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Intel cozying up to Google Chrome OS

It's official: Intel is working with Google on the development of the Mountain View ad broker's new netbook operating system, Google Chrome OS.

Word of the world's largest processor manufacturer's involvement with the world's largest internet searcher's purportedly virus-free OS first came by way of a comment by an Asia-Pacific Intel spokesman.

And on Friday morning, Intel spokesman Nick Knupffer at the company's Santa Clara, California, headquarters, confirmed that report, telling The Reg that: "We’ve been privy to the project for some time and work with Google on a variety of projects, including elements of this one. We welcome Google’s move here."

Intel is welcoming multiple operating systems onto its processors. In addition to its long-standing relationship with Microsoft's Windows, Intel is also working with the Linux Foundation on the Moblin OS for low-end devices such as MIDs and handhelds, after spinning-off that homegrown effort to the Foundation this April.

Now comes word not only of the Chrome OS partnership with Google, but also rumors coming out of Taiwan that Intel is in talks with Google about support for Google's Android OS on Intel-based MIDs. Intel's Knupffer was not immediately able to comment on that report.

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said by Rick Hodgin :

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Intel seeking Google’s Android OS for future MIDs

It’s reported today on DigiTimes that Intel is in talks with Google to utilize its Android-based operating system on future Moorestown- or generic Atom-powered MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices).

Intel reportedly commented that their goals are to create a platform and ecosystem to support all operating systems in all types of devices. These Intel-powered devices from the low-end to the high-end would benefit not only the end-users, but also the industry and vendors.

Intel is making enormous strides toward the low-end parts as they clearly see that as their long-term future, as the lower-end parts will become more and more powerful, especially when multiple chips are running side-by-side in a system.

In recent months, Intel has been making it very clear that the future they see is not limited by a personal relationship with Microsoft as it has been in the past, the so-called “Wintel monopoly”.

Intel is choosing a path toward the lower-end, and that means lower-performing silicon in terms of raw x86-based throughput, but at the same time these devices will consume far less power than current and previous generation chips, making them suitable for use in many more types of devices.

Another notable reality is how many vendors are migrating away from Windows Mobile-based operating systems, and into the world of Linux. Linux is a smaller footprint, easier to port to multiple platforms, and with the large developer base (Maemo [an offshoot of Debian Linux] alone, for example, already has 16,000 registered developers with over 700 active projects) there is a tremendous continued support in favor of new technologies, new standards and fast bug-fixing turnarounds.

My personal take on the future of Microsoft’s closed source efforts can be read here: Microsoft’s days as king are ending.

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Sun Valley: Gates and Schmidt Do Lunch But Don’t Comment on Google OS

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Google CEO Eric Schmidt had an awkward encounter this morning at the Sun Valley mogulfest this morning — and after Google detailed plans Tuesday to create software it hopes will challenge Microsoft’s dominant Windows operating system.

Mr. Gates and his former lieutenant Nathan Myhrvold were walking out of the morning session when two reporters, including this one, asked Mr. Gates for a comment on the new Google operating system.

“No comment,” Mr. Gates replied, while walking out the door.

From behind the reporters, Mr. Schmidt materialized. “It would be better if you don’t make that comment,” he said as he came forward to shake hands with Mr. Gates.

The two laughed, shook hands and walked into the private lunch area together.

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said by Frank Reed :

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Some Microsoft Thoughts on Chrome OS

Microsoft has been trying to for years to make a dent in the complete dominance of the search space that Google has. The introduction of Bing as served to move them in that direction but no one really expects them to unseat Google as the #1 search engine. [see Search Engine Land’s analysis]

What is different about the Google announcement of looking to jump right in the middle of the pasture where Microsoft’s cash cow grazes is the thought that maybe, just maybe, Google has a shot as making a dent. They have built most of the competing products already that many have adopted in the Google Apps offering so now they are starting to move down to the foundation of desktop computing but with HUGE brand trust and awareness. At the same time Microsoft is often portrayed as the Evil Empire and many want to see them fall. Are the circumstances right for this to actually happen?

According to an interview conducted by Anthony Ha of Venture Beat with Microsoft’s VP of Developer and Platform Evangelism (huh?), Walid Abu-Hadba Microsoft isn’t worried.

"Some of his remarks about Chrome consisted of entertaining bluster: “I love competition.” But he also had thoughts about why Google is trying to muscle into the operating system business. And no, he said, it’s not because Google wants to make computing simpler and faster (as Google executives claim), nor is it part of a grand plan to undo Microsoft’s dominance (as VentureBeat writer Dean Takahashi speculated).

