Hasta La Gadget!

There’s obviously something seriously wrong with me, since the idea of a feature-stripped OS that over-relies on a web browser at the expense of more powerful single-purpose apps has delightful shivers running up my spine. In fact, in a fleeting moment of ill-advised adulation, I was considering buying a netbook with solid state storage so that I’d be all prepped to hack this pre-release version of Chrome OS onto it and web-app to my heart’s content. The real issue is that at the end of the day I know I’m always (well, for the next few years at least) going to be too reliant on “heavyweight” desktop applications like audio, video and image editors to really cut the cord and stuff my whole life into the cloud. But the chimes of freedom flashing in Chrome OS are too great to ignore, and I think there’s plenty going on here that could be very beneficial to a “real” desktop OS.

Continue reading Editorial: Chrome OS is what I want, but not what I need

Editorial: Chrome OS is what I want, but not what I need originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Google had a low-key event today to preview Chrome OS, its new operating system based on Linux and the Chrome browser. Things are still pretty early — it’s not even in beta yet, let alone on shipping products — but that’s the first official screen shot right there, and the big features are all roughed out. The entire system is web-based and runs in the Chrome browser — right down to USB drive contents, which show up in a browser tab, and the notepad, which actually creates a Google Docs document. Web apps are launched from a persistent apps panel, which includes Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, and Hulu, among others, and background apps like Google Talk can be minimized to “panels” that dock to the bottom of the screen. Local storage is just used to speed up the system — everything actually lives in the cloud, so all it takes to swap or borrow machines is a login, and you’re good to go. Google also said it’s “very committed” to Flash, and that it’s looking to hardware accelerate whatever code it can — although Google didn’t have a solid answer to give when asked about Silverlight. Overall, Google was upfront in saying that Chrome OS is focused on very clear use cases for people who primarily use the web, and that it’s not trying to do everything: “If you’re a lawyer, editing contracts back and forth, this will not be the right machine for you.”

As far as going to market, Google’s not talking details until the targeted launch at the end of next year, but Chrome OS won’t run on just anything — there’ll be specific reference hardware. For example, Chrome OS won’t work with standard hard drives, just SSDs, but Google is supporting both x86 and ARM CPUs. That also means you won’t be able to just download Chrome OS and go, you’ll have to buy a Chrome OS device approved by Google. Interesting move, for sure — but since the entire OS is totally open-source as of today, we’re sure it’ll be hacked onto all kinds of hardware soon enough. (And for the record, the demo was run on an off-the-shelf Eee PC.) Check Google’s intro videos after the break!

Continue reading Google’s Chrome OS revealed — with video!

Google’s Chrome OS revealed — with video! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

We’d heard last month that this month was the month that Google would finally launch its highly-anticipated Chrome OS, and now we’ve got a “reliable source” over at TechCrunch asserting that the software is gearing up for launch “within a week.” Granted, we can’t ever be too certain when it comes to a rumor such as this, but if the system really does hit the wilds, we probably won’t see it available for every machine on the face of the planet. The presumed Alpha build will likely only support a select few products that Google engineers have had a chance to specifically work with — possibly something such as an Eee PC netbook, which has generally the same specifications regardless of design or model number. Either way, we’d go ahead and prepare ourselves for something new before the end of November — but don’t let it spoil your holidays should things get pushed back a bit, okay?

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Software

Google’s Chrome OS just a week away from launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

We’ve heard vague allusions to Chrome OS hitting devices in the near future, but with Google’s official stance that it won’t be ready until sometime late next year, well, we were a little skeptical. Now we’re hearing reports that Chinese netbook manufacturers are doing everything they can to get little Chrome lappies running a “preview edition” of the OS out onto the Asian markets by sometime next month, and we’re still skeptical — but intrigued. These devices from a company called Lemote run a MIPS-based CPU called the Loongson, which currently powers a custom flavor of Linux named, get this, Loonux. That OS has been receiving criticism for things other than its title, so it’s not surprising that the company is interested in trying something new, apparently even if that new thing is still half-baked and rather doughy in the middle. That these devices currently sell for under $200 is even more intriguing, but even if they do indeed get a bit of shine next month don’t expect to find one locally — at least not for that price.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Filed under: Laptops

Chrome OS coming to netbooks as early as next month? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

How about a minor spy story to kick-start your weekend? According to our man Sascha at netbooknews.de, a “safe source” who shall remain nameless but who most certainly has ties to Stasi (or, at the very least, owns a trench coat) has divulged some choice nuggets: The first Eee PC pre-installed with the open source OS will hit the market in October, and the company is currently considering the possibility of making this an option for all its notebooks at some point in the near future. And if that weren’t enough to stoke your dreams of an Operating System Renaissance, the company is also reportedly working “closely together” with Google to deploy the Chrome OS on its machines at some point in the not-too-distant future. All rumors and innuendo, sure, but interesting — and, as we’ve seen the company play with Moblin in the past, certainly not a shocker. As always, we’ll keep our ears to the ground, and we’ll keep you posted.

Filed under: Laptops

Eee PCs rumored to ship with Moblin in October, Chrome OS on the horizon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments