Web Operating Systems And Web Desktops: A Mini-Guide

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Wikipedia defines Web Operating Systems (aka WebOS) as:

"A software platform that interacts with the user through a web browser and does not depend on any particular local operating system."

Web operating systems are also commonly referred to as Web desktops:

"A web desktop or webtop is a network application system for integrating web applications into a web based work space. It is a virtual desktop on the web, running in a web browser as software. Web desktops often are characterized by an environment similar to that of Windows, Mac, or Linux, but are now considered to have much more functionality being dependent on the internet. Typical benefits include the ability to save work and settings over the internet rather than to the local desktop."
(Source: Wikipedia)

However, there is a controversy among Internet experts and software developers on what should be considered a WebOS, since the term has been adopted in different contexts with different meanings. The first occurrence of the term "WebOS" is in the name of a computer research project started by University of California, Berkeley in 1996 (that is now continuing at Duke University), which describes it this way:

"WebOS provides basic operating systems services needed to build applications that are geographically distributed, highly available, incrementally scalable, and dynamically reconfiguring."

Wikipedia also specifies that:

"Common to all uses, a Web operating system is distinct from Internet operating systems in that it is independent of the traditional individual computer operating system. [...] The term "Internet operating system" becomes appropriate when a web platform includes functions pertinent to Internet media including wireless cards and other devices as well as web pages.."

In this mini-guide I will refer to WebOS as a virtual desktop on the web, accessible via a browser, with multiple integrated built-in applications that allow the user to easily manage and organize her data from any location.

For this purpose, I have reviewed for you the most interesting WebOS available nowadays by providing a detailed description of their features. You will find out that some of them have already reached a good level of implementation, while others are still at their early stages. While reviewing these services I have identified the following traits as comparison criteria for this list:

• Open API: the typology of Application Programming Interface that it uses


• Open-source: the possibility for users and developers to contribute to the enrichment of the WebOS by creating new applications and widgets


• Integrated apps: the applications that the WebOS features by default (which could be a text editor, an instant messenger, etc.)


• Audio-video Player: the availability of a media player within the WebOS


• Photo editing tool: the availability of a tool that allows the user to edit images


• E-mail client: the presence of an email client


• Instant Messaging: the availability of an integrated instant messenger


• Calendar: the existence of a calendar


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: the presence of online collaboration tools (such as VoIP, web conferencing tools, etc.)


• Mini-Browser: the integration of a web browser


• File storage: the amount of space - if available - to store files online


• File sharing support: the support for file sharing with other users


• Desktop Search: the presence of a desktop search engine within the WebOS


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: the availability of a RSS reader


• Widgets support: the support for widgets


• Games: the availability of games within the WebOS

Please remember that this mini-guide does not aim to be a definitive resource of all the WebOS available out there. This list will grow with time thanks also to new items that you will be suggesting by using the Comments section at the end of the article. Your contribution will be much appreciated.

Desktop On Demand

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: NO


• Integrated apps: Text editor, Spreadsheet creator


• Audio-video Player: YES


• Photo editing tool: YES


• E-mail client: YES


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: YES


• File storage: 1 GB (users can buy more space)


• File sharing support: YES (only with DOD users)


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: N/A


• Widgets support: N/A


• Games: YES


• Price: Free


• Link: https://desktopondemand.com

Desktop On Demand is a web operating system that lets you remotely access to your files and applications as if you were sitting at your computer. Desktop On Demand features an integrated web browser, a text and spreadsheet editor and also a media player. It also enables you to connect to your favorite IM networks and check your mail.

YouOS

• Open API: YES


• Open-source: YES


• Integrated apps: Public chat, text editor, sticky notes


• Audio-video Player: NO


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: NO


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: NO


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: YES


• File storage: YES


• File sharing support: YES


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: YES


• Games: NO


• Price: Free


• Link: https://www.youos.com

YouOS is a web operating system that lets you run different applications within a web browser. You can use both small applications like sticky notes and clocks and large applications like a word processor, a mp3 player and an instant messenger. Users of YouOS are welcome to contribute to its development since it is open-source and it is very easy to tweak an existing application or create a new one.

