Here’s a close looking into knowing how the upcoming Google Chrome OS will behave, specifically how the Chrome browser will look like on Chrome OS. A Techcrunch reader was able to grab the code from the Chromium build folder, installed it and is now reporting some of his observations.
First thing that you’ll notice is a new logo in the upper left hand corner of the screen depicting a colorful circle with a white center. When you clicked on the logo, it gives you a window that says Google Short Links that requires a Google.com domain for it to be used correctly.
It’s still remains a mystery though as to what this link actually contain although there is a disclaimer that reads – “Google is not affiliated with the contents of Google Short Links or its owners.”
On the opposite side where this mysterious logo appears is a clock, a network status indicator and a battery level indicator. Right now, only the clock is functional. A drop down menu is also in the same side. If you are a Chrome browser user, this is similar its drop down menu, only this time a new option labeled “Chrome OS” is added. There is also an option for Touchpad settings, clear browsing data, import bookmarks and settings as well an option to switch to full-screen mode.
Hoax or not? This image and coverage seems pretty solid. Can’t wait to get a Google Chrome Netbook next year!
Are you kidding? If this is real I am terribly disappointed in Google. All they can come up with is a modified version of ubuntu??! What a joke. I will stick with the official unr. It runs great and chrome browser for linux will be out sometime. So much for all the hype. I thought we had something here a bit different; something like what moblin has done to put a new take on the netbook ui. This is the same old thing. Boo
Mack, it isn’t Ubuntu which we’re looking at. It’s the Chrome OS version of Chromium which is running inside of it which we are looking at.
Having been fortunate enough to receive a Google Wave invite, I’ve spent a great deal of this morning interacting in the way of the future, and imho it’s fantastic!
And can’t see any reason why many of us won’t be using Chrome OS next year… Especially, given the Sidekick/Danger/MS screw-up of the last few days – the world is changing…
Mack,
If you had read the earliest reports of Google Chrome OS, it was always going to be based on Linux. There would be no point in Google reinventing the OS completely from scratch, since there is nothing wrong with Linux… it’s just not as popular as Windows when it comes to the typical customer.
What Google is trying to do with Google Chrome OS is:
1) Make an OS that boots really fast.
2) Make an OS that most (if not all) applications run entirely within a web browser (Chrome).
3) Make an OS that stays out of the way and just lets you get your work done.
So, on this front, they are approaching a successful head-start.
@ Stareclips.com
I guess with all the hype about a Google OS I’d expect something more than a modifired ubuntu. With the progress ubuntu is having by itself I see little need to rebrand it. I know it has some different features planned, but its just like any other distro. A few features here and there but still the same thing. Either incredibly useless like linpus lite, or tailored towards the adventurous computer user like ubuntu and Fedora.
Like you said, they are approaching with a successful head-start, but that’s all I see this developing into as far as functionality. However, with Google marketing this, many people will catch on, but Google will get the credit, and for what? a rebranding and some extra features.
Oh well I suppose thats the way it happens. Hopefully they bring some real support to the linux community at least.
Mack,
What do you mean “modified Ubuntu”? The screenshot above was running Ubuntu, because the only thing that was leaked was the browser. The OS itself wasn’t. While it _is_ based on Linux, it isn’t a “modified Ubuntu”. It bears extremely little in common with Ubuntu (nothing but the kernel =)
Hopefully they bring some real support to the linux community at least.
@ Wiiboy. If that is infact the truth. I still have faith. I can’t see google building something that is mostly ubuntu. That’s why I was so upset to begin with.
Why wouldn’t Google build something that is mostly Ubuntu?
Quite a bit of the machines in Google headquarters is a slightly modified form of Ubuntu (often referred to as Gubuntu.)
If it works for Google, why don’t they think it would work for everyone else?
Because that would be just that: nothing more than a modified Ubuntu.
Ya, the guy above was running the Chrome OS _browser_ on Ubuntu. The actual OS hasn’t been released yet.
Although some are speculating this Thursday will be it. Because what else happens on the 22nd?