Google Chrome OS due next week, says someone
Goonux for Eee. Maybe
Google will offer downloads of its Chrome operating system any day now, according to an internet rumor.
Citing a "reliable source," TechCrunch indicates an early version of the Chrome OS will arrive with a limited collection of hardware drivers "within a week."
Google had previously said that an early version of the OS would be available this fall. Considering that we're about two weeks away from the end of fall, a debut next week would hardly be unexpected.
The Mountain View Chocolate Factory announced the Chrome OS this summer, describing it as essentially the Google Chrome web browser running atop the Linux kernel. Intended mainly for netbooks, it will run on both x86 and ARM chips. Shipping systems are slated for release in the middle of next year.
Hardware partners on the project include Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba. But its unclear what machines will be supported when the OS is (maybe) released next week. TechCrunch reports/guesses that the first public version of the OS will run on Eee PC netbooks.
Last month, Google posted some Chrome OS code to the Chromium project, where the open source incarnation of the Chrome browser is developed, and an eager blogger managed to download the thing and take some screenshots. As you might expect, it looks like, well, a Chrome browser.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ®
COMMENTS
Likely ubuntu
@DZ-Ray:
It *is* pretty likely that it's Ubuntu, or at the very least Debian based... Because the early builds that were available to download from google were .debs.
Google Chrome+Google Docs = free
Microsoft Windows+Office = ££££
Don't get me wrong, Google is as bad as Microsoft with their world-domination plans, it's just that most people haven't recognised it yet.
Netbooks without Windows tax again
Ignoring the thrilling debate about what is/isn't an OS, this is good news as it should see a return to netbooks shipping without Windows. Which is nice.
So Chrome is...
an up-to-date Linux kernel with a Google-branded browser...
And, oh YEAH, all the hooks to pipe all of your personal data (probably including web browsing, documents stored and "indexed for you" on your PC, use of Google Maps (and historical trend analysis of said), et al) back to the Google information factory, where it will be used to further extend Google's dominance in the on-line ad space (web and mobile now!) - and in congruence with Google Maps into meatspace advertising market as well.
It's a brilliant plan, really. As someone that used to work for a network operator, I can tell you they are absolutely jealous of Google's reach into personal data - and Android/Chrome just cement it. I thought that having access on all mobile calls for 1/3 of the UK's population for analysis of customer behavior was pretty cool, but Google just eclipse that by miles.
But, of course, it can't be a platform for evil now, can it?
Mine's the one with the Ubuntu-branded kernel, because as demigod-like Shuttleworth may try to be, at least he doesn't collect all my personal data...nor does he want to. And there's always Debian to fall back on should UbuntuOne change that...
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