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2009-07-10 06:29:22
Google has announced which hardware firms have pledged to build machines that
will run its Chrome OS.
The search giant said it was working with many firms on Chrome OS hardware
including Acer, Asus, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Toshiba.
The software is designed to work with the web and Google said it was most
likely to appear on smaller portable computers known as netbooks.
The browser-based operating system will be released to the public in 2010.
Web futures
In a blog post announcing the hardware partners, Google said that the code for
the Chrome OS would be open sourced in late 2009. Google said that the software
will be free to download and use.
I've been speaking to two firms planning to work with Google on the Chrome
OS, one very cautious about its prospects, the other more enthusiastic
Rory Cellan-Jones BBC's technology correspondent
The first netbooks that can run the software will be ready in late 2010. Since
Asus launched the first netbook the cut-down computers have proved hugely
popular.
Analyst firm Gartner predicts that 80% more netbooks will be sold in 2009 than
sold in 2008. However, so far, the small computers only make up 8% of the total
PC market.
The Chrome OS will be designed to work with Intel chips that appear in the vast
majority of desktop PCs, laptops and netbooks as well as the Arm chips that
power most of the world's mobile phones. Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, who
both build devices based around Arm chips, were also unveiled as partners on
the Chrome OS project.
In a blog post announcing some of the hardware partners, Google also said it
was working with Adobe on the operating system. This could turn out to be
significant because of the wide use of Adobe's Flash software.
Flash is used to power many multimedia websites but Adobe has been working hard
to extend its capabilities via the Air technology and make it more web-centric
too. Microsoft is developing its Silverlight technology to do a similar job.