“Most of what Google does is defensive,” Abu-Hadba said."

Now that’s an interesting take. Most people don’t usually see Google as being on the defensive with their efforts to do anything. It’s all Google can do to not appear too aggressive and look offensive in their steady march to world dominance through the browser.

The interview continued

"Abu-Hadba said it’s not about operating systems at all; instead, Google is trying to distract competitors from attacking its cash cow, search. He argued that whenever Google enters a new market, like releasing mobile operating system Android, it’s trying to force competitors to focus on existing products, rather than challenging Google in search. And the company may actually feel threatened for the first time in years."

He then went on to predict the demise of Adobe in 10-15 years. So what’s his point? It appears as if the folks at Microsoft have a lot more to lose than Google does in this one. If you are the company that many people simply deal with because they often have little or no choice and would rather lose a limb than use your OS wouldn’t you consider a little more diplomacy? While even the start of the Google v Microsoft OS war is still a ways off the talk out of the gate seems to be setting the table for a serious fight.

Right now though the tough talk from Microsoft sounds pretty defensive since Google’s OS is still a ways off.

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Google Chrome OS & Android “may merge closer”; CEO Schmidt opposed development

Google’s CEO and the search giant’s co-founders took to the stage this week to discuss Chrome OS, the future of Android and other open-source issues, revealing that the two headline-grabbing platforms – one ostensibly for smartphones, the other for netbooks – have “a great deal of commonality” and “may merge even closer.” CEO Eric Schmidt also made clear that Google do not envisage Chrome OS as a direct Windows competitor; in fact, he said, “Microsoft is welcome to put Internet Explorer on our operating system.”

“Microsoft is welcome to put Internet Explorer on our operating system, [though] it’s highly unlikely they would do it. They would have to port it and the port is not trivial…the ball is in their court. All of it is open. Even if we had an evil moment [and tried to block Microsoft], we would be unsuccessful.”
Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google

Echoing recent discussion about whether a browser-based work environment is a realistic proposal, Schmidt also revealed that he was resistant to the idea of both the Chrome browser and the Chrome OS when co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page first suggested it six years ago. “I wanted the operating system to kind of be out of the way,” Page explained, “if you live your life in the browser maybe you don’t want all the stuff that came from Eric’s generation.”

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Intel collaborated with Google on Chrome OS

Chip giant Intel told TG Daily today that it was in cahoots with Google on the Chrome OS project.

A representative confirmed this to us this morning.

He said: "We have been privy to the project for some time and we have worked with Google on a variety of projects, including this one. We welcome Google's move here."

The statement is likely to throw Microsoft into total panic. Intel and Microsoft were always "friends" [as in Wintel], but some have speculated they've always been enemies.

Intel put its weight behind a light weight operating system for netbooks, based on a Linux kernel, and called Moblin. Some had speculated that the Google move would throw Intel, as well as Microsoft, into disarray.

It seems not.

Now Intel has put its cards on the table, and it must be up to Microsoft to respond to the direct challenge.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment at press time. And could not be contacted for comment.

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ARM Chip Makers Show Support for Google's Chrome OS
Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and NVIDIA

The announcement has received a favorable welcome from a number of industry players, some of which are currently working with Google on the future development of the OS and future devices that will support it. Such is the case with ARM-based chip makers like Texas Instruments, Qualcomm and graphics chip maker NVIDIA who have recently announced their support for said operating system.

“Netbooks are really the tip of the iceberg. We need to fast forward into the future and think of things beyond the Netbook thanks to this initiative from Google,” Ramesh Iyer, Texas Instruments' head of worldwide business development said in a phone interview with Cnet. “We see the future being cloud computing really. You are walking around with a simple tablet, that is probably no thicker than the thickness of your display. It may have a (physical) keyboard, it may have a soft keyboard. A world where you're no longer carrying around a two-pound or five-pound notebook but a small tablet,” he added.

Like Texas Instruments, Qualcomm is also highly interested in the development of Google's operating system, which is expected to power some new PC designs. “We've seen designs that are so thin that when people pick them up for the first time they're shocked by how light they are,” Rob Chandhok, vice president of software strategy for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, said in a phone interview with Cnet.

Both companies are developing processors based on the ARM microarchitecture, most of which are currently powering a number of smartphones. In addition, both Qualcomm and Texas Instruments have expressed their commitment towards the development of a new PC segment, namely that of smartbooks (a term used by Qualcomm for its Snapdragon-based netbooks).

