Intel ties with HyperSpace, could wrongfoot Chrome OS

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Intel ties with HyperSpace, could wrongfoot Chrome OS

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 14 July, 2009

READ MORE: Intel

Google's dual-OS strategy, based on Android and Chrome OS, may have stolen the limelight from Intel in the past couple of weeks, but the chip giant is not letting up on its own Linux platform for netbooks and smartbooks, Moblin. Not only has it signed up Nokia's support to strengthen the system for the mobile market, integrating telephony features and the Finnish giant's Maemo-based Linux efforts, but it is now incorporating HyperSpace, a technology that addresses one of the key benefits claimed by Chrome OS - instant turn-on of netbooks.

Many netbook makers, even those running Windows, are adding features that allow for instant boot-up of essential features such as email, without the need to wait for Windows for all functions. HyperSpace will add this function to Moblin, and has strong credentials - its supplier Phoenix Technologies makes the BIOS in the majority of Windows PCs.

Its HyperSpace product allows the users to access the web, document editing, email and other tasks within seconds of pressing the 'on' button. Intel and Phoenix say they will work closely with netbooks makers to bring the Atom/Moblin/HyperSpace combination to many netbooks and other emerging mobile internet devices.

"The combination of Moblin and HyperSpace will deliver a more satisfying and rich experience for ultra-mobile consumers," said Doug Fisher, VP of Intel's software and services group and general manager of its system software division. "We look forward to joining forces with Phoenix to encourage OEMs and ODMs to use Moblin-based operating systems on netbooks and other small form factor devices."

HyperSpace was announced last November for the x86 architecture, including Atom, and an ARM version followed in February. The first adopter of this version was Freescale, which supports the technology on its ARM-based MX515 system-on-chip for netbooks. The system has mainly been targeted at slow-booting Windows, but its move to Moblin shows that even Linux-based PC operating systems are too slow and power consumptive for many users' behaviour patterns.

HyperSpace consists of a stripped-down Linux environment supporting core user functions - a browser based on Gecko and Firefox, a Wi-Fi connection manager, and a tiny kernel that leaves most peripherals powered off to save battery. With PCs it is marketed as a secondary OS option, or if virtualization hardware is enabled, Hyperspace can also boot Windows in the background, allowing the user to move between the two environments (as supported by Dell).

There was no indication of launch dates for Moblin Hyperspace.