AT&T Tech Support 360Intel shuns Microsoft, taps Linux for mobile Net devices
Intel senior VP Anand Chandrasekher touts Linux for MIDs.
(Credit: Intel)At the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai this week, the buzz was about the Atom processor, mobile Internet devices, and Linux. What wasn't buzzing? Microsoft.
Welcome to the brave new world of computing sans Redmond.
At IDF, there was little media focus on Intel's next-generation Nehalem chip and even less on the Centrino 2 processor--both of which will run Microsoft software.
The focus was on devices that won't necessarily or exclusively run Microsoft software: Handheld-size MIDs--shorthand for mobile Internet devices--and Netbooks. Netbooks will run both Microsoft Windows and the Linux operating systems, but the MID category appears to be shaping up as a non-Microsoft enclave. MID makers, who are expected to begin shipping devices later this quarter, include Lenovo, Toshiba, Panasonic, and LG Electronics.
Asianux distributes Mobile Midinux.
(Credit: Intel)Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Ultra Mobility Group, said in his IDF keynote: "As always, we partner with Microsoft." Then he proceeded to not mention Microsoft again--and mentioned Linux a lot. "We announced an initiative last year. A Linux-based initiative. In order to get the form factor down, to get the cost down, and to even get lower power levels beyond what was achievable. We have an entire ecosystem behind it. Ubuntu and Red Flag. The initiative is called Moblin," Chandrasekher said.
Aptly enough, the Moblin Web site is entitled: "mobile and internet linux project." That's pretty self-descriptive.
Whether MIDs succeed or not, only time will tell. But if they do succeed, it won't be on Microsoft Windows--at least not in the foreseeable future. Microsoft has recently hired Len Kawell, originally the CEO at Pepper Computer, a start-up focused on MID software, to scale Windows from smartphones (some of which run Windows Mobile) to MID-type devices with "larger screens and faster processors," according to a representative at Weber Shandwick, the P.R. firm that represents Microsoft's Mobile business.
Scott Rockfeld, Group Product Manager for Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business, said this in an e-mail Thursday: "Windows Mobile is constantly innovating the platform to meet the expanding mobile needs of our customers. MIDs are an exciting class of devices that address many of those needs, and we're focused on ensuring that Windows Mobile is a great platform for partners to build MIDs."
But that's probably news to a lot of the attendees in Shanghai listening to Renee James, vice president general manager of the Software and Solutions Group at Intel.
"This new category requires a new software environment. There isn't a built-in ecosystem of developers who have been doing MIDs," she said, describing the incipient market. "For MIDS, we, Intel, are establishing that ecosystem. We launched it in September. It's called Moblin.org. It's an open-source project. Intel has contributed the foundational stack. More than 500 member companies are contributing code into Moblin. And it's particularly strong in Asia."
If MIDs catch on--and that's still a big if (though Apple's popular iPhone is arguably a MID)--it will be refreshing to see a PC platform develop without Microsoft participation, or at least see a platform unfold in which Linux distributors may have an advantage over the software giant.
Brooke Crothers is a former editor at large at CNET News.com, and has been an editor for the Asian weekly version of the Wall Street Journal. He writes for the CNET Blog Network, and is not a current employee of CNET. Contact him at mbcrothers@gmail.com. Disclosure.
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I believe that this just another way of jumping on the Bandwagon and kicking Microsoft when they are down. Yes Vista is not going so well, yes people are skeptical about Windows 7. And everyday we are presented with an article which tells the story of more Microsoft hatred and more supposed switching to another Platform (Not denying that it is happening, just skeptical of the numbers or the so called mass "exodus" to another platform). Everybody is kicking MS, Apple so is, in their adds and their corporate attitude (Which by the way according to Steve Jobs 1997, should no longer exist), and definitely this petty Intel thing.
/P
My XP just works. Hasn`t crashed in FOUR YEARS and I never get any type of malware. Everything changed the day MSFT put the firewall on by default in SP2
All the most desireable new services being developed as well as past programs work on Windows. Mac and Linux can`t say the same without lying. I like the idea of Linux , but it has nowhere near the app , driver , or "web2.0" services support.
Sure these devices will feature more functionality than PDAs as
they'll be far more capable but it comes down to the already
gadget loaded person. We have laptops, iPods and smart
phones, so where do these gadgets fit in? I don't see a large
void between smart phones (Especially as the iPhone matures
and if we ever see Andriod) and if you're committed to touting around "MID", might as go the extra year to get a laptop that has
infinitely more functionality.
I'm willing to admit I might be missing a large market but with
all the players jumping the gun for iPod Touch like devices,
explain to me why I'd want to buy one of these that lack the
internet anywhere capabilities of a smartphone over the aforementioned? The smart phone is only going to get better at
this point and the MIDs look like the PDA. They're neat in
concept, a trendy device might be a fad but will fall out of favor.
MS is missing out? Oh well, they're better off pursuing the Smart
phone market and fending off Apple and Google.
Transcoding video is no problem. I hardly use XP anymore. But I agree Linux takes a little hacking and brains. But once you solve these issues, it's all good.