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Detailed in our previous post, the Kiosk functionality in Springmatic is incredibly versatile, and the latest improvements make it even more customizable. The system...

Seeing the enormous potential of handheld devices and data services, Google became interested in the idea of a mobile-first operating system. In 2005 they acquired the Android codebase from Android Inc., and in late 2007 Google unveiled the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in order to develop a full, production-quality operating system for mobile phones. 

Introduction:

As someone who's spent more than a decade in mobile device management, I've witnessed the fascinating evolution of operating systems in the mobile world. The legacy x86 compute platforms that once dominated the landscape, are rapidly being replaced with purpose-built devices utilizing ARM-based platforms. In this blog post, we'll delve into the history of x86 operating systems, the rising popularity of ARM-focused versions, and why Android stands as the market leader in both GMS and non-GMS variants. We'll also explore the rapidly developing RISC-V ecosystem and it's protential impact on the edge compute industry in the near future.

One of the most significant advancements in device management and security recently is the implementation of a more modern kiosk mode that goes beyond single app restrictions to deliver whole environments that enable custom end-user experiences. By extending restrictions to multiple applications and system settings, admins can create custom interfaces that go way beyond the simple kiosks deployed in today’s legacy systems 

For years, traditional device management has been reduced to securely restricting device  environments in order to simplify operations  and increase productivity for task workers.. This use case still exists across multiple industries - including education, medical, logistics, POS–but device and software capabilities have risen substantially in recent years, and so has the number of cases. One solid case for a modern MDM, when done well, is for DevOps teams looking to implement, scale, and push updates within seconds to thousands or more devices  across multiple locations.

Springmatic offers a choice of ways to manage Android devices. One is to employ Android Enterprise’s native Device Policy Controller (DPC). The other is to employ Springmatic’s custom controller, Springmatic Core.

The world was built on cheap energy--software included–-so it's no surprise we take cheap energy for granted, and even less of a surprise that we don't factor it into our software purchasing decisions. Those who continue to do so, however, will likely find their hands tied and future budgets squeezed, because energy prices will remain high, and they’re going to take your MDM and cloud bill along for the ride.

Since the early 2000’s, the idea of Cloud-based computing has moved from concept, to buzzword, to trend, to near ubiquitous adoption. The convenience of being able to spin up server-side services rapidly makes it perfect for business sys-admins and developers alike. The scale of cloud computing is also perfect for organizations looking to scale globally. With a few clicks, a second instance of a company's whole platform can be spun up thousands of miles away. 

I always assumed Homo Sapiens were the predecessor to the Neanderthal, but in Harari's book Sapiens he tells the story about how the Neanderthal and Sapiens actually...