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MOBLIN.org and MIDs
Author : Jbuenol
From TechnologicalWiki
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Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)
Mobile Internet Devices represent a new category of small, truly mobile devices that give you an amazing Internet experience -- allowing you to communicate with others, enjoy your favorite entertainment, and access information on-the-go. Intel establish the term and announced the first prototype at the Intel Development Forum in Beijing in spring 2007. The device and its specifications were announced at the conference.
Consumer electronics and PC companies are using Intel® Centrino Atom™ processor technology to deliver exciting new products for consumers and business users.
[edit] Intel® Centrino Atom™ processor technology
The Intel Centrino Atom processor technology brand represents Intel's best technology for MIDs. Formerly codenamed "Menlow", Intel Centrino Atom processor technology includes the Intel Atom processor(based on an entirely new microarchitecture designed specifically for small devices), a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, and thinner and lighter designs. Together, these components are designed to enable the best mobile computing and Internet experience on these new devices.
- McCaslin platform (2007): This platform contains an Intel A100/A110 processor (code-named Stealey) 90 nm running at 600-800 MHz respectively.
- Menlow platform (2008): This platform contains an Intel Atom processor (code-named Silverthorne) 45 nm running up to 1.86 GHz.
- Moorestown platform (2009): This platform contains an Intel Atom processor (code-named Lincroft) 45 nm.
[edit] What's Moblin.org ?
Moblin.org is an open source community for sharing software technologies, ideas, projects, code, and applications to create an untethered computing experience across MIDs, Netbooks, and embedded devices. The computing hardware is based on Intel® Atom™ Processor Technology, which requires software optimized for low power, low footprint, high performance, wireless, and graphics to deliver a full Internet experience. The Moblin Core Linux Stack, an integrated open source software stack serves as a starting point for developing applications for these devices. The Moblin.org website hosts a variety of tools for developers including a software development kit, source code for all of the major components of the Moblin platform, documentation and sample code. The idea behind the Moblin.org project was born.
The purpose of the Moblin.org project is to:
- Drive the new technologies required to fill the gaps in using Linux for MIDs and other consumer oriented devices.
- Jumpstart the software ecosystem required to support these new devices.
The Intel Moblin team felt that it was possible to achieve the benefits of both desktop and embedded Linux distributions.
Moblin plays three critical roles in the MID software ecosystem:
- Creating a community of developers who are focused on creating and enhancing the core technology required for Linux-based MIDs and other devices. When Moblin was first created, this was the primary objective of the project. This core technology is used by Linux operating system vendors who are creating distributions targeted for MIDs.
- Creating a community of developers who are focused on creating new software and services that innovate and add value on top of the Moblin core Linux stack. With the launch of the first generation of MIDs based on the new Intel® Centrino® Atom™ processor technology, the role of the Moblin project is expanding to include this critical function.
- Defining a set of standards and tools to make it easier for operating system vendors (OSVs) and ISVs to ensure binary compatibility across Linux distributions from different vendors.
One of the first problems the team tackled was how to make it easy for a platform developer to configure a target Linux OS image without having to understand, at a detailed level, which software packages need to be in the target device image. The solution was to create what would become one of the key Moblin projects, "Moblin Image Creator".
I don't know who you wrote this for but you hleepd a brother out.
[edit] Glossary
- chroot(ing)
Short for "change root" and used casually to describe the process of creating a root file-system layout in some arbitrary location of another file-system and then changing the root of the working terminal to the base of the new file-system. This is done using a program called "chroot" and is used by Image Creator when creating a target for development.
- control panel
Another name for “Settings” category. It contains the applications which can be used to set system settings. Hildon UI calls it “Control Panel”. Moblin UI calls it “Settings”.
- D-Bus
A communication system for inter-applications messaging created by the freedesktop.org project.
- fsets (fsets, functional sets, feature sets)
An fset (fset) is a group of packages representing some functional area that Image Creator can install on the target. An fset can have dependencies on other fsets. If you select to install an fset that depends on another fset, the prerequisite fset will automatically be selected and installed on the target first.
- GTK
The GIMP Toolkit (GTK) is a set of UI widgets and libraries used by most X Window System applications. Moblin applications are based on GTK.
