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September 2, 2008

Google OS Arrives, In the Form of a Browser

Rumors of a "Google Operating System" have been around for a few years now, fueled by Google's expansion into e-mail, analytics, desktop search, Web applications, pizza delivery...well, maybe not that.

Today, Google has made a significant step toward becoming a Web-based operating system by launching a beta version of the open-source Google Chrome browser, which has been optimized to run Web applications rather than simply rendering HTML on a page.

"All of us at Google spend much of our time working inside a browser. We search, chat, email and collaborate in a browser. And in our spare time, we shop, bank, read news and keep in touch with friends -- all using a browser. Because we spend so much time online, we began seriously thinking about what kind of browser could exist if we started from scratch and built on the best elements out there. We realized that the web had evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, interactive applications and that we needed to completely rethink the browser. What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that's what we set out to build."

Chrome's main features include a beefed-up Javascript engine (aka V8), which will improve performance of AJAX apps like Gmail and Google Docs. It also offers better memory allocation, and an architecture that keeps apps running in separate windows as isolated processes -- so a crashed app won't bring down the browser, and security is markedly improved.

The browser includes its own URL box, which Google is calling the "Omnibox." It incorporates features from Google Suggest, browser history and search history.

As with the Google Toolbar before it, Chrome will also present an opportunity for Google to collect more user behavioral data. On the plus side, that could help Google develop better Web analytics applications. More cynically, Google can also take this mountain of user data and use it to better monetize its ad platforms.

While this move can be seen as a challenge to Microsoft on the browser front, it's more of a threat to Microsoft's Windows operating system. By developing its own open-source browser, Google is able to establish de-facto standards for Web applications.

Combined with Google Gears coming at Web applications from the developer side, and there's not much use for a desktop operating system any more.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

January 31, 2006

Google Working On Goobuntu Linux Project, Fuels New OS Rumors

The Register is reporting in Google at work on desktop Linux that Google has confirmed it is working on a desktop Linux project called "Goobuntu." What exactly is the project? No further details have been released. Since Ubuntu is a Linux operating system release, speculation is that this might be a Google play for releasing its own computer operating system. Or, it could be something used by engineers internally, The Register suggests. For related coverage, see this thread at Memeorandum.

Postscript: Google denies plans to distribute OS based on Ubuntu from Ars Technica covers more on how this is an internal Linux OS used by Google and which the company says it has no plans to distribute to the public.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:47 PM | Permalink

October 4, 2005

Sun To Distribute Google Toolbar & Closer Relationship Beween Two; McNealy Says, "Lots of Money Flowing Both Ways if We Do This Right"

The Google and Sun Microsystems press conference is over and word is that Google and Sun have announced a "multiyear" strategic relationship for Google to cross-promote their technologies. Bottom line: another potential jolt to Microsoft software dominanance especially, MS Office. The relationship will begin with the optional inclusion (not yet available) of the Google Toolbar in upcoming downloads of the Java Runtime Environment. Financial terms were not disclosed but Sun CEO, Scott McNealy said, "There is going to be a lot of money flowing both ways if we do this thing right."

Here's a review of some of the press coverage to this point:

    For the most part, the blogosphere is underwhelmed by the news, according to News.com
You mean Google makes an annoucement and it wasn't a big deal from the get go? Say it isn't so. (-:

Key Facts and Quotes: + As part of the agreement, Sun will include the Google Toolbar as an option in downloads of the Java Runtime Environment from Java.com. The new functionality will be available soon.

+ Due to the popularity of Java on the desktop, downloads of Java have more than doubled year over year, reaching 20 million per month.

+ The distribution of Java and the Google Toolbar underscores Google's advocacy of Java technology.

+ The agreement between Sun and Google also kicks off further collaboration between the companies on projects like OpenOffice.org, the open source productivity suite that is the world's leading suite on the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) and Linux--and the leading alternative suite on Microsoft Windows.

+ "Working with Google will make our technologies available more broadly, increase options for users, lower barriers, and expand participation worldwide." --Scott McNealy, CEO Sun

NOTE: You can already register by email and be notified when the Google Toolbar for the Java Desktop will be available. From the looks of it, the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer (kind of ironic) will be the version distributed by Sun. Sorry Firefox fans (at least for now). Scott

Sun CEO Scott McNealy said the toolbar, "will appear in weeks if not days."

From Reuters: Financial terms were not disclosed. "There is going to be a lot of money flowing both ways if we do this thing right," McNealy said.

From AP: Eventually, the Java component could be offered to users who download the free toolbar that offers quick access to Google search, spell checking and a popup blocker.

From Forbes.com: "We believe that this heavily promoted [Sun and Google] announcement is overblown, and does not represent a real definitive product threat to Microsoft's Office," S&P Equity Research. The Sun and Google partnership is "primarily as an enhanced distribution platform for each company," the research firm said.

From The Register: The problem, however, is that even Google freaks - the types who would be excited if the ad broker started conducting mandatory, aggressive anal probes under the Fistoogle brand - won't find much to cheer here.* They've already got the Google toolbar, and are tooling around like, well, you know. For its part, Sun already serves up more than 20m downloads of Java per month. Will the availability of the Google toolbar - something already available from Google - make people want to download Java more? No, this deal centers more around the obvious - marketing.

* Wow, that's one strong comment. Comment of the year? It's a contender. (-:

From News.com John Loiacono, Sun's executive vice president for software. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that what separates the Toolbar distribution deal from others the company has is the "vastness" of it.

Google also committed to buying more Sun servers, though Schmidt refused to detail how many or what type. That's significant, given the search giant's prestige as an Internet company and its reliance so far on machines it has built itself. Pending agreement of project programmers, Sun will add a Google search bar to OpenOffice.org, an office software suite Sun turned into open-source software in 2000.

Posted by Gary Price at 2:53 PM | Permalink

March 3, 2005

From Redmond to Mountain View: Top Windows Architect Joins Google

Microsoft Watch reports that Marc Lucovsky, a key Windows architect has left Microsoft after 16 years and is now a Googler. More in the article: Microsoft Loses Key Windows Architect to Google.

Posted by Gary Price at 1:43 PM | Permalink

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