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Chrome OS for the clueless: What it means for real people

Rafe Needleman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:19:00 PDT

Late Tuesday night, Google, the company that became a tech giant through search and advertising company, announced that it's branching out into an unrelated direction, the operating system business. It will release next year the Chrome OS, a free competitor to Microsoft's Windows operating system. It will be targeted at Netbooks, a class of small, inexpensive computers, although eventually it will make its way to full-powered notebooks and desktop computers. It will be designed for accessing Web applications (like Google's own GMail and Google Docs), and it will take a lot of design and technology cues, as well as its name, from Google's browser, Chrome.

What does this mean to people who are thinking about buying a new computer now, or next year? Is the Chrome OS something to get excited about, or even wait for?

We won't know for sure what the operating system looks like until it comes out, which answers the second question handily: do not wait. If you need a new computer now, spend the money and get the use out of the machine while Google figures out how and when to get the Chrome OS out the door.

But to the other question: yes, this is very interesting, and potentially could cause some transformations in the computer industry, although they may be more subtle than Google--and Microsoft's detractors--hope.

Who cares about operating systems?

Computers need operating systems. Even computers that do nothing but run Web browsers need one. An Application like a Web browser--Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome--needs to run on top of a platform that gives it access to the hardware resources of the computer (the memory, the persistent storage, access to the networking and communications hardware, the screen, the keyboard, and so on); to peripherals plugged into a computer (printers, cameras that connect, memory cards); to the other software on the the computer (like the system for storing files); and lastly, to you, the user.

Or do they? What if you combined the operating system's functions with a browser's functions, which include accessing and displaying Web pages, keeping track of bookmarks and passwords, and connecting to computer-attached resources like Webcams?

Google is answering that question with Chrome OS. Google is saying, with this product, that the modern computer user spends so much time working with Web-based resources that the main control system for the computer should be the browser, not the operating system. Furthermore, Google sources tell us that the Chrome OS experience will bear little resemblance to existing way that users interact with their computer's main control program. A person familiar with the Chrome OS project told us, "All existing operating systems predate the Web, and the user interfaces are stuck in a desktop metaphor." The Chrome OS, we're led to believe, will be very different.

How? We don't know. It's a safe bet that the Chrome OS will lean more heavily on so-called "cloud storage" products--like Google's own productivity suites, Google Docs--that let users store their data and documents not on their computers but rather on the systems of the Web apps they are running. The great thing about cloud storage is that it's untethered to any individual user's computer. Log in to your Google Docs account from anywhere, and there's your whole workspace, right in front of you. It's liberating.

Google may also take a cue from its own e-mail application, GMail, which blends the traditional idea of having folders for e-mail with the concept of "labels." In GMail, you can drag messages into folders to file them, or you can drag folders (or labels) over messages to categorize them. It's the same thing, but the hierarchy people are used to in operating systems, where a file is in one folder at a time, and the folder may be nested in another folder, is simply not there. Folders and labels are interchangable and far more fluid.

But in Windows 7, Microsoft's next operating system, Folders are also less rigid than they've been in previous versions of Windows.

We can also expect that the Chrome OS will borrow user interface elements from Chrome the browser--like a tabbed metaphor for switching between "apps," and the mind-reading command line (address bar in the browser). It may also evidence Google's traditional obsession with clean (if not necessarily attractive) design and speed. The Chrome OS should be fast.

A ruse by any name

But under the hood, the Chrome OS will still be a traditional operating system. It will be an adaptation of Linux, a free operating system lovingly maintained, in various versions, by a global community of programmers. The Chrome OS will likely borrow the gritty bits of the operating system, the parts that connect to the computer's CPU, the memory, and other hardware. Google's most visible contribution, in addition to the human resources it puts on the project of working at the core of the operating system, will be in the user interface and how the OS handles user data and files.

Will users buy it? They haven't so far. The first Netbooks came with Linux-based operating systems, and users shunned them (or more specially, returned them to their points of purchase) in favor of computers running yesterday's version of Microsoft Windows, XP. Even though XP adds cost to a computer due to the high licensing fee that the manufacturers have to pass on to consumers, those consumers voted to pay the extra money for the familiarity of Windows.

