Gizmodo
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olpc
Sugar On a Stick Turns Any Netbook Into Your Very Own OLPC
While it's probably not very practical for typical day-to-day laptop use, the Sugar Linux desktop environment, designed for the OLPC project, is a novel take on user interfaces. Now, Sugar Labs has released Sugar on a Stick, a version of the OS that is designed to boot, run and save data from and on a USB drive. [Techradar]
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12
By John HerrmanComment by RuBBa_cHiKiN: I tried an OLPC once. It confused the hell outta me. 2 Responses | Other threads
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displays
Pixel Qi: The Display That Will Make You Want an E-Reader
We've gone through it time and time again: One of the most formidable problems e-readers need to overcome is the expensive and primitive issue of e-ink. But Mary Lou Jepsen, of OLPC fame, has a new display that just might make the e-reader a viable, desirable, and even inexpensive gadget. More »
17,516
By Dan NosowitzComment by switchblade saints: that will not fit into my pocket. Not with everthything that is already crammed into my pocket. 11 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
India Buys 250,000 OLPC Laptops After Own $10 Laptop Project Didn't Quite Work Out
In a bit of an about-face, India has placed a huge order for 250,000 OLPC XO laptops for their schools. This is a huge victory for the OLPC project. More »
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By Dan NosowitzComment by blash: For a nation of over 1 billion people, that seems like a kind of small number. 2 Responses | Other threads
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pixel power
Pixel Qi 3Qi Magic E-Paper and High-Res LCD Dual Display Becomes Real Next Month
The display technology Pixel Qi has been promising is revolutionary: A high-res color LCD and low-power, reflective reader mode better than E-ink. For dirt cheap. And it's coming next month. More »
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Comment by Nick: i don't know how i feel about the virtual keyboard. it's fine on a phone cause i can see the... 6 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
OLPC's XO-1.5 to Boost Specs With Via Processor: You're Welcome, Africa
Thehippiesphilanthropists at OLPC are overhauling the guts of their XO-1 with the aim of keeping the portable's battery life while increasing its capabilities. More » -
olpc
OLPC to Ditch Old Friend AMD for ARM-Based Processors
Despite being an original sponsor of the OLPC project, AMD processors will not be used in the upcoming XO-2 touchscreen netbook. Instead, in an interesting move, ARM chips will take on the computing load. More » -
laptops
Asus Dual Panel Laptop Resembles Two iPhones Mating
Much like the next gen OLPC design, Asus' dual panel laptop ditches its keyboard for a second screen. More » -
olpc
Negroponte Open Sources OLPC Hardware Design, Invites Copy-Cats
The embattled OLPC program, already reeling from job cuts and salary decreases, is making one final attempt to stay afloat: Open source everything and hope enough companies copy the design to make it profitable. More » -
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sakshat laptop
India's $10 'Laptop' Basically a Big, Dumb Joke
After the aggressively lame "unveiling" we were all subjected to yesterday, details have finally emerged about the $10 Sakshat "laptop." It's not a laptop! Or much of anything, really. More » -
hopes and dreams
India's $10 Laptop Is Actually $20, Will Be Unveiled Tomorrow
India's long-gestating $10 dollar laptop (that'll actually be $20) with 2GB of RAM will supposedly be revealed tomorrow. We hear it'll be made of paper, ground fairies and unicorn blood. [Times of India via FastCompany] -
classmate pc
Intel Classmate 2 Already For Sale, Priced at $550
Intel's Classmate 2 was never intended for manufacture by Intel; the PC was simply a reference design provided for OEMs. Well, the first one is here: meet the Computer Technology Link 2Go PC. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by Bearded Rapper: Feh. In our school, we are forced to buy MacBooks to use in class for "studying", but I interpret it... 2 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
Negroponte Halves OLPC Staff, Phases Out Sugar Linux to Focus on Dual-Screen XO
Today, Ars Technica picked up a blip from Nicholas Negroponte, who informed readers of his intention to cut half the staff and reduce pay of the rest, and emphasizing the shift to hardware. More »
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Comment by NotSoSiniSter: Not to sound cold, but what if they actually sold those things HERE. In the US? Maybe they could actually... 7 Responses | Other threads
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Yoko Ono's Judgment
John Lennon Digitally Reanimated for Unsettling OLPC Ad
