Google is developing an operating system for PCs that is tied to its Chrome Web browser, the company said last night.
The Google Chrome Operating System, is initially intended for use in netbooks and be able to power full-size PCs. It will suppliment the Android Operating System which targeting mobile phones, although it has been shown to run on netbooks, too. Chrome OS is targeting netbooks, reports the NY Times. Microsoft claims 96% of Netbooks currently use Windows.
Google believes that software delivered over the Web will play an increasingly central role, replacing software programs that run on the desktop. In Google’s world, applications run directly inside an Internet browser, rather than atop an operating system.
Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips. Google is working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year, says the company. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform.
“Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS,” said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, and Linus Upson, engineering director, in a post on a company blog. “We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the Web in a few seconds.”
The move is likely to sharpen the already intense competition between Google and Microsoft. Windows currently controls the basic functions of most personal computers.
Google says the Chrome Operating System would be released online later this year under an open-source license, which would allow outside programmers to modify it. Netbooks running the software will go on sale in the second half of 2010.
Google released their Chrome browser (above), last year. It lets users interact with powerful Web programs like Gmail, Google Docs and online applications created by other companies. Since then, Google has been adding features to Chrome, like the ability to run such applications even when a user is not connected to the Internet.
Google’s plans for the new operating system fit its Internet-centric vision of computing and will have a minimalist user interface, leaving most space on the screen to applications. Google says it still has work to do to.
“All Web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite Web technologies,” the company said.
Google had planned to unveil the project on Wednesday but moved up the announcement The New York Times and Ars Technica outlined Google’s plan late Tuesday.
According to IDC, about 21 million netbooks may ship this year, with 11 million sold in 2008, and by 2013 that figure will hit 39 million. But mobile-PC units are forecast to total 149 million units in 2009, a 4.1 percent increase over 2008, while spending on mobile PCs is expected to decline 12.8 percent, according to Gartner. Desk-based PC units are now expected to total 125 million units world-wide, a 15.7 percent decline compared with 2008.
Wired has Five Things Google’s Chrome OS Will Do for Your Netbook, while PC World has Five Reasons Google Chrome OS Will Fail. More coverage is available on Google News, Techmeme, Liliputing, Arstechnica and Fake Steve Jobs.
