Google Chrome OS

[Hendo]

From here.

It's been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we're announcing a new project that's a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It's our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear — computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files. Even more importantly, they don't want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates. And any time our users have a better computing experience, Google benefits as well by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

We have a lot of work to do, and we're definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision. We're excited for what's to come and we hope you are too. Stay tuned for more updates in the fall and have a great summer.

This is pretty big news.

On an unrelated note, I've switched from Google search to Bing and I'm much preferring Bing.

[David]

I tried searching mfgamers in Bing and it comes up with any mention of the site but not the actual site (The first result is DS-Wiifi!). Epic fail.

As for Google, was only a matter of when this would happen. Ah well, good luck to them.

[Craymen Edge]

Wonder how long it will take before someone gets a version of Firefox working on Google Chrome OS if/when it happens.

I don't think I can ever go back to regularly browsing with a program that doesn't have NoScript, Flashblock and Adblock Plus (or equivalent). I have to make do with IE6 at work, and it's horrible.

[pickled]

is this going to be a version of the android os they use on their phones (like my G1)? I'd heard that they were going to release a version of that for netbooks etc, seems silly to release 2 separate ones

[Jimboxy]

how is the G1 dude? i'm tempted by one myself

[pickled]

i like it, touch screen plus slide out keyboard is a winning combo for me, also there's a healthy modding community so you can do all sorts of clever stuff with it (i've turned mine into a wireless router so I can connect to it from my laptop and use the 3g signal from my phone to use the internet when i'm out and about, which is awesome). Also it's got an apps market like the iphone, lot of shit on there but some gems, gmote is one of my favourites, can use my phone as a wireless keyboard and mouse for my pc, plus the android os is great. The battery life isn't good though, lasts about a day with light use, less so if you use it a lot (which i do) I think the newer one (htc magic, or maybe g2) on vodafone is a better phone though it doesn't have a slide out keyboard, touch screen bizzle only

[RivaOni]

is this going to be a version of the android os they use on their phones (like my G1)? I'd heard that they were going to release a version of that for netbooks etc, seems silly to release 2 separate ones

Wall of text says its going to be 2 seperate OS' this one designed with the "heavy internet user in mind".

[pickled]

is this going to be a version of the android os they use on their phones (like my G1)? I'd heard that they were going to release a version of that for netbooks etc, seems silly to release 2 separate ones

Wall of text says its going to be 2 seperate OS' this one designed with the "heavy internet user in mind".

Lol, didn't read that!

[Uncle Dokuro]

Google announced some new thing for Chrome OS and browser at Google I/O 2013 event today

Google Now Voice Search coming to Chrome OS and Chrome browser

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57584651-93/google-now-voice-search-arriving-on-the-desktop/

Chrome to get speed boost and improvements on mobile platforms

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2038805/google-shows-off-chrome-improvements-for-better-faster-mobile-browsing.html

Google Racer can be played on muli-screens (you need multiple phones for this)

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57584659-285/play-googles-chrome-racer-game-across-multiple-screens/

[Uncle Dokuro]

Google and it's partners have shifted 2.5 million Cromebooks in 2013. According to research firm IDC Chromebooks account for only 1% of PC sales. According to NPD Chromebook sales in America made up 21% of all laptop sales. I guess Americans love their Chromebooks.

Over 20% of all commercial notebooks sold in the US during 2013 were Chromebooks, leading market research group NPD has said.

Between January and November of this year 21% of all notebook sales in the US sold through commercial channels were Chromebooks, while also accounting for 8% of all commercial computer and tablet sales.

The stats, NPD say, account for “the largest share increase” across the market segments they track. Sales figures for last year (2012) in the same categories saw Chromebooks fail to breach 1%.

Industry analysts had previously predicted strong growth for Google’s cloud-based notebooks in 2013, with equally assured assessments now being forecast for next year.

With new devices from Dell, ASUS, Toshiba and LG, as well as the highly anticipated update to the Samsung Chromebook, 2014 should see such statements proven true once again, this time next year.

Chromebooks accounted for almost 1% of global PC sales in 2013, market research firm IDC has said.

The industry analysts report that out of more than 314 million PCs shipped last year Chrome OS notebooks accounted for 2.5 million units sold to consumers.

In the US, Chromebook shipments were up 112% on 2012 figures, according to NPD Group.

In just two short years the Chromebook has transitioned itself from a curiosity beloved by geeks to a mainstream bestseller.

Once derided by industry critics as a ‘fad’, devices quickly found favour with users thanks to their focused software experience, built-in security, long battery life and nimble form factor.

And things, analysts predict, are only set to get better for the cloud-centric computers in the near future.

By 2017 IDC experts predict that yearly Chromebook shipments will make up 2% of all PC sales. Like-minded research group Gartner is more optimistic in its forecast of a 4.5% share of PC shipments for Chrome OS by the end of the same year.

How accurate will these claims be? With devices shipping from almost every major PC manufacturer, including Dell, ASUS, Acer and Lenovo – who recently announced plans to ship “multiple Chromebook models” in 2013 – such lofty forecasts don’t seem all that hard to believe in.

[Uncle Dokuro]

http://www.omgchrome.com/chromecast-uk-launch-imminent/

It seems that the Google Chromecast is gearing up for an imminent launch at retail in the UK.

In a photo shared on Twitter by Ray Carmichael, an employee of UK retailer Currys/PC World, a box of the HDMI media streaming dongles is shown, complete with retail stand packaging.