Moblin. Smooth, Slim and in need of an App store.

Posted on 14 August 2009, Last updated on 12 November 2019 by

moblin1 Geek.com recently published an update to their Moblin 2 review noting some major improvements to the OS. Sure enough, when I revisited it on a Medion Akoya (MSI Wind equivalent) the experience was very slick and trouble-free. It’s a smooth and slim operating system for sure but is it enough for today’s netbook and mobile computer users? Will it be enough for the beginner and advanced, cloud-aware user?

Intel and the Linux Foundation have taken on a big job with Moblin. Creating a consumer operating system is a tough project even if you’re re-using work already done in the Linux community. Optimising it for the target hardware, completely redesigning the UI and building in core applications like web browsers, social networking and media players takes a lot of time and effort. The teams have come a long way down the line and have kept up well with the fast-advancing platforms in the Web2.0 and mobility world. It’s rare to find an OS that has twitter built right into the default home screen! Moblin is almost ready for release to distributors and we hear that release candidates are already floating around with developers. It wouldn’t be surprising to see it released to distributors in the coming weeks and for Moblin based devices to be appearing in shops after IDF in September.

Moblin testing impressed me.

Running from a USB stick on my Akoya Mini, a version of the MSI Wind, I was very impressed with the finish of the operating system. Setting up a twitter account was easy and adding my Google Talk account worked first time. I was impressed with the ability to sync with Google address book and even Google Calendar through Goosync; adding contacts and calendar entries really brought the operating system to life for me. Moving on to the browser I was impressed by the speed, layout, accuracy and especially the font quality. Flash works fully with working embedded YouTube and audio players, searching from the address bar, pinned (bookmarks) pages, commonly used pages listed and a good level of tidiness which is echoed across the OS.

In general the UI is intuitive and easy to use and the overall first impressions are very good but after a short while, just 30 minutes or so in my case, the limitations start to appear and you realise that Moblin is a very thin OS. To be fair, that’s how Intel and the Linux Foundation are playing it. They make an efficient baseline OS and offer it to distributors to add their bells and whistles. It’s a process that will make distributors, manufacturers and carriers very happy.

Good for new users.

A slim, browser-centric operating system could be just what is needed for netbooks. There’s no need to be adding the complexities of a desktop operating system if you want to make browsing, searching and email the main features and even without any additional applications you’re able to do everything you need to. There is a possible problem though. Do basic netbook users understand the concepts of working ‘in the cloud?’ Will they see an empty operating system and abort at the first attempt to print out a letter or will they be heading straight for Google Docs? I fear the former will be true for these users but there could be a solution for this.

As I mentioned before, Moblin is being written for ‘finishers.’ Although you’ll be able to download a copy of the released version, most end users are going to be seeing Moblin after they’ve bought a netbook in which means Moblin would have passed through the hands of Linux distributors and then through the process that involves competitive advantage, branding and, in the case of carrier distribution, even some media service access and ‘lockdown.’ We’ve already seen examples of what Xandros and Ubuntu want to add to the OS so it’s clear that each Moblin distribution is going to be different and more than what we’re seeing in the Linux Foundation build. Let’s hope that the distributors add enough applications to satisfy the average netbook user and that it goes beyond just the browser, email and twitter integration.

What about the advanced users?

I’m very worried about fragmentation. It’s a problem that has plagued Linux for a long time. There’s no consistency. What a wasted chance it would be if end-users couldn’t use the same applications and what a wasted chance it would be if application developers simply weren’t interested in Moblin because of the complexities of dealing with multiple tailored versions of the operating system.

The bigger question is, how will Moblin move forward and keep up with trends in this fast moving market? It has already been proven that applications and software enhancements enrich a device and that application stores attract developers and build user communities but with the Moblin model it seems there’s no place for this. Each OS build is likely to remain static because of the fragmentation and lock-down. Sure, LSB means you’ll be able to run hundred of apps but if the UI is different for each it’s quickly going to be a mess. Most leading-edge Web2.0 concepts aren’t even available in Linux build form so  there has to be an incentive and channel for new applications developments. Moblin needs to foster an application community and channel to address this.

Maybe Intel has enough weight to be attracting independent software vendors through formal business channels. Yes, customers like Skype and Facebook are already working with Intel and Moblin but that’s not going to help foster the creativity and discovery that has been seen in other mobile operating systems. It’s not enough.

I don’t know the answer to this app store issue. Maybe a product like CNR.com can be used. Xandros are in a good position and have already set up Moblin.cnr.com in preparation for their Moblin builds. If they position it well then maybe they become the de-facto solution but I’d rather see a core commitment to this than having to hope that it all pans out. Moblin is one of the Linux world’s great opportunities. With potentially millions of end users ending up with Moblin on their netbook it would be a shame if it became another fragmented Linux distribution story.

