Updated: Our first look at Google's upcoming desktop OS - now confirmed for a late 2010 release date.
Google has shown off its Chrome OS operating system for the first time, with the internet giant 'open sourcing' the code for its latest venture, and billing it as the ideal OS for a complimentary device rather than a main computer.
Showing off an early build of Chrome OS for the first time, Google's press conference confirmed that much of what you would expect from a Google product is present and accounted for, with the phrase "Speed, simplicity and security" used throughout the presentation.
The OS is pretty much a browser with much greater functionality rather than a traditional OS, and will only work with solid state memory rather than a hard drive.
Reference devices
Interestingly, Google talked about producing 'reference' devices - suggesting that it wants larger laptops with full-sized keyboards and bigger screens, but was not prepared to give a potential price point, merely that it was working with partners on an official spec.
All applications are web apps - and everything is stored in the cloud, online, with the local memory used "only as a cache and accelerator".
Google stated that it expects Chrome OS devices will be a secondary device rather than a primary device, indicating that it does not expect Chrome to support more complicated programs, but act as complimentary to a main machine.
"As a consumer, you can't go download Chrome OS," said Sundar Pichai, Vice President of Product Management. "You will have to go and buy a Chrome OS device."
Chrome IS Chrome OS
Pichai also pointed out that Chrome was both the browser and the OS, meaning that other browsers could not run - although the open source nature of the code does feasibly mean that other browser makers could develop their own operating systems.
"Chrome IS Chrome OS," Pichai opened the conference by saying.
There will be offline access, although Chrome OS is obviously designed for a constant connection, and HTML 5 is key to the entire venture.
A whole new world
Announced back in July, Google's first foray into the world of the operating system has inevitably attracted huge amounts of interest both from the media and the general public.
Although, Google stated that it was looking to launch on netbooks at the end of 2010, it is clear that the internet giant could challenge Microsoft on laptops and PCs should it show its worth in the low-cost, small form-factor market.
Microsoft has been overjoyed with the reaction to Windows 7 since it launched in late October and will feel confident that its latest OS can defend against all-comers, but Google has both the financial might and popularity to potentially produce something that is adopted by the public.
But Chrome OS is a seismic change from what people are expecting; and Google's assertion that this is meant to be for secondary devices means that this is not meant to replace Windows - at least not yet.
Your comments (12) Click to add a new comment
mowfo1980
July 10th
12. Why is offering an update 'not cool'. Firefox seems to do it on a weekly basis! I too think MS is just being penalised for its size.
Go MS!
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skovsky
July 10th
11. @lovlid,
Well, I don't know about illegal, but there's certainly a forceful & deceptive element to Microsoft's bundling with IE. The other day the little yellow "necessary & recommended OS/security-related update" icon appeared in my system tray. I clicked custom install out of curiosity. The only thing listed was Internet Explorer 8.
Not cool.
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lovlid
July 10th
10. @ poebae "The big difference between Microsoft's forceful (and illegal) bundling of IE"
Whats forceful or illegal about it? Its like telling Argos to hand out Littlewoods catalogues.
"Google Chrome OS will be open source, hence free. Users have the freedom of choice whether they want to use the software or not."
So do Windows users, they always have. You don't have to use Windows, or its associated software, but even if you do, the choice has always been there.
"There's no chance the European parliament will ask them to remove the browser component, unless they start doing the same with all of the Linux distributions that have a default browser built-in."
Because lets face it, Linux has never been big enough to bother with.
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dcolley
July 9th
9. Let's just break this down. Microsoft launches what's it called search 'bing' and admits that not getting heavily into search was its only mistake. But of course that was ok with PC folks, then google does what announces that they are going to release a web based OS. Now that's just not nice. They just don't play fair. Let's face it anything that brings Microsoft down a notch is good for the industry.
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goineasy9
July 9th
8. I'm sure that Google will make sure that their new Chrome OS will be optimized for both online and offline usage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see optimizations even for dial-up. This is Google we are taking about, they didn't get into a position of dominance by overlooking essentials.
As far as having to deal with the proprietary drivers that are the bane of distro users that contain the Linux kernel, I'm sure that their visibility and wealth will convince those hardware manufacturers, that releasing open source drivers is good for their businesses.
Many Linux distros already have incredible hardware recognition, so, I don't think Google will have any problem there. Except for Nvidia and ATI, I haven't had to physically install any external drivers on any of the Linux systems I've installed recently. There are still install disks shipped with most hardware destined for Windows installation. Printers, routers, mouse, keyboard, network cards, ivtv cards work all out of the box with my Linux installs.
I can only see many pluses for the release of Chrome OS.
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hoanglong1712
July 9th
7. I don't know if this os require a faster internet link
if it does, my choice is saying no to cloud computing
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