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<\/p>\nI\u2019m watching Google\u2019s press briefing on the forthcoming Chrome OS. It is amazing. What Google is developing is a computer that answers several of the problems that have troubled users since the advent of the personal computer.<\/p>\n
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Exaggeration? Here\u2019s a quick summary of what Chrome OS is. It\u2019s a device that you will purchase which runs in effect just the Chrome browser. All storage is solid-state, it boots in a very short time \u2013 a few seconds. <\/p>\n
The Chrome browser is somewhat modified. It has \u201capplication tabs\u201d \u2013 on the top left below \u2013 which represent web applications that you use. <\/p>\n
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It also supports panels, windows which float above the browser. Use case: Google Talk, there while you browse other web pages.<\/p>\n
All the data is online, apart from a user area that is a cache of online data. All binaries in Chrome OS are signed and inspected on start-up. They are known binaries, because the user will never install an application \u2013 only a browser extension, maybe, which will come via Google. Google is not planning to support anything other than web applications.<\/p>\n
This has two implications. One is that stronger security is possible. If any binary is added or modified, that can easily be detected; it is a white-list approach. In the event of a problem, the machine can be re-imaged, making it clean.<\/p>\n
Second, if your Chrome OS computer breaks or is stolen, or re-imaged as above, it\u2019s no hassle. You can simply buy a new device, log back on, and all your data is there.<\/p>\n
There will be offline support, with automatic synchronization to your online store.<\/p>\n
At top left is a start button<\/strike> app button which opens an application-centric Favourites menu.<\/p>\n
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If you double-click a document, it opens on the Web. If it is an Excel document, for example, it might open in the Excel Web App, which Google rather gleefully demonstrated.<\/p>\n
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Will this be good? Yes. Cheap, fast, effective. Stream music. Run any web application.<\/p>\n
What about the dark side of Chrome OS? That is easy to spot. The security model depends on Google knowing about all the binaries and browser extensions. If you have a binary which Google does not want to approve – \u201cthere is no certification process for an alternative web browser\u201d, we were told – you have no way round Google\u2019s control.<\/p>\n
Alongside that, you will naturally see Google\u2019s applications and identity management woven into the product. It gives Google huge power over its users. It could make Microsoft\u2019s monopoly look trivial.<\/p>\n
In mitigation, everything in Chrome OS is open source, and it draws on open source projects such as Web Kit.<\/p>\n
I am sure there will be much debate on the implications of today\u2019s announcement, but count me highly impressed \u2013 though Google acknowledges that this is not going to be a computer for every purpose. <\/p>\n
It could nevertheless meet a large subset of computing needs; which will gradually grow as it matures.<\/p>\n
More info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019m watching Google\u2019s press briefing on the forthcoming Chrome OS. It is amazing. What Google is developing is a computer that answers several of the problems that have troubled users since the advent of the personal computer. Exaggeration? Here\u2019s a quick summary of what Chrome OS is. It\u2019s a device that you will purchase which … Continue reading Google Chrome OS – astonishing<\/span> Technorati Tags: google chrome os<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"