Like Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, NVIDIA is also using the ARM microarchitecture for its Tegra chips, which are to power some of the upcoming Mobile Internet Devices and low-power portable computer systems. This is one of the main reasons why the Santa Clara, California-based graphics chip maker has expressed its support for Google's new operating system.

“This announcement reinforces our view of GPU-CPU co-processing for balanced platforms. It validates ARM and devices like Tegra which uses the ARM processors as key players in the market,” said Derek Perez of NVIDIA, in a recent news-article on Tech Radar. “Currently Tegra supports WinCE for netbooks and WinMobile and Android for Smartphones....as more OSs come out that our OEMs want, we will support them. We're excited to see what Google brings to market,” he added.

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ARM chip camp sees Google Chrome as opportunity

Analysts see the makings of a broad realignment in the computer industry. "What Google is betting on with the Chrome OS (is a) shift in computing and consumer behavior," Charles King, president and principal analyst at Pund-IT, wrote in a research note on Wednesday. "If that scenario truly comes to pass, it could disrupt the efforts of virtually every vendor focused on personal computing."

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Hi there. I work for a company (Sorry to be secretive, but what I am about to post could get me in big trouble) that supplies parts for Acer laptops. Today, a Google Rep visited the Acer team to install and quickly show off some of the features of the Google OS in development.

I was invited by Acer to come and view the demo.

I can say and give only what I know and have.

The OS installation was performed on a Acer Extensa 4620Z laptop to show it can install quickly on laptops from late 2007 to early 2008. The install from Vista to Google Chrome OS Dev Beta was only 10 minutes and was very elegant. Only one restart required.

A wizard asks you for basic info on the first boot up. Google was still in progress of developing the wizard so we just skipped most of this. Google at the moment installed only the Google Talk application. They did this because the Rep said “At the current time, Google has not completed compatibility tests with some laptops and netbooks.”.

This beta was extremely stripped down. However, it was amazingly fast. They did one reboot and it rebooted from Desktop to Desktop in about 25ish seconds.

There is a button on the Chrome Bar (At least that is what the Rep called it.) that is basically the blue center of the chrome logo. This button pulls up a Start Menu clone essentially. The Reboot, Programs, and Main Directory is located here.

The navigation uses two options. “Exploration” or “Browser”. Explanation is much alike the Windows Explorer. The Browser uses search options. In Browser Mode, the Google Chrome Browser comes up and you can search and also use the “Most Visited” features for your files. This part was rough feeling and Google Stressed this Dev Beta is extremely early and has much to work out.

There is a clock on the Chrome Bar. It is very stationary and looks very plain. However, it does work.

The icons are large but can be shrunk and grown to your preference much alike the dock in a Mac. May we also note a new icon for Google Talk. Strange but that is how it is.

Also, a internet wizard is very quick and shows a signal bar beside the clock.

The Chrome Bar also auto hides. It can be brought back up by the Windows key and Space (The Rep Mentioned in Google Chrome OS laptops this key will actually be a fully colored and 3D Chrome Logo in some Netbooks)

The rep also mentioned some of the Linux aspects including the option to have a status bar on the Chrome Bar for Devs.

In addition a search bar can be implemented on the Chrome Bar. Programs appear in a Windows 7 Esque icon fashion.

That is all the time I had with the demo and Rep. Soon after some other Acer employees, affiliates, and the Google Rep went to show some of the capabilities of the OS on a projectior for a more elaborate showing of the features to a larger audience.

However, I was the last to leave the room and the Google Rep seemed to forget his privacy. I happened to have my Mini-Cam with me and took these medium quality shots. I am sorry I couldn’t get better. They were all taken in less than 10 seconds. Adrenaline was rushing like crazy.

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Why a Google OS May Make Microsoft Sweat

Microsoft makes about $50-$60 per copy of Windows Vista installed on a computer sold; however, because margins for each netbook sold is typically less than $50 dollars, the Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft has lowered the cost for Windows installations on netbooks to $15. It is obvious that netbook makers would be resistant to any price increases to protect what little profit they make while also looking for free alternatives such as Linux.

This is where Chrome OS could cause havoc to Microsoft’s margins. A free Chrome OS would be very attractive to netbook makers as a way to increase margins and protect against a Microsoft OS price increase that could make their product no longer profitable. Since the netbook business is focused on minimizing costs and companies compete on price, netbook makers would be motivated to find cheaper or free operating system alternatives that would be accepted by mainstream users. In my opinion, the free Linux operating system is not a serious threat to Microsoft because it has a reputation for being geared towards computer experts rather than average computer users. In contrast, the Google brand is already familiar to mainstream users and has the reputation for innovation and ease-of-use.

