Google Aims For Windows With New Window-based ChromeOS

News
By Douglas Perry
published

Google updated the ChromeOS Developer channel with the first version of the browser OS that comes with an activated version of the Aura window manager.

The look and feel of ChromeOS distances itself from the browser and is now much closer to a traditional, window-based operating system. Google also supplies 50 wallpapers with ChromeOS Dev 19.0.1084.17.

Other changes include file support for TAR, GZ and BZIP2, a media recovery tool, as well as an updated scratchpad app. The update is only supported by the Chromebooks Samsung Series 5 and Acer AC700, while Google's own Cr-48 will not get this particular version. Google noted that it simply skipped the Cr-48 with version 19, but will provide ChromeOS 20 for the device again. However, it is unclear whether the Cr-48 will actually get the Aura window manager.

Google is offering Aura as a hardware-accelerated UI for Chrome/ChromeOS that is designed to provide much richer graphics and animations than Chrome does today. The idea is to offer a competitive product next to entry-level Windows 8 systems and help a second generation of Chromebooks to be more successful than the initial product range. Rumor has it that fewer than 5,000 Chromebooks were sold last year.

Douglas Perry
23 Comments Comment from the forums
  • livebriand
    Ehh... now if they made a full on desktop OS with good support and apps, people might actually be interested in it.
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    if it was similar to windows 8 and had somthing like the start button i could see this beating windows 8 in salkes
    Reply
  • emperornicon
    windows 8 is terrible it is a space/power hog
    Reply
  • dameon51
    Even if its a good OS, I have my doubts about it ever making much of a dent in windows or mac OS. Both os's are so mature now, and there's a million flavors of linux for those that dont't win or mac.
    Reply
  • ohim
    Well in the past ppl thought that MS is spying on you trough their OS but google does this everyday with your google account .. imagine having their OS ... there will be absolutely nothing that they won`t know about you. Personally i have nothing to hide but i don`t like it that someone can actually have access to w/e i do on the internet.
    Reply
  • zippyzion
    Just because everyone is being so darn negative...

    I like Chrome OS. I want to see it do better. I see a huge potential for it being used on little media consumption net books or in school libraries. I like the idea of using it in schools or libraries. All we need is an install for some form of desktop and you could buy a $200 Chrome box instead of $500 Dell or $1000 Apple computers. Do you know how much return on investment there would be for tax payers? You could have Chrome boxes that will access the internet just fine, say 20 of them where you would only have 10 computers, and have enough money left over for a few power computers if someone needs one. A Chrome box would be amazing for public internet terminals. Someone has dropped the ball on this one.
    Reply
  • pocketdrummer
    livebriandEhh... now if they made a full on desktop OS with good support and apps, people might actually be interested in it.
    Are you talking about Chrome OS or the new Win8?

    I kid...
    Reply
  • joytech22
    emperorniconwindows 8 is terrible it is a space/power hogSpace hog, yes. Power hog HARDLY.

    It actually improved the battery life on my laptops.
    Reply
  • spiralsun1
    Please, Google... just because you are made trendy by every little thing you do being trumpeted in the media, does not mean we are going to fall all over ourselves to make YOU the internet-giant monstrosity with fingers in every pie. What's the difference between Microsoft and the Google monster?
    Microsoft did not have the media on it's side to totally take over, microsoft did not censor search results. Microsoft was no threat to privacy, had no (dangerous) political agenda. We should be worried because the controlled media put them into power, made them worth a lot on a public stock offering, and are basically an extension of the status quo with more money and power now than they ever dreamed of before. I am not going to be one of their mindless supporters. Why do we need a new OS? so Google can have more control.
    Reply
  • hiruu
    Garbage...lol...Google is search...period, as it subsidizes everything else...instead if figuring out more efficient ways to deliver product on the OS the world use, these clowns are trying to recreate it in Google's vision. Apple got wise and looked elsewhere to great success...anyway FB will soon be eating some Google's lunch money in search.
    Reply