Do you have thoughts about how Moblin can keep up with the fast moving Web2.0 and mobile internet market? If so, feel free to write your thoughts below.

You can test-drive Moblin with a netbook by downloading the latest build here.

19 Comments For This Post

  1. Steve 'Chippy' Paine says:

    New article: Moblin. Smooth, Slim and in need of an App store. http://cli.gs/3q175

  2. Stan says:

    I tried running it on my t91 but after installation it doesn’t start at all – just black screen :(

  3. Consono says:

    It’s because of the GMA500 in the T91… Right now it’s not really supported on linux (because the GMA500 is a completly different graphic chip than the other intels. It’s a PowerVR SGX just rebranded…) I hope that it will receive full linux support soon, because of the advanced HD video decoding capabilites…

  4. chippy says:

    I dont think Moblin (Silverthorne/Poulsbo as used on the T91) is ever going to get Moblin support. At least not from the Moblin project.
    Moblin supports Moorestown, the next-gen platform, which leads me to believe it will not use the PowerVR core. The same goes for the Pinetrail platform planned for the next gen netbooks.
    Steve

  5. turn_self_off says:

    your thought in a “app store” makes me worry that yet again linux will be used as “firmware” rather then a true os (see featurephone vs smartphone).

    then there is the thing about “advanced” users. are we talking win-vanced (people that use more then ms office and IE, but goes to complain to a admin if things go belly up) or are we talking a true advanced user, as i would say the latter will care less about ui inconsistencies, and more about getting the job done…

  6. Andreas Wedin says:

    Could someone point me to the real difference between an appstore and APT + Synaptic which in some form or other has been around since basically forever?
    Stopped using cell phones about a year ago and haven’t really seen these appstores in action…

  7. animatio says:

    products developed and limited to a niche will stay in taht niche … experience over more than 20 years of pc devices show that definitely. apart from a few interested geeks/specialists nobody will stick with developing for a niche.
    more than 20 years is long time … one could have learnt the lesson by now

  8. Britman says:

    I tried it when it first came out to the public, I liked that idea and would have stuck with it but it doesn’t support firefox, which is no good to me as I have all my bookmarks synced across all my pc’s.

    Might be worth another try though.

  9. Christoph Derndorfer says:

    Excellent article by @chippy on the current state of Moblin and the challenges it faces: http://tinyurl.com/mlp2q3

  10. tal says:

    I am kind of lost here.
    I had the notion that they may be trying to fight over the MID-cellphone domain.
    For me it is disappointing again to see them going for the the netbooks just as I am disappointed when Google is talking about fighting MS there.
    MS is loosing the battle on cells and MIDs will be the platform for the next gen smartphones. So why not just concentrate there and do your best?
    As stated I don’t know what to think now after reading this – the scope of Miblin2 should have been <7" with emphasis on 3.5-5" size devices. As an introduction to moorestown cell devices.

    Tal

  11. DarrinL says:

    Last week I installed Moblin on my EEE 1000HE and I have to say I am very impressed. I had Ubuntu Netbook Remix on it and the the Moblin UI experience is considerably better than Ubuntu. All of the hardware works with no problem. The WIFI speed on Moblin is much faster. Not sure why, but it is. I have been able to install Skype, Firefox 3.5 and Google Chrome. Firefox takes awhile to load, but works smoothly. I really do not care for the Moblin web browser. For a beta OS Moblin is pretty stable.

  12. Britman says:

    How did you install firefox?

  13. DarrinL says:

    In the setting tab, go to add/remove applications. Firefox is an application you can add.

  14. Britman says:

    Sweet, gonna give this another go on my nc10.

    cheers

  15. Steve 'Chippy' Paine says:

    @laurenannbishop I’m thinking about Moblin and developers too. I’m worried though: http://bit.ly/6mmbo

  16. Mike says:

    I was wondering if moblin would work on my cloudbook which has a VIA C7 CPU instead of an INTEL ATOM?

  17. Steve 'Chippy' Paine says:

    So happy that Intel announced an app store architechture for Moblin. Why: http://bit.ly/nrHXB #idf09

  18. Cisco Cheng says:

    RT @MIDMoves Intel announced an app store architechture for Moblin. http://bit.ly/nrHXB #idf09 [Great, now Intel has an App store too]

  19. Silicon ANGLE says:

    RT @MIDMoves Intel announced an app store architechture for Moblin. http://bit.ly/nrHXB #idf09 [Great, now Intel.. http://bit.ly/Dpy5R

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