- Hildon
Hildon is the application framework developed by Nokia for their internet tablets, and is also used by Moblin, Ubuntu*’s Mobile and Embedded Edition, and Red Flag’s MIDINUX* mobile distributions.
- home screen
The main screen first shown to the user containing the icons for applications available on the system.
- image
An image is a large (~350-500 MB) file created from a target and can be a read-only, read-write, or install image. An image can be copied to a mobile device using a USB pen drive.
- Image Creator, Moblin Image Creator
Moblin Image Creator enables a developer to create an image of a target environment for embedded or mobile devices. Developers can use the image to develop on a platform or architecture that is different than their current development system. The image can then be copied to an actual device, so that their applications can be tested and distributed. Moblin Image Creator is designed to be flexible, with platform-specific knowledge isolated to each platform definition. Moblin Image Creator's initial focus is on a new class of devices known as Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), but its design is not MID-specific.
- LibOSSO
A Hildon library that simplifies the use of D-Bus.
- Maemo
Maemo* is Nokia’s software development platform for their handheld devices.
- marquee
The marquee is panel at the top of the window and may contain a drop-down application menu, clock, statusbar, or other controls. The marquee is based on the Hildon task navigator, and plug-ins on the marquee share the same interface with the Hildon task navigator items.
- McCaslin platform (2007)
The Intel platform used in UMPCs. It contains an Intel® processor A100/A110 named Stealey (90nm), running at 600-800 MHz. The Samsung Q1 Ultra* is based on this platform released in 2007. Image Creator supports creating images for this platform.
- Menlow platform (2008)
The first Intel platform design specifically for mobile devices and offering 10x power savings over McCaslin platforms. It contains an Intel® Atom� processor (Silverthorne) (45nm) running up to 1.86 GHz. Mobile devices with Menlow platforms will be available in mid-2008.
- MID
Mobile Internet Devices are a new category of PC developed by Intel using their new low-power processors and designed for mobile professionals.
- MID Browser
The Firefox*-based mobile browser created as part of the Moblin project and designed for finger-friendly use.
- Moblin
Moblin.org hosts the Mobile & Internet Linux* Project which is an umbrella, open source project focused on the development of Linux for Intel-based devices. To this purpose, moblin.org will host various projects that will provide key elements of community-based projects, such as Ubuntu* Mobile and Embedded Edition* and Red Flag Midinux*, targeted for such devices. We also intend to be an incubator for prototyping new ideas and projects targeting these types of devices, such as the Intel-based Mobile Internet Device (MID) and various consumer electronic devices. Moblin.org will also serve as the point of integration for these projects to ensure the interoperability of the various components. It will provide complete source trees and binary images that can run on these devices.
- moblin-media
The media application designed as part of the Moblin project and designed for finger-friendly use.
- moblin-applets
Moblin-applets is a collection of programs for adjusting system settings such as battery, screen brightness, and volume.
- Moorestown platform (2009)
The next generation Intel platform offering another significant improvement in power savings and available in mid-2009.
- platform
The platform is based on the physical architecture of your target device. You select a platform when you create a project. This determines the kernel, system configuration, and device drivers that are made available, as part of the targets you create within a project.
- Plug-in
A marquee plug-in is a software component that provides a visual presentation in the marquee panel, such as the clock or statusbar plug-in. Plug-ins on the marquee share the same interface with the Hildon task navigator items
- project
A project is a platform-specific build-environment with one or more targets. When you create a project, Moblin Image Creator creates a full Linux file-system in the directory that you specify. Chrooting into this directory creates an isolated environment where you can develop software for your device. The environment includes apt tools, so you can install packages of the tools you need. The project directory includes one or more targets which are located in the /targets directory.
- Sapwood theme engine
A system daemon used as part of Hildon to manage access to commonly used graphics.
- Settings (or control panel)
A group of applications used for system settings.
- status bar
The area in a taskbar or marquee containing icons showing the status of system services such as volume, brightness, or battery life.
- target
The target is a platform-specific Linux file-system, created in the /targets directory of your project. You create an image from a target. One or more targets can exist for each project. Like projects, you can also chroot into this environment to configure it or copy applications from your project before making an image.
- task navigator
A component of the Hildon desktop UI that is not visible in the default Moblin UI.
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