Google prepping Chrome operating system for netbooks

Posted on Wednesday, July 08 2009 @ 16:24 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
After years of rumors, Google officially confirmed today that it's working on an operating system for PCs, dubbed Google Chrome OS. This is a new open-source, lightweight operating system for web users, it will initially be targeted at netbooks. The first systems with Google Chrome OS are expected to arrive within a year, the OS will support both x86 and ARM processors. Google also stresses that Chrome OS has nothing to do with Android. Android was designed to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks, while Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the Internet.
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.
More details at Google.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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