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9th July, 2009, 04:13 AM
Google to launch operating system that takes on might of Microsoft Windows
Internet giant Google today announced it is developing a new operating system for laptop computers in a move seen as a strong challenge to Microsoft's dominance.
The new technology is being designed for those that 'live on the web' and is initially aimed at netbooks, although it will eventually be used to power full sized desktops as well.
Google said the new operating system (OS) will run through its nine-month-old web browser, Chrome, and the company said it was going 'back to basics' with the technology.
Google's Chrome logo: The internet giant's web browser will be used as a platform for its new operating system
The Chrome browser could threaten Microsoft's Windows system, which has been running most personal computers for the past two decades.
Google said the new OS was a 'natural extension' of Chrome and was 'our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be'.
It plans to introduce the Chrome OS during the second half of 2010 for netbooks - cheaper, less powerful laptops that appeal to people whose main motivation for having a computer is to surf the web.
A post on Google's website by Sundar Pichai, vice-president Product Management, and Linus Upson, engineering director said: 'We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web - searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends.
'However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web.'
The firm said it was 'completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates'.
Google has already developed the Android operating system for mobile phones, which can also be used on netbooks.
It said that while there could be some crossover between the technologies, the new system would be able to be used on larger machines.
'We believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google,' the firm said.
Stephen Shankland of technology reviewing site CNET said Google's move 'has widespread implications'.
'One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and Gmail.
'It opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close attention to Google's moves.'
Microsoft is set to release Windows 7 in the autumn later this year and it promises a 'faster, simpler, easier' computing experience.
It remains to be seen if Google can take market share away from Microsoft on its home turf, with Windows currently installed in more than 90 per cent of the world's PCs.
'It's been part of their culture to go after and remove Microsoft as a major holder of technology, and this is part of their strategy to do it,' said industry watcher Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group.
'This could be very disruptive. If they can execute, Microsoft is vulnerable to an attack like this, and they know it.
A spokesman for Microsoft had no immediate comment on Google's plans.
Google's co-founders Larry Page (far left) and Sergey Brin (far right) introduce the firm's web browser, Chrome, last September
Key to success will be whether Google can lock in partnerships with PC makers, such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc, which currently offer Windows on most of their product lines.
At present, Google's Chrome internet browser remains a distant fourth in the web browser market. In February it had 1.2 per cent share, according to market research firm Net Applications.
In contrast, Microsoft's Internet Explorer continues to dominate, with nearly 70 per cent.
The new Chrome OS will enable users to access the web in a few seconds, Google said.
'The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web,' said Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product placement at Google.
'The Chrome OS is our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.'
It should be easy for developers to create applications for the Chrome OS because it is based on industry standard open-source Linux code.
Google said Chrome OS was a new project, separate from its Android mobile operating software found in some smartphones.
Enlarge google
The new Chrome OS is expected to work well with popular software applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Maps
Acer Inc, the world's No.3 PC brand, has already agreed to sell netbooks that run on Android to be released this quarter.
The new OS is designed to work with ARM and x86 chips, the main chip architectures in use today. Microsoft has previously said it would not support PCs running on ARM chips, allowing Google an opportunity to infiltrate that segment.
Charlene Li, partner at consulting company Altimeter Group, said Google's new OS will initially appeal to consumers looking for a netbook-like device for web surfing, rather than people who use desktop PCs for gaming or high-powered applications.
But eventually, the Google OS has the potential to scale up to larger, more powerful PCs - especially if it proves to run faster than Windows, she said.
The operating system has been called Google Chrome after its popular internet browser, which could indicate they plan to merge operating systems and applications into one.
Google did not say how much it would charge for the operating system but Enderle expects it to charge at most a nominal fee or make it free.
The company's business model has been to earn revenue off connecting applications or advertising.
Microsoft declines to say how much it charges PC brands for Windows, but most analysts estimate about ?12 for the older XP system and at least ?90 for the current Vista system.
Li added: 'A benefit to the consumer is that the cost saving is passed on, not having to pay for an OS.'
