Keepod: re-inventing the wheel
This BBC web site article by, amazingly a Click journalist, Click is the BBCs technology programme so they should know better, implies a technology thats been around for almost 15 years, the OS on a USB stick, is "new" and revolutionary: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27346567
I've a sense of disappointment and deja vu about this. It reminds me of MS attempts to hijack the OLPC project by pushing Windows Starter edition. This is just the same except its Googles Android OS with its apps and Play Store.
In my view the entire premise is anachronistic and patronising. Why should children anywhere be expected, or even encouraged, to use low powered laptops with simplistic interfaces? I think children should be introduced to standard laptops and computers as soon as they're able.
I think this is a good idea except for the google and proprietary software parts. $7 doesn't buy much of a laptop these days.
I'd love to be able to boot off a USB stick at my local library etc...
It's just a persistent Live USB, which can be created using the "Startup Disk Creator." All you have to do is specify the ISO image and the size of the persistence file.
I use a Trisquel live USB on the school Macs. The only problem is that the wifi requires nonfree firmware, so I carry my USB wifi adapter.
I don't get why they use Android on those USB sticks instead of GNU/Linux.
Most if not all computers are set to not boot from the USB and the BIOS setup is locked where I live.
Well, if you have to use a Mac (like I do in school), just hold down the Alt/Option key and you will be able to select your flash drive.
Most non-Mac computers also have a key to select the boot medium (boot menu or something similar) without going into the bios setup. I don't know if that can be locked.