The founders of Barcelona-based eyeOS hope that they’ve found the right model to create a much anticipated new market – the web operating system. Like desktop.com, the failed high flyer from web 1.0, eyeOS is a browser based “desktop” that gives users access to a variety of applications (word processor, chat, calendar, etc.). The free, open source project is set to launch in early 2007. I spoke to one of the founders, Pau Garcia-Milà, earlier today via IM.
Like Zimbra, eyeOS is a server based application that users must download and install to access (one reason that this is a server app – to overcome data security concerns by business customers). The company launched a hosted demo version of the product in June and has just over 80,000 registrations to test the service.
Essentially, eyeOS is like Goowy, except it does not run on Flash. The applications run on almost any browser, based on Javascript. It ain’t bad but it’s not a fully-functional Windows-replaceable operating system just yet. It has a word processing program, chat, calendar, RSS, and a Web browser. It is missing a spreadsheet and presentation program, among other things that would make it a proper OS. But it’s a work in progress.
The point is that it is a community-building effort. Founder Pau Garcia-Milá said that the company takes 90 percent of their development ideas from public requests via the Wishlist, wiki, or open forums.
“We really think that a webOS MUST be Open Source, for the simple reason
that a Web operating system tries to allow users be ‘free’ from their computer,” Garcia-Milà said. “If it’s not open source, you’re closing all of your users into YOUR server.”
eyeOS hosts the OS on their free server, funded through public donations. There are three ways to install eyeOS: MiniServer, which is the complete OS for Windows, MicroServer a lighter weight server for Windows, and Source Code, which installs the system under an existing server.
eyeOS is based in Spain, where it was founded in 2005. So far they have only been funded through $1,300 or so in donations, partly because “living in Spain means difficulties on the investment front.” Once version 1.0 launches, Garcia-Milá says that the business model will change.
See Go2Web2’s preview of ORCA today as well, a similar service.
Well, you still need a regular operating system to access the web OS… How about creating a system that logs right into your web OS account after booting (assuming you have an always-on internet connection) skipping the windows and/or other operating systems overall?? Then I think we will be looking at a revolution. Right now, this is hardly a revolution.
Step by step. Windows 1.0 wasn’t a revolution. We are still at 0.93 …..
Think about embeded systems, about accesing it via your cellphone, and so on.
I have looked at the eyeOS demo and somehow I feel it needs a lot of work… YouOS (https://www.youos.com/) is a much more advanced “web os” but not open sourced unfortunately.
It does not compare to the initial Zimbra release – Z. was much more mature. Z. also had a clear business model.
Another question: who really needs web-based os? I can imagine some applications (look at YouOS and its hundreds of applications to feed your imagination) but this is still a very limited marked.
What companies REALLY need is a combination of OS, applications and content storage/management to create a productive environment. I do not think there is anyone out there that would rely on web-based OS in this matter.
Anyway – good luck!
The term “Web OS” is meaningless. It’s like it came out of the web 2.0 bullshit generator. Let’s take any “old” computer technology and stick “Web” on the front. How about “Web Front Side Bus” or “Web Translation Lookaside Buffer”. Which of the primary operating system features have these Web OS’s implemented? Scheduler? Virtual memory subsystems? File system? Job control? Network stack? Device drivers? When you guys say “Web OS” I get the feeling you mean “website that draws a picture of a bumpoff windows desktop”.
OK, then read webOS as web Open Source. That solves your problem, no ?
“It is missing a spreadsheet and presentation program, among other things that would make it a proper OS. But it’s a work in progress.”
Since when is a spreadsheet etc. part of an OS? No OS has those; they have add- on programs like Office.
Perhaps the story should say “…, among other things that would make it a proper solution.”
Why are we calling these things OS (Operating Systems)? Wouldn’t a more accurate name be “application suite?”
Let us call it “Web Desktop” since it seems to be the closest term.
Well, I wouldn’t use eyeOS simply because I don’t see innovation or hardly an incentive to use it. I don’t understand why should anyone use a web os when they can just use windows, or even Vista with all the gadgets/widgets… nothing to see here, folks!
Does anyone else remember Marc Andreesen talking about how Netscape would replace the desktop in the mid-1990’s?
I think there are some possibilities, but c’mon. Let’s call it what it is – a best case possibility to get some neat Web apps stuffed into a single button bar.
This, like Desktop.com, is a waste of time. Why would anyone use this? Does the OS really need to be replaced? Focus on AJAX applications and don’t waste time/energy on a OS replacement. Between Linux, Mac, and Windows, everyone can find something to use.
i hate to be knee-jerk critical, but i see absolutely no practical use for this sort of thing.
Congrats on your first story at TC. Looking forward to more!
Its not fair to compare this product to desktop.com , which was unique in its features and look and feel , but as Tony said : its more accurate to call it : application suite.
