I have been keeping an eye on Google from time to time, it's really one of the biggest players on the net. The idea of a GoogleOS has come up so many times, just saw another analysis on how it could play out.

Interesting read. Personally, I think a web based desktop might be the way to go, since Google already have all its applications running, just need to tie them up in a desktop environment. Of course, who's going to have a shiny MS Vista running with only a IE/Firefox to do all of their work in it? Bandwidth is still an issue, what if your ISP is down? How the webOS going to access hardware like scanner, USB flash drive and 3D sounds..... Maybe they can couple this webOS with a light boot up disk? I don't know people will like to reflash BIOS to run GoogleOS and its applications. But a Linux distro sounds too heavy to me.

So, I bumped into this "WebOS" stuff on digg, and decided to check out the latest in the area. I heard some noise in the past about Google is coming out with one but never pay much attention.

Essentially, a WebOS is a computing environment running within a web browser. User can run applications (i.e. IM, word processor) from within the "desktop". It's quite similar to many Ajax based web applications on the net right now (i.e. Writely), except that this web application/service is a desktop that allow more functions to be performed inside it. One note characteristic of the webOS is the capability to connect and access to storage like local disk, USB drive or other net-based storage like FTP and such. in addition, it is accessible from anywhere with net connection. This makes webOS very mobile as people can use it everywhere.

On the technical side, these crops of webOS seem to use technologies like Ajax for remote display, and have a server-client architecture. This means the client can be very light and reduce the need for fast, high-end hardware. It should run on most PCs these days as long as you have a relatively fast PC with connection to the net and have Firefox/IE installed. In a way, it's a thin-client computing environment for the web era, as compare to the old days when we have dumb terminal/X terminal connect to the Sun server/IBM big iron. What goes around, comes around.

I tried out some demo to see how they looks like:

YouOS - full function WebOS with build-in web broswer

Goowy - more of a pure desktop for IM, calendar. No web browser (use native platform for web surfing)

eyeOS - open source and provide the server side so one can host your own WebOS

ORCA - able to connect to FTP/POP3/Gmail and etc for storage

Xindesk

These webOS runs fairly well, with the exception of eyeOS that it chokes a few times as I seem to have a slow connection to their server. In this case, I got a script not responding warning pop up and I just ignore it to move on.

I think there are some potential issues hamper the adaption of this:
- Bandwidth, you need some decent connection to make it to work anywhere.
- Compatibility, most WebOS comes with a bunch of build-in applications like IM, web browser (BTW, why you need one when you are accessing your desktop via firefox??), and etc. But how well these apps works with each others? What if I want to run a new application X that is available for Vista?
- Storage, yes, many of these WebOS can store via FTP/POP3/dedicated remote storage/Gmail/Windows Live/local disk, but how flexible is it? what if I need 4GB for all my pictures? How safe is my data on-line?
- How does it works with other hardware on your PC. scanner? printer? USB port (to connect and upload pix from my digital camera)

So, where is the GoogleOS we are waiting for?

More reading:
XIN - a Web OS that wants to be a platform
WebOS market review
Wikipedia: Web operating system
Webified Desktop Apps vs Browser-based Apps
EyeOS - Case Study on how people are using a WebOS

I have been having a lot of problems with my old installation of FC4, and it's support is degraded into legacy now. So, it's time to reincarnate my server.

On the other hand, I have been having a lot of stability issues on my server, the box crash when under heavy I/O.

So far, I am happy with the new FC6, besides some small issue like cannot select package on install (else Ananconda crash....). But there seem to be a lot of new stuff to try on FC6. i.e. It supports the RAID controller on my m/b, for one.

One of the annoying things on FC6 is when Network Manager trying to access the key/passphase for the WLAN, it need to authenicate from the keyring manager in order to access the key it stored.



This is unlike how Windows work.

Fortunately, I found an answer this when browsing Fedora forum.

Here's how to do it:

- Install keyring manager
- Delete all keys
- Change /etc/pam.d/gdm to the following

#%PAM-1.0
auth required pam_env.so
auth optional pam_keyring.so try_first_pass
auth include system-auth
account required pam_nologin.so
account include system-auth
password include system-auth
session include system-auth
session required pam_loginuid.so
session optional pam_console.so
session optional pam_keyring.so

- Reboot
- login, besure to enter the same default key password as your login password

Next time after you reboot, the network manager should be able to use your login password and authenicate to access the key it needs for WEP/WPA into a WLAN.

Finally! I think the bug that crashed my T30 might be fixed. It turns out to be a Xorg X11 ati driver bug, or so it seems. I have been pushing my laptop for a good hour now and it's still holding.



Now, if gaim and gdesklet properly detect Network manager connecting and goes on-line, then I will be happy.

One of the cool functions on Apple's OS X is the dashboard widgets. It basically a framework to have mini-applications that runs on the desktop, which can be anything from a clock to gmail mail notifications.

There is similar function for Linux, called gDesklets.



I used it to show a world clock and local weather, and more can be found here.

Nice!

In my last post, I was complaining about how unstable my laptop is. In the past few days, many upgrades has pushed down and it seems like more stable. One of the updates is Firefox 1.5.0.8 (I believed).... would that be the problem? No, it still crashed... suckx

Well, I will have to keep an eyes on it.

Meanwhile, it's cool to see the puplett is working. It tell me when a updated RPM is available from one of the enabled repositories. I just simple run purit and installed them. Now we are talking what software upgrdae should have been.

On another note, I am still seeing some crach on gaim, usually when i do not notice. I think it is known to teh developer so let see when they will be fixed.

Saw a rather negative review on FC6. Indeed it's echo some of my concerns.

But for me, the main complains on FC6 are:
- Stablity, how come I can crash my T30 6 times in one hour? All I did was Skpye VoIP call, surfing the net with Firefox, and IM using Gaim at the same time..... it's just not stable at all.... much worse than previous release perception-wise. Sometimes the desktop just freeze up on my T30. I blamed it on GNOME/Firefox, and yet to prove this is a hardware problem.
- Network Manager is only half decent. I can't get my Netgear W511 11g card to work with it, at least the last time when I tried.
- Xen... what Xen? The only thing I saw was anaconda install the xen kernel and set it up (incorrectly) as my boot kernel, which of course failed terroribly.
- Livna/RPMforge in-compatibility is still pretty bad. Can someone unite all these effort? A easier way to install all proprietary stuff is a nice idea. But purit sucks, and yumex is still not ready for prime-time yet (You know it when you see this thing eat up the whole 1GB memory you have while running)

I think there is still a lot of improvements needed for this distribution to be adopted widely... not sure how this impact RHEL negatively.....

Myabe I should look at Ubuntu and see the other side of the lawn is greener.