Re: Chrome OS
 

Chromium has improved efficiency by a bit.

Chrome 10+ has implemented the experimental mozRequestAnimationFrame API (via webkit):
http://blog.chromium.org/2011/03/get...b-content.html

The new webkitRequestAnimationFrame API helps animations CPU consumption by providing a callback only on frame update of graphical resources, and not on a scheduler ala setTimeout/setInterval.

This should be tremendously useful for animation in the browser DOM/canvas/etc.

The following WebGL samples implement the webkitRequestAnimationFrame to improve animation:
http://code.google.com/p/webglsamples/

Re: Chrome OS
 

Chrome OS is becoming more touch-finger friendly.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....1x0407n6hh.jpg
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/g...e-os-still-ha/

This is very good, as it will allow for very inexpensive and light devices to run this OS!

Re: Chrome OS
 

It seems as though Chrome OS has reached stable and has a stable channel available:
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content...hrome-logo.jpg
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/04/goo...hannel-opened/

The launch is likely imminent.

This is probably the project that I'm most looking forward to. Running apps over the web ushers in a new era of simplicity. The challenge? Getting web apps up to the level of most desktop apps. The technology is certainly there, but convincing developers to take this medium seriously, may prove to be extremely challenging.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here's a video showcasing Chrome OS on a touchscreen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo9cY1U6RA

Very neat indeed! It looks genuinely useful.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Arnold: Yesterday, April 21 2011, skynet became self-aware. A major swath of computers were deactivated in Amazons Web Service data-centers in North Virginia. Major websites relying on this system continue to experience outages as a result of the event.

Cloud computing took a strong blow from the media.

Capt'n: Those that had proper snapshots and failover redundancy (as they should have) would not have experienced one iota of downtime.

Still it's a shame that such a major outage could occur.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Web technologies have certainly matured. Take a look at this WebGL game in production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haJE1K90IOk

Very impressive indeed! And to think that this content will be available regardless of OS or architecture and will require no installation to run.

Services like GaiKai will only increase the content as well, not even requiring highly spec'd devices.

It's a brave new web.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here's a lifehacker guide for living entirely inside of chrome:
http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/as...de_chrome4.jpg
http://lifehacker.com/#!5796224/the-...-inside-chrome

Pretty neat!

I'd want some way (beyond just SSH -- yes, there are web-client solutions) to connect to my desktop's GUI in a smooth and consistent way. I'd also like a nicely designed GUI for streaming/organizing media. After that, I'd be able to use a thin, low power, long-battery life, and ultra-secure chrome OS notebook and connect to my personal data.

This solution also allows for:
- more than one device connection (eg. notebook/tablet/phone)
- a central place for personal data (backed up, I would sincerely hope)
- the ability to remotely connect away from home

Yum..

Re: Chrome OS
 

The web becomes more impressive each day. Up next? Flash player.

It seems that Flash 11 will have 3D capabilities baked in which is HIGHLY significant as it opens the door for accelerated 3D without dynamic interpreted code (eg. Javascript + WebGL). This is what NaCL promises with the Pepper API, though Flash has the advantage of already being widely distributed.

Here is a preview of Away 3D, flash 3D API running in Flash 11:
http://away3d.com/wp-content/uploads...derOBJTest.jpg
http://away3d.com/wp-content/uploads...derMD5Test.jpg
http://away3d.com/away3d-4-0-alpha-release-broomstick

I'm fully expecting Unity 3D to support AS3, which if true, means a coming explosion of web-enabled games. Speculation, though very probable.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Damn if feels good to be right! No sooner that I posted the above, that I checked online and indeed Unity 3D is coming to Flash 11!

http://blogs.unity3d.com/wp-content/...02/flash-1.jpg
http://blogs.unity3d.com/2011/02/27/...3d-on-the-web/

The web will dominate most apps including casual games. Expect Unreal Engine to follow.

Get ready. Can you feel it?

This is a major piece in the web platform puzzle.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here are some more demos of Flash 11 3D:

First up, Away 3D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LAN5GHm5eM

Next, Frima studios:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrArtYuEkEI

Next, Alternativa 3D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aein6drd_Hk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgwi0lWgX8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYgOxzQ6bNU

Wow. Most impressive.

Who among you will be able to resist these zero-maintenance games?

Chrome OS is looking more and more impressive all the time.