The release of
Chrome OS looms ever closer, but still there are a number of enhancements and changes being rolled in that should make for a somewhat nicer experience, and
TechCrunch has highlighted a few. Perhaps most major among those changes is the ability to browse the internet without signing in, but if you want to update your bookmarks or save any form data you'll still need a Google account. There's a new side bar that appears to give access to other apps, replacing tabs on top, and it also adds in battery and WiFi strength indicators. There's also something of a debate going on regarding whether Chrome OS should have support for compressed archives (.zip and .rar files and the like). Right now the OS has no support for those files, which, as one contributor points out, is rather unfortunate given that Gmail itself generates zip files when you click "download all attachments." Let's hope someone at the Googs finds time to add that in so that future users aren't locked out of the joys of extraction.
posted June 25th 2010 9:09AM
@brockorr No problem here, mate. Often tends to get a bit crowded with biased opinions. Not that is not supposed to be, brand fidelity is something corporates work for after all.
Anyway, I think it has potential, but on niche segments mainly. As another commenter stated, you need native applications for offline work as well. In some situation, a web-based OS would be all I need, but it would be rendered useless when I go out to work in the nearest Café where there is no Wifi.
@brockorr
The coolest aspect of Chrome OS is that it can run NATIVE code using sandbox execution and specially designed APIs to access system resources in a safe way. That means that not all apps *need* to be web apps, but also means that installation (just as in web apps) does not have to be a user defined step; you just navigate and use.
The benefit of this system is simple, you have access to apps like you have access to the web. These can be as complex as 99% of the apps that you would find on your desktop OS without the tedium of management, installation, and OS maintenance. Games will be FULL 3D games, video editors will be true video editors, and media players will be true media players. For most users, this will be an 'it just works' system, rivaling all other OSs in terms of sheer simplicity.
Another benefit is the Chrome Market which will launch with the OS, which gives users access to a bevy of applications (web and/or native), further making applications more visible and more usable. This is like smartphone app markets, which have shown to be extremely effective.
Chrome OS is a DAMNED good idea, and it seems as if it will be extremely well executed. I suspect that the Chrome browser will include the same functionality and provide a good transition point for users of window-based OSs (Win7,OSX,Ubuntu).
As I spend 95% of my time in browsers, if I had access to a good video player (say, vlc port for ChromeOS), a good audio player, games, a good text editor and terminal, a torrent app, etc, etc, I wouldn't really *need* a window based OS. I could do it all out of the ultra-quick chrome browser -- and would gladly do it.
This is the first desktop OS concept to come around that actually changes things extremely drastically since the xerox-inspired Macintosh OS first hit the scene. The benefits of simplicity, portability and the tight-integration with the internet, ensure that this OS will be something worth consideration. While I don't believe that it will displace 'traditional' desktop OSs, and certainly not the server, I wouldn't be surprised to find many users running chrome OS.
Now, if only google would challenge apples macbook line, with a thin, light, attractive chrome OS machine, with insane battery life... A manufacturing collaboration (ala the Nexus One) is in order.
@MagnetMan Dude, it's a BROWSER OS! You are talking about a real Desktop/Gaming OS. Chrome OS will not do the things you are talking about. It doesn't even support Zip or Winrar.
Sorry, but Chrome OS is not designed for you. It's a OS for small netbooks.
@Spindel Chrome OS is just the beginning. It may be a Browser OS, but the browsers are getting smarter and smarter..
@Spindel
Wrong.
Clearly you've never heard of NaCl for chrome, and by extension, chrome OS. It is a native client that allows for the execution of NATIVE CODE in the browser in a safe and portable way with minimal performance penalty (avg 5% impact). This means that apps can be written in c++, x86 assembly, etc, and run in the browser as effectively as Javascript webapps.
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgng4C18nNk&feature=player_embedded
Recently Quake 2 was ported as well as a modern 3D lego game, and it was run in the browser as efficiently as a 'native' application. As a test, the team ported a bunch of linux libraries and applications (incl. gzip) to test it out.
The best part? NaCl is open source and not restricted to Chrome. In fact it has been implemented in firefox.
Looks liek I won't be using it.