The Chrome OS could well be better than any of the Linux variants that have come before it. It will certainly be cheap--Google says it will be free to manufacturers. Google also says it will be safer, thanks to technologies like "sandboxing" from the Chrome browser that prevent one app from infecting or stealing data from another.

But no matter how much better the Chrome OS is than Windows, users are still accustomed to Windows, and the first target market for Chrome OS, the Netbook category, presents special challenges. First, it's a small market, and second, many Netbook buyers get the machines as secondary, portable computers. They already have a larger laptop or desktop and they want a mini-size, portable accessory to go with it. For those users, a radically different operating system is a stumbling block, no matter how good it is by itself.

The stakes are big enough that it's worth the shot for Google. Google makes money through targeted advertising. The more they know about what you do, the better the ads you get will perform. If Google knows what you do at the operating system level, they can deliver you more specific advertising content. Also, a Google OS would likely lead people to Google services--and not Microsoft's or Yahoo's. Also, this is a long-term game. Google doesn't need to knock Microsoft off its peg tomorrow, or next year. But over time, the company may be able to chip away at Microsoft's pre-eminence as the leading operating system vendor, or at the very least force Microsoft to make its own operating systems more Web-friendly, which benefits the most popular Web service provider there is: Google.

Google needs to start spreading the word on the Chrome OS now, and not a year from now when the product comes out, to get developers and computer manufacturers excited about the platform, and working on compatible products. That takes time. It's also an area where Microsoft has an excellent track record; the Windows company spends a ton of money and energy on developer relations.

The most likely short-term impact the Chrome OS will have on the Netbook market is that it may encourage Microsoft to drop its prices on the Windows 7 licenses it sells to manufacturers. But until developers start writing major software for the operating system (games, photo editors, and major productivity suites like Office), it's very unlikely that Google will have much of an impact on Windows sales.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that Microsoft is hardly standing still. Its new Bing search engine is actually quite good in comparison to Google's most popular product, Google Search, and the upcoming version of Microsoft Office will have Web capabilities that put it in competition with Google's online word processor and spreadsheet.

A year from now, there will likely be Google Chrome OS Netbooks (and possibly larger laptops) available for sale alongside Windows-powered models. Will people like me recommend them? Maybe, for some users, in particular those on tight budgets and those with no or only limited knowledge of Windows or Apple's OS.

Building an operating system is a major project, but it's only part of the job. Even if the Google OS is fantastic, it will need to steal customers accustomed to using Microsoft and Apple devices. And even if those customers want to be convinced that Google's product is better, they may find it very difficult to make the switch.

Originally posted at Rafe's Radar

Manage multiple Twitter accounts with your iPhone

Don Reisinger — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:36:59 PDT

Some of us have multiple Twitter accounts that we need to manage. We have an account for work and an account for personal use. In that case, switching between usernames can be a pain. Luckily, there's an easy way to manage multiple Twitter accounts with some basic apps.

We've taken a look at a couple of services that will help you manage those accounts on your computer, but what about when you're away from home?

We have you covered there too. Let's take a look at iPhone apps that help you manage multiple Twitter accounts.

Manage multiple accounts

LaTwit Although LaTwit lets you post updates to multiple accounts, including those from Twitter, Identi.ca, and others, its interface is difficult to get used to. In fact, it detracts from the experience of using the app. If you're looking for other features, LaTwit also lets you post multiple tweets if your update exceeds the 140-character limit. But for $2.99, it might not be worth the price tag.

LaTwit has a convoluted design.

(Credit: LaTwit)

SimplyTweet SimplyTweet comes in two flavors: a Lite version for those who want a free app and a paid version with all the SimplyTweet features, which includes multiple user accounts. Don't let SimplyTweet's name fool you--it's not so simple. The app lets you draft notes, update your stream with iPhone photos, and more. It has a slew of features. The paid version is available for $3.99.

