France – Mandriva showcased the first prototype of the Mandriva Linux distribution with KDE running on the new Intel Mobile Internet Device (MID) platform at the aKademy 2007 conference last month.

"The new Intel MID platform is a perfect match for Mandriva's Flash mobile technology. Our product brings complementary mobile features to traditional PC users. The MID platform extends Mandriva's ease of use and end user experience into mobile devices", declares David Barth, VP Engineering. "We are very excited about these new Intel MID devices and the opportunities they present to our OEM customers."

Videos of the Mandriva MID prototype show the device running a Mandriva 3D desktop using Metisse and Compiz cube effects. The 3D features are demonstrated along with webcam and touch-screen support. Another video also shows OpenArena - a game based on the Quake 3 engine - running on the prototype, demonstrating the Intel MID's processing power.

"Porting Flash to the Intel MID was quick and easy thanks to Mandriva's hardware auto-configuration module. We also appreciate the efforts of the Intel engineers to ensure the various devices in this new platform are all Linux compatible," says Olivier Blin, Mandriva Lead Architect.

During the conference, KDE developers including Sebastian Kuegler, KDE e.V. Board Member, exchanged with Mandriva about the KDE interface and the integration of KDE in Mandriva specific to the Intel Mobile Internet Device platform.

"The MID is opening a new path for KDE application development. We are starting to adjust existing KDE applications like Marble, the KDE map graphical location application, for the new mobile usage profiles", says Helio Chissini de Castro, Latin American Contact for the KDE Project and Mandriva engineer. "The screen size and touchscreen feature of MID devices are also encouraging developers to innovate with new interactions mode, like the new oKular multidocument viewer of KDE 4."

MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices) personalize a new category of small, truly mobile consumer devices enabling a PC-like Internet experience, coupled with the capability to communicate with others, enjoy entertainment, and access information on-the-go. VIA has been embracing this market segment with its fanless C7 processor. The MID is also part of the Intel Ultra Mobile Platform. A MID as defined by Intel has a smaller screen (5 inches) and display resolution whereas the UMPC has a larger more expensive display (7 inches or greater). Several manufactuers have already produced devices. Samsung has produced a product called the Q1 which is currently offered with a VIA C7 or an Intel Celeron. The Q1 Ultra is currently being considered as the hardware reference platform for mobilin.org, Intel's Mobile and Internet Linux project.

__________________
Layne P. Heiny / Administrator for Tux Reports Network

Please do not send private messages requesting technical support. Place your request in the proper forum and hopefully someone can help you.

Computer Sites
Tablet PC Blogs | Technology Questions | Tablet PC Post | Windows Vista | What Is New

Prelaunch
Insane Politics