I don't think I want a tabbed operating system... can't we come up with some kind of new scheme? I'm getting sick of tabs for everything. It was revolutionary with Firefox like... 5 years ago. Let's move on.
@Dreamscape86 Im ok with tabs, bird they could make them look better (something like ubuntu netbook remix.
@Dreamscape86 In case you haven't noticed, Google isn't much of an innovator. They need to copy Windows 7, Ubuntu, or MacOS instead of Firefox if they are creating a real OS.
I think chrome is still new and has to improve
MeeGo all the way... Nokia/Intel are doing a GREAT JOB!!! and for free too... I think having the same OS on my netbook, mobile, TV etc... is a great idea!!! I'll maybe test this OS, just to know what it is... but I know that ads everywhere can be a bad thing...
I am trying to figure out what the selling point here?
Why have a computer when you can have a browser?
The only way I see this working is if Google gives away free internet to Chrome OS users or some other major hook I can't imagine.
Otherwise Android just seems a lot more capable in every way.
I'm resting in peace, god bless you and I love you all
Looks like a boring OS.
why no link to tech crunch?
I could find it myself, but why?
Besides being simple, instant on, maintenance free & able to run on minimal hardware, I think one of the best features of ChromeOS is having your "desktop" environment move to any ChromeOS device you log into.
Companies or families could get a bunch of low cost ChromeOS devices (tablets, netbooks, etc.) & anyone could log in & work on it. If one fails, you get a new one, log in & begin working again.
Today's PCs/tablets/smartphones that fail require you to recover and/or move data files, re-install apps, etc., just to get up & running again.
PLUS, Chromoting will allow ChromeOS devices to access a full desktop machine, if/when required.
@HereAndNow
Well said. In addition to this, it levels the playing field when it comes to computer hardware. As it is a lightweight OS, it will allow for thinner, lighter computers that primarily are used to surf the web and play audio and movies.
I run the chrome browser on a first-gen Atom (ubuntu), and it works extremely well. Chrome OS scaled up to a 0.75" thick, 2.5lb, 13" screen notebook, with CULV processor, would delight the average user. Hell, it would work really well with an ATOM/ION combo.
I see this being a very popular OS enabling cheaper computers that last longer and are easier to use. Microsoft and Apple have an interesting battle ahead of them!
A DEV who goes by Hexxeh made available his (?) build of Chrome OS about two months ago. It's available online. I think the download is about 256MB. The QA section on his site says he's tested it extensively on netbooks, including EEE 700's and 900's. Anyone who thinks Chrome OS is vaporware is just uneducated. I plan to dual boot both my EEE's with it soon.
I should be able to just throw this on a netbook right? My Windows 7 beta keeps restarting my Eee every 2 hours. It'd drive me nuts if I didn't have two other computers.
It will be interesting to see how this does over time. I'm skeptical. Going back to the days of 3270 terminals, albeit with a GUI instead of a TUI, seems to be a step backwards.
Can I install Firefox on it?
@darkninja962
It sounds funny, but it *could* actually be installed if it were ported to chrome OS. Interestingly, it would run at native speed and presumably just as fast as on any other OS.
@darkninja962 Comment the Windows operating system: Can I install Mac OS X on it?
Chrome is THE OS, but someone can make Firefox OS if they want.
@MagnetMan You really doesn't know anything about Chrome OS? It will not have Firefox. It will be Chrome Browser ONLY. Just google it and you will see...
Chrome OS is great, but honestly if I'm gonna have a netbook or a small laptop I would rather it was running a full on Windows 7 or a real operating system and just run Chrome in it. Chrome OS is basically the Chrome browser made to boot with a few enhancements. You can't really save anything onto a physical location on the machine, you can't use your machine for storage, you can't save or watch or download movies, all the apps are small Google in-cloud apps. Not to mention gaming, you can play WOW or WarCraft III or games with similar hardware reqs on today's netbooks.
I mean Chrome OS is basically an OS that can only run one application on a machine that is much more powerful than that. It would be great for smartphones, but we got Android for that and honestly I think Android is a better OS than Chrome OS. As much as I love Google I think Chrome OS will flop.
@Yankee
This is simply not true.
