At first we want to define what a “Web OS” is. The market uses this term mostly for a “web based desktop environment” which is nothing but a standard Operating System, which happens to export a desktop view over HTTP so people can launch a browser, and work on a remote OS via the web.
Google's Chrome Operating System is a web OS which is Linux-based, open-source operating system which launched in July 2009, with the aim of building an operating system that provides a fast, simple, and more secured computing experience. Chrome OS is essentially a small sized, fast booting platform whose purpose is to run a web browser from where all the Google apps and other web services that you commonly use, can be run.
Its open source version is called the Chromium OS. This is the first OS dedicated to internet.
Chrome OS vs. Chromium OS
You may get confused or mix up the Chrome OS with the Chromium OS. So let us make sure the difference.
- Chromium OS is the open source project, used primarily by developers, with code that is available for anyone to checkout, modifies and build. Chrome OS is the Google product that OEMs ship on Chrome books for general consumer use.
- Chrome OS has some additional firmware features, including verified boot and easy recovery, which require corresponding hardware changes.
- Chromium OS does not auto-update ,whereas Chrome OS seamlessly auto-updates so that users have the latest and greatest features and fixes.
- Chrome OS is supported by Google and its partners; Chromium OS is supported by the open source community.
- Chrome OS includes some binary packages (Adobe Flash, PDF plug-in, Netflix Instant, Google Talk, 3G Cellular support) which are not allowed to be included in the Chromium OS project
Installation:
While Chrome OS runs on specially optimized hardware in order to get enhanced performance and security, it comes preinstalled. There is a simple setup procedure, however. When you start up your system, it's recommended that you sign in using a Google account. You're not required to, and if you'd prefer, you can opt for the Guest mode. Guest mode in Chrome OS cleverly uses the Chrome browser's trackless browsing mode, called Incognito. Incognito prevents guest users from leaving any traces of their session, as well as keeping them from making any changes to your apps and other settings.Interface:
The user interface of the Chrome OS simply resembles a web browser. You can run an application in one tab and browse the web in another. There's an actual desktop that looks a bit cribbed from Windows 7, with Chrome browser pinned to the far left of the Launcher, and other apps pinned right next to it. The browser also has a set of ‘Application Tabs’ which are pinned in the web-browser where user can access popular Google apps and services- Google Talk, Gmail, Picasa, YouTube, Google+, Google docs which are pre-loaded and just a click away if you wish to use them. User has the option to add more. Besides the Application Tab, you will find the chrome menu. Other applications like contacts and calculator can be accessed from this menu. Activities like chatting and file handling and sharing are accomplished through Panels. For instance, if the user wants to view the contents of a USB device, he plugs it in the machine and he will see the contents in the pop-up panels.
Features:
- 100GB Google Drive.
- Based on Linux: supports multiple workspaces.
- Auto updating and translation.
- Supports PDF, PPT, DOC, ZIP, XLS and RAR, and PPTX.
- Printing with Google Cloud Print. Cloud Print does now come with access to FedEx stores in the United States, which is a nice improvement for remote printing.
- Cookies, image management, JavaScript, plug-ins, pop-ups, location information, and notifications can be adjusted.
- A new feature: "verified boot." Chrome OS will check its own integrity when booting, and if it detects any changes, it will allow user to restore a last-known good configuration.
- Supports external Memory Devices. Ex. SD Card.
- Explores external devices in Chrome Browser itself.
- A media player is integrated enabling users to play back MP3s, view JPEGs, and handle other multimedia files while offline. Embedded Video Player is provided as a feature of HTML 5.
- Chatting feature is readily available.
- V8 JavaScript engine is used to increase browser speed.
- Developer mode is included with a switch mode button. It allows developer to install their own builds of Chrome OS
- File sharing is easier. If user wants to send a file from a USB drive to a friend with whom he is chatting, he can simply drag and drop the file between the two panels (the chat and the USB panel).
Architectural Overview & Performance:
Google Chrome OS is not a conventional operating system that you can download or buy on a disc and install. As a consumer, the way you will get Chrome OS is by buying a Chrome-book that has Chrome OS installed by the OEM. However, one can download the Chromium OS which requires just 1GB disk space, 256 MB RAM and supports most of today's graphics cards and support both Intel, AMD processors.
Cr-48 prototype hardware:
Google announced the Cr-48 laptop, a reference hardware design to test the Chrome OS operating system. The laptop's design broke convention by replacing the caps lock key with a dedicated search key and the default settings for the hot keys. The Cr-48 was intended for testing only, not retail sales. To test it, they used a high-powered Lenovo T400 laptop, running on an Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 at 2.53GHz, with 3GB of RAM.
