Technology Review
The company unveils the technical details of its operating system.
Google gave the first demonstration of its Chrome operating system today, at the same time opening the source code to the public. The company highlighted features that have grown out of what vice president of product management Sundar Pichai called "a fundamentally different model of computing." Unlike other operating systems, which merely incorporate the Internet, Chrome is completely focused on it.
The Chrome OS is based so aggressively on the Internet that devices running it will not even have hard drives, Pichai said, emphasizing that "every app is a Web app." All data will be stored in the cloud, and every application will be accessed through the Chrome browser. Because of this, he added, users will never have to install software or manage updates on the device.
The user interface closely resembles the Chrome browser. When the user opens applications, they appear as tabbed windows across the top of the screen. Users can stick their favorite applications to the desktop with one click, creating permanent tabs for them.
Pichai coyly demonstrated the way the Chrome OS can deal with competitors' file formats. He inserted a USB drive into a laptop running Chrome OS, launching a window that showed that the device contained several Microsoft Excel files. When he clicked on one of the files, the system automatically pulled up the Windows Live Web-based version of Excel, opening the file inside.
"It turns out that Microsoft launched a killer app for Chrome OS," Pichai said, adding that anyone who writes a Web application is writing an application for Chrome by default.
The effect, Pichai hopes, is "speed, simplicity, and security." Today's version of the operating system can boot up in seven seconds and open a Web application in an additional three, he said. Google engineers are working to make those times shorter.
The implications of the Web-focused design were spelled out more fully by Matthew Papakipos, engineering director for Chrome OS. Part of the security scheme for Chrome is that it's hard to make any unauthorized changes to the system, he explained. The root filesystem, which stores the core files needed to make software run, is stored in a read-only format. On top of that, every time the user boots the machine, Chrome OS verifies cryptographic signatures that ensure that the operating system software is properly updated, and matches the build Google has approved.
If the system fails any of these checks, the operating system automatically launches into a recovery procedure and reinstalls the correct version of Chrome, Papakipos said. Normally, reinstalling an operating system is a painful process because of the effect that has on the user's data, settings, and applications. In the case of Chrome, he noted, all of that information will remain unaffected in the cloud.
Some data, such as Wi-Fi settings, is cached on the machine, but Papakipos said this is only to make the system work faster. The data is always synced back to the cloud. The vision, he added, is that a user could eventually get a new device, log in, and find everything running just as it had before, with all the settings still in place.
Researchers use the Web to steal passwords and other data from Google's Web-based operating system.
Can laptops that do little more than access the Web compete with traditional computers?
The latest version of Google's Chrome shows the potential of HTML5.
>>> also the Win and OSX emulations can be added in future >>>
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also the two predictions missed from my GoOS list of specs (about the Win and OSX emulation on Chrome OS) will be surely added later with a software emulation module made by Google or a third part company!
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Join in the song with me - "Everything old is new again!"
In the 1970s Control Data Corporation settled that antitrust suite against IBM and go - wait for it - the IBM Services Corp! Yes - a "time-sahing" service as we called it in those days - dumb terminal in your office - intelligence and storage in the, well then style, "cloud".
What went wrong?
Human nature - we all like to control our own destinies - in information as well. The PC was all about that! Me - my data - my programs - actually now embedded in the naming of many files/directories.
You see - Chrome and the Cloud all depend on one simple thing - TRUST - I trust Google, for argument sake, to reliably and with almost 100% guarantee to safeguard and secure my data and everything I do from wherever I am, at any time and anyhow in the "cloud" - whatever that is.
Simple - what happened to Control Data Corporation?
Wow. . . I totally forgot about CONTROL DATA CORP. And now that I reflect on it, the Blue grey IBM logo had a more 'friendly' feel to it than CONTROL DATA CORP. I mean those three words just screamed "GESTAPO"
Well, who knows, maybe somewhere way down underneath the perky, hip and colorful GOOGLE and it's youthful faces, if we pull back a secret door we will see the dried-up, pruney faces and evil-piggy eyes of CONTROL DATA CORP, where they've been hiding all these years
And then Security will takes us away before we can warn the others. . .
