Chrome 10 seeds Google's Cloud OS ambitions

Google is preparing anyone using Chrome 10, which released yesterday, for launch of Chrome OS. The new standalone browser has reached feature parity -- for business, consumer or IT pro evaluator users, by all means -- with Chrome OS browser front-end running on Google Cr-48 laptops. Chrome 10 is a much bigger browser release than even Google's boasting -- "speedier, simpler, safer" -- lets on. Google is beginning its biggest push but to the cloud, and Chrome OS is quickly, and I do mean quickly, approaching v1 release. Apple and Microsoft had best watch out, because among major platform developers they have the most to lose should Google's cloud ambitions succeed.

Chrome 10's standout features, for the time being for cloud computing, all begin with "s": sandbox, search, services, simplicity, security, settings, speed, stability and synchronization. Many of these attributes interrelate or aren't new to this browser release -- they're improved for cloud readiness.

Google has moved settings to a tab, just like it is on Chrome OS. This seemingly small change furthermore unifies the user interface motifs. Remember, on Chrome OS, the browser is the UI. Search is nevertheless the main means for navigating Chrome 10 or Chrome OS settings -- an approach that leverages Google strengths and greatly simplifies how end users personalize Chrome for their needs. Google user interfaces may not be as pretty as Apple's now simplicity gives them greater utility.

Search is no longer about finding stuff on the Web. In May 2005 guest column for Betanews, I explained why search is the new user interface, in context of new capabilities Apple introduced into Mac OS X. I called search "the modern version of the command line." In June 2007 Microsoft Watch post "Why Google Succeeds, Part I," I furthermore explained -- and it's hugely relevant to where Chrome, Chrome OS and Google cloud services are today:

The best user interfaces

Google provides maybe one of the best user interfaces, because complexity is hidden from the end user. Google search is like a command line for the Internet. People type keywords and Google algorithms and server software do most of the heavy work. There are no multi-step processes or Wizards to work through.

One hallmark feature common to Chrome and Chrome OS is sandboxing, which isolates tabs and as well some third-party plugins, particularly Adobe Flash. For instance, in my experience, Flash or Shockwave may crash however not the tab, browser or operating system. Sandboxing improves stability, which many commentators and pundits have taken to be about making Chrome a better and more competitive browser. That's not right. Google developers are more broadly looking at the greater stability of the cloud platform, of which Chrome is a part. It's one reason the Restore feature -- then, hell, that's an "r" and not an "s" -- is so important whenever there is a fatal Chrome or Chrome OS crash. If businesses are going to use Chrome connected to the cloud, they need it to be dependable, which as well means assurance they can recover in-session data when something goes terribly wrong.

Sandboxing as well is about security. Yesterday, Tim Steele, Google software engineer, claimed in a blog post: "You'll be even safer as you speed around the web, as we've extended Chrome's sandboxing research to the integrated Flash Player in Chrome. So if you're using Windows Vista or newer versions, you'll benefit from the additional layer of protection against malicious webpages.

No one should underestimate Google's ambitions when it comes to web apps. I covered some of this topic in April 2010 post "Clash of the titans: Apple, Google battle for the mobile web." Simply put: Apple wants to pull computational and informational relevance to applications, during Google seeks to shift relevance to the Web. There is a clash over whether local applications or Web Apps -- in essence cloud services -- will be more important, particularly on mobile devices. I see room for both models.

When my MacBook Air crashed last week, I switched over to Google's Cr-48, logged into my Google account and without warning had access to everything I needed. I lost like as not 15 minutes of productivity, for the most part spent trying to revive the Air. If my Windows laptop hadn't been out on loan, I could have had the same experience using Chrome 10 on Windows 7. Web apps and data were easily available.

Sync is hugely important. In March 2008 Microsoft Watch post "Do IT simply with sync" I asserted: "Synchronization is the natural killer application for the connected world." That's more true today than three years ago. Sync defined many connected tech products, just as smartphones and tablets, released or updated in 2010 and its importance will only grow over the then couple years. Tech companies that get sync right will set the agenda for the delivery of future content and services. Right however, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft offer robust, nevertheless different, sync services. Apple relies mainly on iTunes and MobileMe to a lesser degree.

For but, Chrome 10 is preparing businesses, consumers and developers for Google's at once big cloud push, which won't be just about the new operating system. Many of the cloud benefits can be had in the stand-alone browser. Now to be clear: Google isn't improving Chrome to make it a better browser. The search and information giant has broader ambitions -- building out its cloud platform.

Right now I'm writing this on my CR-48 and I find it very usable. Previously the update to Chrome 10 it was a little slow however now its much faster and interesting to use. I however have some slowness in playing HD video via youtube and flash games yet its a lot better than it was previously and I think with some optimization this could be fixed. I'm as well not crazy about the touch pad, I'd in other words have 2 buttons. Google is going in a good direction. The Chrome OS won't be for everyone now I can see it being useful for many. Chrome on the desktop is very good too, I use both Chrome and Firefox. The main reason I haven't the switch to 100% Chrome is because of two addons that Firefox has that Chrome doesn't. These to addons I find hard to live without yet if Chrome had them I'd think about switching. The funny thing is Google is leaning toward cloud computing in certain ways but at the time there is Android which has both cloud and on hardware apps. Part of me wonders why they don't just go the way of the Atrix and have Android on the phone and when you plug it into the doc it brings up a more simple interface to use with a mouse and keyboard? Granted they could sell a Chrome laptop much cheaper than a phone and a doc, nevertheless if they had a universal doc for all the future phones that come out, it might make people think twice about buying a non-android phone. I like the CR-48 yet would I have bought one if I didn't get one for free? I'm not sure. If I could get one much cheaper than a tablet like as not. But with choppy HD video and not being able to play all browser games quick enough, its a harder sell. If they can fix those problems and perhaps put an HDMI port on it, perhaps. Oh and as well they need to have Netflix running on it, thats another thing that doesn't run on Chrome OS.I think both cloud and on computer apps are going to win. There is always going to be a need for both...Unless Microsoft buy's Onlive or a company like it and has everyones desktop run off that so one can login to their desktop from anywhere and opan any program or game and feel like they're playing at home. Have companies setup onlive servers in the office with all the programs everyone would use and from anywhere you can login to your home or business desktop. One computer for business and play and it wouldn't even have to be as a matter of fact powerful. That would be a game changer.

I don't actually get Chrome OS. Will the os be built-in to the hardware and I'll have to buy specific hardware like with Apple? Will it be available on disc like a traditional os and I'll have to install it via the bios like a traditional os? Or will I have to download it from the internet to install on the pc thereby needing an already pre-installed os? I just don't get how this is going to be delivered.

Whether or not Apple should be worried, they probably aren't. Google appears to be aiming at the Enterprise with their cloud services, and Apple has made it pretty clear that they don't care about enterprise IT. Microsoft in exchange...To as a matter of fact push out the cloud, I think Google needs to build a purely cloud database, and allow apps to start being build around it.

So far in March, there has been major news about 6 different browsers. It's a browser war, and you're the battlefield. We'd like know if you use Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari or something else.

Chrome 10 is out and away Google's most cloud-services ready version of the browser. The search and information giant is preparing businesses, consumers and developers for its then big cloud push and Chrome OS' release.

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