Re: Chrome OS
 

I think the "no root for you" was engadget editorial, not a Google statement. They were referring to Verified boot, which seems to be an option if the hardware supports it. Here's a quote from the Q & A session:

Re: Chrome OS
 

Well that's just pointing out that if you install it on existing hardware you have to excise the bits that check for a TPM module. Basically, you have to cut the DRM out before it'll work on regular hardware. I imagine that said module is explicitly used to enforce there being "no root for you."

And if it's really leveraging that... good luck rooting it.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here is a brief preview of the developer CR48 for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....ew-002-top.jpg
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/g...laptop-preview

Re: Chrome OS
 

I would imagine that it's not: the answered question mentioned nothing of this, and the chromium OSS project seems not to have a problem with this.

I would bet that Chrome OS adds the 'DRM' to chromium OS upon which its founded.

Re: Chrome OS
 

You obviously don't get it most people would prefer not to worry about security or updates. Most people just want to access facebook or there email without worry and Chrome os provides that. Most people just use there computers to view things, not create things. People don't want to worry about hardware upgrades or anything like that, get it? If you want to stick with traditional os, stick with a traditional os. I will agree Chrome OS is nothing new or special. I wonder what really makes Chrome os that different from say HP Quickweb. I will stick with Ubuntu Netbook remix on my HP Mini 210.

Re: Chrome OS
 

What i can take away form my extensive review of the keyboard is that Chrome OS will be different, well rounded and simplistic. It will take you out of your comfort zone to show you a new way of relating to the world around you.

Re: Chrome OS
 

I was talking to a friend the other day about Chrome OS, and they exclaimed 'That's BRILLIANT' and then went into a tirade about a use-case at work where they are forced to hop between computers for certain functionality. They also liked the fact that their files and documents would be available from anywere and that they didn't have to worry about installation, upgrading, etc.

Of course, they liked the 'idea' of it, though what remains is whether the implementation will tickle them in the same way.

Having used Chrome and the Chrome Web Store, I can say that it's a really good start (from a user experience standpoint), though not perfect. There still are a lot of apps that are more-or-less website links with little app-like interfaces or integration (ie. openid). And there are still many apps that are missing. But I expect that this will change very quickly as developers explore this new tech.

The one area that I'm curious about is this: While 'cloud' storage is nice, local music/movies is likely a large use-case for users. The question is, will playing a local library be eliminated or needlessly complicated? I can imagine that any number of web-clients can be created to access a remote source quite easily, but I have yet to see any project step in to provide this service.

Re: Chrome OS
 

All other OS's provide that too, going from Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition all the way to Windows 7.
Have you not noticed "most people" also play music on their computers? Or even use it as a base to transport it through different media (like sync to phones and pmps).
If you say you have the option of streaming/downloading your music (or videos) from the cloud, I will just say that is going to consume a lot of data (sparse connections, expensive rates, toll on battery life = wifi/3G). Its just doing an easy task through a more complicated manner.
According to Google, Chrome OS doesn't do that, so for me one of my most basic needs is thrown out the window so I need to look elsewhere.
Besides the only "best" thing about Chrome OS is the browser and that is available on competitor OS's so the choice is even easier.

Remember, MeeGo + Chrome may be suitable for the layman too.

Re: Chrome OS
 

I've recently read that ChromeOS has a facility for accessing files on the FS, so its entirely possible for a music/movie player using an HTML5 application. Of course, these devices are likely not to have much storage as the emphasis is on cloud services, making portable media something of an issue (large bandwidth required).

I'm looking forward to projects that implement music and movie players in the browser that can stream from arbitrary sources (eg. a local server). It would be a good facility for around the house usage and a nice excuse for a central home server with local facilities and mass storage.

