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New Operating System from Google Announced
08 July 2009
Google has announced that it has entered the operating system market.
The Google Chrome Operating System, named after the company's Google Chrome Web browser, is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks.
Google is in the process of working with multiple OEMs so that consumers can choose from a number of netbooks to buy in the second half of 2010.
Google calls it their "attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".
The source code Google Chrome OS will be available as open-source later this year.
Google is already talking to partners about the project.
"We wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve," wrote Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management and Linus Upson, Engineering Director on Google's official blog.
"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," they wrote.
The Google Chrome OS user interface focuses on the basics and has been designed to be minimal.
Most of the user experience is intended to take place on the Web.
The underlying security architecture of the operating system is being completely redesigned in an attempt to help reduce the risk of viruses, malware and security updates.
Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips.
The software architecture consists of Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel.
Google says that for application developers, the Web is the platform.
Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android.
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