Google Chrome OS announcement

Highlights from the Google Chrome OS announcement today.

• No launch, beta or devices today (contrary to what was being reported on some outlets)
• Chrome OS a year away
• Project goes fully open-sourced today
• Just over a year since Chrome browser launch - 40 million regular users
• 39x faster JavaScript compared to IE8
• Over past year, Chrome browser updated 19 times
• Chrome browser for Mac and Linux coming, as are extensions
• Google want Chrome OS to access GPU, have better access to system resources
• Perfect storm of converging trends - Netbook growth, cloud, laptop and netbook becoming more like phones, phones becoming smarter, overall increase in mobility
• Google Chrome OS focuses on three things - Speed ("fast like a TV"), Simplicity, Security
• On Chrome OS, every app is a web app, simple to use, easy to maintain
• All data on Chrome OS is in the cloud
• "If I lose my Chrome OS machine, I should be able to go out and buy another and be up and running in minutes ..." No local data
• Cold reboot demo - to logon screen in 7 sec, full OS in another 3 sec
• Chrome OS looks like Chrome browser
• Applications can be pinned as favorite applications "tabs"

  

• All data stored in the cloud in Google Docs
• Streaming music from YouTube

• Google OS make good entertainment platform
• Reading ebooks

• Microsoft has been working on a killer app for Chrome OS ... Office Web App ;)

• "Want computers to be delightful and work"
• Looking through USB flash drive:

• All Chrome OS storage based on solid state drives
• Speed improvements based on following changed:

• Verified boot to improve security:

• Reboot to recover - reimaging on the fly:

• Security for an Internet age

• User data on machine is always encrypted and always synced to the cloud - local data is just a cache
• "Not another OS, but choice for users"
• Google working with OEMs to come up with reference hardware (SSDs, WiFi cards ... etc ...)
• Target time frame - end of 2010, for Holiday market
• Google want larger netbooks with larger keyboards, touchpads etc
• Chrome OS not downloadable - will have to buy a Chrome OS device ... hmmm
• Developers can get Chrome OS running on a netbook today - "You need a screwdriver"
• Flash works, YouTube works ...
• Here's a video for you:
• Expect to have prices in the price range people are used to today ...
• Google Chrome OS device will be a web-based "companion" device
• There will be some things the device will not do
• Everything that works in Chrome browser, works in Chrome OS (codecs etc)
• "A lot of what you see in Chrome OS will make its way into Chrome"
• Initially focused on netbook form-factor devices, in future could run on laptops and desktops
• Will Chrome OS run on non-Intel (x86) platforms such as ARM? - Yes
• Printers - "We're taking an innovative approach, more next year. Yes, Chrome OS will print"

The announcement is now winding down (Q&A) so a few personal thoughts:

• Chrome OS sounds interesting but the device reference platform means that unless hardware vendors unify netbook platforms, it's not a real competitor for Microsoft/Apple
• Chrome OS is definitly aimed at people who are deeply rooted in Google web apps ...
• I like the security model, and the cloud-based data and settings system is a nice idea, especially for people who lose/break devices regularly
• Biggest hurdle I see - connectivity, and how the device will work when not hooked to the web

Thoughts?