It seems like a lot of trouble, but becomes understandable as more and more devices are connected in the home. With a setup similar to this it would be easy to push media to your TV, laptops, tablets or phone, without needing to manually move around files.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Y'know, I think this is good. What this does is create a "lowest common denominator" for new users that's -better- than windows -- and that includes being locked down.
Provided Google provides a hardware switch(or cheap module) that allows rooting, Google will have acomplished two goals:
1. Newbs(and noobs) who are technically illiterate won't be able to screw things up. They also won't be able to do -everything-, and will be forced to actually learn in order to do things outside the nominal scope of Chrome OS.
2. Technically literate people will be able to modify it however they want, provided they care and can do the research to figure out how.
This will end up creating a slightly larger divide over the next few years - People who want things to just work will have it work; systems administrators won't need to worry about their users breaking stuff as much.

Now, if it was anyone -but- google doing this, I'd be afraid for the future - Google, however, has the smarts to think long term for their stratigies, and as such aren't -quite- as dangerous as, say, Microsoft or the MPAA are.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here's a great example of 3D running in the browser via a company called 3DVia.
http://armdevices.net/2010/12/11/das...at-leweb-2010/

Very slick! I wonder if they're using a plugin or if they're using WebGL.

Re: Chrome OS
 

One thing that I'm very interested in seeing is NaCL support for Chrome OS. I am running the dev version of Chrome as my default browser, and it is FAST. I'm astonished to think that javascript performance is going to be doubled in some cases with the official Chrome OS version 'Crankshaft'.

However, even the blazing fast V8 Javascript engine doesn't hold a candle to the speeds native code can achieve. Also, native binaries offer the benefit of using whatever development environment or language that you want. NaCl has the same benefits so long as a .nexe is compiled in the end. The end result? Web apps that literally run as fast as traditional OS code (some cases slower, and in some cases faster due to an unforseen CPU code caching benefit).

I've tested NaCL and subjectively it's fast, very fast. It's supposedly executed in a very secure way (similar to virtualization -- using the same mechanisms of isolation). It also leverages many OS level APIs and HTML 5 APIs for well rounded capability. In short, almost any native application that you can dream of can be run in the browser and at full speed (not entirely true, apps that leverage non-standard hardware are currently not possible, though this could change), but delivered via the cloud and without the need to VNC.

Apparently many common POSIX utils were ported to NaCl with little fuss. I would like to see ports of common linux GUI apps, as well as a general compatibility layer. Who wouldn't want to be able to run something like Inkscape or Blender from within the browser sans installation? Best of all? The apps are 100% sandboxed and security is much less of a concern.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Wikipedia has a nice little writeup about Native Client:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Native_Client

It's of note that almost all major browsers support the technology including: Chrome/Chromium, Firefox, Safari and Opera across OSs on multiple x86 varients. Sadly (or not so sadly), IE is left off of the list.

There's also an ARM port in the work, and a variant called PNaCl that uses LLVM as as a architecture independent bit-language! So, certain NaCl apps will work on your N900s/Galaxy Tabs/etc, just as they do on your desktops!

It's an exciting time for OSS!

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here's a video of Quake running in NaCl in the browser.. They're actually running 9 of them (try doing that with Javascript!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zbFuaB2wc

Pointless, but fun.

Re: Chrome OS
 

This should give Nokia fans mixed feelings. Here is a QT port to NaCl:
http://labs.trolltech.com/blogs/wp-c...t-95208-am.png
http://labs.qt.nokia.com/2010/06/25/...lient-preview/

Very interesting indeed! It seems that web apps are about to get a LOT more functional. With rich toolkits like QT, building apps will be a snap, and in many cases [more] easily portable between online and offline platforms.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Another reason devs will jump on Native Client and Chrome OS, is that code can be hidden in the binary rather than exposed as obfuscated Javascript.

There's likely to be a large developer push into this area as it promises much simpler distribution. The low cost of entry also implies that there will likely be much more competition!

Re: Chrome OS
 

Here's a lovely video showing one of the benefits of cloud computing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm-Vnx58UYo

It's for the lay person, but I expect many can appreciate the benefits of this.

Re: Chrome OS
 

In a pretty gutsy move, Google has declared that it will be removing H.264 from the list of codecs officially supported by Chrome!

