Posted 09/22/09 at 09:12:24 PM by Ryan Whitwam

Intel showed off a new version of Moblin today for use in Atom-based mobile phones. Moblin is Intel’s compact Linux distro for netbooks. This tweaked version of the OS, Moblin 2.1, is said to have heavy social networking integration (and what doesn’t these days?), widgets, and a panel based interface. Intel claims to have heavily modified the user interface specifically for mobile phones.

The demo today was done on a MID and an Acer netbook. Those in attendance were not allowed to actually try the OS, but visual impressions were good. There are currently no Atom based phones available, and no specific devices were discussed.
 
A smartphone powered by an Atom chip would likely be considerably faster than today’s handsets. There is no information on when one of these phones might actually ship. So you’ll have to wait with bated breath.

Read More

Posted 09/16/09 at 09:26:02 PM by Ryan Whitwam

Microsoft has been exuding confidence ever since Windows 7 made the tech scene a while back. Now they’re reaffirming their lack of concern over competition in the OS market. Microsoft’s Charles Songhurst said that netbooks will not hurt Windows 7. He also brushed aside questions about Intel’s Moblin Linux distro, and Google’s (still vaporware) Chrome OS. Songhurst indicated that being free isn’t enough to beat Windows.

Windows 7’s improved performance on netbooks, combined with users’ familiarity with the Windows interface may help Microsoft protect its market share. The Redmond giant also feels confident about business users staying clear of Macs. "If they are not compelling to the CIO, they are not going to make inroads in the enterprise," said Songhurst.

Read More

Posted 09/15/09 at 11:00:00 AM by Nathan Edwards

There’s no denying that netbooks possess many positive attributes, as evidenced by their meteoric rise in popularity. But all the attention garnered by their portability and low cost can’t mask the deep and troubling performance that netbooks suffer.

The fact is, there are undeniable trade-offs inherent to a sub-$400 computer. You’re just not going to get the same performance from a netbook as from something that costs three times as much. Slow single-core Atom processors; middling hard drives; pokey, undersized SSDs; and only 1GB of RAM rob the netbook of its potential.

But there is hope. Whether you have an old Eee PC with a 12GB SSD or a new netbook with an Atom N280 chip and a 160GB hard drive, you can make substantial improvements without forking over too much dough. We’ll show you first-hand how netbooks can overcome their humble beginnings. We’ll upgrade a typical older netbook—an Eee PC 901 with a 4GB SSD soldered on the mobo and an 8GB PCI-E SSD—as well as a brand-new Toshiba NB205, to show how every netbook, from bottom-of-the-barrel to top-of-the-line, can benefit from upgrades.

 Begin your journey to netbook empowerment after the jump.

Read More

Posted 07/13/09 at 09:52:20 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Intel had earlier made it clear that it doesn’t perceive Chrome OS as a threat to its open source OS Moblin. Now, according to a report, it wants to give a thrust to Google’s Android platform as well. According to a Digitimes report, the world’s leading chip manufacturer wants mobile internet devices (MIDs) based on its chips to run on Google’s Android platform. The report quotes sources at Taiwanese MID manufacturers. The report goes on to add that Android-based MIDs can only be expected once Intel’s Moorestown platform is out.

Read More

Posted 07/09/09 at 05:35:11 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Google's announcement of Chrome OS hasn’t quite riled Intel’s feathers, if Michael Chen, director of Intel's embedded sales group (Asia-Pacific), can be taken for his word. As Chrome OS will primarily be targeted at MID devices, netbooks and nettops, it will always be on collision course with Moblin. For those of you who don’t know, Moblin is an open source OS that Intel developed for the above named device categories. "Our long-term goal is providing hardware for devices with different operating systems... more competition will drive up more innovations and that's good for consumers." Michael Chen said. Intel’s lack of concern is not entirely unprecedented, for companies usually greet a rival’s product with either customary skepticism or dubious unconcern. (Certified fake screenshot below)

Read More

Posted 07/02/09 at 10:30:00 AM by John Brandon

That shiny new netbook is light and portable, plays music and movies, and cost less than an iPhone (with service). Problem is: you might be ready to chuck it off a bridge. Running the Intel Atom processor at only 1.60GHz, netbooks are a bit on the clunky side when it comes to actual data processing. No one is going to play World of Warcraft on one of these thin machines, but it sure would be great if OpenOffice, a music player, and Mozilla Firefox could run a little faster.

The answer to the netbook dilemma is: find an alternative operating system. Of course, this is a time-consuming proposition, considering you have to download the OS, burn it to a CD or USB key, load the OS, and then configure it. To find out which OS will actually add pep to your Sony P – or any number of low-cost, Atom-based netbooks – we loaded six different options on the same machine and performed a series of tests – looking at the interface, networking features, the browser and built-in apps, and how much customization you can do and ended up picking a clear winner.

Linux or Windows? Read on to find out which OS is best for your netbook.

Read More

Posted 06/16/09 at 04:07:46 PM by Andy Salisbury

In the past, Asus’ Eee Keyboard was only shown off running versions of Windows XP, but in a more recent demo at Computex, the low-profile PC was shown off running Intel’s Moblin OS.

While XP seemed like a nice choice for the keyboard PC, sticking with something simple (and Linux based) seems even better, given that this machine will be ideal for surfing the net from your couch.

There’s been no official word if this will come as an option for the Eee Keyboard, but there’s little doubt that we’ll find out in the coming weeks.

Read More

Posted 05/20/09 at 04:28:24 PM by Andy Salisbury

Most mobile devices have their own operating systems. The iPhone, among others, is a prime example of this. But, one device that many haven’t created a specific OS for is the netbook. Instead of mobile devices they’re being treated as full sized computers packed into smaller containers – enter Intel, with Moblin 2.0.

The Moblin 2.0 OS has been designed to work specifically with netbooks, and will supposedly work with thousands of Linux applications without any porting or middleware. It’s designed to take advantage of the smaller screens, and in turn allow users to have longer battery life, shorter startups, and quick access to media and social networks.

If you’re interested in finding out more, check out this video that Intel has made promoting it. It’s only lasts a little less than two minutes, so it’s worth checking out.

Read More