One thing you are not taking into consideration is the paradigm shift in the common consumer's trust in mobile communication and information storage. The only "mobile" anything we had in the 70's was when the mail man happened to throw the mail. Today, we have cross-generation acceptance, and trust, of mobile technology. Not only that, we have an entire generation currently in K-12 who don't understand a world without cell-phones, email or search engines. I do agree with an article I read on WIRED that mentioned the need for Google to take an intermediary step in the process (letting non-dedicated machines run the OS), however I do believe that this is the direction all computing is headed. Thoughts?
a simple OS that runs in 7 seconds and stays "clean", i love the idea!
however, there are some drawbacks:
- tight hardware coupling => this sounds like apple
- everything in the could => what if you cannot connect? => is there a caching mechanism? (google gears for google apps at least, i suppose)
looking forward to seeing this new OS though!
I love the all seeing eye. I feel much more secure knowing that Google is looking out for my best interests. :)
yes, much better to have colorful eyes, representing overworked, because they don't have a life outside work, 'happy' spikey haired young-uns who 'know the new technologies' behind the scenes, sneaking peaks at your data 'because they can'.
Somehow that's re-assuring rather than pruney faced 'gestapo' control data :)
They've still fallen flat on apps vs os version. My google earth won't update on my win2k. I don't buy computers to get an OS, I buy them to run apps and M$ has already been serving up poop soup in that regards, making people's apps stop running when new OSes come out.
It still remains to be seen if, when a new version of google chrome apps is automatically installed 'on the cloud' that your file 'on the cloud' will still be able to be opened with it, even if it was created years earlier in an earlier version of 'on the cloud' apps.
This will be the most popular OS ever created by man
Just right now, it seems silly to say because some standards aren't realized just yet but they will be very soon. What is fundamentally different here is the environment is changing to fit Google's OS plans perfectly. In terms of privacy of information, most people I know use a corporate owned email system like Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc. and are not complaining significantly about those concerns. Companies like Microsoft are moving their Apps to the web in a huge migration as if its a gold rush. Most everyone is relying on the internet being there like its a utility and its only going stronger in that direction. The internet offers infinite choices but right now is not on par with the app exerperience. HTML 5 will bridge that gap with OpenGL support right on the canvas and local storage capability for offline use to some extent. OnLive.com gaming will soon unveil its streaming-game-over-the-internet experience which was supposed to be impossible to pull off. You can effectively stream anything then, including high-end work stations, etc. Also, people are trending toward buying low cost, mobile laptops (Netbooks). This is a perfect storm.
I'm a little biased because develop on a Mac machine but also remote desktop into 20 different servers throughout the day to administer and develop on windows machines. I see things a little differently. I find it refreshing to be able to go over to my friends without taking my laptop and being able to use any other machine supporting remote desktop. It changes your perspective. I think once the client-side capabilities are there with HTML 5 and things like OnLive.com, what's the point of using heavy hardware that you invest too much on? I too can't do any work without the internet but if you are anywhere near a city there is a plethora of internet options out there.
The Google OS experience will be like a utility eventually where it doesn't matter who's computer you are using and what internet connection you are connected to. Who cares if it works great?
Re: This will be the most popular OS ever created by man
As were X-Terminals and JavaStations.
Re: This will be the most popular OS ever created by man
You have to completely ignore where technology has come to use that comparison. People are using the internet 90% of the time but paying 100% of the cost of a laptop. A netbook user pays 30% of a laptop and still gets that 90% or you could go as low as 70% if you say the screen is too small. Seems like a deal. With HTML 5, aka better web standards, and streaming web interface technology (like Onlive.com) will bridge the laptop and netbook experience. Google OS is then free on top of that, is backed by a huge corporation and will be installed by default in a slew of netbooks in the coming year at no additional cost to consumers. How is that similar to your dummy terminal comparison?