The Cr-48 notebooks have additional unused hardware components, including a Bluetooth 2.1 controller. The USB port only acts as a keyboard, mouse, Ethernet adapter, or USB storage port and will not work as a printer port as there is no print stack on the operating system.
Commercial hardware:
Chrome OS is initially intended for secondary devices like net books, called the Chrome-books. Currently only two Hardware companies ACER and SAMSUNG are authorized to design this Chrome-book. Chrome OS is hardware dependent currently supports x86-based PCs and devices built around the ARM processor. Chrome-books do not have HDDs but instead they use flash based memory solutions or solid state drives (SSD) for that.
On May 29, 2012, Google and Samsung introduced the Second-Generation Chrome-book and a new compact desktop Chromebox, which was said to be a clone of the Apple Mac Mini.
Hardware-specific developer information:
Google is currently working with manufacturers to elaborate a new set of netbook hardware which comply with their speed and security needs. Also, Google requests the hardware partners for the netbooks to be made a bit larger to accommodate a standard size keyboard and to have better mouse pads. Later Google Chrome OS will also be available on desktops, serving as an ideal machine for a public Internet terminal, according to Google.
Chrome OS’s architecture has three distinct components, all of which have been tuned to make the OS fast:
Chrome OS tends to diminish the irrelevant process time such as hardware detection, BIOS, OS Primitives etc. Chrome offers incredibly quick boot time, and is all customized for quick access. Google claims that even the fastest computer takes about 25 seconds to boot. Booting on a Chrome OS device takes hardly 7 seconds to get the user to the log-in screen. It is just like Television, Flip a switch and it is ON.
Software Architecture:
Chrome OS’s architecture has three distinct components, all of which have been tuned to make the OS fast:
- The firmware: The firmware provides the quick boot time and incorporates system recovery, if and when it's needed. The firmware also contributes to security by verifying each step in the boot process.
- The System-level/user-land software: Chrome OS's system-level software includes a Linux kernel that has been patched to increase the speed and performance of the system. User land software has been trimmed to essentials, with management by Upstart, which can launch services in parallel, re-spawn crashed jobs, and defer services in the interest of faster booting.
- The Window Manager: Window manager cum browser handles the user interaction and is also used to log on and use the internet services and various Google apps.
Advantages:
Chrome OS does a lot of things right and its almost custom made for regular internet users but you can do all that on your current OS too, so why then should you switch over to Chrome OS?
The answer is here,
Chrome is intended to provide the core features of an OS which is speed, simplicity and security.
Speed
Simplicity
- Just a browser with tabs
- Requires Google ID to log in
- Customizable as per users requirement
- For any application User is not supposed to buy and install any app on her PC instead just get subscription to suitable web application and consume it.
Security
- Small list of verified programs : signed and verified before each use
- File System is Locked down : Read only Root File System in EEPROM; Self Automatic updates for entire OS.
- All apps in Chrome OS are web apps which are sandboxed. This means that they can’t interfere with each other and your device. Therefore the chances of getting a virus are minimal.
- The root system is read only. All user data is encrypted and fully secure. On boot up, the OS checks itself and incase any improper functionality is found; the OS automatically downloads patches and reinstalls them.
- Data is stored in cloud - As such, computers running Chrome OS will be very dependent on a solid internet connection to function optimally. Since data is stored in the cloud, you’ll be able to access your data remotely in a process Google is calling “chromoting”.
- Data is always synced with cloud to avoid data loss
- Digital Signatures are provided for every firmware update
- If malware found System recovers itself to clean image
Limitations:
- Only web applications are supported, not any local applications.
- Does not support Microsoft Office or Popular cross-platform like Skype
- Non-Google sites can’t be easily integrated as apps
- Hardware specific - No conventional net book support. Yes, you need to buy new one from Google’s hardware partners (HP/Acer/Lenovo/Asus).
- No physical data storage
- Terrible with large number of tabs
- Virtual Private Network(VPN) software can’t be used for secured data transfer
- Data security on cloud- User will be reluctant to store his highly confidential data on cloud. For example, if anyone prepares a document on long term planning and strategies, definitely he will prefer to store his documents in encrypted form on its own hard drive than storing it on Clouds.
- Internet needs to be much faster- For an instance, think user wants to work on few Adobe applications as well as a movie download from internet and even playing a favorite tune. For all these to happen, internet speed needs revolutionary increase
However, the question of Chrome OS usefulness is still debatable – when in the absence of an internet connection.
Further Development:
- Open Source project named ‘Chromium’ is stared
- Open Source Communities are adding code to Chromium
- Google Developers and Open Source Developers are working on same tree for betterment of OS
- Google is working with OEM to make Google Chrome OS machines available in market
- Expected that Chrome OS and Android will converge together.
We, the team "omega" ......
You can see the blogs of other team members here,
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