It is focusing on all open codecs instead (WebM/VP8 and Theora).

http://blog.chromium.org/2011/01/htm...in-chrome.html

Re: Chrome OS
 

Very interesting. Not entirely unexpected, but I guess Google isn't going to take the MPEG-LA's bait.

It'll be interesting to see what their next move will be.

Re: Chrome OS
 

I expected this of Chromium, but Chrome is somewhat surprising to me.

It seems that this will be a polarizing point for browser video support. On the one hand you have Firefox, Chromium and Opera, and on the other you have IE9 and Safari.

MS will determine if there is a skirmish. If they can translate IE6 users to IE9, then this will be a point of contention.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Engadget just shot back at the move with this piece:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/11/g...e-masses-towa/

Re: Chrome OS
 

I've been playing this game via the Chrome Web store. It's a platformer called The Fancy Pants Adventures and is quite a bit of fun. I'm not mad on the style, but the play mechanics are quite good!

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/i...shot_cws/66001
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...ehcfbnpeelfhlk

Re: Chrome OS
 

Ars has an article on how Google dropping H.264 is a step back from openness. It's somewhat controversial:

It was copied on Slashdot:
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/01...s-For-Openness

Thoughts?

Re: Chrome OS
 

Google defends its position regarding WebM and HTML5:
http://blog.chromium.org/2011/01/mor...deo-codec.html

Woah! Google will be releasing a plugin for IE and Safari to support WebM in those ecosystems.

With Flash planning support for WebM as well, developers will be able to use WebM worry free and target ALL MAJOR MODERN BROWSERS using Javascript to launch a flash player in its absence, or requiring that the user download and install a plugin.

That's a 'mate' move, and one exceptionally well played by Google.

What now remains is for Google to educate developers to use WebM as their codec of choice. Web developers will determine the winner.

Re: Chrome OS
 

I see this as both a Good Thing and a smart move by Google. It's not as important to have open standards for software as it is to have standards for open software.

Re: Chrome OS
 

It seems that a blogger (Opera rep?) has weighed in with counter points to the ars technica article regarding WebM taking a step back from openness:

http://my.opera.com/haavard/blog/2011/01/13/openness

Re: Chrome OS
 

Chrome at the Game Developers Conference? You bet.
http://www.google.com/events/gdc/2011/

They'll be showing off NaCl, which effectively turns the browser into a client that executes at native speed without demanding a common language (C/C++ works perfectly). NaCl games will be every bit as good as traditional installs, though run in the browser in a highly secure way.

WebGL is also an enticing technology for more casual games and web applications. There will be segments on WebGL as well.

Soon many more games may be web-apps, and I bet that Google is betting on this. They claim that there are 120M active users of the chrome web store, and games is the largest segment.

This is incredibly exciting news.

Re: Chrome OS
 

This seems hardly popular given the circumstances, but Google is getting ready to launch NaCl as stable in Chrome!
http://blog.chromium.org/2011/02/nat...r-takeoff.html

This is highly significant for the world of the web, where web applications will be given the same speed advantages as Native OS applications with cross OS functionality (eg. games/productivity).

This is truly exciting news and is quite indicative that the www is changing.

This is also a MAJOR cog in the Chrome OS strategy.

Re: Chrome OS
 

The future of computing is looking more and more likely to be on the web.

Not to be left behind, Mozilla is looking to take the Chrome Web Store head on with one of its own!
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content...refox-logo.jpg
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...refox-web-apps

Re: Chrome OS
 

It seems as though Google isn't the only one that thinks that the browser is the platform of the future.

Trip Hawkins the founder of EA expects that withover 2 Billion browsers in use, it is to be the platform of the future.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/0...-of-the-Future

FTA:

Re: Chrome OS
 

The next release of VP8 has been, uh... released...

