Tag Archives: open source

Applications, Computers, News, Operating Systems

Google's Chrome OS Officially Introduced (Update: Now Available On VMWare)

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So, Google has finally rolled out its highly expected Chrome OS, which was demoed live across the net by Mountain View’s engineers few hours ago, and practically suppose to go out somewhere towards next year’s holiday season. Regretfully, the system won’t be free and it seems you’ll have to buy it pre-installed on portable devices approved by Google, either it’s a netbook, tablet PCs, smartphones, MIDs, etc. The Chrome OS is said to include third-party applications, but won’t support, at this point, any Android materials. The system itself is based on Linux and the Chrome browser, both packed together to run on a web-based platform that will operate any outside content, coming from USB drives or other different sources. Basically, it’s a cloud system but that should not set you apart from it, unless you guys really afraid of taking new tech “adventures” and start new liabilities. Nevertheless, the operating system will run everything that was originally placed in the application panel – and we’re talking about features like Gmail, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Hulu, Google Talk and many more. Google Docs was also included in Google’s OS compatibility list, while drivers from other companies, such as Flash and Silverlight suppose to work as well (although Google wasn’t very clear about it and has chosen to say this: “We are working hard to integrate plugins closely”).

Hardware wise, details are scarce at the moment, and Google will not share those nitty gritty things until next year, but looking at the overall picture, Chrome OS will probably run in compatibility with both x86 and ARM processors, while regular hard-drives support seems to be excluded  – which means you’ll have to use SSDs instead. In general, booting time is set to load up in 7 seconds only, and login process will take 3 seconds more. That, in our opinion, should do best with any standard netbook available in the market, now and in the future (with SSD drives), and just in case you were wondering, Google itself was using an Eee PC machine to run the demo for the first time.

Update1: We’ve tossed some videos after the break, that will walk you through Google’s new system.

Update2: Looks like Google’s Chrome OS is now available free, in case you’re using a VMWare software on your desktop machine. The good part is that you don’t need to actually make it your primary bootable system at all, and by running any VirtualBox software, you can set any of your system folders to be used as a Chrome OS unit. If you think you’re qualified for using this pre Beta platform, you can download the image either from this torrent (we have no clue about this source background) or the build the guys at GDGT recently uploaded. TechCrunch team was all over it in passing hours as well, so you can read their step-by-step instructions in here, if you don’t feel safe to do it on your own.

Update3: Dell Mini 10V owners can now install the Chrome OS as their primary operating system, thanks to a Dell employee who’s managed to hack the USB-bootable edition via WiFi and make it available on Dell’s popular mini laptop, despite fussy restrictions from Mountain View’s direction. Truth is it’s not the perfect OS and in fact, many things are yet to be solved, but for early adopters who are willing to give it a try – it should probably be a great experience that’s worth a shot. Source code and explanations are now available on Direct2Dell‘s page. Enjoy the Chrome.

Update4: Mac and Linux users can finally use the Google Chrome Beta-version browser with their computing machines – as Mountain View’s searching giant officially announces in its blog. And although we face a lot of crashes while trying, you don’t really want to skip this experience, especially when Google has recently launched the extensions, do you? Checkout the video we’ve added after the break (3rd one).

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Computers, News, Operating Systems

Google Chrome OS Announced, Will Be available In 2010

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Google has just thrown a bomb to the IT world, announcing a new Chrom OS platform that suppose to give an open-source solution mainly for netbooks but also for full-size desktop systems, and is expected to go live somewhere on the second half of 2010. Additionally, the new OS from Mountain View, CA is claimed to smoothly run any x86 and ARM chips, while the company firmly says it already teamed up with manufacturers like Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments to bring you all the best and comprehensive UI you’d get, so stay tuned for a lot more to come. Here’s what Google’s blog had to say, in a nutshell:

“Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we’re already talking to partners about the project, and we’ll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.”

[Google]

Computers, Computex, News, Operating Systems

Acer To Implement Moblin Linux OS In Its Netbooks Lineup

Great news from Moblin Linux direction, as Intel’s free open-sourced platform will apparently receive a significant corroboration from Taiwanese corp Acer, who recently pledged on a computex conference to widely implement this phenomenal OS inside its desktop computers, laptop devices and Aspire One netbook machines, starting this year. And while anxiously waiting for self interaction, various editions of Moblin 2.0, including Suse, Xandros, Linpus, Red Flag, and Ubuntu were flauntingly demoed in that same press gathering, running on different portable netbook brands from HP, Asustek, MSI, and Hasee Computer, impressively raising our impatiemt feelings. But needless to say we’re constantly following, so just stay in touch for future updatings.

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[via pcworld]

Applications, Computers, News, Operating Systems

Intel's Moblin 2.0 Beta System For Netbooks Gets a Video Introduction

Remember Moblin’s independent system, designed to run on your personal netbook? Well, here it is – Again! – This time even more impressive, with the 2.0 beta version going live, introducing a fascinating interface, visually rich and impeccably designed, housing tons of apps (divided into Zones), features and one taskbar manager to handle navigation between elements. Naturally, you get some widgets to play with, like calender, browser thumbnails, email client and the new kid on the block, Twitter. Overall, the system runs pretty smoothly, giving new hopes for those who justly avoided shelling out extra money on Windows XP inside their machines.  To learn even more, checkout the demo video after the break.

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[Moblin.org]

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Applications, Computers, News, Operating Systems

Intel Officially Releases The Moblin 2 OS For Your Netbooks

We keep getting lots of news about independent systems, designed for your personal netbooks, but this new Fedora-based OS from Intel looks very interesting and already confirmed to be working with Acer Aspire One, Dell Mini and even some Asus Eee versions (without wireless support). Although it’s still in Alpha mode and plenty of water will flow in the river until perfection is achieved, this open-source system which carries the name Moblin 2, might be a good solution for early adopters who crave for a cheap and stable platform to replace their Windows XP. Those who wish to install it might find a good internet connection manager, fast booting performance, nice transparent  design and other Linux goodies inside. However, if you’re not a computer literate, you might find yourself in troubles, fighting pesky bugs that have a special affection for preliminary software stages.

Update: April 3, 2009 – Intel hands over this very promising OS to the Linux Foundation, to keep it as a neutral body, although Intel itself stays in charge of this project behind the scenes. Yes, tech world has its own small politics, you know.

[Via Ars Technica]