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.

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

• Ensures all users are running the same current versions of all applications
• Updates and patches need only be applied to the server - no need to update multiple clients
• No need for software to distribute software over the network

Security

• Less prone to typical attacks, viruses, worms, unpatched clients, vulnerabilities
• Sensitive data stored on secure servers rather than scattered across multiple potentially unprotected and vulnerable clients (e.g. smart phones and laptops)
• Encrypted transmission of all data between server and clients (e.g. https)
• Software Management features (above) accommodate quick and easy application of security advisories on server side
• Webtop administrator can control which applications and data each user is allowed to access

High availability

• From a single device access Windows, UNIX, Linux, and Mainframe applications, all at the same time
• Minimal hardware requirements for client devices (except for rendered technologies such as Flash/Flex/SilverLight)
• Less downtime - robust server system more easily protected and less likely to fail than multiple client desktops
• Fault tolerance - if a client device fails for any reason simply replace it with any other supported client device without loss of data, configuration, preferences, or application access

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
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
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
Glide OS	IE7, Firefox 3, Safari, Chrome	TransMedia	Flash	Yes (30 GB limit)	Proprietary	From Glide Community	Glide Writer	Mac+Windows-like	No
Nivio	IE7, IE8, Google Chrome, FF 4	Sachin Dev Duggal, Saurabh Dhoot	In development	No	Proprietary	Yes	Yes	Windows	No
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: AGPL	Yes	Yes	Mac-like	No
CubeDrive	FF 5.0+, Chrome 12+, Safari, IE8+	CubeDrive	HTML5, Grails, ExtJS, Sencha	Yes	Proprietary	Yes	Yes	Window-like	Yes
ZeroPC	IE, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari	ZeroPC team	HTML, JavaScript, Java	Yes	Proprietary	Yes	ThinkFree Online Office, integration with local apps	Windows-like	No

See also

• Comparison of remote desktop software
• Online office suite
• Rich Internet application
• Virtual Network Computing
• Web operating system
• Hosted desktop

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

• SCO Tarantella Offers New Twist On an Old Thin-Client Dance, "Network Computing Magazine", Mark Andrew Seltzer, January 24, 2000
• Ditch That Desktop for a Webtop, PC World, October 16, 2000
• SCO Company History, Operating System Documentation Project
• SCO revamps UnixWare with Linux features, CNET News.com, February 23, 1999
• SCO Showcases Latest In Network Computing for Real-World Environments, Network Computing News, April 29, 1997
• xOS Webtop Developer Gives Development Information, August 10, 2011
• About xOS Webtop Gives Overall Information About xOS Webtop, August 10, 2011