Installation Splash Screen
First impressions - screenshots
this is the first screen you see after installation. Very similar to UNR
Not much of anything new here except a few apps that's usually a website(like Digg and Evernote). Categories on the left, Apps in the middle, Libraries on the right.
But the real Jolicloud experience start after you launch the portal app.
Step 1 is choosing which netbook you're running. An unnecessary scroll bar is visible on the right
After that, the updates...
The update was very fast, and didn't require a re-start
On the right, you can see it retrieving update information for the first time
Found 24 updates!
This is the title screen of Jolicloud. It has a few key tabs(Dashboard, Apps, Settings and a grayed out Lab). Also, you'll find a search field, and the main information area that dynamically changes depending the tab you're on.
The applications tab
Double click the gmail icon and I get this - Looks like my emails show up here
This tab needs further tweaking(it's still alpha). Everytime I double clicked on an app, it showed me the details on the app shortcut rather than launching the app. To launch the app, I still had to go back out into Netbook Remix.
The settings tab - From here, I can sync Jolicloud settings with other PCs registered in my account
The settings tab - Registered jolicloud users that i "could" follow
My Jolicloud usage history
The history pretty much shows any and all info about my use experience to whomever is following me
Launching the Facebook "App" - Notice the quotes
The Facebook "App" - can't even call this a webapp. It's the site.
Jolinstall - Installing Jolicloud
Went smooth without a so much as a glitch.
1. Download the IMG
2. Put it on a stick
3. Boot from stick
4. Done.
All the drivers were installed. I expected this since the S10 was on the approved list for testing.
I did have a few issues installing at first, but it turned out to be my USB stick. It went belly up due to faulty USB contacts(if I bend the stick while in the USB port, it would work). I will not be purchasing anymore Sandisk Cruzer sticks anytime soon.
After putting the IMG on a new stick, it was problem free.
Jolidesign - Looks and function
The looks of Jolicloud shares the same sort of look and feel as Boxee. I don't know if this was their intention, but that is the way it came across to me at the very least.
It is very modern looking, but it isn't built with function in mind. At least not at this stage in their development. For instance, I double click on an app, and it takes me to the info page about that app. Or rather, the properties of that shortcut. Which means, while the icon is present, I have to go OUT of Jolicloud interface to launch what will most likely be a hyperlink to some website.
Another example is again with the apps screen. There are 5 pages of apps available to me for installation. But I can't just scroll through them. I need to click on the tiny "Next" button at the bottom center of the screen. One would think that this could be solved by only showing installed apps, but again... It's alpha.
At the current time, the apps screen is pretty much a like a synaptics app browser. Since you certainly cannot launch apps directly from this screen. This is very unusual, because I'd expect this screen to get more viewing time than anything else on Jolicloud.
JoliWho am I and Why do I exist - Relevance
Moblin
I. Intel develops Moblin. An OS made purely for net computing.
II. Intel gives away Moblin to the Linux Foundation.
III. It is revealed that Intel has been working with Google on their Chrome OS behind doors.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix
I. UNR is released.
II. To this day, it's pretty much a light-weight linux running X-Windows for Netbooks. But has NOTHING to do with cloud computing, and is about running native, installed apps.
Chrome OS
I. Intel works with Google on development
II. Chrome OS is announced.
III. Google states that they will abandon the age-old X-Windows interface for an updated environment with cloud computing in mind.
Jolicloud "OS" <====== Quotes
I. Jolicloud is announced. People are interested.
II. Jolicloud goes PR silent for half a year.
III. Google announce Chrome OS.
IV. Jolicloud alpha is announced 1 week after Chrome OS is revealed. People say "Joli who?"
First, I can't for the life of me, call this an "OS." It's not. It's ubuntu. What Jolicloud is trying to accomplish here(as far as I can see it) is establish a social network. Why would I want to follow other jolicloud users? No clue. Even if I did want to find out why johnny has installed IE6 using wine on this jolicloud, there's twitter for that. Most of the people that will want to "follow" and post status updates of any kind are probably twitter users. So what's new here?
Second, these apps are websites launched with firefox. They aren't apps. The embedded twitter and Last.FM on Moblin were apps. These are straight up website links.
Third, Jolicloud is claiming that you can use Jolicloud to run windows apps on their OS. What they mean to say is this: Jolicloud comes with Wine. Which is freely available to all linux users.
When I tried the Moblin 2 beta, it definately showed promise. It was a definite step into a true cloud computing OS. But this jolicloud is I'm sorry to say, just an app. They would have done better by just opening their repositories to the public and making it available to anyone.
Before the announcement of Chrome OS, i couldn't have even dreamed about a Linux environment running on something other than x-windows. But that's what happening. That's truly an innovative feat. After trying Moblin 2.0, I got a feel for what cloud computing can be like. Moblin, while still a little sketchy, was pretty daring in terms of concept and delivery. It tied everything to the cloud in an elegant, simple manner.
With a name like Jolicloud, and their super secret development, you'd expect something amazing. So far, with this alpha build, it's a little too familiar.
My score sheet for Jolicloud:
Installation - 10 - Smooth as possible
Design - 8 - Nothing new, but well designed
Function - 8 - Everything works technically.
Identity - 2 - Read below
There is nothing wrong with Jolicloud in a technical sense. But with the announcement of Chrome OS, and the existence of Moblin and Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Jolicloud in my opinion is irrelevant even before its life began. If you like Jolicloud, then you can pretty much get 90% if its experience from UNR. If you like cloud computing(which Jolicloud doesn't offer), you can try Moblin, which will do a much better job.
I'm afraid Jolicloud is currently suffering from a case of identity crisis. It needs a purpose to survive. And social networking isn't a good enough reason to stick with it. It needs a direction. Who is this OS for anyways?
But again... it's an ALPHA Build <=== gotta keep telling myself this.
Been running it for a day. I'll post other updates as I'll give this a 3 day run.