Goowy

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: NO


• Integrated apps: Calendar, Email Client


• Audio-video Player: YES


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: YES


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: NO


• File storage: YES


• File sharing support: YES


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: YES


• Games: YES


• Price: Free


• Link: http://www.goowy.com

Goowy is a WebOS that features several applications such as a file-uploader, mail application, RSS reader, instant messenger, bookmarks, calendar and contacts manager. Goowy also includes an instant messenger that lets you chat with your buddies from any network and an e-mail client. Additionally, Goowy provides you with customized news, RSS support, file storage, file sharing and some games.

Desktoptwo

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: NO


• Integrated apps: Website editor, text editor, live chat


• Audio-video Player: YES


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: YES


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: NO


• File storage: 1 GB


• File sharing support: NO


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: NO


• Games: NO


• Price: Free


• Link: http://desktoptwo.com

Desktoptwo is a WebOS that integrates an MP3 player, RSS reader, instant messenger, a text and HTML editor and an email client. Desktoptwo has a special feature that allows the user to show the web-desktop either in a popup window or in the current sign-in page: this feature is particularly useful when the user is surfing the web with a browser that blocks popup windows.

Xindesk

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: YES


• Integrated apps: test editor, instant messenger


• Audio-video Player: NO


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: YES


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: YES


• File storage: YES


• File sharing support: YES


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: NO


• Games: YES


• Price: Free


• Link: http://www.xindesk.com

Xindesk is a WebOS featuring a text editing application that opens and saves the standard Office formats. Additionally, Xindesk integrates and instant messaging application, an email client and games. This webOS is an open platform and enables anyone to develop new applications. Xindesk is currently in private beta and you need to sign up to get notified.

EyeOS

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: YES


• Integrated apps: File management, groupware, IM, text editor


• Audio-video Player: NO


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: NO


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: YES


• File storage: YES


• File sharing support: YES


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: NO


• Games: NO


• Price: Free


• Link: http://eyeos.org

EyeOS is a web operating system that offers you to install the WebOS on your on web server. You can also sign up for a free account of eyeOS hosted on a public server which is available to everyone. Once you sign up you can access a standard calendar, a calculator, an address book, a RSS reader and a simple word processor. Users are welcome to develop new applications to be integrated in the WebOS.

g.ho.st

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: NO


• Integrated apps: text editor


• Audio-video Player: YES


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: NO


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: NO


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: NO


• Mini-Browser: NO


• File storage: NO


• File sharing support: NO


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: N/A


• Games: NO


• Price: Free


• Link: http://g.ho.st

g.ho.st is a webOS that features simple applications such as a YouTube video player, a text editor and an RSS reader. G.ho.st also integrates Meebo, an instant messenger that lets you access to multiple IM networks. There is no possibility to store and share files and games are not available.

Glide

• Open API: NO


• Open-source: NO


• Integrated apps: text editor, video player, email client


• Audio-video Player: YES


• Photo editing tool: NO


• E-mail client: YES


• Instant Messaging: YES


• Calendar: YES


• Collaboration - Conferencing tools: YES


• Mini-Browser: YES


• File storage: YES


• File sharing support: YES


• Desktop Search: YES


• RSS feeds reader/aggregator: YES


• Widgets support: NO


• Games: NO


• Price: Glide Premium Monthly (10 GB, up to 24 Users), $4.95 per month; Standard (10 GB, up to 24 Users), $49.95 per year; Free (2 GB, two users)


• Link: http://www.glidedigital.com

Glide is a web-based operating system that lets you oversee everything, from e-mail and contacts to photo, video, and music sharing. Glide features a word processor called Glide Write and also offers mobile access through Glide Mobile. Users can choose between three plans, one of which is completely free.

NOTE: I wasn't able to review the following tools: Purefect (website unavailable), ORCA (for some reason I logged in to test a demo version but all I found was a webpage where all the buttons were not clickable), SSOE (this service is not yet in beta and the version currently online doesn't have any feature) and MyWebOS (apparently the service doesn't exist anymore).

Read more

If you want to know more about the technology and the development of web operating systems, please check out the following resources that I have selected for you:

• Definiton of "webOS" on Wikipedia


• WebOS market review by ZDNet


• WebOS: Operating System Services for Wide Area Applications


• What is a WebOS? Talkback on ZDNet


• GoogleOS: What To Expect

Originally written by Livia Iacolare for Master New Media and originally published as: "Web Operating Systems And Web Desktops: A Mini-Guide"