Provided that Chrome OS is more user-friendly than Linux and widely adopted for netbooks, Microsoft would have to lower their OS prices even more to compete with a free product. Given that netbooks are predicted to be the fastest growing PC segment in 2009 (Deloitte), this would be very destructive to margins on Microsoft’s traditionally highly profitable operating systems business and would reduce Windows market-share significantly.

Another big problem with Microsoft Windows is that mobile devices and netbooks have less computing power than their larger PC counterparts and Windows requires more power. This is especially evident in the power-hungry Windows Vista and is one reason why netbook makers prefer to install the older Windows XP. However, since Chrome OS is built specifically with mobile devices and netbooks in mind, Google can beat Microsoft on performance as well.

Finally, netbooks using Chrome OS may allow Google to promote its other online “cloud” services which compete with Microsoft such as its office suite, search engine and email services.

The prospect of having Microsoft’s main profit centers (e.g., Windows and Office) under threat should be enough to make Steve Ballmer sweat even more than usual.

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said by Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management and Linus Upson, Engineering Director :

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Chrome OS - FAQ

We've been getting a number of questions in reference to our 'Introducing the Google Chrome OS' blog post, and so here are a number of your most frequently asked Qs – along with our As. We'll be sure to add more to this list as popular questions come in.

Is Google Chrome OS free?
Yes – Google Chrome OS is an open source project and will be available to use at no cost.

What companies is Google working with to support Google Chrome OS?
The Google Chrome OS team is currently working with a number of technology companies to design and build devices that deliver an extraordinary end user experience. Among others, these companies include: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments.

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Google's Chrome: Taking Aim at Microsoft — and the iPhone

No, Google's move into the operating-system space, long dominated by Microsoft, is not good news for Redmond, Wash. The last thing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer needs is to compete against Google's (presumably) free operating system, which supposedly can drive anything from a netbook to a PC.

But here's a wacky thought: Maybe Microsoft is just collateral damage in this war. Maybe the real competitor to Google is Apple! Launching its Chrome OS in the second half of 2010 may be simply a bid by Google to keep the Web a viable, robust place — even as users (especially Apple users) are starting to be enticed away from it.

Google's interests are perfectly aligned with a free and open Web. That's its brilliance. Google dominates the Web platform. The more you use the Web, the more likely you are to use its hugely popular search products, and the more ads Google will sell, targeted at you. It doesn't really matter which browser you use to get there — Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google's house browser, Chrome — as long as you use Google Search, Maps and any of the other suite of fine, free Google products.

That's why it really makes sense for Google to come out with a free operating system. Google needs to keep the Web humming, and what better way than to ensure that there are plenty of supercheap Web tablets out there? It must be odd these days to be Eric Schmidt. Not only is he Google's CEO, but he's a board member of Apple.

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CNET: It's time for Google's CEO to resign from Apple's board

In an open letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, CNET’s Tom Krazit this morning calls for his resignation from Apple’s Board of Directors, citing an inevitable collision course for the companies as competitors now that Google has announced plans to build a computer operating system called Google Chrome OS.

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said by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols :

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It's Linux-based. It is not a simple presentation layer that vendors could put on top of Windows 7. Google will be delivering a complete desktop software stack -- Linux foundation, graphical environment, and Web-based application stack.

The whole package will be open source. Google isn't saying which, if any, existing distribution it will be using for its foundation. Google certainly has the chops to roll its own desktop Linux. The desktop interface is not going to be either GNOME- or KDE-based. I'm told by sources, however, that it will be using the Portland Project's desktop APIs (application programming interfaces), which will allow existing Linux desktop applications like the groupware program Evolution and OpenOffice to work with Chrome OS.

Here's how it will work in Chrome OS. When you launch an application on the Web, say Google Docs, Chrome will use Google Gears to not only provide the ability to do work offline, but also to cache your online data in the open-source lightweight DBMS Sqlite. As a user, you'll never see any of this. You'll just find yourself doing most of your work in the Chrome browser interface.

Once Google has this working really well, you may not even be able to tell when you're on the net and when you're not. I'm told off the record by Google engineers that the goal is to make the desktop invisible. You'll be spending 99% of your time in the browser.

Vendors are already working with Google to deliver netbooks with Chrome OS by the second half of 2010. Can't wait that long? Don't sweat it. I'm told by sources that bootable beta Chrome OS images will be available by this fall.

How much will it cost me? Nada. Nothing.

