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Interesing concept but possible privacy problems warn experts
Google has taken the wraps off Chrome OS operating system designed to be run on netbooks.
Chrome OS, due to launch next year, will be based on Linux, and is leaner than Windows and some people believe it could radically change the way we use computers. User data will be stored on Google's servers and synchronise with Chrome OS devices.
No common desktop applications such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader will run on Chrome OS and the only application it will come with is a web browser.
This means the user is limited to web applications; such as Gmail and Google Docs. Google said that because Chrome OS doesn’t allow the user to install desktop applications, the user is less at risk from malicious software.
This could make it safer for online banking and shopping than using Windows. However, even Google admits it wont be 100 per cent secure, something David Harley, director of malware intelligence at security software company, Eset, agreed.
"Google will go for a reasonably safe computing product rather than waiting for the 100 per cent answer that doesn't exist,” he said.
He also pointed out other problems with the OS, such as suspension or interruption of service, interception and spoofing and privacy issues.
Chrome OS allows Google to collect more information on the computing habits of its users, adding to the information it already has about people's search, email and video usage.
The software will be designed for portable computers such as netbooks; but currently not for desktop PCs or standard laptops.
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Google and litl
Google are right about the cloud-based future of everyday computer use. You only have to look at the increasing dominance of webapps like for eg Google Docs, Flikr and the rapid growth of streaming tv and video. In a very real sense, the web is becoming the platform for everyday applications. That said, the litl webbook runs our cloud-based litlOS and is already available from litl.com. And we have taken quite a different slant to ChromeOS in both our interface and device. Our webbook is specialized for the home. We didn't see any point at this stage in trying to make a general purpose cloud-based OS to compete with general purpose OSs like Windows or OSX. We decided on a focus on the home for our device and discarded the usual browser interface, instead asking and answering questions like: what would make the things people do at home with the web easier? What would be easier for all ages? How do we keep families and friends in touch? So we lined up some the best designers in the US (Pentagram, Fuseproject and others) and worked for 2 years to re-think home computing. By contrast, Chrome OS offers the same old browser interface without a new metaphor for organizing the web. So ChromeOS has different, more generic aims to litl at present. A key part of the litl approach is our use of specialized apps called channels that customize your experience of some webapps and streaming media. There are many of these coming and will appear on the device via our update system - this upgrades the software overnight without user intervention. Channels are particularly useful in easel mode: litl's inverted-V posture that minimizes the device's footprint and melds the tv-type experience with that of a laptop.
Posted by litl_phil, 01 Dec 2009
Goodluck with that!
I'm no Microsoft fan but why can't Google make a REAL functioning OS, instead of forcing a user to connect online for his apps, they want to promote this "pay-per-use" , subscription applications that will trap users eventually when these vendors jack up their prices. And one thing Google, fix your damn Chrome browser SSL issues first, it will help your future OS users do online banking.
Posted by Jason Sierra, 01 Dec 2009
Microsoft Office
No matter what we may think of Microsoft, their appications are used every where, and however forward Google crome operating system maybe they will still have to use Microsoft office or something similar which allows us some degree of control over our data.. i would not like my data to be stored on the internet without there being a copy on my hard drive or a hard copy of the most important stuff.
Posted by Ze, 02 Dec 2009