BeIA
| Company type | Operating system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Embedded systems |
| Predecessor | BeOS |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Products | Embedded operating system for internet appliances |
| Owner | Be Inc. |
BeIA (short for BeOS tailored for Internet Appliances) was an embedded operating system created by Be Inc. during the period from 2000 to 2001. This OS was a simplified adaptation of their original BeOS platform, developed to run on both x86 and PowerPC processors.
The user interface of BeIA was primarily browser-centric, utilizing the Opera 4.0 engine, and frequently included an integrated dashboard called Wagner. In contrast to BeOS—which boots into Tracker and Deskbar—BeIA launched straight into the Opera browser environment, particularly on devices like the Compaq IA-1. This approach is comparable to how later systems such as ChromeOS start directly in Google Chrome. While it was possible to boot into a more conventional BeOS-like desktop, doing so required technical expertise.
In 2001, a unique application of BeIA appeared when a Zanussi "internet fridge" toured the United States, featuring a DT-300 webpad powered by BeIA mounted within its door.
Following the sale of Be Inc.’s assets to Palm, Inc., BeIA was discontinued. The platform was unable to reverse financial difficulties faced by the company, especially after setbacks like the commercial failure of the Sony eVilla.
Compression techniques
To reduce its system size, BeIA implemented multiple compression strategies, resulting in a compressed file system suitable for installation.
One such method was the proprietary Compressed File System (CFS), designed internally to shrink files while preserving many attributes similar to those found in BeOS’s BFS. However, some advanced functionalities were either limited or inactive in beta releases.
Additionally, BeIA enhanced the conventional ELF executable format by introducing CELF (Compressed ELF). This format compresses op codes using patented dictionary-based techniques loaded at kernel initialization and mapped into memory during execution. CELF allowed rapid loading times and smaller file sizes but restricted flexibility because new executables could only be incorporated if their symbols were already present in the dictionary. Typically, CELF binaries were generated in bulk during system compression.
The process of applying this CELF compression was colloquially termed crushing. While BeIA supported both CELF and standard ELF formats, it could not utilize them simultaneously.
Version history
Development of the BeIA platform included several releases for developers:
| Release Date | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1.0 build | Identified as version 4.5.2, likely inherited from BeOS | |
| 1.0 Beta | February 2000 | Known by the codename "Stinger" |
| 1.0 Release Candidate | 2000 (exact date unknown) | |
| 1.0 | October 2000 | |
| 1.09.2 | May 2001 | |
| 1.5 | 2001 (exact date unknown) | |
| 2.0 | 2001 (exact date unknown) |
List of BeIA devices
- Sony eVilla – promoted as a home web terminal with preloaded BeIA
- Compaq IA-1 – available with either BeIA or MSN Companion
- HARP – an audio streaming terminal standard utilized by Virgin Group in retail locations
- Proview iPAD (model PI-520B)
- DT Research DT-300 (later beta versions 2.0 used DT-325)
- First International Computer Genesis 2000
- Compilation of hardware officially and unofficially supporting BeIA
See also
- BeOS
- Overview of BeIA products
- Frequently Asked Questions about BeIA
- BeIA technical data sheet
- Browser performance evaluations for BeIA
- Glossary of BeIA technical terms
- Discussion on DT300 and BeIA modifications
References
External links
- (BeIA)
- Demonstration of BeIA