Web desktop

A web desktop or webtop is a desktop environment embedded in a web browser or similar client application. A webtop integrates web applications, web services, client–server applications, application servers, and applications on the local client into a desktop environment using the desktop metaphor. Web desktops provide an environment similar to that of Windows, Mac, or a graphical user interface on Unix and Linux systems. It is a virtual desktop running in a web browser. In a webtop the applications, data, files, configuration, settings, and access privileges reside remotely over the network. Much of the computing takes place remotely. The browser is primarily used for display and input purposes.

The terms "web desktop" and "webtop" are distinct from web operating system, a network operating system such as TinyOS or distributed operating system such as Inferno. In popular use, web desktops are sometimes referred to incorrectly as web operating systems or simply WebOS.

Contents

History

In the context of a web desktop, the term Webtop was first introduced by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) in 1994 for a web-based interface to their Unix operating system. This application was based on the provisional application entitled "The Adaptive Internet Protocol System" filed Nov. 13, 1997, serial number 60/065,521 and is the U.S. patent for the technology used in the Tarantella Webtop.[1] Andy Bovingdon and Ronald Joe Record, who both explored the concepts in different directions, are often credited as the inventors.[2] The initial SCO Webtop, developed by Record, utilized a Netscape Navigator plugin to display applications in a browser window via TightVNC. A trademark application for "SCO Webtop" was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 8, 1996. In order to avoid confusion with the more complex technology incorporated into the Tarantella Webtop it was abandoned on December 24, 1997 by The Santa Cruz Operation.[3]

Bovingdon's three tiered architecture (TTA) concept was launched as the Tarantella Webtop. This technology originated from early commercial use of web server technology by SCO. the first OS vendor to include a commercial web server, NCSA HTTPd, and commercial web browser, NCSA Mosaic. Their X.desktop product line, obtained when they acquired IXI Limited in the UK, was the first to have icons for URLs and an HTML-based help system. Tarantella allowed real UNIX and Windows applications to be displayed within a web browser through the use of Java to form a true web based desktop or Webtop.

The first SCO Webtop releases were part of SCO Skunkware[4] before being integrated into SCO OpenServer version 5 and UnixWare 7. Tarantella was subsequently purchased by Sun Microsystems and integrated into their Sun Secure Global Desktop.[5]

Byte magazine referred to the Webtop as a NUI (Network User Interface).[6]

Advantages

Convenience
A personalized desktop on every supported client device
Mobility
Access your desktop anywhere there is a supported client device
Session management
Server-side session management allows roaming users to access restored sessions from anywhere
Software management
Security
High availability

Drawbacks

Security
Because all data is transferred over the internet, it might be possible for a cracker to intercept the connection and read data. Although with the use of https 256-bit encryption and access control lists, this can be easily safe-guarded.
Speed
When using a web desktop the whole code used for visualization (.js/.css files, Flash player files, etc.) needs to be transferred to the local computer, so that it can be displayed. Further, network latency or congestion can intermittently slow webtop activity. Offline application storage can mitigate this issue.[7][8]
Application features
Some webtop delivered applications may not contain the full feature set of their traditional desktop counterparts
Network Access
Web desktops require access to a network. If the client device is misconfigured or the network is unreachable then the web desktop is unavailable.
Controlled access
In some webtop implementations and deployments a user's access to some applications and data can be restricted. This is also considered an advantage of webtops but can be viewed as a drawback from the user's perspective.
Central control
The normal webtop user is not able to install additional applications or update existing applications. Updates typically must be performed by an administrator on the server side. Webtop users are dependent upon the webtop administrator whereas in the traditional desktop environment the user can fix and/or break the system by installing new software or updates. This can also be seen as an advantage for webtops.

Comparison of web desktops

The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of web desktops.

Name Browser support Developer Engine Free License 3rd party applications Productivity Suite Graphical user interface Downloadable to Web server Still Active
appFlower IE6/7/8, Firefox3/4/5, Safari, Opera, Chrome AppFlower ApS appFlower based on PHP + AJAX Yes Open Source: GPLv3 Yes Yes Customizable Yes
CloudMe (icloud) IE 6/7/8/9, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome, Safari, Mobile Version: all browsers Xcerion AB AJAX Yes Proprietary Yes Zoho Office, proprietary email, calendar, IM, Games Windows-like No
DesktopTwo IE7 Sapotek Flash Yes (Beta) Open Source AGPL Yes OpenOffice Mac+Windows-like No
ZeroPC IE6/7/8, Firefox2/3, Safari, Opera, Chrome ZeroDesktop PHP + AJAX Yes Gnu WebApps Yes Yes Windows-like Yes
eyeOS IE6/7/8, Firefox2/3, Safari, Opera, Chrome eyeOS Team PHP + AJAX Yes Open Source: AGPL3 Yes Yes Customizable Yes
G.ho.st IE6+, Firefox2+, Safari. Partial: Chrome & Opera Ghost Inc ("G.ho.st") Flash + AJAX (mobile version is WAP) No Proprietary Yes Yahoo! Zimbra, Zoho, Google Docs, ILoveIM Windows-like No No
Glide OS IE7, Firefox 3, Safari, Chrome TransMedia HTML5 Yes (30 GB limit) Proprietary From Glide Community Glide Write, Glide Presenter, Glide Crunch, Photo Editor, Email Mac+Windows-like No Yes
Nivio IE7, IE8, Google Chrome, FF 4 Sachin Dev Duggal, Saurabh Dhoot In development No Proprietary Yes Yes Windows No Yes
Online OS FF 1.5 and higher, IE7 iCUBE Network Solutions Java + Ajax Yes Proprietary Yes Yes Windows-like No
xOS Webtop FF 5.0+, Chrome 12+, Safari XProduct HTML5, PHP, Javascript Yes Open Source: GPLv3 Yes Yes Mac-like No Yes

See also

Notes

  1. ^ US patent 6,104,392, Shaw , et al., "Method of displaying an application on a variety of client devices in a client/server network", issued 2000-08-15 
  2. ^ The Santa Cruz Operation Technical White Paper, Tarantella --The Universal Application Server, July, 1997
  3. ^ See uspto.gov, click on "Trademarks -> Search TM Database", and perform a Basic search for "Webtop". The only earlier occurrences in both the Patent and Trademark databases are for systems unrelated to a web desktop context.
  4. ^ SCO Skunkware Release Notes
  5. ^ "Sun Microsystems Completes Tarantella Acquisition". Associated Press. 2005-07-13. http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2005-07/sunflash.20050713.1.xml. Retrieved 2008-04-04. 
  6. ^ http://www.byte.com/art/9707/sec5/art1.htm
  7. ^ Web Application
  8. ^ How offline application cache works

References