Besides multiple accounts, SimplyTweet also lets you view conversations.

(Credit: SimplyTweet)

TweetDeck TweetDeck is my favorite mobile Twitter client. Like its desktop alternative, the app provides a column view, making it easy to see all kinds of Twitter data pass you by. Plus, it makes it extremely easy to manage multiple accounts, creating a scenario where updating all your accounts will only take just a few seconds. TweetDeck also shortens URLs before you post to your stream. Overall, it's a great app. And since it's free, you'll probably like it even more.

TweetDeck has multiple columns to help you view your tweets.

(Credit: TweetDeck)

Tweetie Tweetie is a well-designed Twitter app that helps you manage a host of Twitter accounts. Aside from doing the basics like viewing your timeline and replying to direct messages, Tweetie will let you pick an account to update, write a tweet, and post it to the stream. Those looking for more features will be happy to know Tweetie uses the iPhone's GPS functionality to send your location to followers. You can also search for topics that have relevance to your location. If you're interested in Tweetie, you'll need to pay $2.99 for it.

The Tweetie iPhone app lets you choose which account to use.

(Credit: Tweetie)

Twittelator Pro Twittelator Pro supports multiple Twitter user accounts. After you download the paid app (it costs $4.99), you'll be able to add multiple Twitter accounts to the service. If you're an iPhone 3GS user, you'll get the most use out of Twittelator Pro. The app lets you record, edit, and post video to your Twitter accounts. You can even create and tweet audio clips. If that's something you're interested in, it might prove to be worth the $4.99 price tag.

Twittelator Pro lets you record and edit audio, aside from managing multiple accounts.

(Credit: Twittelator)

Twitterrific Twitterrific is one of the best mobile Twitter apps. Aside from supporting multiple accounts, the app provides a cool filter feature that helps you sift through your timeline more effectively. But beware that Twitterific Premium, which does not show advertisements, costs $3.99. If you don't mind ads, you can opt instead, for the free version of the software.

Twitterrific helps you manage multiple accounts with ease.

(Credit: Twitterrific)

My top 3

1. TweetDeck: TweetDeck is free and it's full-featured. It's a great app for those looking for multiple-account support.

2. Twitterrific: It might come in a premium version that will set you back $3.99, but Twitterrific is a fine app.

3. Twittelator Pro: Twittelator Pro boasts some really cool extras that make its price tag easier to live with.

Google image search gets usage rights filtering

Josh Lowensohn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:30:00 PDT

In an effort to keep people from incorrectly reusing or repurposing images found on its image search tool, Google has added new options that let users filter results by usage rights. Users can now filter photos by whether they're available for reuse, commercial reuse, reuse with modification, or commercial use with modification.

Google is including a variety of licensing methods including Creative Commons, GNU Free Documentation license, and items that are in the public domain. Its system for determining the rights on various shots is not foolproof though, and as such the company is recommending that those who are interested in republishing or reworking any of the images check with the content owner first (if possible).

Users can now choose one of four license filters for images on Google image search.

(Credit: CNET)

What's likely to be a long-term effect of supporting license filtering is that Google's image index becomes far larger than it is right now. Some content owners who have chosen to block its indexing to keep others from easily reusing their photos may think twice; with these new filters there's at least some semblance of care and control, even if Google is basing that off information from a photo's metadata.

It's also a signal that Google is paying more attention to the rights of user content, although the filtering is still something that's tucked away in the advanced settings of the search tool, and not something users have to check off before even beginning a new search.

Google has not yet rolled out license filtering to any of its other properties. Sites like Google Books and Video could be next. In the meantime, there are several search tools that let users quickly seek out images that can be reused and remixed including the Creative Commons search engine, Flickr, Blip.tv, ArtistServer, The Internet Archive, Wikihow, and Wikipedia.

Silverlight 3 debuts ahead of Friday's launch

Ina Fried — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:44:00 PDT

The final version of Silverlight 3 has been released to the Web, a day ahead of the product's launch event in San Francisco.