'It's clearly positioned as a shot across the bow of Microsoft,' she said.
Internet giant Google today announced it is developing a new operating system for laptop computers in a move seen as a strong challenge to Microsoft's dominance.
The new technology is being designed for those that 'live on the web' and is initially aimed at netbooks, although it will eventually be used to power full sized desktops as well.
Google said the new operating system (OS) will run through its nine-month-old web browser, Chrome, and the company said it was going 'back to basics' with the technology.
Google's Chrome logo: The internet giant's web browser will be used as a platform for its new operating system
The Chrome browser could threaten Microsoft's Windows system, which has been running most personal computers for the past two decades.
Google said the new OS was a 'natural extension' of Chrome and was 'our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be'.
It plans to introduce the Chrome OS during the second half of 2010 for netbooks - cheaper, less powerful laptops that appeal to people whose main motivation for having a computer is to surf the web.
A post on Google's website by Sundar Pichai, vice-president Product Management, and Linus Upson, engineering director said: 'We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web - searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends.
'However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web.'
The firm said it was 'completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates'.
Google has already developed the Android operating system for mobile phones, which can also be used on netbooks.
It said that while there could be some crossover between the technologies, the new system would be able to be used on larger machines.
'We believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google,' the firm said.
Stephen Shankland of technology reviewing site CNET said Google's move 'has widespread implications'.
'One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and Gmail.
'It opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close attention to Google's moves.'
Microsoft is set to release Windows 7 in the autumn later this year and it promises a 'faster, simpler, easier' computing experience.
It remains to be seen if Google can take market share away from Microsoft on its home turf, with Windows currently installed in more than 90 per cent of the world's PCs.
'It's been part of their culture to go after and remove Microsoft as a major holder of technology, and this is part of their strategy to do it,' said industry watcher Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group.
'This could be very disruptive. If they can execute, Microsoft is vulnerable to an attack like this, and they know it.
A spokesman for Microsoft had no immediate comment on Google's plans.
Google's co-founders Larry Page (far left) and Sergey Brin (far right) introduce the firm's web browser, Chrome, last September
Key to success will be whether Google can lock in partnerships with PC makers, such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc, which currently offer Windows on most of their product lines.
At present, Google's Chrome internet browser remains a distant fourth in the web browser market. In February it had 1.2 per cent share, according to market research firm Net Applications.
In contrast, Microsoft's Internet Explorer continues to dominate, with nearly 70 per cent.
The new Chrome OS will enable users to access the web in a few seconds, Google said.
'The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web,' said Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product placement at Google.
'The Chrome OS is our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.'
It should be easy for developers to create applications for the Chrome OS because it is based on industry standard open-source Linux code.
Google said Chrome OS was a new project, separate from its Android mobile operating software found in some smartphones.
Enlarge google
The new Chrome OS is expected to work well with popular software applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Maps
Acer Inc, the world's No.3 PC brand, has already agreed to sell netbooks that run on Android to be released this quarter.
The new OS is designed to work with ARM and x86 chips, the main chip architectures in use today. Microsoft has previously said it would not support PCs running on ARM chips, allowing Google an opportunity to infiltrate that segment.
Charlene Li, partner at consulting company Altimeter Group, said Google's new OS will initially appeal to consumers looking for a netbook-like device for web surfing, rather than people who use desktop PCs for gaming or high-powered applications.
But eventually, the Google OS has the potential to scale up to larger, more powerful PCs - especially if it proves to run faster than Windows, she said.
The operating system has been called Google Chrome after its popular internet browser, which could indicate they plan to merge operating systems and applications into one.
Google did not say how much it would charge for the operating system but Enderle expects it to charge at most a nominal fee or make it free.
The company's business model has been to earn revenue off connecting applications or advertising.
Microsoft declines to say how much it charges PC brands for Windows, but most analysts estimate about ?12 for the older XP system and at least ?90 for the current Vista system.
Li added: 'A benefit to the consumer is that the cost saving is passed on, not having to pay for an OS.'
'It's clearly positioned as a shot across the bow of Microsoft,' she said.