Google demos Chrome OS, announces partnership with Verizon Wireless

By on Dec 7, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Breaking December 7, 2010

Google held a special event on Tuesday to show off progress made over the course of the last year with its Chrome line of products. Most interestingly, perhaps, are the new Chrome OS features the Internet giant showed off. Plenty of Here are some highlights from the event:

  • “Nothing but the Web.”
  • Chrome OS features a fast and simple setup process, remarkably fast boot times and an instant resume feature to minimize wait time when the OS wakes from sleep.
  • Unified experience across Chrome on netbooks, desktops and more.
  • Multiple user support and guest mode — everything a user does in guest mode is private and history is deleted instantly when a session is ended.
  • Verizon Wireless cellular data connectivity (international options are available as well) in every Chrome OS notebook/netbook — no contracts, no activation fees and monthly plans starting at $9.99.
  • Updates are seamless — no user operations are required to update the OS or apps.
  • Most secure OS in the world — security is a major focus of Chrome OS; all Chrome OS data is encrypted by default.
  • Verified boot — core OS components are in firmware that cannot be modified.
  • Enterprise options — Google is working closely with partners like Citrix to ensure the enterprise market is addressed.
  • Google’s Chrome OS PCs get faster over time, not slower like other PCs.
  • Initial manufacturing partners include Acer, Samsung and Intel.

Chrome OS is a work in progress and there is still a lot of work to be done. The first Chrome OS notebooks are due by the middle of 2011. There is a Chrome OS pilot program in the mean time, though — a program for early adopters where they will get a “CR-48″ netbook featuring a 12.1-inch display, a full-sized keyboard, built in 3G and Wi-Fi, 8 hours of usage time per charge. Interestingly, there are no hard drives, no caps lock keys and the laptop is jailbreak-friendly. End users have several ways to apply for the pilot program, the easiest of which is completing an application at online at google.com/chromeos.

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  • Anonymous

    That is one sexy NetBook on stage.

  • http://twitter.com/apdcgt greentea

    damnnn that is niceeee, i want one!
    free data!

  • http://twitter.com/darkdomino Benjamin George

    I want a ChromeOS tablet!

  • defTwitch

    No harddrives… I’m sure some “power-users” are a little too “shady” to trust all their “information” to the “cloud”…

    but that is pretty cool. I couldn’t see this as a primary machine but it’d be one hell of a cool netbook.

    How do you think they’d handle working with large files? Is there a LARGE amount of memory that just holds everything you need and have worked with recently? Do I have to download that 100 meg project file every time I need to make an update or check a resource?

    For some docs it wouldn’t be an issue… but some office docs get HUGE over time depending on the type of work…

    • http://twitter.com/TSSaloic WV

      There’s a Solid State drive inside.

  • Anonymous

    Mid 2011 folks. Let the excitement subside.

  • http://twitter.com/mtmjr89 Michael McNeeley

    Will Chrome OS be available for download to any machine, like my laptop for example? That would be sweet!

  • Anonymous

    Wow, looks like he might be onto something.

    http://www.privacy-resources.edu.tc

  • Anonymous

    10 bucks a month? Need more info, cause this is either very cool or sucks eggs.

  • Luke

    This is a cool vision. A laptop that does not get infected with viruses or spyware (if it does it is limited to the web app that had the vulnerability, and the damage is much less), that doesn’t blue screen as much (less moving parts), is always up to date with no installations required, is lightening fast.

    One thing I think they are missing: the controls should be on the bottom. Only reason browsers have controls at the top is because the start menu already lives at the bottom of the screen. This time, there is no start menu leaving you free to experiment with the bottom of the screen and creating a more of a “full screen” experience that will change the way people look at web. They should at least allow that to be customizable just like the start menu position is?

  • SuperChunk

    Soooo applying for that early adopter.

    Great idea too with the cheap Verizon tie in.

  • Nstark89

    I just applied for the Pilot program. This looks like a really cool idea!

  • Joel

    Did anyone else submit an application to the pilot program? I did but was surprised that I didn’t get any sort of confirmation once I hit submit – no email, and no page saying “Thank you for submitting” or anything like that. It just sent me back to the google.com/chromeos page. Anyone else experience the same thing, or did my application not go through?

  • Him

    Google is becoming the not so evil step-cousin of Apple. A one stop shop for everything you need. On one hand I like it….but something holds me back from putting ALL my eggs in one basket (Apple). Lets see where this goes.

  • Anonymous

    It’s all interesting, but I’m weary of the some of the bullet points that they tout, which seem more hopeful rather than actually explaining how they are that way. A LOT of unanswered questions that the tech press doesn’t seem to be asking. I’m going to sign up and hopefully get my hands on it to see what makes it tick.

    Most secure? OK, who has certified this? And you mean secure like Android? (Note, I own and love my EVO) Gets faster over time? Once again, any metrics to prove this? Seamless updates? OK, sounds great, but if these updates are seamless, how can you guarantee that this is most secure and that extra bloatware isn’t being installed when these updates are being performed? I mean, Google does that NOW, checking extra updates, as do the rest of them, so I can’t see how this is going to be good for the end user in the long run. You say jailbreak friendly, but when core OS components are baked in and can’t be modified, how is that friendly towards jailbreakers?

  • gquaglia

    In other news, thousands, upon thousands of Windows computers become infected everyday and join the ranks of the great spam machine. Chrome OS is what most average (stupid) computer users need. Easy, bullet proof and does what they need. Windows is simply too complicated for most home users and is really unnecessary.

  • Biggbrother

    Chrome is easily the most secure browser, that’s why it’s secure. Updates are automatic, that’s why its seamless.

    This OS is actually looking better than I thought.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t want a netbook, just to be able to get Chrome OS on a disk and install it on a few clueless relative’s laptops. Here’s hopin’…

  • http://graydroid.wordpress.com Lezz

    If Google’s partners can come up with some sexy hardware then I am sold. The device is perfect for people who dont use their computers for anything other than normal web enabled activies and few other minor stuff. Google apps + other apps in the web store should be good enough for me.

  • http://www.hot.com.au/ Luis Garcia

    I’m not too sure about the lack of hard drives, but I can definitely see this as an OS for my dad, my sister, and anybody else that doesn’t really need anything but a browser, an office suite, and a few games. I can’t wait to test this out.

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