LUV SURFING? ... ENJOY ON CHROME!

Chromium OS is an open-source project that aims to build an operating system that provides a fast, simple, and more secure computing experience for people who spend most of their time on the web. Chrome OS will not be available as a download to run and install, although Chromium OS can be compiled from source by anyone.

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User interface

Design goals for Google Chrome OS's user interface include using minimal screen space by combining applications and standard Web pages into a single tab strip, rather than separating the two. Designers are considering a reduced window management scheme that would operate only in full-screen mode.

Hardware support

Google Chrome OS is initially intended for secondary devices like netbooks, not as a user's primary PC,8] and will run on hardware incorporating an x86 or ARM-based processor. While Chrome OS will support hard disk drives, Google has requested that its hardware partners use solid-state drives "for performance and reliability reasons", as well as the lower capacity requirements inherent in an operating system that accesses applications and most user data on remote servers. Google Chrome OS consumes one-sixtieth as much drive space as Windows 7.

Integrated media player

Google will integrate a media player into both Chrome OS and the Chrome browser, enabling users to play back MP3s, view JPEGs, and handle other multimedia files while offline.

Link handling

One unresolved design problem related to both Chrome OS and the Chrome browser is the desired behavior for how Web applications handle specific link types. For example, if a JPEG is opened in Chrome or on a Chrome OS device, should a specific Web application be automatically opened to view it, and if so, which one? Similarly, if a user clicks on a .doc file, which website should open: Office Live, Gview, or a previewing utility? Project director Matthew Papakipos noted that Windows developers have faced the same fundamental problem: "Quicktime is fighting with Windows Media Player, which is fighting with Chrome". As the number of Web applications increases, the same problem arises.

Security

Going online doesn't have to be scary. Chrome notebooks use advanced technology to help prevent malware and viruses from accessing your data. And you never have to lift a finger. Losing your notebook doesn’t mean losing your confidential data, as Chrome maintains a cloud of your data and using another Chrome embedded OS you can access your data.

Google is hoping to launch it by the next year.