Hey readers, while I've been gone it looks like a lot has changed. But with this week let's look at what Google is cooking up for us to use later next year.

Google announced this past week that they're venturing even further out into the operating system market with an OS that puts an emphasis on speed, simplicity, security, and capability, and they're calling it "Chrome OS". Chrome was the web browser that Google had released earlier last year to some fanfare but has only gained a small fraction of the browser market share (currently dominated by Microsoft's Internet Explorer, followed distantly by Mozilla's FireFox). But that name should signify Google's intentions for the new operating system, which would use web-based software to expand a computer's range of practical application.

In addition to that, Google is utilizing with Chrome OS the technology of cloud computing on an infrastructural level. Cloud computing is a term used to describe a number of computer systems, especially in the case of grid computer systems like I had described way back in August of last year (read “Folding@Home, SETI@Home, and Grid Computing”). But cloud computing can also be used as a way to manage applications that are stored entirely on the internet and their associated files (saved documents, images, videos, etc.) are hosted online, too. These infrastructure “clouds” essentially turn any computer into a uniform, stable system that relies heavily on the use of the internet, which make smaller and simplified computers so much more practical. This could explain why Chrome OS will first be made available as a netbook's operating system initially, although there are plans to expand the OS to even full desktop computer systems.

There are many more questions than there are answers at this time when it comes to Chrome OS and Google's plans, for example we don't know what GUI (graphical user interface) or windowing system Chrome OS will use. However, there are some details that have already been announced. The project is open-source, which will allow a growing community of web-app developers to customize the OS' package and tweak the code for increased performance. I expect there will be heavy integration with Google's already-available online services (Gmail for email, Maps for navigation, Google Docs for office applications, Talk for instant messaging, etc.), especially with services they have purchased like Blogger for blogging and Youtube for video sharing. Google has said that the operating system will be secure and virus free, and this is due to the use of an entirely Chrome OS is expected to be released in the second half of 2010 to netbooks initially, which is where I believe it will be most useful. Security-wise, Chrome OS already has a strong start considering that Google's Chrome browser has high-marks in online security with its sandboxing feature, limiting what information and resources are available to prying eyes and sticky fingers on the web. It would be a nice implementation to bring that type of feature to the operating system as a whole.

So, after all this has been said, it's needless to say that this is another step into territory that Google is hoping to make a large claim in. However, it should be noted that this really isn't Google's first stab at making operating systems. Don't forget about their open mobile and handset platform called Android, which overlaps the netbook target that Chrome OS obviously is going for, but also is aimed toward smart phones and expanding their capabilities, too. Right now, the Android's best example on the market is the HTC Dream (or G1), which is available through T-Mobile here in the United States.

Now could we expect them to be successful with this venture? As far as competition goes, Google would be once again going into another market that is wholly dominated in numbers by Microsoft and the Windows platform. If you just take a look at the example of the web browser market share, you'll quickly realize that unseating Microsoft is no easy feat although numerous competitors have already tried. Expect Chrome OS to make a smaller grab of the market share initially, rather than a huge explosion of users. One thing that the operating system has that will help support its launch come later next year is partnership from multiple hardware companies, including Toshiba, Acer, Asus, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and others is huge! That is where you can look ahead to for products with Chrome OS available on them, and I'm excited to see netbook leaders like the Asus EeePC or HP Mini booting up to a Google splash screen soon. While it may not surprise us with millions or even hundreds of thousands of users, we can expect the Chrome OS to shock us with unseen innovation and progress in the operating system field. We will already have seen what Windows 7 and OS X Snow Leopard, but I'm expecting Google's Chrome OS to blow us away with a new approach late 2010.