Re: This will be the most popular OS ever created by man
you still have the issue of specific hardware requirements, and well what happens when you don't have internet?
Don't get me wrong, for netbooks it will be great, but it doesn't seem like this would be of much use on desktops, and for some laptop uses.
Re: This will be the most popular OS ever created by man
Right now, yes, you are correct. I'm talking in the coming years. As an app and web developer, I just see it playing out differently based on the migration from app to web, the open standards appearing for browsers that enable richer functionality and technologies such as onlive.com gaming along with increased connectivity overall.
I'm sorry, but I just don't get what Google OS is besides a piece of hardware with a browser and nothing else on it. I don't need Google OS to put all my documents in the cloud. What can I do with GoOS that I can't do today with Chrome, or Firefox, or IE installed on my laptop? I can see a lot that I can't do with Google OS, such as the Photoshop example they gave, and say oh, develop software! I don't get the excitement.
Its what its not and in this case, less is more. There are programs like these: http://www.pixlr.com (emulates photoshop perfectly) in flash that do some crazy things we didn't think possible in the browser. Microsoft is moving its app functionality into the browser as well and is the defacto proponent of apps (sign). Check out Onlive.com (wow). Things are moving to the browser. Get it? The point is Chrome OS will only be a browser when it comes down to it since everyone is using a browser anyways and it will support all the latest standards like HTML 5 that go even closer to bridging the experience between app and web. Why have slower boot times and a higher hardware requirement when everyone just wants to use the web 99% of the time? Chrome OS is only doing what it needs to do and will do it very well.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
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Gaetano Marano
246 Comments
>>> Chrome OS specs pretty close to my GoOS prediction >>>
this is a check of my 15 months old GoOS prediction [ http://ow.ly/iEi1 ] compared with the real Chrome OS:
* The BEST and DEFINITIVE Personal Computer and Servers Operating System!
YES
* It is (and ALWAYS will be!) 100% FREE for personal and commercial use, no ONE cent to pay!
YES
* TWO TIMES FASTER than Windows XP and Mac OSX and THREE TIMES FASTER than Vista!
YES
* Nearly PERFECT Windows XP and Mac OSX software EMULATION built-in!
NO
* It runs native GoOS software and nearly 99% of ALL Windows XP, Vista and Mac OSX software!
NO
* MINIMAL hardware requirement: 600 MHz processor, 256MB Ram, 1.5GB hard disk space!
YES
* Tablet PC ready, Media PC and Mobile versions available soon!
YES
* Automatic high speed PARALLEL processing with Dual and Quad Core processors!
BEST WITH MULTICORE
* NO longer and complex installation needed, just copy the GoOS on a formatted HDD to self-install it!
YES
* Works fine with FAT32, NTFS, Linux formatted hard disks!
YES
* Protected GoOS kernel, HDD file system and GoOS system files to STOP nearly all kinds of Virus and Spyware!
YES
* Hundreds FREE software with the GoOS download including a (Microsoft Office 100% compatible!) GoOffice Suite!
SOON
* Perfectly runs Google Chrome, GMail and all Google Docs, applications and services!
YES
* NO online and offline advertising, NO virus, NO spyware, NO software or user registration, everything is FREE!
YES
and also the "Task Bar less" Chrome OS looks pretty much like the image on Sony Vaio published on my blog
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scitechie
1 Comment
Chrome OS specs pretty close to my GoOS prediction
The good and distinctive feature of this OS is is its support for Cloud Computing.
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bugmenot2
10 Comments
Re: >>> Chrome OS specs pretty close to my GoOS prediction >>>
eh, firefox is still number one in my book. anything but IE though.
http://techreviews2010.blogspot.com/
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