Google to launch operating system

[ewerk 26394]

Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

 

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at netbooks, the low-cost portable computers that have turned the PC world upside down.

 

Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the middle of 2010.

 

"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," said the company in a blog.

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

 

For Microsoft the news comes just months before it launches the latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.

 

'Back to basics'

 

"We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds," said the blog post written by Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, and Google's engineering director Linus Upson.

 

Both men said that "the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web" and that this OS is "our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".

 

To that end, the search giant said the new OS would go back to basics.

 

"We are 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," said Google.

 

Google already has an operating system for mobile phones called Android which can also be used to run on netbooks. Google Chrome OS will be aimed not just at laptops but also at desktops for those who spend a lot of time on the web.

 

"Truly competitive"

 

The announcement could dramatically change the market for operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player with around 90% share.

 

"This announcement is huge," said Rob Enderle, industry watcher and president of the Enderle Group.

 

"This is the first time we have had a truly competitive OS on the market in years. This is potentially disruptive and is the first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft.

 

"Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post web OS ground up, redesigned, reconceived for a web world," Mr Enderle told the BBC.

 

Last year Google launched the Chrome browser, which it said was designed 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."

 

Stephen Shankland at CNET said the move had widespread implications.

 

"One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and G-mail.

 

"Another: it opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close attention to Google's moves."

 

Some commentators said Google's motivation in all this was pretty clear.

 

"One of Google's major goals is to take Microsoft out, to systematically destroy their hold on the market," said Mr Enderle.

 

"Google wants to eliminate Microsoft and it's a unique battle. The strategy is good. The big question is, will it work?"

 

At the popular blog, TechCrunch, MG Siegler said "Let's be clear on what this really is. This is Google dropping the mother of all bombs on its rival, Microsoft."

 

Microsoft releases Windows 7 later this year to replace Windows Vista and Windows XP which is eight years old.

 

The Redmond based company claims that 96% of netbooks run Windows to date.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8139711.stm

[Fop 1]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

[Park Life 70]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

[Fop 1]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

 

Basically MS is -ing itself over Google because they are beating them to the punch over online applications and (seemingly) OS's too.

 

We could be seeing the last days of MS as it has been (they'll be harder to shift out of the business world though), although it isn't a massively good thing if Google just swaps places with it, even if their business model remains different (competition is what is needed for innovation).

[ChezGiven 0]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

 

Basically MS is -ing itself over Google because they are beating them to the punch over online applications and (seemingly) OS's too.

 

We could be seeing the last days of MS as it has been (they'll be harder to shift out of the business world though), although it isn't a massively good thing if Google just swaps places with it, even if their business model remains different (competition is what is needed for innovation).

 

Been predicting that for a few years now. Google in 10 years will be the evil giant as the original business spirit is sapped out of it by Wall st.

 

Possibly.

[Park Life 70]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

 

Basically MS is -ing itself over Google because they are beating them to the punch over online applications and (seemingly) OS's too.

 

We could be seeing the last days of MS as it has been (they'll be harder to shift out of the business world though), although it isn't a massively good thing if Google just swaps places with it, even if their business model remains different (competition is what is needed for innovation).

 

Been predicting that for a few years now. Google in 10 years will be the evil giant as the original business spirit is sapped out of it by Wall st.

 

Possibly.

 

 

All started in a garage.

[ChezGiven 0]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

 

Basically MS is -ing itself over Google because they are beating them to the punch over online applications and (seemingly) OS's too.

 

We could be seeing the last days of MS as it has been (they'll be harder to shift out of the business world though), although it isn't a massively good thing if Google just swaps places with it, even if their business model remains different (competition is what is needed for innovation).

 

Been predicting that for a few years now. Google in 10 years will be the evil giant as the original business spirit is sapped out of it by Wall st.

 

Possibly.

 

 

All started in a garage.

 

So did my sex life.

[Fop 1]

Been predicting that for a few years now. Google in 10 years will be the evil giant as the original business spirit is sapped out of it by Wall st.

 

Possibly.

 

 

Maybe. Although at least they won't be in as strong a position as MS have been in the last 15 years or so with a web based OS, even MS itself would have weakened its own position with its plans to move to that, as it's much harder to legally (and illegally) tie manufacturers and consumers into that sort of a system (even though MS originally envisioned it as an absolute gold mine which had their top brass quite literally drooling over the idea of money for nothing - but that was before Google started its advance into other areas).

 

 

It could even help things like Linux, if that becomes the "offline" OS of choice.

[Lazarus 0]

The google OS is just another linux distro.

 

not sure i fancy ads on my desktop or scrolling along the taskbar or whatever.

 

ill still have a fiddle with it though

[Fop 1]

The google OS is just another linux distro.

not sure i fancy ads on my desktop or scrolling along the taskbar or whatever.

 

ill still have a fiddle with it though

"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. (...) 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."

 

Seemingly so, Googlified maybe even Rob W will try it.

[Jimbo 133]

Interesting, but the Google model for the future is no better than MS's if either dominate.

 

 

The news could also be a blow to the open source Linux operating system, which had taken an early lead on netbooks, but then lost out to Microsoft's elderly Windows XP.