The OLPC Foundation's last advertising effort was close to perfect, with a strong message and affecting imagery. Their latest? A creepy, boomer-manipulating, possibly effective oddity. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by daspoint: How come kids in Kenya can get free wifi using a crappy computer - We have to seek out a... 4 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
OLPC Ad Goes For the Jugular With Child Laborers, Child Prostitutes, Child Warriors
I like this move: The OLPC team, tired of their message being co-opted by geeks worrying about what operating system to install, have raised the stakes in a new web video. More » -
laptops
Pixel Qi Laptop Could Run for 20-40 Hours on Standard Battery
Mary Lou Jepsen—the XO Laptop's designer and OLPC's CTO before defecting and founding Pixel Qi—has even grander ambitions for new laptop project than hitting a mythical $75 pricetag. Pixel Qi is working on a laptop will be able to run on a standard for 20 to 40 hours, no pixie dust required. More » -
olpc
One Velociraptor Per Child
I know I'd want a velociraptor more than a funny-lookin' little computer. Other things per child we'd like to give kids in developing countries: More »
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Comment by jkr's bold comment: ZOMG. A one sentence article. Blogging is so uber journalism. Nope, this article is not spam in... 17 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
OLPC Give 1 Get 1 Returns Nov. 17 at Amazon
One of the OLPC's few successes—besides arguably sparking the whole netbook movement—was its Give 1, Get 1 program. Okay, it had some issues, but overall, the program was a success in getting the laptops out there. No surprise then that it's coming back on Nov. 17, though this time they'll be wisely letting Amazon take care of the logistics. Update: We just heard from OLPC that the deal is the same, $400 ($188 a piece plus shipping and handling), and that the offer will be available in Europe and Asia later on. Windows XP will not be included, as it is only licensed on the platform for use in developing countries. [OLPC - Thanks Jimmie!] -
olpc
First Windows XP OLPC Pilot Marks the Transition From the Sugar UI
Today the government of Peru, Microsoft and the OLPC announced the first official pilot of XO laptops running Microsoft Windows. This was expected of course, but it marks the beginning of a major shift away from Sugar / Linux—although both will remain as dual boot options for the foreseeable future. It also represents a major step for Microsoft who stand to gain a strong foothold in the developing world. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by OMG_changed_my_name!: XP Pro? I'm surprised it's not Home or Starter Edition. More power to 'em, though. 1 Responses | Other threads
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umpc
HiVision Shows Off Sub-$100 Linux Mini Laptop
China's HiVision has debuted a Linux-based laptop that makes the OLPC seem ridiculously expensive. For $98, you get a MIPS-based processor, 1GB flash storage, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, an SDHC card reader, WiFi, audio in and out, voice-chat and Firefox browser support on a Linux user interface. No word who this is being marketed towards, but with a price tag that low, maybe this will end up being the device that fulfills Nicholas Negroponte's much criticized mission. The video above is Tech Video Blog's review of Hivision's miniNote (hmm, naming conflict with HP in the near future?) at IFC 2008. [Tech Video Blog via The Earth Times] -
olpc
Amazon to Sell OLPC in November, Including Dual-Boot XP Model
From November you'll be able to buy the OLPC in its classic "buy one for the price of two" offer from Amazon, which should be a smoother way of distributing the device than when the OLPC was originally on sale from the source. This new Give 1 Get 1 program will also cover the Windows XP version, now that Microsoft have finalized it, as well as the Sugar OS version. One thing remains unknown: pricing. The previous G1G1 program went to US residents for $398, but maybe this time it'll be a little closer to the fabled $100 price tag. [Electronista and BBC]
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By Kit EatonComment by henhen: they're too late...after the eeepc and all the others at sub 400$ tags....this laptop is already a dinosaur based on... 2 Responses | Other threads
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olpc
OLPC Origin: Bittersweet Success and Future of the XO Laptop
When I met with Nicholas Negroponte not long ago, he laughed at the coverage he'd received through the past few years, including our own portrayal of Intel chairman Craig Barrett and him as Beavis and Butthead. Far more hurtful have been the admonitions of his own former staffers who feel he has mismanaged the OLPC project. Nearly every one of the original staff had abandoned the project by 2008, often in disgust. But Negroponte remains stalwart: "My elephant skin is the thickness of steel," he told me. Perhaps his resistance to criticism has been one of the project’s fatal flaws.