It's codenamed Bali:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...s1600/best.png
http://blog.webmproject.org/2011/03/...-released.html

It bolsters some very interesting

• "Best" mode average encoding speed: On x86 processors, Bali runs 4.5x as fast than our initial release and 1.35x faster than Aylesbury.
• "Good" mode average encoding speed: Bali is 2.7x faster than our initial release and 1.4x faster than Aylesbury.
• On ARM platforms with Neon extensions, real-time encoding of video telephony content is 7% faster than Aylesbury on single core ARM Cortex A9, 15% on dual-core and 26% on quad core.
• On the NVidia Tegra2 platform, real time encoding is 21-36% faster than Aylesbury, depending on encoding parameters.
• "Best" mode average quality improved 6.3% over Aylesbury using the PSNR metric.
• "Best" mode average quality improved 6.1% over Aylesbury using the SSIM metric.

This is very exciting, and it's great that there's a quality open codec available for sip video calls.

It's worth noting that Tegra2 does not have NEON extensions, and the encoding performance is better than realtime as was the first release.

Re: Chrome OS
 

It seems NaCL has some competition! GDK+ 3.2 allows users to remotely or locally run applications in a web browser (via HTML5)!

http://www.webupd8.org/2011/03/gtk-3...plication.html (with flash video)

HD WEBM VIDEO: http://www.gnome.org/~alexl/broadway-screencast.webm

This will support any GDK application (eg. image/video editing)!

Right now, it only works with Firefox 4, but hopefully other browser support will be forthcoming.

Think about it: your entire operation could be remote, or shared between trusted computers! I suspect that unlike VNC it will be executed client-side for peak performance, though I'm not sure of the implementation as of yet.

This. Is. Huge.

Re: Chrome OS
 

Want a feel of what's possible with a web-app these days? Take a look at Mr. Doobs minecraft demo:

http://mrdoob.github.com/three.js/ex...ecraft_ao.html *

*this requires WebGL, so you may need Chrome Nightly or another browser

Yep, this is just Javascript. Impressive nay?

Re: Chrome OS
 

This is interesting:

Chrome OS launch screen gets touch-friendly:
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content...-touch-ntp.jpg
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/03/goo...ndly-tab-page/

This might be indicative that Chrome OS is to be targeted to tablets.

My prediction? ChromeOS will be released on low-cost tablet 'appliances' a generation from now.

Re: Chrome OS
 

This could be a very interesting chromeOS device.

11.6" Sony Vaio running on Tegra2:
http://www.netbooknews.com/wp-conten...-x-550x330.jpg

I saw a competent in-browser SSH client the other day, and with the insane security provided by chrome OS, this could make a powerful workstation to connect to your server.

As more apps become web-ified, this may make an ultra-thin, ultra-light, ultra-long lasting productivity device, for coding and basic productivity.

I just wish Sony was a bit more forward thinking and opted to include the luscious Tegra 3 -- then it would truly compete!

Re: Chrome OS
 

This is the web re-defined.

Speech recognition is coming to Chrome:
http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content...hrome-logo.jpg
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/03/spe...e-chrome-beta/

This opens the door for a totally different way of interacting on the web. Giving talented web developers the power to easily incorporate voice is a game changer.

I can't wait until more browser implement this part of the HTML5 spec.

It bodes well for Chrome OS (and chrome browsers), though in the short term, that has dedicated support via the Chrome web store and as such an easy way to find services that support this standard feature.

Re: Chrome OS
 

C-c-c-c-combo breaker!

Re: Chrome OS
 

Holy s**t! This is f**king cool:

I just tested out the HTML5 text input, and was FLOORED!
http://slides.html5rocks.com/#speech-input

It works so well! For those that are adventurous, download the Chrome beta (or whatever designation version 11 is). This demo does what is expected: it does speech-to-text in the browser.

This is extremely exciting!

Re: Chrome OS
 

Well, well, well... It seems that Google alone isn't the only company that sees the future of applications being on the web.

Motorola has dropped its hat into the fray;
http://androidandme.com/wp-content/u...ility-logo.jpg
http://androidandme.com/2011/03/phon...-web-based-os/

I suspect a web based OS is easy to develop and secure as the environment is extremely predictable, and many components are open for the plundering.

I'm curious to see what type of a spin they put on this web-based OS...

Re: Chrome OS
 

Looking for an AWESOME webGL example?

Check this out:
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/det...YkMLeAww/large
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/det...webgl/?f=webgl

Very nice...