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 on 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 mainstream Windows 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.
From small netbooks to full-size desktop systems
Chrome OS is "being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems," said Google.
The heart of Chrome OS is the Linux kernel. Applications, which can be written in standard Web programming languages, will run inside Google Chrome in a new windowing system. They will additionally run inside the Chrome browser on Windows, Mac or Linux machines, meaning that a single application could run on almost any computer.
Wide support for the platform will be key to getting developers involved and so an important factor in its degree of success.
"We have a lot of work to do, and we're definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision," Google said in its blog post.
For end users Google promised a better computing experience on machines with faster access to email, fast boot-up times, access to data from anywhere and the end of problematic hardware configuration, software updates and security issues.
"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 said.
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Comments received
vader said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
so all your apps/documents are in the cloud? at first, i thought this could be serious competition for microsoft and apple, but i think it may be a niche area like android.
qwerty said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
That's a shame, it would be good to see a popular OS that's written by a more competent and visionary company than M$ and doesn't tie you into one type of hardware like Apple, just to open the market a little.
VJ said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
Google documents imports all my documents with ease. This could be a very serious contender in the next few years.
Android will also be flooding the market in the next few years - "Juniper’s research mirrors recent figures from rival market watcher Strategy Analytics, which forecast that Android smartphone shipments will increase a whopping 900 per cent during 2009 over last year."
Nam said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
A massive name & no hardware lock-in makes it very easy to succeed above many others.
Caleb said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
There are two types of opinions of chrome os.One is that it is going to be big competition for windows. The other totally dismissing chrome os. I believe that the general public isnt ready for chrome os but that doesnt mean
they can't start now. If lots of geeks join the community and make great applications then you never know, maybe when you can get an internet connection almost anywhere the chrome os will become more popular than windows.
@Caleb said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
It does not need geeks. Lots of people use Google, it is a trusted household name. Fast and portable - I see it eating Apple's market long before it chips away at M$.
David said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
Linux with a decent GUI? If Google can do this then MS should start shitting itself!
Chester said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
I also think Apple will be hit. People are short of money and will buy into this very quickly. Windows market share is so dominant because of business and that wont be changed by this type of OS.
Grumpy Giraffe said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
So, instead of keeping all my stuff on my machine, where I can put in place as many security options as I please and take responsibility for the overall safety of my stuff, it'll all be on Google's 'Cloud', where it only take's for one person to attack the inevitable security holes due to Google almost certainly opting for the cheaper security solutions on their servers, rather than the best...thus destroying everyone's stuff. Hmm...No thank you.
@idiot statments R us said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
"Google almost certainly opting for the cheaper security solutions" - because you know that, don't you. what a crock.
Lets all move to an OS that got hacked in 2 seconds - that would be safer.
gregorsamsa said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
I believe, in time, this will be a far bigger threat to Windows than OS X, but I very much look forward to its release regardless of any impact on any of the competition. Bring it on!
Si Mann said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
I am using something similar on my ASUS laptop. Love the instant on ability & was a good trade for my ever redundant mac mini.
sip said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
"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.
'Nuff said
@Nuff said said on Wed, 08 Jul 2009
Yea, that clears up everything. Shall we sort out world poverty now?
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