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Seth H. Weintraub

Google Ink

Chrome OS: First leaked pictures and specs? (Update: Scam)

3 comments

TAGS:ChromeOS, Google, leaked pictures
IT TOPICS:Linux, Macintosh & Apple, Open Source, Windows & Microsoft

Well, that didn't take long. Not 24 hours after the bombshell announcement that Google was building a mainstream desktop OS, supposed leaked pictures and some possible specs emerge.

Update: Yep it was a scam. But all of the info provided is very believable. And building this shouldn't be hard for Google.

Obviously these pictures and this information wouldn't be hard to fake, but here's what the poster said anyway:

ChromeOS was installed on an older Acer Extensa 4620Z laptop to show how well it runs on slower hardware.
It took 10 minutes to install, one restart required
On that hardware, it went from desktop to desktop (Shutdown, startup) in 25 seconds. That is the car equivalent to 0-60MPH-0.
The wizard was still being developed and is rough
The "Chrome Bar" looks like the blue in the center of the logo. It acts like the Windows "Start" menu. Reboot, Programs, and Main Directory is located here.
There are two means of navigation. One is "explorations", which as it sounds, is much like Windows explorer. The other is called "Browser", which is more like a search interface like spotlight in Mac OS.
Chrome bar auto-hides and icons can shrink and grow like in Mac OS
There is an interent wizard which is "very quick"

These all seem fairly legitimate specs. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Chome is how easy it is to imagine it succeeding .

Basically Google is just stripping down Linux to run super-quick with their browser and a good interface. The hard part is making it work across all hardware and easy enough for everyday people to use it. Google has enough smart people on board to make it happen.

Via Gizmodo

Google Chrome OS

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I saw a blog post over at

Submitted by Peter Zanetti on July 9, 2009 - 12:48 P.M.

I saw a blog post over at Woot today that half-jokingly pointed out some immediate reservations one would have about a Google OS. Same reservations as with a Google browser, except much deeper into your private life.

As evidenced by AdSense and YouTube, Google has proven that freedom on the web no longer exists, and that money talks. When Scientology ads can dominate all other Google advertising by simply shelling out the dollar, and real news gets deleted off YouTube because its too real for America, then you have one despicable operation on your hands.

I'm not getting in bed with a company who wants to make an operating system based on their track record. I laughed heartily at the idea of Chrome as a browser, its now an even bigger joke.

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Couldn't agree with you more, Peter!

Submitted by Mike91163 on July 9, 2009 - 1:24 P.M.

But, what irks me the most is how the technorati, MSM, and the general public give outfits like Google and Apple a free pass when it comes to privacy issues, yet excoriate Microsoft on BASIC stuff like Windows system updates.

Are you kidding me? There are dozens of supposedly innocuous apps that spend an awful amount of time playing the "E.T. phone home" game. I downloaded the free MS Network Monitor 3.3 app, and let it run. Here's some observations...

--Is it REALLY necessary for QuickTime and iTunes to contact Apple's servers EIGHTEEN times a day?

--Does Real Player have to check in with "home base" 6 times daily?

--Logitech's SetPoint: twice a day.

--Firefox: EVERY time you fire it up, we have to see if there's an update? Please!

GoogleOS? As if they don't know enough about you already, now it would be 24/7/365?

No thanks, I'll pass...

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People need to be 1000 times

Submitted by PeterZ on July 9, 2009 - 1:50 P.M.

People need to be 1000 times more diligent and aware. No one deserves a free pass when it comes to privacy. Yet not one of the leading gadget makers or technology developers are going to balk at invading your privacy. They all operate closely with a Federal government that has every desire to invade your privacy.

Apple and Google are busy developing products that make you WANT your privacy invaded, and personal info shared.

When did that go from common sense avoidance, to a staple of what's billed as "social networking"?

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