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intel classmate
Hands On With Intel Classmate Tablet: So Far Just a Touchy, Double-Jointed Netbook
When news of the Classmate tablet broke yesterday, it was hard to know what to think. In terms of specs, the device is a far sight better that the Classmate 2.0, but aside from the new tablet form factor, the diminutive netbook didn't seem to include any truly innovative new features. During the Intel Developer Forum today I got to fold around with the new Classmate, and my suspicions were confirmed: barring a late-stage killer feature, this iteration of Intel's OLPC killer will be sort of lame. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by twid: Queues? Your English teacher is going QQ. more » | Other threads
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classified intel
Mystery Tablet Shown at Intel Event, Either the Classmate 3 or a Quad Core Speak & Spell
At the end of an otherwise tepid presentation at the Intel Developer Forum today, Dadi Perimutter, head of Intel's Mobility Group, dropped a bomb (via PowerPoint) on his audience: a mysterious tablet device, which could well be the next generation of the Classmate OLPC competitor. If that is the case, the OLPC might really have something to worry about. Sugar, the "revolutionary" Linux-based OS originally developed for the OLPC, is already in development for the Classmate project, not to mention that fact that this new picture indicates that Intel may have taken a few of Nick Negroponte's visions for the OLPC XO-2 to heart, and possibly to production. UPDATE: Looks like the OLPC is safe for now - it turns out this is just a forthcoming Panasonic Toughbook tablet for medical professionals. BOOO. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by feckineejit: @shandy: DO YOU GUYS HEAR THAT? more » | Other threads
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announcement
Stay Tuned: Untold OLPC Hardware Story Coming Soon
Due to some mysterious server mumbo jumbo, our untold story of the OLPC's hardware beginnings—featuring amazing facts, fun pics and an exclusive video interview with Nicholas Negroponte—is unable to load at this time. Stay tuned, though, cuz it's a doozie.
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Comment by Mr.Purple: Why not take the content, convert it to an image (although the quality would drop...) and post the series of... more » | Other threads
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olpc
Windows XP On OLPC Gets Slowly Tested
We showed you the first footage of an OLPC booting the official Windows XP installation back in June, but now Laptop has given the XP-sporting XO a quick round of testing, and unsurprisingly, things are a bit sluggish. The XO's hardware has gone unchanged for the XP edition, so Windows boots off of an SD card which also packs Office, IE, and other apps. While IE fired up in five seconds, the OS took 1 minute 24 seconds to boot, and no one should be surprised that multitasking on the little guy's 256MB of RAM was not fun. Mesh networking is also not making it to the Windows version, unfortunately, but kids can still dual-boot into the Sugar OS for that. [Laptop]
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By John MahoneyComment by craighyatt: if he thinks that's slow, just wait till he upgrades to Vista more » | Other threads
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laptops
V12 Design Delivering Dual Touchscreen Laptop Within Two Years
It looks as though an Italian company named V12 Design might beat the OLPC's XO-2 laptop to the dual touchscreen punch with their dual LCD laptop called the Canova. According to Laptopmag, V12 developed its design four years ago and is currently working on a second generation version with a US manufacturer. The plan is to have the device on the market within 16 months. More » -
OLPC RED
Photos: Red OLPC Limited Edition
Wilson caught this limited edition Red OLPC at the company's headquarters near MIT's campus in Cambridge today. The limited edition run of 100 is made for developers working on the dual boot Sugar Linux and Windows XP system, and has specs identical to the regular OLPC, except 2GB of RAM2GB flash memory—the minimum required for Windows. As you can see, the color scheme is the inverse of the all-red prototype you may have seen before. There are no plans for a public release, so the closest you'll get to seeing this may be in the gallery below. More » -
intel classmate
Intel Classmate OS Will Be as Sugary as the OLPC
Intel's for-profit take on the OLPC concept will soon share a UI with its spiritual predecessor. Walter Bender, the guy who made the original child-friendly Sugar interface with the OLPC project, told PC Magazine that Sugar will be adapted to the Classmate PC. Intel had previously disassociated themselves with the OLPC program because they really wanted to continue developing the Classmate. Because I guess earning money from the emerging world is more satisfying and because, you know, Intel needs more. That and more gas on the OLPC and Classmate flame war. [PC World] -
olpc
OLPC Founder Negroponte Wanted to Make Multitouch XO-2 Laptop 20 Years Ago
Long before the XO Laptop climbed over $100 and OLPC's name was sullied by infighting (and then redeemed by its dual multi-touchscreen XO2 concept) OLPC founder Nick Negroponte was preaching the gospel of ten-finger multi-touch over the "mouse on Macintosh," which sounds profoundly clunky compared to his vision of interfacing with computers. In this 1984 TED talk, the experience he describes sounds remarkably like the XO-2—over 25 years later, he'll finally build the computer he's always wanted. (And I want too.) The clip is long, but prescient and brilliant—you'll feel smarter afterward. [TED via Mental Floss] More » -
