08-16-2017, 10:19 PM
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Google Chrome OS
According to Google, Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half
2010. 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.
Company / developer: Google Inc.
Programmed in: C, C++
OS family: Unix-like
Working state: Source code released as Chromium OS
Supported platforms:x86, ARM
Kernel type: Linux
Default user interface: Graphical (Web-based)
Design goals & direction
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. Secondary tasks would be handled with "panels": floating windows that dock to the bottom of the screen for tasks like chat and music players. Split screens are also under consideration for viewing two pieces of content side-by-side. Google Chrome OS will follow the Chrome browser's practice of leveraging HTML5's offline modes, background processing, and notifications. Designers propose using search and pinned tabs as a way to quickly locate and access applications.
In preliminary design documents for the Chromium OS open source project, Google describes a three-tier architecture:
firmware, browser and window manager, and system-level software and userland services.
The firmware contributes to fast boot time by not probing for hardware, such as floppy disk drives, that are no longer common on computers, especially netbooks. The firmware also contributes to security by verifying each step in the boot process and incorporating system recovery.
The window manager handles user interaction with multiple client windows much like other X window managers.
Google Chrome OS is initially intended for secondary devices like netbooks, not a user's primary PC,and will run on hardware incorporating an x86 or ARM-based processor.
Chrome OS will support hard disk drives, Google has requested that its hardware partners use solid-state drives due to their higher performance and reliability, 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
Printing
Google plans to create a service called Google Cloud Print which will help any application on any device to print on any printer. This method of printing does not require any drivers and therefore will be suitable for printing from Google Chrome OS.
Security
All apps live within the browser, there are significant benefits to security. Unlike traditional operating systems, Chrome OS doesn t trust the applications you run. Each app is contained within a security sandbox making it harder for malware and viruses to infect your computer. Furthermore, Chrome OS barely trusts itself. Every time you restart your computer the operating system verifies the integrity of its code. If your system has been compromised, it is designed to fix itself with a reboot. While no computer can be made completely secure, we re going to make life much harder (and less profitable) for the bad guys.