The release, noted by enthusiast site Neowin, marks Microsoft's latest effort to take on Adobe's Flash.

Microsoft detailed Silverlight 3 at the Mix09 event in March, releasing a beta version of the software.

Among the product's new features is technology that allows the software to utilize a PC's hardware to accelerate graphics processing. It also allows for programs that run outside a browser on both the PC and Mac.

NBC has said it will use Silverlight to broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympics from Vancouver. The technology will allow the Games to be broadcast in 720p HD quality as well as provide a TiVo-like ability to pause and rewind a live stream.

Originally posted at Beyond Binary

Hotmail gets more Bing with new quick add menu

Josh Lowensohn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:45:00 PDT

Microsoft has updated its Hotmail Web e-mail service with more Bing search integration. Hotmail's quick add menu, which was introduced to a limited number of users earlier this year, lets users do a quick Web searches for things like maps, movie times, restaurants, images, and videos. Previously this used Windows Live search, but starting today it's grabbing results from Bing.

Just as it worked before, search results stream in on the right inside of the window, and can be inserted inside of outgoing messages or replies. Maps and videos can be quickly resized, and in the case of videos--previewed before being inserted.

The quick add menu now takes advantage of search results from Bing.com, Microsoft's Web search tool.

(Credit: CNET)

The one limiting factor that remains with the transition is that if you want more than the few results that show up in the quick add menu, you have to retrieve them outside of Hotmail and on Bing.com. And once you're on there, the buttons to simply add the content to an outgoing message do not come along for the ride.

You also are still unable to minimize the quick add menu when it's not in use. Many users have created special browser extensions and CSS hacks to get rid of it, since despite its utility, it still takes up 200 or so pixels on the right of the screen that you cannot get back.

Quick add is not available in all localizations. Microsoft says only users in Australia, Canada, China, India, the U.S., and the U.K. will see the updated tool in their in-boxes.

Google Earth event hints at moon mapping

Tom Krazit — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:06:00 PDT

One of the images returned by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter--coming soon to Google Earth?

(Credit: NASA)

At least the residents of the moon are unlikely to be annoyed by the Google Street View car.

Google announced plans Thursday to hold a press conference on July 20 in Washington, D.C., to discuss "a very special announcement about the newest addition to Google Earth," according to an invitation sent to reporters. Further details were not included, but it's not too hard to guess what Google might be up to here.

July 20 is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. One of the men who set foot on the moon that day, Buzz Aldrin, will speak at the event, as will Andrew Chaikin, author of "A Man on the Moon." And NASA's launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in June has yielded all kinds of new detailed images of the moon's surface.

Google already offers a limited overhead view of the moon that highlights the sites of the Apollo landings, but it seems more detailed maps could be in the works as part of the ongoing partnership between Google and NASA. All kidding aside, Street View for the moon is probably not on the agenda, although those lunar rovers are still up there.

Selected Search speeds up on-page searching

Josh Lowensohn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:51:00 PDT

Selected Search is a new add-on for Firefox that makes it easier to start a search from any page you're on. It works by taking text you've highlighted with your mouse, and then bringing up a small pop-up list of all the search engines you have installed. From there you just pick the one you want and it opens up behind the scenes in a new tab.

Firefox has its own built-in contextual shortcut that does this with whatever search engine you've got set up as the primary. The big difference with this extension is that you can very quickly pick whatever engine you want to search with depending on what you've highlighted.

Selected Search lets you quickly do a search on any text you've highlighted with your mouse.

(Credit: CNET)

What I really like about this tool is that you can continue to do all the normal things with highlighted text you'd normally do, including dragging it off into other programs or open windows, or using keyboard and contextual shortcuts to copy. It also does not always come up when highlighting text that's in a form, meaning you can keep it installed without interrupting your usual work flow, however this was hit or miss. It came up on certain form fields, but not in others.

Another tool that does the same thing with a little more visual flair is Drag and Drop Zones, which lets users drag highlighted text into a grid of search engines and keyboard shortcuts. It's a little more customizable, but may be a little harder to learn than this.

