically a "thin client". Don't get me wrong, Wyse makes good thin clients, but it's not fundamentally different than anything out there already. It's basically a way to run "VDI" (Virtual Desktop Interface) from your pocket.
OK, cool enough, but I can already do that with an app on my smart phone. I can run a plethora of thin client software - Citrix, VMware, Webex, PCAnywhere, Microsoft RDP, VNC... what else? The only unique thing I see here is that you can attach to a larger external screen. With an iPhone you can do that via an Apple TV with mirroring. The experience isn't fantastic but it's only a matter of time for that architecture to improve (same with Android equivalents).
I do not see myself carrying yet another device. I could see myself using my phone this way if the external graphics worked better - and there is nothing technically stopping that from happening now.
Apple or Google/Android could blink and destroy the market for this device.
you've got another chinese android stick without the benefits of hdmi.
Seems the landscape of major players is on the move in the states with a number of the big boys choosing suicide as the next big thing. Is there a new financial instrument that bypasses insider trading rules so the easiest way to cash out is to pump and dump the company?
Connecting to your personal Mac will probably happen. Even is Apple doesn't like it, somebody will figure out a hack.
Dell, or anyone else, setting up virtual Macs for you and me to use? No. I've been in several meetings with Apple reps, and whenever we bring up virtualization things get real awkward. Unless Apple decides to set up the servers themselves, and that they're tired of selling iMacs and iBooks.
Never let a lack of data get in the way of a good rant.
Reinvent yourself by copying cheap Chinese products that are already available for ~$45 and charging 10% more.
citrix still controls the 'win' (mainframe)...
Ophelia's bluetooth is a definite advantage over about all the USB Android sticks I have been looking at like the MK802 variants.
YMMV
I can hook my phone up via HDMI to my TV with a dongle, how does this do anything different that's beneficial?
I like it. Many Chinese/Taiwanese manufacturers already offer this, either as a HDMI stick or small set-top box running Android, but Dell just has more clout to make the hardware rock solid, make it work very well with the OS and seamless cloud offerings. I'd get this on day one and breathe some life into my TVs.
RK3066 models are bluetooth enabled even though some don't mention it.
Been enjoying my Dell Streak 5 for almost a year now. Maybe it is an orphan, but the build quality is good, and I actually like the Android 2.2 (rooted, of course) better than ICS on my Archos G9 80 (about same form factor as iPad Mini, although thicker) in a lot of ways. Dell just could not market the damn things.
YMMV
First Apple doesn't own the VNC technology, so they can't legally enforce that.
Nor does Apple own the EFI technology, yet it won in Apple v. Psystar.
nstead of $400 towers (which include the Windows license) that last for 5+ years, now I need vSphere licenses, veeam licenses, a very expensive SAN and tons of super expensive server grade hardware to create my own cloud. Then loads of windows server licenses that cost far more than desktop licenses, tons of expensive CALs, very expensive terminal server and/or citrix CALs and so on. It would end up costing more and it would limit us in many ways.
Or a qemu license (free) and cheap craigslist towers now have hardware acceleration in CPU. No 3D acceleration, that's true, so not good for gamers. Personally, I'm not a gamer, so I use exactly zero 3 D applications.
I see it as filling a niche not quite served by tablets (if you want a screen larger than your hand) and not ideally served by desktops.
Just give me a Raspberry Pi with a better cpu and more ram for $50 and I'll build my own mini self-contained computer.
yes, I know there are other diy boards aout there
If you read up on the mk802 class of Android USB sticks, the common design is to use mini or micro USB for power, and a lot of TV's and monitors can do that, and a HDMI plug on one end for the video/audio output directly (or with short extension cable), plus a full-size USB host receptacle for keyboards, mice, and other peripherals (since most of the mk802-ish devices lack bluetooth - score one for Dell for adding that). These are mid-range Androids without the screen in essence.
Also, reading Amazon customer reviews for a lot of these sticks, I have seen a lot of praise for their capability, and a lot of buyers are using them as (semi-)dedicated Android "stations" with a TV. The portability does not seem to be a big factor in most reviews since the issue noted here with peripherals for input and for viewing is a real hindrance, but not a show-stopper. The flexibility and potential is already being realized with a lot of similar sticks.
Sounds like a glorified WebTV device. Dell has been going down the shitter for years turning out trash hardware.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
>" that provides access to virtually every major operating system â" from the Mac OS, to Windows, to Google's Chrome OS, to cloud-based solutions from Citrix and Dell â" all via the cloud"
Virtually every major operating system and yet Linux is not mentioned... typical. Change "virtually" to "most" and that might be accurate. Of course the article doesn't have many useful details.
$50? Yeah right, and then some monthly "service fee", no doubt. And then you have to trust Dell's "cloud" with all your data, passwords, programs, etc. No thanks.
The real issue is with the companies' data being in the cloud. Especially if Dell insists that you use their cloud with their devices.
"Dude, I'm getting Oph!"
The G
They will just start building the functionality into the monitor. This will be the default behavior of the monitors unless you are feeling "inelegant" and decide to plug something into the inputs. Then the Dell shiny toy is a paperweight.
In fact, the internal processor power of a monitor should be able to run this with spare cycles.
The endgame is to use the usb ports on the monitor to connect drives and allow storage. Bing!
A lot of companies already run their stuff in cloud and just use thin clients at the office.
It's a bird!
It's a Sun Ray!
It's an X Terminal!
It's... It's... a failure.
