Google announces new OS

[Stormwatch]

It's official now...

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.

Moar here.

[Momijitsuki]

Interesting.

[antron]

They should start by releasing the Chrome browser for Linux, they obviously have it.

[GaijinPunch]

They should start by releasing the Chrome browser for Linux, they obviously have it.

They should stop pissing off privacy advocates before masturbating about making their own OS.

[antron]

They should start by releasing the Chrome browser for Linux, they obviously have it.

They should stop pissing off privacy advocates before masturbating about making their own OS.

it will be open source. we will at least know what it's up to.

[null1024]

Nothing particularly important here, move along, it's just another Linux distro.
The only interesting thing is that it's Google, which means they can buy into companies for Linux hardware support so they can get this thing to run on those boxes as well as they want.

[Ed Oscuro]

The real news is that VLC version 1.0.0 was released the other day (tried to post about it and then my 'net took a flaming dump); seems to have DVD playback now. Although it won't play one of the music WAVs from the Zeno Clash demo for some reason. If it only supported Winamp plugins, I'd be able to dump Winamp. Unfortunately, not yet.

[Specineff]

No wonder why I heard a voice that sounded like that of Gates scream "FUCK!", earlier today.



Hope it fares well. I just wonder if it will be ad-supported.

[Cthulhu]

I'm guessing that it will take a while to really get momentum behind it. Android has been pretty slow to catch on, but it obviously has potential. I can only imagine this will be the same.

The only company that really gets hurt by this is Microsoft. Linux distros won't really care about another OS showing up (Linux is struggling to reach 2% market share according to most surveys anyways), and people who use Macs aren't going to change OSes anytime soon either. The other OSes out there right now - BSD, the commercial Unix variants (Solaris, HP-UX, etc), and the other tiny open-source ones are so minor that it's hard to even talk about them.

[Ed Oscuro]

I just wonder if it will be ad-supported.

Open Source + ad-supported = Not ad-supported

TI and Qualcomm are pretending to be excited about this, but mainly what Google should bring to the table is Linux for everybody else + cloud (blah, whaddya do when you're not online, and who wants to pay the data rates to be jacked into such services all the time when you can keep it locally) + hopefully some new form factors and whatnot, but that didn't need Google, just somebody with Google's backend, I guess. Hence the excitement over the cloud stuff.

My major concern is the effect it'll have on Microsoft, and whether the price pressure will eventually kill off Windows, or force them to try something new, like moving more towards the services component that Google has long provided. Kinda funny that Google has had the reverse progression from Microsoft, but that's led them to be much more consumer- and convenience-oriented.

Call me old-fashioned but I like to have my applications locally for those instances when the 'net falls out.

The other OSes out there right now - BSD, the commercial Unix variants (Solaris, HP-UX, etc), and the other tiny open-source ones are so minor that it's hard to even talk about them.

This thing won't likely be of any use for business users, who are likely to be running the serious Unix derivatives, or Microsoft Exchange Server, or something exotic. It's probably going to be a while before this OS is a contender with Windows (for features, not price where it should be very competitive), but server features are almost certainly even farther off, unless somebody is silly enough to believe that businesses will be happy to send things off to happy Google cloud-land. Hah, not damn likely! Still need secure, confidential storage and applications on-site.

[neorichieb1971]

It states quite clearly its for the netbook user.

I think its a good idea personally. It provides enough for people that just want to browse the internet and do some basic things.

I would still keep a computer with windows on it though.

[Udderdude]

If they can include a easy to use WINE clone or something it would be even better.

[null1024]

If they can include a easy to use WINE clone or something it would be even better.

Problem: that limits them to x86, and in the article, they had another supported architecture listed [ARM].

[Ex-Cyber]

If they can include a easy to use WINE clone or something it would be even better.

I think the whole point is for Chrome to be the only "real" application running. The post says "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".

[Davey]

Right, I think this is going to be a very bare bones distro. Probably just a base system with Chrome and maybe some other simple internet apps (e.g., IM/IRC client). Knowing Google they'll probably roll their own desktop environment, and given the type of hardware they're targeting (internet appliances), it will probably be really simple like IceWM.

Even though there are already a bazillion too many distros (mostly Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora spin-offs), this one sounds like it might actually be unique enough to warrant its existence.

[Ed Oscuro]

If they can include a easy to use WINE clone or something it would be even better.

Problem: that limits them to x86, and in the article, they had another supported architecture listed [ARM].

Optional for advanced (exciting) users (adults only)!

[stevetamis]

Well, i am looking forward for Google Chrome Os to get launched. I hope this is the most awaitad by all the google users.

[crithit5000]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/19/goog ... -revealed/

It's a tad bit underwhelming, but I guess that was to be expected.

[ASK]

Oh god it's all in the cloud. No thanks.

[antron]

For example, Chrome OS won't work with standard hard drives, just SSDs, but Google is supporting both x86 and ARM CPUs. That also means you won't be able to just download Chrome OS and go, you'll have to buy a Chrome OS device approved by Google

can't download an open source OS

is it google or engadget that's not clear on the concept?

[Specineff]

FAIL!

[ASK]

For example, Chrome OS won't work with standard hard drives, just SSDs, but Google is supporting both x86 and ARM CPUs. That also means you won't be able to just download Chrome OS and go, you'll have to buy a Chrome OS device approved by Google

can't download an open source OS

Think you read it wrong,

won't be able to just download Chrome OS and go

As in, Engadget says it will have specific hardware support (i.e., not what's in your desktop computer), therefore you can't just "download and go"

[antron]

won't be able to just download Chrome OS and go

As in, Engadget says it will have specific hardware support (i.e., not what's in your desktop computer), therefore you can't just "download and go"

good point.
but it still should say: you won't be able to just download Chrome OS from Google and go.

you'll be able to get a generic build other places.
but maybe google can keep them from calling it Chrome.