Chrome OS can run natively compiled apps, available through the ChromeOS market and can store data locally. This means full 3D games, video editors, and media players.
In fact, because of the simplified interface, the system boots in seconds, it is light weight and navigation/loading is lighting fast, and eliminates the need to do OS maintenance (which is huge for people that don't know much about computers -- ie: 95% of the population).
@MagnetMan Sorry, you are wrong. You will be able to play games with a 3D engine plug-in (it's called O3D). This 3D engine is designed for "small" games, like exsisting Flash-based games.
@Yankee I think that the world's not ready for browser-only computing, but somebody has to start the trend right?
In the near future, we will see WoW native in the browser with WebGL :)
@Spindel
Sorry spindel, you are wrong. Quake was ported to the browser using Native Client (NaCl). I have never seen a 'flash game' with the size and complexity of Quake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zbFuaB2wc
NaCl also has 3D api's for accelerated graphics:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20003527-264.html
http://groups.google.com/group/native-client-discuss/msg/faa965519e528af5
Even more, Unity3D, a very popular game development environment, has been shown to work with NaCl (the lego game).
Please do research before making such bold assertions. Similarly you can ask for sources as proof.
@Spindel
Here is some more information.
This talk is very comprehensive and talks about the wonderful features of native client (NaCl) in easy to understand language. It includes a 3D demo at 10:20 of the lego star wars game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSMWvC9p6Oc&feature=player_embedded
Enjoy!
TOWER DEFENSE!!!
I still don't really see the need for this OS other than the argument that people need a leaner OS for their CURRENT netbook hardware. As we all know, a netbook today can't run Windows 7 full very well. But in 2 years when the technology catches up, we won't actually need crippled OS's anymore. They are like hybrid cars... good right now, but in the not so distant future we will probably move to full electric.
Why would you want to run an OS that tracks and logs everything you do to some huge company's servers? You can log out of any web account. Your applications and data usage aren't logged on Windows or Mac. Why the hell would you give you whole life over to Google like this? What is the point of this for consumers? I can maybe see an upside for Dell and the likes, but to *choose* this over Windows 7 or OSX? I just don't see it.
@breaklaw
"your whole life"? Really? Melodramatic much?
@breaklaw What do you think all those logs are for in Windows and why do think the kernel and Explorer are doing on the web? Sight seeing? lol Every browser keeps track of you too. Along with your ISP. Everybody is tracking you today or trying to. Why do you think you have so many processes running when you aren't even doing anything? You sound like an Apple fanboy but worse, because at least they admit they know Apple keeps track their every move!!! xD
I have so been dieing for an OS that looks like a browser...
*YAWN*.
Everyone commenting here already use a desktop OS, so why not keep an open mind to a "web/browser" OS? Not everyone requires the computing capabilities that we need & are accustomed to & the simplicity may make "computing" accessible to the masses.
I think ChromeOS has the potential to be revolutionary!
Should be "Chrome OS' latest"
Google: "Hey, take our OS and store all your data and apps on our servers!"
Me: "Trusting an advertising company to store all my personal data and collect personal information? What could possibly go wrong?"
What happens if you internet is down or you just don't' have internet?
HTML5 apps can be designed to work off-line & capabilities like Native Client (NaCl) allow you to achieve local app performance. Thus, there is the potential to have web apps that look, behave & perform like local apps...including off-line usage.
One of the key benefits of ChromeOS is that developers will have a "pure" web OS platform to develop these types of applications.
@HereAndNow
For sure. I would be quick to recommend a Chrome OS computer to friends and family. In terms of simplicity, it doesn't get much more simple than a web browser, and all of the typical OS complexities are no longer an issue. Thanks to NaCl, the experience doesn't have to be limited either!
I foresee NaCl apps really taking a bite out of desktop apps. First, they run just about as good (+/- 5%), they are portable and not OS dependent (only architecture dependent), they require ZERO installation and can be 'mixed in' with web pages, they are easy to port from existing apps, and they will be supported by multiple browsers!
My only gripe with what I've seen so far, is that I haven't seen more than one page visible at any one time. It would be good if I could split up the window as I often do this on my system. However the system is still young, and the UI being improved.