Icloud

icloud is an AJAX-based "browser based operating system" created by Xcerion AB, a Sweden-based corporation. It provides 3GB online storage and applications. The company has developed on icloud since 2001 and the first closed developer beta version was launched in September 2007. The service is powered by Ubuntu and XML Web Services developed by Xcerion AB.
Overview
The icloud Cloud OS is available in 21 languages and have 50 applications and widgets like office, games and integrated development tools (IDE). It loads an XML virtual machine into the web browser memory when the browser is pointed to its start page, os.icloud.com. The XML virtual machine is built using AJAX-technology and does not use any plugins. All applications and the desktop surface itself is built in XML. Source code is open for all applications and the license allows modifications of available applications or development of new applications.
"Icloud is an online application and storage service that runs atop an XML-based virtual machine. It's designed to provide a location-independent virtual desktop computing environment that co-exists with a developer ecosystem for XML-based applications. The idea is to wed the Web-based computing with offline functionality and an application marketplace similar to Apple's iTunes App Store. "
Using a virtual machine, applications can execute on the local processor, requiring fewer server round-trips and less bandwidth consumption compared to pure SaaS. This is a different approach to cloud computing that enables smaller data centers. It also enables application virtualization, being able to drag a window from one users screen to another (like having a dual screen computer). Mounting icloud's hard drive as a network drive is supported through WebDAV.
The icloud service is designed for Internet café users and people with multiple computers like Netbook owners. The company was founded by Daniel Arthursson. The company was awarded the 2008 European Cloud Computing Product Innovation Award.
Supported languages
Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese
Patents
Network Operating System; US Patent Application , and .

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