Google Releases Chrome OS Tablet Concept Demo 237
MojoKid writes "With all of the iPad buzz stirring up the tech world over the past couple of weeks, Chrome OS has almost been forgotten. Though Google has yet to officially release the netbook-centric operating system to the public, the company continues to keep details flowing about their forthcoming lightweight operating system. In their own response to all the recent tablet fanfare, Google decided to release some teaser shots and a demo video of the Chrome OS running on a concept tablet device. The Chromium team suggests that a screen of 5" to 10" is optimal for enjoying Chrome OS and of course tablets, netbooks and MIDs all fit that size class rather well. Couple a streamlined Google-based OS with NVIDIA's Tegra 2 processor in a design like this and the iPad could have serious competition."
Oh boy more marketing! (Score:5, Insightful)
In response to Apple's iPad announcement, Google proved that it could draw a tablet and post it on the web.
My point being that maybe there is something more interesting than tablets. We already know that we'll see a fresh batch of articles on tablets / iPad in about 60 days.
Re:iPad buzz? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:4, Insightful)
How soon people forget ... "Embrace, extend, extinguish."
Monster screen size in the video! (Score:5, Insightful)
Not sure if I care (Score:3, Insightful)
I realize this entire discussion will probably devolve into a GNU/Free versus Closed argument, or a Mac Lovers versus Mac Haters flamefest, but...
Having watched the demo video, I'm not convinced. This really just seems like another Tablet PC, except it's running Chrome OS instead of Windows XP. The demoed functionality is almost exactly like the application switcher that's available in both PC and Mac (alt+tab cmd+tab), and the resizing functions just use your fingers instead of a mouse pointer. Personally I think that's an issue - I'd rather use a mouse for most of that functionality.
I know there are some people that mock the iPad because it's not running a tablet-ized version of the full OS X; but when I see demos like this, it just reminds me of why Tablet PCs never escaped their niche. For a lot of typical desktop functionality, it is easier to use a mouse. There's no compelling reason making me wish to be able to do those exact same functions using my fingers. It's not that those Tablet PCs were running Windows - it's because they offered no compelling reason to exist for most of us!
Now, hopefully Google will have some additional tricks up its sleeve, and there'll be a reason to care beyond "it's running Linux". And I do believe competition is a rising tide that lifts all boats (yup, I'm pulling out the cliches now). But hopefully Google has studied the past and will try to look at why the Tablet PC never really made it, rather than just duplicate the same mistakes Microsoft made.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:1, Insightful)
Microsoft is actually one of the most open player there, in terms of what you can do with their devices. Sure, their OS and programs isn't open source, but you are allowed to run and install anything you want on your devices (both desktop Windows and Windows Mobile). Everyone is able to develop for their platform and distribute applications and games in a way that suits them.
Now I don't understand where Google comes with this, since as I understand you're allowed to run anything you want on Android. Their OS being open source isn't that much more better than Microsoft though, as it's generally pain in the ass to get compiled and you don't get the drivers and everything else required to run it on your phone manufacturers device.
But Apple definitely is a problem here. They're blatantly restricting everything you can install on iPhone and iPad and need to buy all the software from their App Store. And for developers it's hit-and-miss to get their apps there and takes many months. At some point this will most likely be true for OS X too - maybe even on the next major version.
Serious Competition (Score:3, Insightful)
Must have apps. (Score:4, Insightful)
Web apps just don't cut it Google. Apple found that out with the iPhone, Palm has learned that with the Pre. People want to have stuff that runs even when there is no internet even if it is just a game.
We also want to carry some media with us so if we are stuck on a plane with no WiFi or anyplace with no WiFi or 3G we can watch or listen to something.
Stop working on the Chrome OS and improve Android or just go right to a tablet Linux.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:2, Insightful)
This has been especially helpful for the developers of apps that contain trojans, not to mention the drive-by-download virus writers.
What exactly are you smoking?
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:3, Insightful)
I do hate the full integration with Google accounts and services though, I don't want to login to my Google account just to use my phone (and save all the information and possibly GPS position and so on at Google's servers). I can just boot my Windows Mobile, type PIN and it doesn't try to integrate me in to any other bullshit or be in constant contact with MS servers.
