eyeOS - Online "Operating System"

[Redhat]

Introduction

Ever thought of using an open-source operating system, through your browser? Even if you haven't, it's quite an interesting concept, at least to me.

Online storage for use with your online word documents written in an online word processor, and online calendar, online contact manager – all in one place. Interested?

Enter eyeOS. Available at http://www.eyeos.info, signup is extremely quick and obviously free being open-source.


The online word processor is kind of cool, it allows you to do quite a bit and you can save to your “home folder” / online storage area:
eyeOS - Online "Operating System"


The online contacts manager is semi-basic, but is usable:


eyeOS - Online "Operating System"

eyeNav is the integrated browser. To me, it seems slightly strange to use a browser – in a browser. But, again they've done it well, and it has some nice default links:

eyeOS - Online "Operating System"

There is also a forum in the application too. And you can manage your “applications” on your “operating system” through the manager:



eyeOS - Online "Operating System"



I'd give it a try – it only takes a second to signup, and there's no fees involved

[Redhat]

Sorry for the huge pictures, they didn't look as big on my system 

[Redhat]

Fixed, changed to thumbnails 

[jgpaiva]

This quite an interesting concept.
In my opinion, it's not yet "usable", because it's a bit buggy (i got some strange behaviour from the "windows". Still, it's a nice concept, and I'm hoping some day google will find it and make a virtual pc for everyone!

BTW, here's some discussion about this site on DC: https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=2997.0

[Rover]

I played with it for a while after the first post and I would call it an Online Desktop vs. Operating System.  As Ajax becomes more popular, I expect to see more of this kind of stuff and it's going to get confusing.

$0.02.

[Edvard]

And here comes another: YouOS.com

YouOS
A Web Operating System
YouOS is an experiment in a new kind of computing platform.
    * Access from anywhere.
      Create a document at an office computer, drive home, continue right from where you left off.
    * Built-in sharing.
      Instantly share music, documents and more with your buddies.
    * An application community.
      Everyone from professional software engineers to high school age programmers can participate at no cost. Choose from a growing list of over 619 released applications developed by our users.

[Edvard]

Wow, these ARE getting popular:

CosmoPod

What is CosmoPOD?
Ever need access to your personal files and applications from work or while on the road? Tired of lugging around your laptop or hard drive?
With CosmoPOD, you get the same desktop, whenever, wherever. Your desktop lives online, so its not glued to the computer you happen to be using!

Goowy

What is goowy?
goowy is a service that offers you simple, intuitive tools for communicating and sharing on the web.

(love those Gant3 icons...)

DesktopTwo

Desktoptwo is a free web-based desktop or webtop (some call it a WebOS, although we feel that's a bit premature... for now) that mimics the look, feel and functionality of a local computer, all contained within one browser window and fully accessible from any Internet-connected device.

P.S. clicking the thumbnails get you screenshots...

[Veign]

Is it just me or are others bothered by the term online OS?

Not sure there can ever be such a thing since an OS is an interface between the software and the hardware (so its a platform for which all other software will run).  If you don't have an OS, then you wouldn't be able to run a browser and therefore could not connect to this 'online OS'.

Not sure why that term bothers me so much but it does and it totally turns me away from testing any of these.

Call it what it is.  A customizable portal.

[Ruffnekk]

Same here Veign. I don't know what it is exactly, but for me it's also the reason for not even wanting to take a closer look at it... A nasty gut feeling   

[Edvard]

In the case of Cosmopod, it's a little more correct... you are actually using a remote os.

With the others, I agree... it's just a web app programmed to act like an os.

[Edvard]

wait, strike that....

...act like an OS UI.

Better?

[Ruffnekk]

wait, strike that....

...act like an OS UI.

Better?

-Edvard (February 15, 2007, 02:05 PM)

Somewhat better

[Edvard]

Maybe we can make a comparison:
The OS on your desktop computer = Driving your car.
NoMachine + FreeNX = Driving your car which is controlling a robotically-driven car.
Goowy, YouOS, etc. = Playing a video game in which you are remotely controlling a robotically-driven car.

 

I believe folks are calling these "Online Desktops" nowadays

[Veign]

you are actually using a remote os.

-Edvard (February 15, 2007, 02:03 PM)

You always are when you access a website.  Its just in a limited way...

[Veign]

I believe folks are calling these "Online Desktops" nowadays

-Edvard (February 15, 2007, 02:15 PM)

That's what I started noticing too.  Much closer to what it is and may even provide a more  technically accurate marketing platform to 'sell it'.

Plus with so many Digg like sites and the ease to find reviews on things anything that is inaccurate will just be ripped to shreds...

[justice]

In online desktops you are remotely working with your private data. So I always get worried, can I get my data out of the online desktop? Will there be copies left behind? Can I cancel accounts? Is my data in a format that can be used by other applications if the open desktop is discontinued or will it be lost? And the obvious one: when there's network problems I won't be able to depend on it or fix it.

This I think will stop them from becoming too popular.  Makes more sense to remotely login to your computer at home, doesn't it? On the other hand, it's amazing to see what can be done. It will probably be able to evolve a lot quicker interface wise to operating systems and therefore they might come up with a few fantastic features that will inspire operating systems to do a better job.

Or is this old school thinking.

[Redhat]

Didn't notice the replies to this - sorry 

I agree, OS is a silly word (should have used Web Desktop / Webtop) .. but this post was made a while ago and the concept wasn't booming as much as today. Points taken, though 

[cmysites]

www.cmyOS.com is offering their servers to host eyeOS's site with free accounts and unlimited storage for all users. I am excited to see how people use this and how this turns out.

[Niefer]

I'd call them online offices and I think ThinkFree is the best among them.