Phoenix Hyperspace: Add ‘Instant On’ to Your Notebook (CES 2009)

Phoenix Technologies introduced Hyperspace today, which is an instant-on operating system you can add to any notebook. You now longer have to wait for Windows to boot if all you want to do is check your email or use a Web browser.

Phoenix sent me a Lenovo IdeaPad S10 and a ThinkPad T400 with Hyperspace and I was impressed. Both booted into Hyperspace within a few seconds and I was able to get online faster than with any other notebook I’m using.

Phoenix claims that using Hyperspace can improve battery life by up to 25% compared to Windows. I didn’t get a chance to validate this claim since the T400 I tried had a monstrous extended battery.

The pre-release version of Hyperspace allowed me to quickly access my email, check my flight status and update my blog. There were several options that weren’t functional yet, but I really liked what I saw so far.

There are two flavors of Hyperspace. Hyperspace Dual is meant for netbooks and you have to quit out of Hyperspace to access Windows. With Hyperspace Hybrid both operating systems run simultaneously and you can switch between the two at will.

— HyperSpace Hybrid

— $59.95 annual license or $149.95 for three years, includes updates

and free Website support

— Utilizes the power of virtual technology found in Intel

microprocessors

— Users can toggle back and forth between the two operating system

environments, reducing battery consumption by more than 25% when

in HyperSpace

— HyperSpace Dual

— $39.95 annual license or $99.95 for three years, includes updates

and free Website support

— Designed for both Windows Vista and Windows XP systems that do not

have virtualization enabled at the chipset level by Intel

— Delivers the same instant-on/instant-off experience with battery

savings, however users can be in HyperSpace only when Windows is

shut down or in Windows when HyperSpace is shut down

I’m not a big fan of the subscription licensing fees. I’d much rather pay a flat fee rather than getting looped into yet another subscription service.

Update:

I installed Hyperspace on my Mini 1000 and unfortunately the screen resolution is set way to high, which means I can’t use it until they address this issue.

Hyperspace’s installation is pretty geeky looking and it will probably scare off average Joe consumer. I talked to a couple of other bloggers that are interested in Hyperspace, but won’t install it until the bugs are worked out. Messing with a computer’s BIOS can be a tricky game and nobody wants to brick their notebooks while covering CES.

If you’d like to try HyperSpace you can download it at HyperSpace.com

Full press release from Phoenix:

Phoenix HyperSpace(TM) for Consumers Debuts at CES, Las Vegas

– Delivers Instant-On and Always-Connected Computing – Notebooks and Netbooks can now be as Fast, Fun and Friendly as Mobile Phones

– Consumers can now take advantage of PC 3.0(TM) Vision

MILPITAS, Calif., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:PTEC) , the leader in PC 3.0TM products, services and embedded technologies, today introduced HyperSpace for consumers, a revolutionary new instant-on and always-connected computing environment that makes operating a mobile PC as efficient, fun and easy, as operating a cell phone. HyperSpace dramatically simplifies and improves the mobile experience by allowing users to instantly launch important web-based applications (before Windows(R) even boots), automatically connect to the best available network, extend battery life, and achieve new levels of uptime and security protection. HyperSpace is immediately available for download at www.hyperspace.com

(Logo: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070410/SFTU048LOGO)

HyperSpace will also be available for download and on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from Jan 8 – 11 2009, at Phoenix booth# 9014 Central Hall.

Solution for Mobile Computer Users:

HyperSpace directly addresses the top frustrations of today’s mobile computer users. In a recent survey, Get Vocal About Mobile, which was conducted by the Forum to Advance the Mobile Experience and its Reinvent Mobile initiative (www.reinventmobile.com), 1,300 mobile PC consumers listed their greatest frustrations as:

1) Running out of power too quickly

2) Finding a reliable wireless connection and,

3) Waiting too long to boot up and shut down of systems

“Stop waiting for Windows to boot or worrying about finding the best wireless connection. Instant-on computing with HyperSpace transforms the mobile experience by providing cell phone-like connectivity, ease-of-use and efficiency for key applications,” said Woody Hobbs, president and CEO of Phoenix Technologies. “In less than a few seconds, you’re up and running – browsing the Internet, emailing, instant messaging, and using other important applications. By utilizing the power of virtualization technology, HyperSpace can run side-by-side with Windows Vista(R) on certain systems, making your computer far more power efficient, secure and frustration-free.”

