OK, this is just plain cool! Not just in the literal sense mind you, but this machine that makes nature’s treat known as ice cream happens to be Linux powered! Tell me that isn’t just neat!

MooBella, a nine-employee company in Taunton, Massachusetts has developed a machine no larger than a Coke vending machine that instantly makes a scoop of ice cream from fresh ingredients stored within.

Conventional ice cream is made by slowly whipping air into a cream base. MooBella’s machine instantly injects air into the ice cream as it’s flash-frozen.

The dairy ingredients are sealed in sterile plastic containers, with no need for refrigeration. The machine includes “mix-ins” such as chocolate chips and crushed cookies. It’s run on a Linux operating system, and features an LCD display on the front, where customers can create their own custom flavors from a base of twelve.

MooBella is in talks with Starbucks, which could, practically overnight, become the world’s largest ice cream chain.

Other targeted locations include airports, movie theaters, and hotel lobbies.

I can’t wait for this one to catch on! Anyone seen one of these yet? Source: Atlas Blogged

Tags: starbucks, moobella, linux-operated, flash-frozen