Google Chrome Operating System at DVinfo.net

Ervin Farkas · July 8th, 2009, 05:42 AM

Late last night (July 7 2009) Google announced the launch of it's own operating system... sort of. Since we "live" a lot on the www anyway, Google is trying to offer a virtual computer for you to work with, basically transforming your local machine into a dummy terminal.

Based on Linux, it is, of course, planned to be open source, and it should hit the market first in some laptops, the second half of 2010.

The official announcement can be read on Google Blogs: Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS

"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."

Theodore McNeil · July 9th, 2009, 08:35 PM

Adobe annouced some of its partners/developers for the new platform and it is an impressive list: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments. I'm especially interested to see what Abobe comes up with.

Chrome OS Partners: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments

Ervin Farkas · July 10th, 2009, 05:49 AM

You meant:

"Google announced some of its partners..." - right?

Boyd Ostroff · July 10th, 2009, 07:24 PM

Interesting perspective on Apple and Google: http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/10/goo...ch-google.html

Quote:

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. That's because, in Apple's case, they already have.

Apple is renowned for its secrecy. Employees are given different code names for new products so they can't gossip about them in the company cafeteria. Vendors and parts suppliers are punished if they leak any news. Blogs that publish news about new products have been browbeaten by lawyers and even bought out.
___________

If Apple is trying to keep information away from its competitors, however, it missed a spot. That spot's name is Eric Schmidt. He's Google's chief executive, and he sits on Apple's board of directors.

Google announced this week it will soon offer an operating system for PCs and netbooks, a move that pits Google squarely against Apple, whose business is built around its own OS X software. And that's only the latest Apple business Google has aped.

Does that mean Schmidt's a spy? No. Instead the parallels between Google and Apple appear to be a product of two different cultures: Apple is acting, and Google is reacting. And that's why Google winds up stumbling into so many of Apple's businesses. The two companies are accidental competitors. They just don't seem to know it yet.

Theodore McNeil · July 11th, 2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ervin Farkas

You meant:

"Google announced some of its partners..." - right?

Yes, i meant "announced." Too late to edit it I fear. :)

Back on topic, Intel is working with them too. NewsFactor Network | Intel Confirms It Helped Develop Google's Chrome OS

While think this is a cool development... Even if chrome is a raging success, I think it is going to be a couple years before it has any real effect on our industry.

Brian Luce · July 12th, 2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theodore McNeil

While think this is a cool development... Even if chrome is a raging success, I think it is going to be a couple years before it has any real effect on our industry.

Seems like it won't impact the NLE much.

Ervin Farkas · July 13th, 2009, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

Seems like it won't impact the NLE much.

Maybe not in a direct way; running an NLE remotely is not the best way.

Where I see a significant impact: with Google joining in, Linux will definitely get a big boost. There are already a number of open source video editors for Linux - with Google on the growing list of corporate sponsors, the development of Linux-based NLEs will pick up speed for sure.

Evan Donn · July 13th, 2009, 09:33 AM

My impression though is this will not be just another linux desktop system - linux will just be the underlying system. I think what they're going for here is essentially a direct boot into a web browser with no visible surrounding OS (desktop, filesystem, etc). If that's the case I don't think it'll have much if any impact on existing linux-based editors as they're designed to work in a traditional windowing system.

Jon Fairhurst · July 13th, 2009, 11:56 AM

Evan,

I think you're right in the short term - Chrome will be for simple netbooks at first.

Over time, the scope will likely expand. Elements of Chrome's simplicity for end users will creep into Linux and more Linux features will creep into Chrome.

In five or ten years, Chrome could become a much bigger beast.

Jack Falbey · July 13th, 2009, 08:50 PM

I could be way off base here, but I don't think Chrome OS is intended to compete with Windows or OS X. I think Google has a different angle: get the netbooks and casual users to use Chrome OS because it's free, make it appealing with plugins like Google Docs and GMail, and make it open-source so the big app makers can easily write software for it. Google's #1 revenue source is online advertising, and with a sizable chunk of the casual & light business users using Chrome eventually, that's a lot more eyeballs in front of the banner ads.

I think it's really just a marketing strategy to get more people online for longer periods of time to drive the ad revenue. If it works, it could be their most brilliant move yet...

Dave Blackhurst · July 14th, 2009, 12:17 AM

It looks like a "thin client" approach - for most users, a clean fast OS with apps online and email, instant message, and whatnot would probably be adequate - like these new little netbooks.

Not everyone needs a big powerful system, but I'd venture that it'll be a while (if ever) before anyones' doing serious editing on "Chrome OS".

The Chrome browser is actually rather cool and minimalist, and quite fast. I still use IE 8 though, because it's more refined and compatible with more sites. The competition is good, so bring it on!

July 9th, 2009, 08:35 PM	#2
Theodore McNeil Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Centreville, Maryland Posts: 258	Adobe annouced some of its partners/developers for the new platform and it is an impressive list: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments. I'm especially interested to see what Abobe comes up with. Chrome OS Partners: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments __________________ http://twitter.com/tedmcneil

July 10th, 2009, 05:49 AM	#3
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	You meant: "Google announced some of its partners..." - right? __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

July 13th, 2009, 09:33 AM	#8
Evan Donn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 795	My impression though is this will not be just another linux desktop system - linux will just be the underlying system. I think what they're going for here is essentially a direct boot into a web browser with no visible surrounding OS (desktop, filesystem, etc). If that's the case I don't think it'll have much if any impact on existing linux-based editors as they're designed to work in a traditional windowing system. __________________ My latest short documentary: "Four Pauls: Bring the Hat Back!"

July 13th, 2009, 11:56 AM	#9
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Evan, I think you're right in the short term - Chrome will be for simple netbooks at first. Over time, the scope will likely expand. Elements of Chrome's simplicity for end users will creep into Linux and more Linux features will creep into Chrome. In five or ten years, Chrome could become a much bigger beast. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

July 13th, 2009, 08:50 PM	#10
Jack Falbey Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 45	I could be way off base here, but I don't think Chrome OS is intended to compete with Windows or OS X. I think Google has a different angle: get the netbooks and casual users to use Chrome OS because it's free, make it appealing with plugins like Google Docs and GMail, and make it open-source so the big app makers can easily write software for it. Google's #1 revenue source is online advertising, and with a sizable chunk of the casual & light business users using Chrome eventually, that's a lot more eyeballs in front of the banner ads. I think it's really just a marketing strategy to get more people online for longer periods of time to drive the ad revenue. If it works, it could be their most brilliant move yet... __________________ "We'll fix it in post," said no videographer, EVER!

July 8th, 2009, 05:42 AM	#1
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Google Chrome Operating System Late last night (July 7 2009) Google announced the launch of it's own operating system... sort of. Since we "live" a lot on the www anyway, Google is trying to offer a virtual computer for you to work with, basically transforming your local machine into a dummy terminal. Based on Linux, it is, of course, planned to be open source, and it should hit the market first in some laptops, the second half of 2010. The official announcement can be read on Google Blogs: Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS "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." __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

July 14th, 2009, 12:17 AM	#11
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	It looks like a "thin client" approach - for most users, a clean fast OS with apps online and email, instant message, and whatnot would probably be adequate - like these new little netbooks. Not everyone needs a big powerful system, but I'd venture that it'll be a while (if ever) before anyones' doing serious editing on "Chrome OS". The Chrome browser is actually rather cool and minimalist, and quite fast. I still use IE 8 though, because it's more refined and compatible with more sites. The competition is good, so bring it on!