Web operating system

Definition

YouOs, for example, is defined as “new type of platform for web applications. We're trying to build a single place from which you can access your data, and run a multitude of applications, written by anyone in the YouOS network. Ultimately, we want the data and apps on YouOS to be accessible not only through any browser, but from any number of devices. Your stuff, anywhere, anytime, anyhow. It's still early, but that's our vision.” (A Clean 'Slate', retrieved 13:03, 27 April 2007 (MEST)). This doesn't look that different.

McManus (2006) states that “the key difference from Ajax homepages is that a WebOS is a full-on development platform. The likes of XIN and YouOS are application development platforms that also offer things like file storage. Services like Netvibes and Live.com are more of an interface for web content and mini apps like gadgets (some, like Netvibes and Pageflakes, also offer APIs).” ([1], retrieved 13:03, 27 April 2007 (MEST).). Anne Zelenka agrees that “Ajax start pages like yourminis, Netvibes, and Pageflakes overlap in intent and function with the Web OS offerings, the difference being that a Web OS includes a full development environment and often email clients and other desktop software replacements.” ([2], retrieved 13:03, 27 April 2007 (MEST))

Software

eyeOS probably will be the one most adopted by the educational technology community, since it is open source, free and popular. Also, the next release (1.0) promises an interesting Microkernel and API. Finally eyeOS has communities in several countries and one can either use an existing server or install ones own. But nobody can tell really...

Web OS

Some of these systems can be tried at opensourcecms.com (see the lite section)

eyeOS

• eyeOS Homepage

Desktoptwo

• DeskTopTwo (Wikipedia)
• Desktoptwo home page

Oos

• Oos (Wikipedia)
• Oos demo
• Homepage of the iCUBE team

Laszlo

• Laszlo HomePage (not a web os, but can be used as a toolkit to build one).

Xcericon

• Xcericon HomePage
• not yet available (in 3Q 2007 ?)

XIN

• XIN Homepage
• Xin (Wikipedia)
• doesn't seem to exist yet (13:03, 27 April 2007 (MEST)).

YouOS

• YouOS homepage
• YouOS (Wikipedia)
• Seems to quite popular with geeks (or may it's just their web page)
• Client side javascript is available under a modified BSD license.

Virtual-OS

• Virtual OS (Wikipedia). “Virtual-OS is an open source web operating system or distributed web desktop developed by Advanced Webhosting Network that creates a shared virtual desktop environment on a remote server to promote collaboration, simplify content management and potentially reduce the effort associated with network installation”.

Your own server

eyeOS - the server

• eyeOS homepage
• This system may be interesting to educational institutions, since you can install your own server and customize
• eyeOS Wikipedia
• official home of the eyeOS community in Switzerland.

Links and references

• Farber, Dan (2007), From semantic Web (3.0) to the WebOS (4.0), ZDNet Article, feb 14, 2007, HTML.

• McManus, Richard (2006)., WebOS market review, ZDNet article, April 24 2006. HTML

• Schroeder, Stan (2007) Big WebOS roundup - 10 online operating systems reviewed

• Schroeder, Stan (2007) Another 10 web operating systems reviewed.

• Zelenka Anne (2007). Just don't call it a Web OS, Blog Entry