Yeah you could get the source, but it's pain in the ass to set up the environment and even then you don't have the drivers and stuff for your phone, so it's pretty much out of the question.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:1, Insightful)
You've completely missed the point that Apple is a hardware company, whereas MS is a software company. Of course MS doesn't try to lock you out of "their devices" since the devices aren't MS's in the first place. You can "install anything you want" on OS X, and there are plenty of other phones that are locked down--heck, my Motorola phones were MORE locked down than any iPhone, since there was no way to install software except OTA.
How's the weather up there in Redmond, anyway?
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:4, Insightful)
This has been especially helpful for the developers of apps that contain trojans, not to mention the drive-by-download virus writers.
So do you instead prefer fully-locked-down, all apps from our App Store PC's? Do you prefer a fully-locked-down environment and living in a police nation to save you from those who abuse the freedom?
It's funny that people always complain about DRM, locked-down consoles and proprietary standards and want more open and free, but when it's about Apple then it doesn't matter anymore. btw, you can blame Apple for HTML5 video never going to happen - they're pushing hard towards H.264, which is never going to be reality for Firefox because it can't be distributed in the source code.
What exactly are you smoking?
Why do you think it's so out of the question? Apple is already doing it on every other device they have, and it's good market for them.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:5, Insightful)
I haven't missed that point. My point is, maybe it's not good that Apple is all of hardware company, software company and a marketplace, having vested interest in locking down their devices, locking down their software, and strictly controlling all of it via their App Store (which generates them even more money)
MS develops the OS and lets other companies to develop the hardware, and then lets other developers to freely develop application and games for it. In my point of view, that is more open, free and better environment.
Re:No competition (Score:2, Insightful)
Ok, so iPad isn't even out yet, but google still feels threatened enough to put out a hastly put together "concept art" as a "demo". Sheesh.
On the original chromium page the video is listed as uploaded on the 25th of January. If I am not mistaken that is two days before Apple's iPad event.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:5, Insightful)
There is no way the iPhone app model will be used in OS X - just what evidence do you have that it will? Apple released a slew of new OSS features in Snow Leopard, with GCD and OpenCL being chief among them, and have encouraged developers to use them. Why do that if they are going to limit OS X?
The iPhone and iPad are designed around a different software model, to be more like appliances - it doesn't mean OS X will go this way, not even "likely" - I would put a [citation needed] response on that one, it is so absurd.
As to taking "many months" to get your app on the store... again, [citation needed].
How long does it take to get an app into the iTunes App Store? While we’ve seen some estimates of up to 20 days to have your app approved, we’ve had apps accepted in as few as five.
from my first google hit: http://mashable.com/2009/06/10/build-iphone-app/ [mashable.com]
If you do not like Apple's model, you are free to *not buy into it* and instead buy an Android device, or some other competing product. It's not like Apple are the only player here. There are many ways to skin a cat, and Apple's "one gatekeeper" approach works extremely well for them, and no one is forcing you to take part (unless you want an iPhone, but want to do something else with it, but then... why buy the iPhone in the first place - buy a Nexus One or something).
Let me just repeat - Apple's model for OS X is totally, completely separate from the iPhone. They are not going to put iPhone OS on Macs and control the software you use on it. All evidence so far suggests they are in fact, opening up OS X a little more than before, starting at an OSS level for some of their new core technologies rather than opening them up later (or keeping them closed source), they support the installation of pretty much anything you can port over, and they don't make it difficult - the dev tools are free, and they provide an X window system if you don't want to (or can't due to various reasons) rewrite the UI to be native. They have a thriving third party commercial software industry going, much like Windows does, and there is no reason to change that.
By your logic, the Xbox OS is pretty locked up, so that must mean that "the next version of windows" is "likely" to be all closed up as well, with MS having to approve all software you install on it, and only being able to buy apps for Windows via Xbox Live, right? Seems very likely.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, MS is a software company... and yet, they don't lock down any of the software options within their operating systems.
Yet, when you run their operating systems (including mobile variants of windows), in any form, MS does not prevent you from using a competitor's software within that OS. Apple, however does restrict you.
If Apple is a "hardware" company, then why do they restrict competing applications.
Because they are not a hardware company, they are either a package company - wanting to sell you on the whole deal, hardware and software, or they are a PR company, more concerned with convincing you to buy something, than with the actual nature product. It depends on your view of the company as to which category fits them best...