-josh
Great, another over-hyped gutless computer. There are a few problems to this picture. 1)You can only use it if you have an internet connection. 2) This cannot too much more powerful than an atom processor or chrome book, so it will be like a chrome book, but with no screen. You know how popular chrome books are? Dell is doing what the entire industry has been doing for the last 7 or so years. Trying to find something different that consumers will love, while the consumers are stuck on getting every new thing to try it out. In the end we will have stacks of worthless electronics around us.
<sarcasm>Nothing says "successful multi-billion dollar company" than bringing a product to market that you can already get as a cheap Chinese import and that is going to be obsolete in three years because every TV is going to have it built in at no extra cost.</sarcasm>
Placing everything on the Internet is dumb. I just can't see the Remote Desktop working consistently enough to warrant even thinking about purchasing it. I'll stick with my real mac and real thinkpad. I can at least use them when away from the net.
So were all supposed to be perfectly happy with all our personal data being on dells servers? I DONT THINK SO!
article: size of a thumb-drive
summary: USB-sized (what does that mean? size of a bus?)
article: uses MHL to draw power from an HDTV or is powered off a USB port
summary: works like a USB-port (you can plug USB devices into it?)
Here in Europe, UK to be specific, you can get unlimited mobile data contract for ~13 pounds a month.
--Coder
Wow, you have done a dreat job and definatly done your homework. Great post.
If it's got only Wifi then it's unusable IMHO, it also needs at least a wired connection.. Too many homes have very poor wifi connection due to being in a wifi overpopulated neighbourhood or just bad position of the wifi-router... I for only use wifi for portable devices, not devices which are stationary.
Ophelia works just like a USB port
Err, does it? A USB port is a slot for plugging USB devices into. This is a teeny tiny computer that you plug into a display.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Obviously the whole clowd stuff is dumb but if the device is cheap enough it could be an interesting platform for running XBMC.
"Hey...let's call our new project after someone who ends up dead in a river and might have brought the situation upon herself..."
Except Dell will have full control over it and all data will 'belong to them'. You will see it in their EULA. My suggestion is stay away from it. Keep your own control over your products and your data.
There is nothing wrong with inovation, and I might have supported it, except for the fact that Dell and wants to get more control than they really need.
It is probably just another Android TV stick clone. You can have them for $30-$60 depending on specs.
Got the Mk808, works fine.
I like that its small and can be plugged in anywhere and all that jazz. I'm always after ultramobile, so really small and really cheap is getting there, but its not like everybody everywhere is gonna have a flat panel TV that I can just feel free to hookup and use on a whim.
I still am going to need a large WUXGA panel monitor that folds up to be pocket size. Maybe make it elastic and stretchy so that I could use it small and touchpad sized, or else large 17-inch widescreen monitor sized.
You could also build a bluetooth laser mouse into my cell phone, so that'd eliminate one extra device.
And instead of making pocket sized foldable keyboard, maybe improve those laser-projected keyboards so that its keychain-sized and more accurate with its touch response (the one I already bought kinda sucks).
Everything together should weigh no more than 1 to 1.5 lbs (including the power cords).
End goal is that my entire computer is very portable and agile and versatile, and can be fit in my cargo pants without it looking like I'm a shoplifter.
You said "DONGLE'S". heh heh.
"Dell's Dongles". huh huh.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
My MK808, running Android, handles basic functions - web browsing, note-taking, the sort of non-phone stuff you can do with an Android smartphone - quite well. Each app runs full-screen, but it's all useable, and its video performance is OK. There's even a full-fledged office suite from Softmaker that lets the user edit and show PowerPoint/Impress slides. And it runs pretty much every app in GooglePlay. It is very cool. But... ...it needs a TV and a keyboard and (for the user's mental health) a mouse, so the portability is a matter of definition. Yes, I can carry the 808 around in my pocket, but the TV and keyboard, not so much, even with cargo pants.
Now, if someone could add a keyboard and an lcd screen and a trackpad, and... oh, wait...
What operating system does this 7" tablet run? Can it run two applications side-by-side the way even a 10" laptop can?
Haah
I already have a device that I carry around with me that runs on Android and can connect to an OS in the cloud. A couple of tweaks from the manufacturer and future models could have proper USB and HDMI. Oh, and it’s got a really handy “phone call” function too.
If my Shakespeare is correct Ophelia went crazy and killed herself.
Not if the built-in terminal functionality in the monitors wasn't dedicated to Dell's back-end services. Its hardly as if Dell is the only company that's selling access to cloud-hosted virtual machines.
Ok, they've added Bluetooth, and use Wifi instead of wired Ethernet, and use some really uncommon powered video plug instead of HDMI and a USB socket, but it's still pretty much the same. RPi in a box is about as practical, and it wouldn't be hard to build commercially.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
I travel anywhere in the world, plug my little USB-like device into a standard terminal device (display + keyboard + mouse), and my whole computing environment comes to me?
Granted, there are some concerns, data security being the greatest, network bandwidth following a close second. But if the 'cloud' was my personal server in my basement, and not in some third-party datacenter, it's starting to look very interesting.
Eventually, if the 'cloud' environment addressed data encryption for storage and if the network speed was sufficient (pretty big if's, admittedly), I could see this becoming the Next Big Thing for most casual PC users. Don't like Dell's cloud? Try Apple's. Or Google's. Or Amazon's. Or roll your own. Computing as a commodity service.
It's supposed to be completely automatic, but actually you have to press this button.
Wow, thanks to 'cloud' hype, dumb terminals are now 'cutting edge'?
Your USB computer then gets herself to a nunnery, goes mad and kills herself!
Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)