A new OS concept

[OSwhatever]

What is the new concept here? I read a lot of empty sale phrases which aren't even spell checked.

Can somebody translate this. What I get is that they have some own UI approach.

I see this a vaporware and it will never end up in a product.

[OSwhatever]

I guess I haven't.

However, if you publish something on the internet you must write for a broader audience and not only for a "cultural elite". The message didn't get through.

[Solar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this purely about user interface, i.e. completely unrelated to "OS concepts"?

[Combuster]

Just as a game is never just the engine, what practical use is an operating system if it has zero interaction? </rhetorics>

[bluemoon]

The line become blur as more application demand more support from the OS, which was traditionally classified as user library.

For example, application can introduce device docking themselves and communicate to form the feel of docking,
but it may make a difference if the OS support it at the ground up and treat the docked device as secondary monitor & input devices.

Anyway, inspiration is always good.

[OSwhatever]

I think UI is a part of operating system design even if this forum is mostly centered around kernel design.

[Neolander]

For me, an OS is an interface that eases communication between hardware, software, and users.

In this context, considering the UI as part of an OS totally makes sense. I do.

[NickJohnson]

However, (in my experience) our standard response to noobs saying they want to build something like this is "couldn't you just write another X window manager?" I would bet that that phone, if ever built, would run Linux with a custom window manager, and at the very least could.

[NickJohnson]

I hope not.

You mean you hope they don't make that phone run Linux, or you hope that that's not our standard response?

[Neolander]

@NickJohnson : Wouldn't you be interested in an OS whose scheduling algorithms and security model are both well-suited for single-user desktop and mobile use, unlike Linux ?

[Combuster]

@NickJohnson : Wouldn't you be interested in an OS whose scheduling algorithms and security model are both well-suited for single-user desktop and mobile use, unlike Linux ?

*Imagines Symbian running on a desktop*

[Neolander]

Something like that, but with all the reactivity, usability, "out of memory" and crash problems fixed (Maybe they have fixed them already in recent releases, actually, haven't used any up-to-date Symbian since it has gone touchscreen)

Anyway, my point was that users also benefit from low-level advances, although less directly. It's not as if just putting a pretty shell on top of Windows Me would suddenly make is a good desktop OS.

[terry]

However, (in my experience) our standard response to noobs saying they want to build something like this is "couldn't you just write another X window manager?" I would bet that that phone, if ever built, would run Linux with a custom window manager, and at the very least could.

I'm also kind of surprised that this "concept" is getting so much love around here. Typically the crowd around here loves to openly ridicule and bash on people who post how grand their OS is going to be, but can't code their way out of a wet-paper bag. This idea seems to be like that....

.... but in the defense of whoever posted this concept I had a hard time reading it all the way through. All of the spelling mistakes started annoying me. So maybe I missed the one grand nugget of wisdom. What exactly is seminal about this "concept"?

[OSwhatever]

I'm also kind of surprised that this "concept" is getting so much love around here. Typically the crowd around here loves to openly ridicule and bash on people who post how grand their OS is going to be, but can't code their way out of a wet-paper bag. This idea seems to be like that....

.... but in the defense of whoever posted this concept I had a hard time reading it all the way through. All of the spelling mistakes started annoying me. So maybe I missed the one grand nugget of wisdom. What exactly is seminal about this "concept"?

It's how they present I think. I've seen a few presentations from companies who tries catch investors where failing is part of the plan, basically a civilized version of snake oil. These kind of presentations often tries explain their idea in terms so that you don't fully understand it but it still should sound like it is the greatest thing on earth, like they are hiding something. That web page gave me those vibes directly and all my defenses went on alert. Now, they might be a serious company who tries to prevent ideas coming out before they have done the legal work and finished it, but in that case they should wait until they really can publish their product to the public.

Especially with UI, if it is so abstract that you can't understand it then how will it be received by the average person. Take the great UI concept of swype for example, it takes 10 seconds for you understand it. If there is a UI concept that still makes your head hurt after 20 minutes you usually move on.

[schilds]

It's how they present I think. I've seen a few presentations from companies who tries catch investors where failing is part of the plan, basically a civilized version of snake oil. These kind of presentations often tries explain their idea in terms so that you don't fully understand it but it still should sound like it is the greatest thing on earth, like they are hiding something. That web page gave me those vibes directly and all my defenses went on alert. Now, they might be a serious company who tries to prevent ideas coming out before they have done the legal work and finished it, but in that case they should wait until they really can publish their product to the public.

Especially with UI, if it is so abstract that you can't understand it then how will it be received by the average person. Take the great UI concept of swype for example, it takes 10 seconds for you understand it. If there is a UI concept that still makes your head hurt after 20 minutes you usually move on.

Ermm, snake oil? It's a student project reflecting a blue-sky view of an OS from an arts/design perspective.