olpc
OLPC To Become Colombia's Finest Import
OLPC has agreed to supply 65 thousand XO computers to the state of Caldas, Colombia, providing an injection of technology to a rural area of the country. The first 15,000 will be distributed throughout the most remote areas of the state by the end of 2008, while the remaining 50,000 will be offered in the capital, Manizales, and other remaining areas of the state by the end of 2009. More » -
olpc
OLPC XO-2 Will Love You Back With Haptic Feedback and Multitouch
OLPC's upcoming wonder laptop, the XO-2, will have multi-touch and haptic feedback, according to a Mary Lou Jepsen of Pixel Qi, who designed the original's innovative indoor/outdoor display, and is charged with making the XO-2's dual touchscreens happen. Additionally, the touchscreen capabilities will be integrated directly into the LCD, rather than relying on a secondary display layer to sense inputs, as used on most current touch screen devices (including the iPhone). More » -
olpc
OLPC XO Laptop's Sugar OS Being Shopped to Four Other Laptop-Makers
Even though the XO Laptop's Sugar-coated OS wasn't exactly the most vaunted aspect of the attempted laptop-for-all, following Windows XP's invasion of the project, former OLPC exec Walter Bender's newly formed Sugar Labs is shopping Sugar around. They're in talks with at least four "ultra low-cost" notebook makers who would use it for kid computers. This is the second OLPC splinter faction to license tech from the OLPC project, the first being Mary Lou Jepsen's Pixel Qi, which is licensing the XO's innovative indoor/outdoor display and aiming for a $75 laptop. I'm waiting for someone to sell me that sweet XO-2 unveiled the other day. [Betanews via Electronista] -
xo laptop 2.0
OLPC XO Laptop 2.0 Has Dual Touchscreens, Looks Amazing and Future-y
At OLPC's Global Country workshop today, founder Nick Negroponte unveiled the next-gen XO Laptop, and it totally blows the original away. About half the XO 1.0's size and more like a foldable book, it does away with the keyboard and trackpad to go totally touchscreen—that's right, dual touchscreens, straight out of the future, like a kid's book in Minority Report. Folded all the way out, the displays work like a single continuous one, for say, a sweet game of Pong. Like XO 1.0, the display by Pixel-Qi will look fine indoors or in bright sunlight. Unfortunately, it really is from the future: Due in 2010, they're aiming for $75 and one-watt power consumption. Update: High-res shots and full press release, and they're calling it XOXO, or XO-2. More » -
xp on olpc
Windows XP on OLPC XO Laptop Now Official
Microsoft has officially announced that Windows XP is coming to the OLPC XO with trial runs beginning as early as June. This comes after months of discussion and speculation of when the move would happen. The operating system has been specially modified to run on the computer and support its ebook reading mode, writing pad and camera. And according to the press release, the plan is to have both Windows and Linux running on the machines, to let users decide what's best.
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microsoft
Microsoft Offers Mega-Discount on WinXP to Low-Cost Laptop Makers
Ultra low-cost PCs such as OLPC's XO laptop could end up bundled with copies of Windows OS after all, if Microsoft's most recent scheme to grab market share works. The company is giving computer manufacturers Windows XP Home Edition at a steep discount to put on ULPCs, in hopes of luring them away from Linux. More »
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By Elaine ChowComment by ludwigk: @LUV2CattleCall: Oh, you bricked that one... < 10.2" screen - Nope MBA has a 13.3 <= 80 GB HDD - Check < 1... more » | Other threads
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olpc
Negroponte Moots Windows XP Version of OLPC—Is It a Case of So Long, Sugar?
The founder and chairman of OLPC has admitted that only using open-source software has not been good for the project. Just a day after the resignation of group president Walter Bender, Nicholas Negroponte admitted that the choice of the Sugar operating system has hit the XO laptop project in two places: usability; and popularity. More » -
olpc
OLPC Planning and Praying for $50 Laptop
In a chat with Laptop Mag about the booming ultra-cheap, ultra-portable laptop market, blustery and beleaguered OLPC founder Nick Negroponte actually manages to keep his cool while dissing his rivals—a laudable feat—and drops a couple of interesting bits: OLPC is still on a trajectory toward a $50 laptop, and they're planning on launching dual-boot Windows XP machines worldwide. Thems some lofty goals—aside from their epic fail to hit just $100, XO's crafty designer is only trying to clear $75. Good luck, Nick. [Laptop Mag]
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Comment by sanjsrik: Are they planning on fixing the crappy membrane keyboards? They never bothered to set up a supply chain for... more » | Other threads
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laptops
Kids Are Tearing Apart The OLPC Laptop's Keyboard Rather Easily
You'd think a laptop from the One Laptop Per Child project would, I don't know, account for the fact that it's being used by a child? A child that likes to tear crap apart? Stuff like keyboards? No? Which is why people are seeing keyboards being ripped up rubber piece by rubber piece. A few of the commenters in the forums (no doubt just regular folks buying them for their kids) say that their units were developing rips within days. If this is happening in the relatively safe conditions in the US, how are these laptops going to fare in the harsh conditions they were supposedly designed for? [Laptop.org]
olpc
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