It’s true that iOS4 and Android are the mobile operating systems of the day. But MeeGo, a mash-up of Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo OSes, could be a strong contender. Based on this demo, at least.
This is just a pre-alpha release, so there are likely tweaks and changes to be made. But so far, MeeGo looks pretty nice: the default interface looks intuitive enough, with extras like a MySlate bar for app organisation and other scrolling columns for organising books, music, video and other content. I suspect people will spend most of their time in the desktop-like “simple UI mode”, though, since that’s all about accessing the apps.
There’s multitasking shown here, in the form of playing music while you also manipulate photos, but it’s not clear whether you can multitask across all apps. Speaking of which: Intel’s AppUp store is highlighted here, which is fine as long as MeeGo also allows you to download third party applications. That’s not yet clear.
Other goodies: a dockable task bar, HD video capabilities, integrated social networking, five simultaneous points of input. All of which help MeeGo look pretty darned good! But with the uphill battle ahead of it, it’s going to have to be decidedly better than current options to make much of a splash. [HD Blog via SlashGear]
luke
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 8:08 AMI think people have been living in apple land a little too long if they even have to ask:
“It’s not clear whether you can multi-task across all apps” and “as long as MeeGo also allows you to download third party applications. That’s not yet clear.”
MeeGo will not have any soft limit placed on multi-tasking. If your hardware can open 50 windows/apps, you will be able to have 50 windows/apps open.. They can be movies, folders, apps, music, photos whatever… And all will be visible in the app switched plane as live windows..
Secondly being Linux and having a TERMINAL (gosh!)
you will simply be able to go on line, download the program from the website (like what you do currently on your computer, except in the form of a .rpm file) and install it yourself, thats if you cant find what you are looking for in the appup/ovi/device manufacturers ‘store’. On top of that it should have assess to common MeeGo repositories with tens of thousands of Apps…
I don’t think people will know what to do with themselves when they are given choices again.. :P
boc
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 12:00 PMAgreed. While Apple has pushed the industry forward in many areas, it’s also dragged them backwards in many areas as well.
ricegf
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 8:56 AMMeeGo is an open system like Moblin and Maemo, not locked down like iOS4.
The netbook version is already at 1.0, and uses the same categorical approach to accessing content. It’s interesting (and refreshing) that the netbook UI uses trackpad-friendly tabs for categories, while the tablet UI uses kinetically-scrolled finger-friendly columns as seen in the video above.
UIs tailored to the product category, while maintaining app compatibility. What a concept! :-)
Other planned versions include “pocketables”, smart TVs, and in-vehicle systems, according to meego.com.
The netbook UI can be see at http://meego.com/devices/netbook/netbook-screenshots. The other UIs have not yet been publicly demonstrated, as far as I know.
Ripley McStoner
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 8:57 AMWhens it released????
I am sick of the idiots at work going on and on and on and on and on and on bout how magical the iPad is!!!
Starting to bug me a bit.
Nick Barsha
Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 10:51 AMI know. Before I got my Desire, and my PSP was broken, I used to carry around the iPad that my parents bought against my advice. Everywhere I go, people are like “Wow, you got an iPad, is is good?”. They are all so surprised when I replied: “it is the biggest piece of crap on the planet”.
matt
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 10:09 AMlooks good.
also:
“I suspect people will spend most of their time in the desktop-like “simple UI mode”, though, since that’s all about accessing the apps.”
yeah, if they have been hooked on apple products… its really only apple who do that, this interface looks like what MS is doing with winmo7, making it about data, categories, rather than simply apps.
boc
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 12:10 PMThe fancy panels looks like it’s setup for media consumption. I guess if you’re more of a media consumer you would spend more time in that UI mode as everything you’d want is right there.
If you look at social network services they’re all pretty similar. The only real important part is the data. So it makes sense to create a data-centric UI around that.
Just like how RSS readers are a data-centric UI for viewing website entries.
An app for everything is just silly. Imagine if every website had to have it’s own little app?