Phoenix has been working with the world’s leading silicon and software vendors to create an ecosystem for HyperSpace. HyperSpace is optimized for web applications like Google Apps and will include shortcuts to those applications so that consumers can easily access their favorite Google sites. Phoenix Technologies is also working with Yahoo’s Zimbra division to add Zimbra Desktop email functionality to HyperSpace.

“Laptop and Netbook users typically surf the Web 90% of the time: instant access to the Internet, current information and online applications makes their time online more fun and productive. For over a decade many companies have tried to make virtualization ready for mainstream consumption. Phoenix Technologies has succeeded, and the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary,” added consumer PC guru, Tim Bajarin, of Creative Strategies.

Availability and Pricing:

The HyperSpace instant-on/instant-off experience for the consumer is immediately available for download in two versions at www.hyperspace.com. Consumers can check their laptop while logged into hyperspace.com to determine which version to use.

— HyperSpace Hybrid(TM)

— $59.95 annual license or $149.95 for three years, includes updates

and free Website support

— Utilizes the power of virtual technology found in Intel

microprocessors

— Users can toggle back and forth between the two operating system

environments, reducing battery consumption by more than 25% when

in HyperSpace

— HyperSpace Dual(TM)

— $39.95 annual license or $99.95 for three years, includes updates

and free Website support

— Designed for both Windows Vista and Windows XP systems that do not

have virtualization enabled at the chipset level by Intel

— Delivers the same instant-on/instant-off experience with battery

savings, however users can be in HyperSpace only when Windows is

shut down or in Windows when HyperSpace is shut down

PC OEM Partners and HyperSpace Netbook(TM):

HyperSpace will be an embedded or a customized option on many next-generation notebooks and netbooks introduced by leading PC OEM and ODM partners. Phoenix has also launched a version of HyperSpace for the quickly exploding netbook market. HyperSpace Netbook, on display at CES, is a low-cost, efficient and tiny-footprint operating system for Internet access devices, providing instant-on/instant-off ease of use and smart network connectivity.

Key HyperSpace Benefits include:

Instant-on/Instant-off – With HyperSpace, you’re up and running in a few seconds.

Smart connectivity – HyperSpace automatically and seamlessly connects you to the best available wired, WiFi and WAN network. You can easily add and prioritize preferred networks to optimize performance and cost efficiency.

Longer battery life – Using the web in HyperSpace extends battery power by more than 25% in some systems when compared to computing in Windows. With the right hardware and usage patterns, consumers can experience all day battery-life on certain platforms. A constant and significant increase in the number of platforms supporting all day computing is a high priority for Phoenix development.

Security – HyperSpace is a personal computing environment that is far more difficult to infect with viruses, rootkits and spyware than operating systems like Windows. Applications are digitally signed and stored in a secure memory store that is locked after execution. Updates and additions to HyperSpace will only be made via a site approved and owned or audited by Phoenix.

Uptime – If Windows Vista(TM) system fails, HyperSpace is still available and running. Phoenix partners are expected to shortly deliver solutions to maintain and repair the consumer’s system while the user is still working in HyperSpace.

The combination of all these benefits means more productivity and less frustration for the notebook and netbook user.

About Phoenix Technologies Ltd.

Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:PTEC) is the global market leader in system firmware that provides the most secure foundation for today’s computing environments. The PC industry’s top system builders and specifiers trust Phoenix to pioneer open standards and deliver innovative solutions that will help them differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market and increase their revenues. The Company’s flagship products and services — AwardCore, Phoenix SecureCore, Embedded BIOS, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, BeInSync and eSupport — are revolutionizing the PC user experience by delivering unprecedented performance, security, reliability, continuity, and ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership and created the PC clone industry with its original BIOS product in 1983. Phoenix has 159 technology patents and 136 pending applications, and has shipped in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.phoenix.com/.

Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, AwardCore, Phoenix SecureCore, Embedded BIOS, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, HyperSpace Hybrid, HyperSpace Dual, HyperSpace Netbook, PC 3.0, BeInSync, eSupport and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other marks are the marks of their respective owners.

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