Intel Launches Mobile Linux Initiative

17 Jul 2007

Intel has unveiled an ambitious project aimed at developing open-source software for mobile devices.

The Moblin project comprises a Linux kernel, user interface framework, browser, multimedia framework and embedded Linux image creation tools, along with developer resources such as documentation, mailing lists and an IRC channel.

Intel hopes Moblin will serve as a "point of integration" for multiple subprojects. Current subprojects include:

Kernel—platform-specific kernel patches and drivers

GTK-based UI framework—uses Hildon application framework, similar to Nokia's Linux-based Web tablets

Power management policy project—a project that aims to provide a "comprehensive, robust, and extensible" framework for mobile device power management

Network profile manager—described as a unified, dynamic configuration system supporting the various protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) used to connect mobile devices

Browser—based on Mozilla, but with a finger-driven UI and Hildon integration

Multimedia—a "Moblin Media Artist" player offering a choice of gstreamer or Real's open-source Helix streaming frameworks

Image capture—an image capture, management and sharing application for still and video images

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