Indianapolis (IN) - Yesterday, Phoenix Technologies, the BIOS makers, announced a new product that could significantly change the way we use our notebooks.  Called HyperSpace, this new technology provides BIOS-level support for instant-on computing, either with or without the host operating system.  Could it be that OS vendors are finally forced to dig deeper and pull out a real user experience?


What is HyperSpace?
The designers at Phoenix began by looking at the notebook as a tool, and then proceeded from there.  The idea was to address several things.  These include long boot times, hardware driver issues, and the current difficulties in getting the machine to save its state immediately, and then restore it immediately.  In many instances these tools do not always work without error, especially in the presence of wireless networks.

So, what did Phoenix do?  They bypassed the OS and created their own virtual environment to run embedded, non-OS specific applications outside of Windows.  They tackled this particular kind of challenge because after all, who better to address these hardware/software issues than the guys who make it all work to begin with anyway (via BIOS)?


How does it work?
HyperSpace is a technology that runs on virtualization hardware.  It's basically an extended layer of BIOS, above the normal BIOS.  It provides basic functionality to access all of the hardware components, things like the hard disk, network connections, mouse, keyboard and display, etc.  It does this with or without a host OS running at the same time, like Windows.  One obvious advantage is the lightweight footprint.  Another is the instant-on nature of such a design as BIOS initializes the entire system in a matter of seconds.  And, since the BIOS layer is very close to hardware, the computer could turn on, do a few checks, and be fully ready to go almost immediately, even from a cold boot, because there are no general purpose drivers to initialize.  UPDATE:   In this case, Phoenix created its own set of Linux-like drivers outside of any installed OS.  This layer of BIOS-provided software becomes the drivers.

Physically, it all operates via a new Phoenix hypervisor called HyperCore.  This is a zoned instance of a virtual environment, one which can run their own internal BIOS layer directly alongside Windows (or other OS).  It could be thought of like Parallels, where more than one thing is running at one time.

According to Phoenix, the user can switch back and forth before, during and after Windows is running, or even after it's shut down.  In short, notebooks will consistently be productive without long bootup cycles because access to the software running in the zoned instance can occur at any time very quickly.  Phoenix also claims that PC vendors will be able to remotely access the machine to perform software inquiries, repairs installs, and other maintenance, all without having to have a working version of Windows, for example.


When will it be available?
Phoenix has stated that PC vendors will embed specific apps directly into the motherboard or BIOS using one of their secure technologies.  These protect the embedded apps from external attack or modification.  They'll be be shipped with the PC and will, therefore, always be available regardless of what has happened to the installed OS on the hard drive.

HyperSpace version 1.0 has been designed to work with both Intel and AMD virtualization technology hardware.  It could arrive in notebooks as soon as 6 to 9 months from now.  Whether or not there will be many software products available at that time is another question, however.  I was told in a conference call that a follow-up on HyperSpace, possibly version 2.0, is in the works.  This version would allow the addition of user-specified signed applications which can be inserted into their trusted environment.  This would provide a way to extend the base abilities provided by Phoenix with add-on apps.

With the ability to return to a very simple and easy-to-program software model, one which is very close to that of the old days of DOS, though now inherently graphical and 32- or 64-bit in nature, the reality here is that many open-source programs could be ported to HyperSpace.  The idea of needing a real operating system might actually fall by the wayside as this kind of basic support, present in any system running Phoenix BIOS, would be available.  This could open up a new set of doors that, according to the press release Phoenix issues, does not appear to be yet realized.

Phoenix certainly believes this type of use is possible though.  In their own press release they included the comment, "Working together with our partners within the PC ecosystem, we believe HyperSpace will ignite a new revolution of innovation built on the foundation of embedded simplicity."  In short, they know what they've got in this virtualized ability.  They want to shake up the software side of things, making the hardware underneath, that which has always been very fast despite clunky drivers, truly usable and directly accessible again.

UPDATE:
Phoenix goal for acceptable use
I had the opportunity to speak with Dr Gaurav Banga, Phoenix Technologies CTO and SVP of Engineering.  He told me some of the goals Phoenix has for HyperSpace.  First, the idea of "what you want is what you get" is foremost in their sights.  The user experience with a PC is not always the same as the machine's potential.  There are OS considerations, drivers, and software which, while doing their thing greatly in some instances, in other instances (such as on an airplane where no Internet connection is possible and trying to update software or anti-virus definitions), only gum up the works.  Dr. Banga told me Phoenix would like to see the user experience return to these basic, acceptable levels for use, providing some base abilities which make that possible.


Power savings
In addition, there are tremendous power savings which can exist by not using the Windows operating system, but by switching to the HyperCore and its applications.  Dr. Banga told me that power savings of up to 50% are possible by running the HyperCore software, rather than Windows.  He explained that the CPU clock speed is reduced, the physical instance of Windows running on the machine can physically be halted (through the Hypervisor), and that unneeded devices can be completely powered down.  By saving power in these ways, the ability to watch a 3+ hour DVD on a plane ride, for example, becomes possible with a regular notebook that doesn't have that much battery life with Windows or Linux, even in power savings mode.  This is a huge realization!


Author's opinion
I believe we're seeing a significant movement in the PC industry, and not just with Phoenix.  Virtualization is opening up all kinds of possibilities for regular users.  There are dozens of hard technologies which are now moving beyond their previous base limitations and into the world of "what we had yesterday is no longer enough.  More is possible, and we're now going to give it to you."  It almost seems like there's a race on to see who will get there first.  Who can provide the more usable tool?  Will our PCs revert back to a simple OS?  One which just works?

Technologies like these open up a lot of possibilities.  But I can say truthfully I'm not really fond of the idea of having embedded software within my PC, especially that which can be accessed remotely by the vendor.  I like the idea of having more control over my machine.  Rick master, machine slave.  In truth, I see this extension as a potential new form of DRM.  If, for example, the vendor can remotely access my machine to fix something, who's to say an unfriendly won't access it for negative purposes?  Or that the vendor won't access my machine remotely and lock it down if I happen to be a few days late with my monthly payment?  Or, if I've recently been flagged, either correctly or incorrectly, by my government as an enemy combatant?  I mean, it's the modern version of the age-old joke surrounding On*Star.  Any system which can unlock your car's door remotely, can also lock it remotely.

UPDATE:  After speaking with Dr. Banga, he notified me that my DRM analogy is the reverse of their position.  Phoenix sees the secure environment of their trusted software providing the user with an immediate way to access the machine for normal day-to-day use when the need to boot up a heavy OS like Windows isn't necessarily required.  In addition, when the machine is bricked by some failed OS, HyperSpace is there to make sure the machine can be used, restored, repaired or whatever is required.  Phoenix sees this as a significant tool for the user, and not as something to be exploited.

Still, I don't think we'll be able to keep this technology from coming.  That being said... get ready to enter HyperSpace in 2008.

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