Android has been an incredible success on mobile phones, bypassing even Apple's iPhone in sales. Meanwhile, rumors have swirled for some time that a Google operating system was being created for the PC. A Google OS was rumored to be a Linux based system similar to Android. The problem with this idea, however, is that it doesn't really make sense for Google to create yet another Linux distribution. Could Android itself perhaps become the Google OS for PCs in the near future?
A Google version of Linux really does not make much sense. Linux has suffered from fragmentation for some time. Linux distributions come and go in favor with an almost "flavor of the month" regularity. It would also be hard for Google to control a Linux operating system as the GPL license that governs most of Linux has a number of restrictions and requirements. These restrictions and requirements require that source code be shared and guarantee an open system but they also limit how much an organization like Google can lock down or control a system based on Linux.
Tablet Pc Viewsonic
On the other hand, Google does have an existing open source operating system based on Linux over which they exert a fair amount of control through the application market - Android. Android could easily become the Google OS that has been rumored for some time.
Thinking about Android as a potential Google OS requires some thought about the definition of a PC and a desktop OS. The rise of smartphones and the release of Apple's iPad have really caused a redefinition of the PC. Tablets and netbooks now bridge a gap between the traditional laptop computer and the smartphone. As hardware has become more capable and smaller, the idea of a PC has changed considerably. As the shape of the PC changes, Android begins to make more sense as an operating system for the desktops and mobile computers of the future.
There have, in fact, been some prototypes of tablet PCs and iPad like clones based on Android. Additionally, a Sony television based on Android has been confirmed to be in the works. As Android moves to more devices and picks up applications that make it more flexible, it seems more likely that we will see Android powering PCs and other devices in the near future.
Another factor leading to the probability that Android is aiming for PCs is the return of the concept of the network as the computer. The "network is the computer" was an idea put forth by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s. They marketed a line of slim clients that replaced PCs and used applications and storage on the network. The state of the network at the time made these systems sluggish and slow. As a result, adoption was minimal. Today, cloud computing is doing the same thing - placing storage and applications in the cloud. In many ways, this is a revival of the concept of the "network is the computer". Android has been built to maximize the use of the cloud. As such, it is an ideal operating system for future cloud based PCs.
This transition to thinner clients and cloud storage is affecting more than just consumer computing. Enterprises have been moving away from placing a desktop workstation at every desk for some time. Products like Microsoft's Terminal Server have been used for years to allow workers to interact with a Windows desktop remotely or from a thin client. As corporations begin to build their own clouds, adoption of thin client computing in the enterprise is likely to grow. As an open source system with a robust SDK, Android would be an ideal platform for corporate thin client computing. Android on a PC could be loaded with the applications needed by workers and the data created would be stored in the corporate cloud.
There are a number of interesting companies and projects designed to allow for the development of innovative new Android based products. Beagle Board is one of the more popular ones. It has developed a low cost, single board, USB powered computer. It uses an ARM processor and there are a number of ports available for it including Android. This hardware makes it possible for developers to prototype an Android device for future development. Beagle Board is not the only project of its kind, either. You can browse the ads in any issue of Linux Journal and find a number of single board computers suitable for developing Android based thin clients.
Android combines some of the best features of Linux based operating systems and cloud computing. With the reinvention of the desktop PC and the adoption of other devices for accessing the Internet, it seems likely that Android will be coming to a PC near you. Of course, that "PC" may be a television set, tablet or thin client workstation.
Christmas Sales Arkon Portable Fold-Up Stand for Apple iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, Playbook, Xoom, Toshiba, Acer, Nook and Other Tablets (IPM-TAB1) 201
Dec 09, 2011 04:59:55
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Christmas Sales Arkon Portable Fold-Up Stand for Apple iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, Playbook, Xoom, Toshiba, Acer, Nook and Other Tablets (IPM-TAB1) Feature
- Extremely portable and fits in any bag or pocket
- Works with Apple iPad, Kindle Fire and other tablets with or without a case or sleeve
- Non skid material on base keeps the stand secure on flat surfaces
- Perfect for Air plane seat trays
- Position your device in multiple angles in landscape or portrait view
- Compatible with All E-readers
- Works with Apple iPad and other tablets with or without a case or sleeve
Christmas Sales Arkon Portable Fold-Up Stand for Apple iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, Playbook, Xoom, Toshiba, Acer, Nook and Other Tablets (IPM-TAB1) Overview
Arkon's IPM-TAB1 is an exceedingly travel-friendly tablet computer stand designed for use with nearly all new lightweight tablet computers such as the Apple iPad and others. A quality user-friendly stand is an essential tablet accessory for enhancing your mobile computing experience. The desktop stand frees up your hands so you can watch movies, read an eBook or recipe, surf the web, conduct a presentation, view photos, read displayed sheet music, or conduct any other activity that would benefit from a foldable easel type of stand.SAVE NOW on Christmas Sales Offers below!
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