Search engines for the music lover

Don Reisinger — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:50:00 PDT

If you have trouble finding music on the Web, you'll be happy to know there are search engines designed specifically for finding your favorite tunes. They can help you stream everything from Top 40 hits to classics.

Find your music

MP3 Realm is a music search engine that helps you find MP3 tracks from across the Web. To do so, you'll need to search the site for either an artist or a song. A results page will then give you the option of downloading the track or embedding the tune into your blog. You can also stream the song on your site. All of the songs MP3 Realm finds are hosted on servers across the Web, so download times do vary. It can be quick but can also make you endure a brutally long wait. MP3 Realm is a fine site, but it's not the best music search engine in this roundup.

Mp3 Realm has a fine selection, but download times vary widely.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Project Playlist is one of the most convenient music search engines on the Web. Simply input an artist or track you like into the search engine and chances are that Project Playlist will have what you're looking for. I searched for a variety of titles, including some that are obscure and, in every case, Project Playlist had at least one matching track.

After you find the track you're looking for, you can stream it or add it to your playlist for future listening. If you can't get enough of the song, you can have Project Playlist send it to you as a ringtone. That will take just a few seconds. Overall, Project Playlist is a stellar music search engine.

Project Playlist has a great search engine.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

SkreemR won't blow you away with its design. In fact, it's an ugly site. But finding songs you might want to listen to is quite easy. It doesn't offer as many songs as a site like Project Playlist, but I was generally pleased with the selection. SkreemR also features the option to create a ringtone from the song and to share your favorite tunes with your Twitter followers. Both features add some more value, but I had a hard time getting over SkreemR's poor design.

SkreemR is just plain ugly.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Songza allows you to search for artists or songs. It returns several results. When you hover your mouse over those results, you have the option of streaming the track, sharing it with your Twitter and Facebook friends, adding it to a playlist, or rating it. Playing a song takes just a few seconds. The site's playlist feature is outstanding. And thanks to the YouTube window to the right of the search results, you can watch songs being performed. Songza is a neat site. Check it out.

Songza lets you listen to songs and watch videos.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

My top 2

1. Project Playlist: Whether you're looking for popular or obscure music, you'll like Project Playlist's convenient, thorough search engine.

2. Songza: Songza's playlists make it worth checking out.

Mozilla calls on coders for Web-tool index

Adrian Bridgwater — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:08:00 PDT

(Credit: Mozilla)

Mozilla Labs has set up the Open Web Tools Directory, a bid to build a comprehensive list of the open-source developer tools available.

The open-source browser project issued a call this week to the programmer community to help with the construction of the new central database.

"As we've explored different tools we could create here as part of the Developer Tools Lab, we've come to the opinion that in addition to creating new tools, one of the best things we could do is help developers understand the broad universe of tools that already exist and expose some of the fantastic and amazing work that's being done," Ben Galbraith, a member of Mozilla Labs Developer Tools team, said in a blog post.

This new repository comes in response to what Mozilla says is a lack of any centralized and navigable list of open-source tools. The Open Web Tools Directory site features a search box with Design, Code, Debug, Test, Deploy and Docs filters to help direct programmers to the applications most suited to their needs.

"It turns out that keeping up with all the development in this space is really difficult--even for folks like us who have been tracking it every day for years," Galbraith said. "We're looking forward to evolving the directory and working with the Web community to make it a vibrant resource for discovering and tracking the Web's amazing tools universe."

The index is laid out in what Galbraith describes as a "space" theme, with scattered thumbnails rather than a listing. Developers interested in reviewing that index of tools will need a browser with Canvas (the part of HTML5 that allows dynamic rendering of bitmap images) to view the content, such as Firefox 3.5, Safari 4, Chrome 2, or Opera 9. However, Mozilla has also provided a more accessible version of the directory with screen reader support and for browsers without Canvas support.

