“We are about to move into what I call the mini operating systems wars for edge devices, or those that sit at the edge of a cloud-based solution,” Tim Bajarin writes for PC Magazine. “Think smart thermostats, smart lights, or internet-connected parking meters and lamp posts.”
“At the moment, there are two main contenders for what I call a Mini OS: Microsoft and Google. As Windows Central outlined recently, this so-called Windows Core OS ‘is a common denominator for Windows that works cross-platform, on any device type or architecture, that can be enhanced with modular extensions that gives devices features and experiences where necessary,'” Bajarin writes. “Google’s solution appears to be Fuscia. Details are scant, but Richard Windsor, an analyst at Edison Investment Research says ‘Fuchsia looks most suited to be used in embedded systems such as vehicles, white goods, machinery, wearables and so on. Consequently, this could be a single replacement for Android Auto and Android Wear.'”
Bajarin writes, “To date, I don’t see a similar Mini OS coming from Apple, but I can’t imagine it’s not on Cupertino’s radar.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Here’s hoping Apple is working on such a thing as we certainly do not want Microsoft or Google lurking in our lights, thermostats, security cameras, vehicles, etc.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s HomeKit security screwup spotlights the risk of smart homes – December 8, 2017
Zero-day iOS HomeKit flaw allowed remote access to IoT devices including door locks, garage door openers; fix rolling out – December 8, 2017
Massive HomeKit improvements in iOS 11 include faster switching and much more powerful automation – September 20, 2017
Elgato showcases five new HomeKit accessories – August 29, 2017
The time has come for only one truck OS. Compete with software and applications.
I certainly don’t want Apple lurking either.
But, … we already have hundreds of thousands of Chinese security cameras and other IOT “things” out there in the US with their OSs, whatever they are.
My guess is that we now have insecurity by security camera design to the point where no one knows where the data goes when many (& particularly Chinese) iOT devices are used.
They have. It works on tiny tiny tiny devices.
WatchOS. It’s like iOS. Infinitely scalable and mature, with common functions and APIs broadly described.
A good, well-behaved and secure embedded OS for client devices designed to exist in Apple’s Home ecosystem would be welcome. It doesn’t have to made in such a way to limit use of the device in the Apple ecosystem (vendors would likely prefer to see a level of interoperability), however, they could build in features/benefits that would be known only if the device is used in the Apple ecosystem. An analogy would be the benefits of using an iPhone with a Mac vs using it with a PC – e.g., making calls/texting from the Mac, shared cut and paste, etc…
Apple will have to change their culture of only having iOS (or its branches) exclusively on their branded devices for client devices made by 3rd parties. Maybe it would be a ‘free’ license to use the embedded version of iOS with device certification costs. If it becomes a separate cost, the expansion of an Apple embedded OS will be severely limited.
Tim Cook is in charge. Why are you worried?
Not worried. Just that it will be a big change in policy back to the days when they were considering licensing out the MacOS to clone makers.
Apple with no mini OS?
AppleTV OS?
Applewatch OS?
AppleCar OS?
Mmm
Let me think…
Yep, these are called “small innocuous snooping OS devices”; I’ll stick with a dependable and Secure Apple inc. OS variants and when they embed their OS capabilities in smaller so called “edge” devices, I’ll go with them!
I won’t use any IoT devices at all unless they are reputably secure. the only one I can think of is iOS. I have two friends complaining today of malware on their phones. I just burst out laughing. Now they’re looking for anti-malware apps for their phones. I don’t want to have to get anti-malware for my thermostat.
If I ever end up with a smart bathroom scale telling my smart kitchen refrigerator to lock me out, things could get ugly.
I mean, sparks would fly. Real sparks.
The last thing I want is Windows controlling anything in my house. Next, there be someone walking through the front door because I didn’t install anti-virus software in the lock. ;/
Used to be Open Darwin, but Apple seems to have forgotten about it.
https://opensource.apple.com
The Wikipedia article seems to say the open source project was shut down due to the inability to make it a stand-alone open source OS. Instead the project had evolved to only be a development ground for MacOS.
Apple does have a mini OS, it’s called Darwin. From there Apple created iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS
I think what they mean by mini-OS here is that it can be used as is, not just as a kernel for a ‘larger’ OS like iOS, macOS, etc. and also run in small memory spaces (< 256k) important for embedded products.