This year's Mobile World Congress may be behind us, but we're still finding small gems worth mentioning. One of them is the smartphone prototype Intel is developing based on an Atom x3 processor, with the added twist that it splits a single kernel between an Android stack and a conventional Linux stack. This allows it to switch between "mobile mode" and "desktop mode" without much fuss.
Two Operating Systems, One Kernel
The idea of turning a mobile device into a desktop computer isn't new. Several solutions already exist on the market, with the best example probably being Continuum on Windows 10 Mobile, although it's only available on high-end devices. Despite years of research, the transition from phone to computer (and vice versa) still has a few sharp edges. I'm convinced many users would be willing to replace their computers with a powerful enough smartphone, as long as that replacement is assumed to be "complete." This brings us to explore one of the many prototypes presented at the last Mobile World Congress. Its developer is none other than Intel, and its two chosen operating systems are both based on Linux.
Why two operating systems? Actually, it's about two stacks. Intel spokespeople explained that the smartphone uses a single Linux kernel and divides it between an instance of Android running in a window and another of a more "conventional" desktop Linux, which judging by the images looks a lot like Ubuntu (the build is managed by Intel). Another detail worth highlighting is that both instances share the same file system, so there's no need to transfer content. The hardware base for this smartphone is an Atom x3 SoC with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 5.1-inch screen. When you connect an external monitor, the smartphone screen turns off, but Intel indicated that the next generation of the Atom x3 will support dual screens simultaneously.
A Business Case in Search of Partners
The rest boils down to business. The Atom x3 is a chip that's already on the market, and its production could be ramped up immediately, but what Intel is looking for are partners, or rather, customers for this dual format. From a technical point of view, the phone isn't "high-end," and whatever its potential as a desktop platform is directly tied to performance. Maybe Intel will need to wait a little...