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:5, Insightful)
You've completely missed the point that Apple is a hardware company, whereas MS is a software company. Of course MS doesn't try to lock you out of "their devices" since the devices aren't MS's in the first place. You can "install anything you want" on OS X, and there are plenty of other phones that are locked down--heck, my Motorola phones were MORE locked down than any iPhone, since there was no way to install software except OTA.
How's the weather up there in Redmond, anyway?
If Apple is a hardware company what do they have to gain from banning Opera, Firefox, Chrome and political apps that Steve doesn't like from the iPhone and iPad? It's all about control and that nice 30% forcible cut of every non free app.
We're talking about the iPad too, which is being hailed as a tablet computer, not phone. The point is that MS could've locked developers out of MS-DOS and Windows by banning competing applications and those that 'duplicate functionality' or leeched off them by forcibly taking 30% of cost of AutoCAD etc.
It's funny you call him a paid shill while being ready to whore for free.
Re:No competition (Score:3, Insightful)
Ok, so iPad isn't even out yet, but google still feels threatened enough to put out a hastly put together "concept art" as a "demo". Sheesh.
One thing everyone seems to have missed about the iPad announcement is the fact that apple will have iWorks on it for $30. This has two implications:
1. Nobody else will write a full on office app for iPad.
2. Nobody will write a full office app for any other touch tablet.
Chew on that for a while.
Wrong on both counts. Well #1 is kind of true, but that's only because Apple bans competing applications. #2 is just plain wrong, because the full Office 2007 runs on touch tablets.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow... exaggerate much? App store to police state? .
That's not that big of an exaggeration. See here: http://www.juggleware.com/blog/2008/09/steve-jobs-writes-back/ [juggleware.com]
FreedomTime was a app that displayed a countdown till the next president was elected. It was banned by Apple for being too political.
The developers email:
Dear Steve,
A quick note to let you know what kinds of apps are being rejected for the App Store.
This app is not defamatory, harmful or speaking untruth. It is lighthearted and humorous. Does it imply critique? Of course it does, but not without crossing any lines of decency or the boundaries agreement.
For a quick screen shot:
http://www.juggleware.com/iphone/freedomtime/ [juggleware.com]
Sincerely,
Alec Vance
juggleware llc
His Steveness' reply:
Even though my personal political leanings are democratic, I think this app will be offensive to roughly half our customers. What’s the point?
Steve
That's only of many examples, which include political caricatures etc. etc.
So while you play with your shiny phone, freedom is being trampled.. and even the tech savvy Apple Slashdotters are not even aware of it..or maybe they're busy brushing them under the carpet while making and modding up posts that rationalize Apple. Just think of the mom and pop types that get an iPhone because everyone else has it, no one will care, while developer freedom is lost. This is Microsoft's wet dream.. and Apple is realizing it.
Re:No competition (Score:3, Insightful)
Chew on that for a while.
I chewed on it for a couple seconds, and what I came up with is that Chrome OS is based on Linux and X11, so nobody has to develop an office suite for Chrome OS; you can just run OpenOffice.
Chew on *this*.
sad, sad, demo? (Score:3, Insightful)
i have swallowed the google pill for sure, but that demo just makes me sad. for goodness sake, there are already companies with *real* android tablets and many of them were demoed at CES. why did google feel the need to put together shoddy youtube video showing a fake tablet running a mocked up OS?
why don't they just spend a few more dollars to make people aware of the awesome android tablets that are already announced? for example, the vega tablet,
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/11/vega-tablet-beats-apple-and-crunchpad/ [wired.com]
and the MSI tablet,
http://phandroid.com/2010/01/29/msi-android-tablet-harmony/ [phandroid.com]
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, MS is a software company... and yet, they don't lock down any of the software options within their operating systems.
But they do. The Xbox 360 is locked down and software can only be installed if it passes certification from Xbox LIVE.
or [Apple is] a PR company, more concerned with convincing you to buy something, than with the actual nature product.
Apple only spends about a third [cnn.com] of the marketing budget that MS expends.
Re:Too much lockdown! (Score:2, Insightful)
Jobs has applications killed. That's the parallel. A developer can invest a huge amount of time in an app, and Apple can fail to approve it for any reason it wants (or no reason), and prevent any iPhone user from using it legally. You never know until you submit, and cross your fingers.