By the way , i read before that Google hired many of Firefox developers , plus IE lead developer , and i also read they were building sophisticated browser cache engine , are we close to Google web based OS?
Note: its lame to mention AJAX when talking about creating true web based OS , i think a sirius company will use real web platform , ActiveX maybe , or perhaps Adobe’s new Apollo
I hate to agree with almost everyone, but how can we even call this an Operating System? The whole thing just seems like a novelty. As stated before, When you can boot to this OS, bypassing windows, then there’s something in the right direction… but until then, just keep it under wraps. So some micro-promotion so people know you’re still working on the project. That’s like inventing some snow skis that go on car wheels and calling it a new car… no its not, its just something added to my existing car that, in reality, does nothing practical.
Sorry , the correct Apollo link :
Apollo
Congrats on your first TechCrunch post and welcome abroad! Look forward to reading more posts like this (and good to see you’re already starting a debate on what should be called an OS).
“Essentially, eyeOS is like Goowy”
Well OK then.
In a related story, the NASDAQ dropped like fifty points today.
I have a dream, that one day, all software, even the operation system are open sourced and free….but where the profit come from? The advertisement? Hence, It’s just a dream.
“eyeOS … is missing a spreadsheet and presentation program, among other things that would make it a proper OS.”
Would it be possible for them to integrate with 3rd party apps like EditGrid and Thumbstacks ?
You stay in bed then ….
The fact that there is a debate and that thousands of people try the system says that there is something there. Not for purists, but then, we can always go back to CPM, the OS for the real macho …
eyeOS is a pretty nice service. I am thankful they are open source. A webOS, unless it is supported by a major backer like Microsoft, will be unable to take a good market share b/c of user hesitancy to lock in to a possibly dying company.
cool. a webos built on the same technology as pandora ought to be nifty.
I think WebOs`s have to evolve to a solid structural tool, with integrated security enhanced applications, but we will see a lot of this endeavors in the next Web 2.0 phase…, by the way, eyeOs is really cool so far i think, but we have to wait for the critical mass users before a trully judgment.
Well, while it has a nice interface design to the overall theme, the fact it is php based is unnerving. For instance, changing of the desktop’s background image to the alternately available one does not function properly. Whilst this may be in testing stages, opening a whole bunch of DHTML Content Overlays from Dynamic Drive does not constitute a Web Based Desktop. Even Windows has more interaction than this thing…. And that is bad my friends, BAD.
For me looks great
If you dont have notebook its a cool solution
Craythur.com is very easy and future of is.
i still prefer to use seperate file storage services such as
http://www.orbitfiles.com
http://www.box.net
Hmmm… WebOS is still a term in need of a true product with which to define it. eyeOS is interesting but b/c it requires a downloadable client, it’s not fully virtual and therefore thinking of it as a web app is a misapplication of the term (no pun intended). Businesses insist on local clients only because they are inexplicably reluctant to cross the threshold onto the Web despite the fact that everyone knows (and the statistics verify) that hosted solutions are in fact more secure than local solutions, where viruses/trojan horses proliferate.
That said, if you want to refer to these WebOS’s or Web desktops, the best that I’ve seen (and I’ve tried them all) is Desktoptwo (http://desktoptwo.com), which comes closest to replicating the desktop in terms of functionality and look (Sapotek, the company behind Desktoptwo, calls it a web-based desktop, and not a WebOS, which is smart, imho).
In the end, none of these services is a true OS,as in multi-layered… yet. But, I do believe all of these efforts are worthwhile and that a real WebOS will emerge soon enough, perhaps due to the combined efforts of all these companies.
The Craythur is more fast. I like…..(http://www.craythur.com)….
“Back in the Day” a 90lb screen, 8lb keyboard and a couple of other (maybe) devices sat on the desk. They might have DEC, IBM, Telex…. or sum udder logo upon them. We’ll refer to these devices as dumb terminals for lack of a better word. We had mainframes to talk to or control…..then pc’s, then LINKAGE, now ‘they’ (whomever the hell that group is) want me to go back to limited functionality, full trackablility and on able to see what they choose…….i think NOT!!!!!!!!!
…..engage
Quite frankly, Google will either buy eyeOS out if they really are worth the hoolah. If they don’t, they probably are working on something which will kick ass anyways (either that or eyeOS is not really a stand out)
Have also a look at eXo Enterprise WebOS, it is a new comer in that space but really worth the look
I walk into an internet cafe or public library … just me, no laptop, luggage, pda … find a spare workstation/browser, and I have my application(s) desktop, with all of my personal, work, life data available.
Or at a friends house, or at a customer site — hop on his workstation, and have *my* environment up & running, to do my apps with my data at his site.
Biggest challenge: establish trust in that server farm that has all of my life on it, like my pda currently has.
http://www.gotomypc.com — watch out, this is a challenge to some of your business.