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But let’s be clear on what this really is. This is Google dropping the mother of bombs on its chief rival, Microsoft. It even says as much in the first paragraph of its post, “However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web.” Yeah, who do you think they mean by that?

And it’s a genius play. So many people are buying netbooks right now, but are running Windows XP on them. Windows XP is 8 years old. It was built to run on Pentium IIIs and Pentium 4s. Google Chrome OS is built to run on both x86 architecture chips and ARM chips, like the ones increasingly found in netbooks. It is also working with multiple OEMs to get the new OS up and running next year.

Obviously, this Chrome OS will be lightweight and fast just like the browser itself. But also just like the browser, it will be open-sourced. Think Microsoft will be open-sourcing Windows anytime soon?

Chrome OS will be all about the web apps. And no doubt HTML 5 is going to be a huge part of all of this. A lot of people are still wary about running web apps for when their computer isn’t connected to the web. But HTML 5 has the potential to change that, as you’ll be able to work in the browser even when not connected, and upload when you are again.

Google plans to release the open source code for Chrome OS later this year ahead of the launch next year. Don’t be surprised if this code drops around the same time as Windows 7. Can’t wait to hear what Microsoft will have to say about all of this.

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Google to launch operating system

The announcement could dramatically change the market for operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player with around 90% share.

"This announcement is huge," said Rob Enderle, industry watcher and president of the Enderle Group.

"This is the first time we have had a truly competitive OS on the market in years. This is potentially disruptive and is the first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft.

"Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post-web operating system, designed from the ground up, and reconceived for a web world," Mr Enderle told the BBC.

"One of Google's major goals is to take Microsoft out, to systematically destroy their hold on the market," said Mr Enderle.

"Google wants to eliminate Microsoft and it's a unique battle. The strategy is good. The big question is, will it work?"

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Would You Miss Windows With a Google Operating System?

The main advantage of Chrome OS is that it is free. Microsoft’s Windows 7 is reported to cost netbook makers at least $45 per computer. Even if Microsoft is forced to cut the price to the $25 level that it has been charging netbook makers for its ancient Windows XP system, a Chrome netbook may well be in stores for $30 to $50 less than an equivalent Windows machine.

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10 things to know about Google Chrome OS
What we can glean from the early info

Google has confirmed that it will be making code available to developers later this year and predicts that we will be buying the first Chrome OS powered netbooks by the second half of next year.

"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," said Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management and Linus Upson, Engineering Director on the Google blog.

"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."

Google Chrome OS is a first foray from Google into a more powerful operating system, and by 'initially' targeting netbooks it is immediately going to be treading on Windows 7's toes. Microsoft designed Windows 7 to be scaleable – useable on everything from netbooks and high end desktops – and Google not only has the financial clout to compete with the Redmond software giant, it is also likely to gain favour by its cloud approach.

With people increasingly used to having their information and tools online, from webmail to docs, from calendars to chat, Google appears to be asking if we really need an OS that deals with our desktop, and not simply an interface for the web.

Plus, should it prove to be a success, you can guarantee that more powerful computers will begin to look at Chrome OS as a viable alternative to Windows 7. By using the word 'initially', Google is making a statement of serious intent in the OS arena.

"Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year," says Google.

Compatibility is a big thing for Google, but by using a Linux kernel with a windowing system, and working with powerful partners, Chrome OS will be able to run on most PC platforms.

Security is what many would term a 'hygiene' problem. You expect your computer to be secure and you notice, and notice hard, when it isn't.

"...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," says Google.

Google has already appealed to the open source community to get behind the project – which is built on the open Linux kernel.

"We have a lot of work to do, and we're definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision."

By making the browser the central component to the OS, Google is extending an already huge platform - the web - meaning that anyone designing for web standards will be well catered for.

"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," says Google. "We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds."

So what is the functionality that Chrome hopes to bring?

"People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up," says Google.

"They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files.

"Even more importantly, they don't want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates."

"Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems.

"While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google."

Google making its own Linux based OS will certainly be a major 'competitor' for other flavours of Linux, like Ubuntu, with the powerful company likely to attract a big swathe of developers into the Chrome OS camp.

More importantly will be the reaction of the consumers; netbooks have helped fuel a boost for several Linux flavours – gaining entry into homes that may never have considered an open-source OS, but Chrome OS will, no doubt, capture a large share of that particular market on reputation alone.

Saying that, the open source ethos of Linux will hopefully be retained in the Chrome OS project and that's a good thing for everyone.

It's Linux based, it's open-source; it will almost certainly be free. Of course Google may make money with corporate support, should it become competitive for enterprise.

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Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS.

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Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS.

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