Tag Archives: Google Chrome OS

Google I/O 2011: Music Beta, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Android@Home, Chrome OS, Chrome Web Store

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Yesterday and today Google hosted its renowned developer’s conference dubbed Google I/O 2011. Literally thousands of developers flocked to San Fransisco’s Moscone Center to find out what Google’s been cooking up on their end. This year’s event proved to be leaps and bounds more exciting than last year’s conference. Google introduced their new cloud-based music service called Music Beta; they unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of Android that promises to bridge the gap between Gingerbread and Honeycomb; Android is going into the home automation business with Google’s impressive initiative Android@Home; Chrome OS is finally ready for the big leagues–Samsung and Acer are prepping Chromebooks for mass consumption; and Angry Birds has landed in the browser!

So much to discuss–it’s all a hop, skip and a jump after the break. Continue reading Google I/O 2011: Music Beta, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Android@Home, Chrome OS, Chrome Web Store →

Concept vid reveals what Google Chrome tablet may look like

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Watch out, iPad.  Google Chrome OS-inspired tablets are on the way and they are (conceptually) looking real good.  On Monday Glenn Murphy, Google Chrome’s designer, posted this UI concept video and a handful of stills on Google’s Chromium site.  Though it’s only a mockup of sorts, it proves the Google is working hard to make Google Chrome OS (and devices they will eventually run on) a fully functional, multi-tasking beast of an experience.  Since Chrome OS is at least one year away from deployment, this is essentially Google showing us how they are experimenting with several different UI manipulation techniques and appearences.

[Via TheChromeSource; Gizmodo]

Google Chrome OS netbook specs leaked (looking good!)

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Out of the boring status quo comes a netbook with specs that don’t mention Intel Atom, NVIDIA Ion, HDD, and standard def.  Chrome OS, that browser-as-your-operating-system concoction from Google, is coming soon and it will come installed inside a Google-designed netbook of their own.  According to the IBTimes, the “Google netbook” looks to be one beast of the netbook: it will be powered by an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s Tegra graphics chip; it will feature a 10.1-inch TFT HD multi-touch display, 64GB SSD, 2GB RAM, and other goodies such as WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, an Ethernet port, USB ports, a webcam, a 3.5mm audio jack, a multi-card reader, and more.  According to the latest rumors, the device will be subsidized with a 3G plan and will end up in the sub-$300 category.

I really hope these specs are fact, not rumor.  A netbook with an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s sweet Tegra graphics would be a welcome addition to the netbook mix.  Tegra can only be found inside Microsoft’s Zune today, and it deserves more than that!

In related Google news, Google will be holding a press conference on January 5 where they will likely announce the coveted “Google phone,” the Nexus One.  Search, browsers, cell phones, netbooks, oh my!  Google world dominance is starting to gain hold.

[Via IBTimes; Gizmodo; Engadget]

Google announces Chrome OS; “what if your browser was your operating system?”

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Today Google revealed its take on the operating system.  And it’s called Chrome OS.  What’s that you say?  You’ve heard of Google Chrome, you are using it right now?  Google Chrome is a browser, just like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Mozilla’s Firefox.  What Google has announced is an operating system (think Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X) that runs in the Chrome browser skin.  The desktop and the entire workplace resides in what looks very much like the Google Chrome browser you may be using today.  The team at Google knows that when most people turn on their computer they go directly to their browser of choice to access the Internet.  Their plan is to streamline this process by making the browser the home base of your computer.

Now let’s talk hard facts.  Chrome OS is based on Linux and the current Chrome browser.  It is entirely web-based and only runs web apps.  All your storage will live in the Internet “cloud;”  this means that all of your data (documents, music, pictures, etc.) will be stored online.  Local hard drives will only be accessed to cache data and keep your computer speedy.  Think of the cloud in the same terms you think of how your email is handled.  You don’t download your email messages to your hard drive; it is all stored on the Internet, whether you use AOL Mail, Gmail, whatever.  An advantage of an OS based on the cloud: You can take your virtual space with you everywhere; all you need handy is your login information and a Chrome OS-capable computer to sign in and access all your data.  The OS itself is “light;” it will take just seconds to fully boot up your computer.  And this is  one of Google’s main goals: to get you on the Internet as fast and safe as possible.  Speaking of safety, Chrome OS will be highly resistive to viruses and malware; Google has designed a security layer based on its own binaries and the OS easily upgradable with over-the-Internet updates for the entire OS.

—–>> Continue reading Google announces Chrome OS; “what if your browser was your operating system?” →

Bill Gates on Chrome OS, Natal

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This week Bill Gates sat down with CNET for an engaging interview about physics lectures that Gates is releasing for the public to view for free.  The Richard Feynman lectures are very interesting; they “take notions such as gravity and explain how they work and the broad implications they have in understanding the ways of the universe.”  Although this is quite intriguing, the tech-related goodness forms near the end of the interview when Gates is asked to spill his thoughts on Google’s latest announcement concerning their Chrome OS.

Gates: “…there’s many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there, and packaged in different ways, and booted in different ways. So I don’t know anything in particular about what Google is doing. But, in some ways I’m surprised people are acting like there’s something new. I mean, you’ve got Android running on netbooks; it’s got a browser in it. In any case, you should make them be concrete about what they’re doing. It is kind of a typical thing. When Google is doing anything it gets this–the more vague they are, the more interesting it is.”

Later Gates is asked about his views on the current state of Microsoft, a company he left in the midst of a Vista crisis and a potential Windows 7 comeback.  Gates says he recently visited the MS Cambridge labs and sees a bright future for Project Natal.  Interestly, he lets on that the Natal camera technology will cover more than video games with the Xbox 360; it will evolve the computer interface as well.  Exciting stuff.  Brilliant man.  Click the source link above to read the interview in its entirety.

Google announces Chrome OS

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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]