Google is developing an open-source operating system targeted at Internet-centric computers such as netbooks and will release it later this year, the company said Wednesday.
The OS, which will carry the same "Chrome" name as the company's browser, is expected to begin appearing on netbook computers in the second half of 2010, Google said in a blog post.
It is already talking to "multiple" companies about the project, it added.
The Chrome OS will be available for computers based on the x86 architecture, which is used by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices(AMD), and the Arm architecture.
Prototypes of Arm-based netbooks began appearing last month at the Computex show in Taiwan and Google's support for the architecture could give it a significant boost. Microsoft's mainstreamWindows operating system doesn't run on Arm chips so many manufacturers were talking about using Linux or a version of Google's Android operating system. It's not immediately clear how much the two operating systems share in common code but Google said they are aimed at very different devices.
"Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android," it said. "Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the Web."
While Google is initially looking at the netbook segment of the market it might compete with Microsoft and Apple on larger, Internet-centric machines.
Chrome OS is "being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems," said Google.
I highly doubt so. Ubuntu Linux hasn't scratched off much of the OS share therefore what will Google OS provide, what is going to be so different?
ReplyDeleteHey david, there is always something special in all google's products. I do not have to give examples of google's list of best products. It may not bury microsoft, sure its gonna cut microsoft's mass user count.
ReplyDeleteI think the real difference between Chrome OS and Ubuntu when it comes to combating Microsoft and breaking of a significant chunk of the OS market is simply the name "Google".
ReplyDeleteI'm saying that a normal Joe wouldn't care that much if Google releases their operative system. They are going to be moving from something "stable" *coughs windows* (I know.. sounds horrible) to another unknown world that they will probably crack their heads trying to install windows messenger and run windows media player.
ReplyDeleteFor us, it's probably something big, google is making a step to release yet another linux distribution and well nobody knows much what will be shipped on it as for default software (besides google's browser). Instead of adopting one to make it better.
Well, time to sit and wait.
I guess google will be looking for an easy to use OS for common users. Default softwares with chrome os will impact heavily on their success. Lets see how its gonna make difference next year.
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