The SimpleOS Project

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=122110' target='_blank'>http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.a...x?PostID=122110</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050930-SimpleOS1.jpg" /><br /><br />Over at the Channel 9 forums, you'll find details of an adventurous .NET project known as SimpleOS. I had a few minutes up my sleeve to give this a test run and I must say, for early days, it's pretty neat. Perhaps it's worth noting that you will need a VGA Pocket PC or it will be close to pointless. Anyhow, the creator, <i>iroot</i>, is looking for developers to help with development of the project, so if you're up for the challenge, let him/her know. <!><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050930-SimpleOS2.jpg" />

[MitchellO]

Looks neat. Too bad I don't have a VGA PPC. You could fool a lot of people into thinking you had XP on your PPC :P

[gt24]

This is just a VNC viewer... or alike... correct??

I couldn't find much of a description of what this was, other than it looking like various operating systems and it being in testing...

[Perry Reed]

I'm confused (a normal state of being for me as I get older)...

This is a new OS, or just a skin on top of Windows Mobile to make it look like XP?

[Darius Wey]

Nah, this isn't even VNC or a Windows Mobile skin. It's a .NET application acting as a separate OS (designed to run on top of the current Windows Mobile OS). At the moment, it's about as non-functional as you can get, but it's still neat enough to check out.

[stevelam]

Ahh Channel 9, the home of all the geeks that were thrown out of Slashdot because they liked Micro$oft too much.

[Sterling]

I saw the following application about a year ago. It's come a long way since then and looks really neat.

http://www.digitalexpedition.com/main/index.htm

[stevelam]

Arghhhhh, the site isnt Firefox compatible, the second one I mean. :twisted:

[PDANEWBIE]

Sterling are you sure this things gotten any better than it did the first time I tried it. I think it was a 1.X release and it blew big time. It kept hanging up and not working right. Alot of soft resets and aggrivation until I hard reset and left it off my PPC.

Is 2.X worth a retry honestly?

[Typhoon]

Did any of you guys read some of the criticisms that he was getting? They complained saying it was a wasted of time. I'm thinking, at least this guy is making it for free.... And I actually think it is a good idea. I like the xp interface, but too bad the development is in the very early stages...

[saru83]

Well, he might have bad English, but that doesnt mean he isnt capable of doing something good, they r just scewing it up for him :evil:

[Ecks]

I was one of the first testers. I've been testing this out with the developer since the beta version. Don't confuse it with digital eXPredition. ALLthough its in beta stage, it still has a few nices feature. I've tested in on my axim x50v and its pretty nice. Some may say it now a full featured os since it runs on top of the existing ppc os, but it can interpreted in different ways. You can also, test it out on non vga devices. In order to do that, once you download the zip, go into bin, open the kernel.xml in notepad and change the value from 64 to 32 and save. To get back to vga mode, just change it back to 64. Now caution all, this is still in beta phase.
Also, heres the link for those that want to try:
http://iroot.ca/projects/simpleos
Goodluck.
Ecks

[Typhoon]

I have always thought that if Microsoft can update Win Mobile to allow the user to switch back and forth between a Windows XP theme (exactly like the OS) and Win Mobile theme, then that would be a good idea...

[weatheryoko]

As already been stated, it is in beta. I'm not sure where the developer is going with this, but I hope it takes off. I prefer the graphical interface (already intuitive for most people). I got the program to run, but wasn't able to much more with it on my JasJar. Pretty though and a little sluggish..... I'll be curious to see how this evolves compared to eXPerience. Digital eXPerience is OK. I didn't have the problems mentioned earlier, but it lacked features I thought were critical (i.e. notificiation of a connection (WiFi or other), no real task bar, etc). The next version (3.0) of eXPerience should be out by the end of the year.

[Duddy]

The Casio BE-300 came to my mind when I saw this.

[iroot]

Hi I am the developer of SimpleOS project, and I have to say, yes the current version lacks a lot of features, but its because I just started in August 2005. I plan to include absolutly any features thats on your mind, so sugestions are welcome!!! like wireless notifications and all that. The eXperience lacks the resolution! they don't support 640x480, even on VGA PDA it looks like 320x240, because a line of 1 pixel would display as 2 pixels, thats a waist of resolution, and as a developer i ca say this project has endless posibilities I can make anything!!! I just need some time and maybe help from others,


Take care, Dmytro

[weatheryoko]

I hope you didn't read my post and take offense to it. If so, I do apologize. I realize that this is a brand new "work in progress". I think its great what you're doing and would love to help, but there's a small problem. I have no idea how to write code. I think the idea behind your application is excellent. I'm looking forward to future releases. Some ideas off for your project:

File explorer
A functional control panel
Printer support (i.e. similar to Mobile Print by hp )

[iroot]

Thankx I once I finish polishing the icons on the desktop, I will move on to file explorer. It will be the hardest ting to do, but i think it can be done :D

[Ecks]

new version is up.

[darkdestroyer]

I just tried out the new version on my Axim X50v ROM Version A05.
Apparently after I installed the .net framework from your link and installed it, the Simple OS will not boot. This is the first time i've tried to install and boot this, and it gave me the kernal.exe wont load error. The Boot screen with the cat shows up and the bar below loads, but afterwards it immediatly shuts down and displays the error. I did install the 640*480 resolution version and the .Net CF V2
The .Net CF V2 was installed to Main Memory and the SimpleOS was installed to the Built in Storage.
Help???

Nevermind... It needs to be installed into Main Memorys' Personal Folder
...Attempting to relocate it into BIS

[darkdestroyer]

Is there any new development on this project? It seems pretty stagnent...

[Darius Wey]

Is there any new development on this project? It seems pretty stagnent...

I haven't heard anything. :( You might want to contact the developer (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=24971) to see where it's at.