Again that was a combination of MS's monopolistic pressure on manufacturers directly () and the "this isn't windows" effect, even though netbooks arguably function much better for what they are meant for with a modern Linux based OS than an 8 year old XP (still don't think they'll get Win7 to work well on "netbooks").

 

Looks fast from what I've read this morning.

 

Basically MS is -ing itself over Google because they are beating them to the punch over online applications and (seemingly) OS's too.

 

We could be seeing the last days of MS as it has been (they'll be harder to shift out of the business world though), although it isn't a massively good thing if Google just swaps places with it, even if their business model remains different (competition is what is needed for innovation).

 

Been predicting that for a few years now. Google in 10 years will be the evil giant as the original business spirit is sapped out of it by Wall st.

 

Possibly.

 

 

All started in a garage.

 

So did my sex life.

 

So did mine, alone.

[Happy Face 29]

Internet search giant Google has lifted the lid on its operating system, known as Chrome OS.

 

The free and open source system is initially aimed at low-cost netbooks and does away with many of the features of a traditional program.

 

All applications are designed to run in a web browser and all the user's data is stored on Google's servers.

 

Engineers from the firm said the first computers running the system would be available before the end of 2010.

 

"We are trying to offer a choice for users," said Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management, during an event at the firm's headquarters in California.

 

"This model of computing is fundamentally different."

 

The event follows the recent launch of Microsoft's Windows 7 and Apple's operating system upgrade, Snow Leopard.

 

Speed test

 

Google first announced its intention to build an operating system in July this year.

 

The firm has designed the system around its Chrome browser. The program was released 14 months ago and already has 40m regular users, the firm said.

 

"It's very familiar and intuitive to users - most people know how to use the browser," said Mr Pichai.

 

All programs or applications - such as word processing and e-mail - run in different tabs in the browser.

 

"There are no conventional desktop applications," said Mr Pichai. "That means you don't have to install or update software.

 

"It's just a browser; a browser with a few modifications."

 

Mr Pichai said the system was based around speed, simplicity and security.

 

He showed it booting up in seven seconds.

 

"We're working very, very, very hard to make that time shorter," he said. "We want Google Chrome OS to be blazingly fast."

 

He said they wanted it to be like a television, where a computer could be switched on and instantly running and connected to the web.

 

Google has been able to boost the speed of the system by designing it for specific hardware. The firm said that it would only run on computers using "solid state drives" instead of traditional hard drives.

 

In addition, the firm has been talking to hardware manufacturers to specify which components to include on finished machines.

 

This means that the company could "optimise" the code to run as quickly as possible, said Mr Pichai.

 

Memory games

 

He used the demonstration to show the machine doing many common tasks such as playing games and music, as well as reading books and writing text.

 

Any documents and files created on the computer were automatically synced and saved on Google's servers, said Matthew Papakipos, an engineer working on the system.

 

As a result, he added, anybody who lost their computer would be able to buy a new machine and easily recover all their data.

 

"In a matter of seconds, all the data syncs back to the machine."

 

Although the firm envisages most tasks will be done online, it will also offer the capability to use some programs when there is no connection.

 

It already offers a similar feature for programs such as Gmail and Google Docs using its Gears program.

 

Initially, the firm envisages people will use the operating system on a second, portable machine.

 

Memory intensive tasks, such as video editing, would require a more powerful machine.

 

Open offer

 

The demonstration could dramatically change the market for operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player with about 90% share of the market.

 

When it was first announced, Rob Enderle, industry watcher and president of the Enderle Group, described it as "the first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft".

 

The fact that it is free could encourage many users to try the system.

 

Currently, Mr Pichai said the company did not have a business plan but admitted that encouraging people to use the web and Google services "benefits us as a company".

 

Google derives most of its revenue from selling advertising around search and its other online products.

 

Most consumers will have to wait until 2010 to get their hands on a device running the system.

 

However, the firm used the event to release an early version of the code for developers.

 

"You can get Chrome OS up and running today," said Mr Pichai.

 

They said they had chosen to release the code and the designs for the system because it was based on a variety of existing open source projects such as the Linux and Ubuntu operating systems.

 

Open source systems allow people to tinker and use the underlying code to build and customize applications. It is normal to publish any modifications to allow other people to take advantage of the changes.

 

"We're looking forward to feedback from the open source community," said Mr Pinchai.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8369611.stm

 

[sammynb 2929]

Love chrome as a browser but it is so fucked with so many online "suppliers."

It will take a while for their OS to clear the microsoft domination bugs.

[Happy Face 29]

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Google Chrome 5 Stable Released

Google launched the first stable version of Google Chrome that's available for Windows, Linux and Mac. Google's browser has been initially released for Windows and then it was ported to Linux and Mac.

 

http://chrome.blogspot.com/

 

Anyone using it?

 

Thoughts?

Edited June 1, 2010 by Happy Face

[Kevin 1]

Was never a fan of Google Chrome, simple but not the same as firefox and IE with the dropdown bar on the address bar. Only thing that put me off it tbh.

[Happy Face 29]

I'm getting confused.

 

I didn't want to ask about chrome. I wanted to ask about the chrome OS....which hasn't got a recent stable release. Just the unstable code you can whack on a memory stick and give a whirl...

 

http://www.memac.com/chromeos/

 

Still, anyone using it? When/how will i be able to access my local music?

Edited June 1, 2010 by Happy Face