Developers interested in helping to expand the Open Web Tools Directory can use the site's data entry form to submit tool suggestions. Mozilla Labs is looking to the community to "fill up the directory with the hundreds or thousands of items" that they themselves have missed, Galbraith said.

Mozilla will review all submissions before they are added to the live site. The organization is also exploring longer-term concepts for augmenting the database, such as social participation features to enable tools to be ranked and commented on by community members.

Adrian Bridgwater of ZDNet UK reported from London.

Originally posted at News - Business Tech

With Chrome, Google reignites the OS wars

CNET News staff — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:31:00 PDT

Google Chrome OS, due in the second half of 2010, underscores the Web giant's cloud-computing ambitions and opens new competition with Microsoft.

What Chrome OS has on Windows that Linux doesn't

Because the Web is already a powerful force, Google's OS project has a leg up over would-be Microsoft challengers such as Linux. But has its own issues.
(Posted in Webware by Stephen Shankland)
July 9, 2009 4:00 AM PDT

Why Chrome OS? Google says, why not?

Google says it is building Chrome OS because it wants to improve the experience of using a computer. Of course, getting more people to spend their lives online and searching can't hurt.
(Posted in Webware by Tom Krazit)
July 8, 2009 4:06 PM PDT

Analyzing Google's Chrome OS strategy

The forthcoming Chrome OS will be technically straightforward, but why Google is doing an OS in the first place is a little less obvious.
(Posted in Speeds and feeds by Peter N. Glaskowsky)
July 9, 2009 5:31 AM PDT

ARM chip camp sees Google Chrome as opportunity

Texas Instruments and Qualcomm executives talk about the opportunities they see with the Google Chrome operating system.
(Posted in Nanotech: The Circuits by Brooke Crothers)
July 8, 2009 10:10 PM PDT

Google reveals its Chrome OS cohorts

The company names software, PC, and chipmakers it's working with on its new operating system.
(Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)
July 8, 2009 3:28 PM PDT

CNET News Poll

What will Google's Chrome OS watch you do?

Google's announcement of the Chrome OS is big news, but what will the ramifications for privacy be? We take a look at Google's privacy track record on some of its other products and services.
• Does Google's OS decrease or increase security risks?
(Posted in Webware by Josh Lowensohn)
July 8, 2009 1:05 PM PDT

What Google's Chrome OS means for Netbooks, and why Microsoft shouldn't worry...yet

We're always in favor of more consumer choice and potentially lower prices, but here's why it's not quite time for Microsoft to worry about losing its firm hold on the Netbook market.
• Why Chrome OS doesn't matter--or does it?
(Posted in Crave by Dan Ackerman)
July 8, 2009 10:28 AM PDT

Mr. Schmidt, step down from that board

Eric Schmidt's role as a board member of both Google and Apple is now untenable given Google's plans to develop a personal computer operating system.
(Posted in Webware by Tom Krazit)
July 8, 2009 10:22 AM PDT

To challenge Google, Microsoft might want to think Apple

Redmond's challenge is to prove the Windows experience is worth paying for. If it is looking for a game plan, it might want to look at how the Mac has tackled the PC.
• Google's Linux fork may not trouble Microsoft
• No thanks, Google--we've got Ubuntu
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
July 8, 2009 10:14 AM PDT

Google to Microsoft: It's on

With the announcement of the Chrome OS, Google has taken complete aim at Redmond's empire. But there are still plenty of reasons why Windows might not be dead man walking.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
July 8, 2009 2:45 AM PDT

Google plans Chrome-based Web operating system

Watch out, Microsoft: Google's browser project is the foundation for a Web-based operating system. Chrome OS Netbooks are due in 2010.
• Chrome's new-tab page gets more interactive
• Google Apps shed beta label
• Security expert blesses Google Native Client technology
(Posted in Webware by Stephen Shankland)
July 7, 2009 10:16 PM PDT

Microsoft's Gazelle browser takes a radical path

In an exclusive interview, CNET News talks with the researcher behind Microsoft's effort to make the browser more like an OS.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
July 7, 2009 4:00 AM PDT