Google 'paints sketch' of Chrome OS

Friday 20th November 2009

Google has unveiled a beta version of its open source operating system, Google Chrome OS.

The free code, described by Google as an "initial sketch" of the product, is being released a year before a finished version will be made available to consumers.

First announced in the summer, Chrome OS is vastly different from traditional operating systems in that it runs as a web browser and sees users' data stored on Google servers.

In a blog post by Caesar Sengupta, group product manager, and Matt Papakipos, engineering director, Google said its operating system was "all about the web".

"The entire experience takes place within the browser and there are no conventional desktop applications," they wrote. "This means users do not have to deal with installing, managing and updating programs."

This radical approach would lead to benefits in terms of security and speed, Mr Sengupta and Mr Papakipos said.

"Unlike traditional operating systems, Chrome OS doesn't trust the applications you run. Each app is contained within a security sandbox making it harder for malware and viruses to infect your computer," they said.

"Most of all, we are obsessed with speed," they added. "This means you can go from turning on the computer to surfing the web in a few seconds. Our obsession with speed goes all the way down to the metal. We are specifying reference hardware components to create the fastest experience for Google Chrome OS."

2009 has already seen Microsoft, which has a 90 per cent market share, release its new Windows 7 operating system, while Apple updated its Snow Leopard OS.

Related News

<< Back To News Listings

News Article Search