After hearing many rumors about Google concocting an operating system of its own, the company has officially given word that it is indeed creating a full-fledged operating system extending from its Chrome web browser.  According to the official developer blog, “Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks” and “most of the user experience takes place on the web.”  “That is, it’s “Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel” with the web as the platform.”  It will be capable of running on Intel Atom chips and ARM processors.  Google responded to the current rumors about its mobile Android OS making a jump from cell phones (think T-Mobile G1) to netbook computers (think Eee PCs):  “…choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.”  Google plans on releasing the new OS onto netbooks in the second half of 2010.  Until Google reveals more information and the overall plan for the Chrome OS, there is not much else to say on this matter.  One thing’s for sure, though–with Google plunging into the OS wars with Microsoft, Apple, and Linux, only good things can come from competition like this.  So exciting!

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo; GoogleBlog]