How I Imagine Google Chrome OS

Based on the latest rumors, Google is about to release Chrome OS (Google’s own operating system) during the next weeks. Some speculations are already there about it. The most sure speculation is that Chrome OS will be a Linux. Many people started making assumptions of the new OS, about it’s features and uses. Some of them believe that it will be a lightweight operating system with Google application shortcuts on the desktop but…

When we talk about Google, we are talking about a company that doesn’t do things without the “know how” and the “know why” principle. Google has been preparing the ground for it’s operating system the last 3-4 years now and July 2009 was not a month that Google’s CEOs woke up and said “Hey, lets make an operating system”.

Fake image I made based on my imagination about Chrome OS

Lets see what Google says to us about the Chrome OS:

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.

Note the keywords above:

• Speed
• Simple
• Secure
• Web based

Let’s analyze the text above and try to imagine how Chrome OS will look, work and behave.

Speed

Google says that Chrome OS will be fast and lightweight. The user interface will be minimal, so the only thing I can think of is that the Chrome browser will be the main application and the File Manager of this operating system. The OS will load the necessary drivers for Internet connection and Chrome browser will load upon startup of the system.

Simple

Since the only application to load on the operating system is the Chrome browser, most of the time users will be using the browser to do anything. Some other applications might exist as standalone programs but not on the default install of the system.

Secure

Being secure is something time will tell. Based on my speculations though, security will be achieved from the philosophy of the system. Chrome OS will be focused on cloud computing. This takes care of viruses since nothing needs to be installed on the system for applications to work. If we count in some technologies that are on their way to production stage like HTML5 and it’s storage database, applications will be able to work offline too when Internet connection is not available.

Storage

Chrome OS will probably be using an online service for storage. With a variety of services available on the net, it will be a piece of cake to add storage devices on your PC. I assume that classic storage devices will also be supported since Chrome OS will need it to store itself.

Users

Chrome OS will allow many people to work on the same machine, allowing remote connections on the system with a “Sign in with your Google Account” dialog where each Google user will be able to login to the system provided the PC owner gave access to that user. The same thing that happens with your Adsense or Analytics account.

The Desktop

A Google Wave aware desktop will be able to allow users to collaborate and communicate right from the desktop. Even if having a desktop will be an option.

Applications

Here is a list of some applications for the new OS. These will not be just web shortcuts to their online versions but standalone applications that will be using APIs to operate:

• Media Player: YouTube
  Available as a standalone app. Google is serious about HD on YouTube and by using a standalone version of YouTube is nice way to deliver high quality movies to the user.
• Image Manager: Picasa
  The existing Picasa application and Picasa web albums is a great example on how most of Chrome OS apps will be.
• File Manager: Chrome
  Even if by making Chrome, the default file manager of it’s operating system, would raise some complaints about monopoly from it’s users, this is how the whole thing is in my head.
• Office: Google Docs
• Calendar: Google Calendar
  Able to manage your tasks in real time with other users with a heavy usage of the CalDAV API.
• Image Editor: SketchUp
  Just like Picasas case.
• Collaboration: Google Wave

Google’s new language “Go”, will have it’s share on the Chrome OS. Many applications delivered by Google or third parties will use Go’s compilers to build executables and apply upgrades and patches. This allows more thoughts on how Chrome could be used for developing purposes.

The wait is over?

When i tried to find some images to use for this article, I stumbled upon this post that states to have installed Chrome OS and gave some screenshots to the public:

Image of a said to be : Installation of Chrome OS

System Setings

I saw these images after the article was finished. Honest!

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