Chrome OS And Android To Merge

It has always puzzled me that Google would first introduce the Android and the Chrome OS a few months later, setting up a competition between groups within Google to see which OS prevails.  Now, the creator of Gmail, who no longer has an relations with Google, believed the two OS will merge into one.  And I agree.

In one way or another, Google is not going to have a dual OS strategy.  It is simply too messy.  Not even Microsoft with years of experiences seem comfortable with this.  Nor is Apple doing this.  As a matter of fact, the conventional thinking is that Apple will merge iOS with OS X years down the line.

Right now, Chrome OS has the making of what the future of computing will look like.  Everything will be in the cloud and we will trust that connection to cloud data will be robust enough for us to put all our eggs there.  But I don't see that happen in the short-term.  Sure, we have already begin to save a lot of data on Android and Gmail on desktops and laptops on Google servers but we still do a lot of work that require local storage.

I am very interested in the opportunities that Chrome OS has to offer but I don't want my next netbook to be a dumb terminal.  Nor do I want that for my future Android device, whether it's tablet of smartphone.  But as a solo project, Chrome OS will not survive as we have come to know it.

This is how it'll play out.  Google will try to sell Chrome OS as an alternative to Windows in the netbook arena.  It might find some success but eventually, Android will gain a lot of Chrome OS' features and a couple of years later, Google will announcement that it has successfully merged to two but, in reality, Chrome OS will exist only as key components of Android.  

And folks, that ain't a bad thing.  

More at Techcrunch.

Current State of Mobile Computing: Tablet or Laptop

Depending on who you talk to you and who you believe, the netbooks, perhaps even lsptops, are taking a sales hit because of the iPad.

Perhaps. Then there are those who are not so sure this is happen on a large scale. Given the potential that Apple may be on the verge of a $20 billion quarter and cuts on orders by dorm laptop and netbook makers, it has industry and mobile observers such as myself very excited.

Is this the beginning of the end of mobile computing as we know it?

More at Greenjava Mobility.

Tablet: Android Today, Chrome OS in 2011

I like to say go ahead and get the Samsung Tab or any other Android-based tablets if you can't wait. Why wait?

Well, Google has indicate that the latest version of Android 2.2 isn't tablet-friendly. And in fact, Samsung has said that some apps may not look good because they are not optimized for tablet use.

So what are we to do? A few year ago, being younger and more adventurous, I think I would get it no matter what warnings may come my way. Today, it's a little different.

But if I were to get one today, I would want to make sure that it is future-proof. By that, I mean the following two things.

First, I want to make sure that any tablet I get are free from carrier meddling. By that, I mean no crapware and I would not be at the mercy of the carrier for upgrades. Let face it, they are dar more interested in us buying new gears and signing multiple-year contracts than extending the life of our mobile gadgets, and that includes tablets.

Second, I want to make sure it is compatible with Android 3.0, which should be more suitable for tablet deployment. More importantly, I want to be sure the tablet is also Chrome OS ready. Google doesn't want to come out and say it but we get the feeling that Google believes the future of mobile should be Chrome OS and webapps, movin further away from Android and apps.

Ultimately, the best thing that can happen is for Google to launch and showcase what they think the ultimate tablet should be based on their philosophy much like they did with Nexus One. In fact, the tablet would be the perfect device for Google to try and get away from carriers.

We will know more in the next few weeks what the four major carriers in the US has planned for the Samsung Tab. We should learn more how upgradable it is and what upgrade path Samsung and Google plotted out.

Google Tablet: Android or Chrome OS

It's going to be very confusing if Google doesn't clear up which OS it favors for its slate and tablet strategy. Right now, most hardware developers are working on Android tablets to challenge the dominance od Apple's iPad. However, word is getting out that there are also Chrome OS-based varieties as well.

Well, I for one will be forced to wait and see where this leads before I get one or the other. Deep down, Google would love for users to embrace Chrome OS for netbooks and slates. When Google introduced it to the world last year and updated us again earlier this year, it was in a netbook format. Since it is only a toss and a skip to the tablet form, don't be surprise to see Google trumps it as its favorite OS choice for tablets.

The problem is that we do love out apps. And Google is going to have to reset everything all over again to get the Chrome OS webapp store stocked up to the level of the iPhone app store or Android's marketplace.

So even if Google picks Chrome OS, Android fans might not flock to it. Only the most die-hard of Google fans are likely yo support it out of the gate.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Google Innovations for Android: Chrome OS Features Will Eventually Migrate to Android

It's my belief that Google will merge the work they've done with Android with that of Chrome OS. Obviously, Chrome OS came of an attempt to unseat Microsoft in the PC industry. A valiant attempt. I don't know if it'll succeed or not.

That's not the point for me. The point is more about how Android will benefit from research and innovation gained from work done with Chrome OS. Here's what I think will happen over time with Android and Chrome OS development.

First, on Chrome OS. For simplicity sake, Chrome OS is Chrome running on a specialized Linux. But Google is trying to develop a computing future in which webapps is king, relying on open standards and less on what Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe will come up with - Silverlight and Flash. In Apple's case, Google will try to displace the iPhone's advantage with its app store.

For the sake of corporate pride, Chrome OS will not go away should it fail to gain traction in the market. Initially, it will likely serve as a distraction and cause confusion in the market. Google's new at this. Just look at what's going on with Buzz. Well, if you think the Buzz privacy issue was a fiasco, you just have to wait until Chrome OS hits the market. That's gonna be one huge mess. Let's just hope Google has learned from its Buzz experience.

So confusion. People will ask if this is Android. We will have our work cut out for us cleaning up after Google in explaining to the public that Android has nothing to do with Chrome OS. But we will be encouraged in that Android, as a mobile platform, will have much to gain from Chrome OS.

Of the two OS's, Android will live supreme on the mobile devices we have come to know as smartphones. On netbooks, there is where the confusion will reign for a while as hardware developers provide consumers with a choice of Android and Chrome OS.

Once the dust settles, as tablets start to penetrate the mobile market and seep into the minds of consumers, Android will also have a role here as well. Chrome OS, as we saw in demos, simply isn't equipped and martured enough to usurp Android.

Even, Chrome OS will find a home on a shrink netbook market when the tablet market matures.

That's where I think things stands for these two Google operating systems. We'll know later this year once Chrome OS products hit the market but I'm pretty sure this is how it'll play out with our Android taking the lead for Google's Web and search initiatives.

Android's Future - Looking Great If A Bit Cloudy Now

As a G1er, I feel like I'm being left out in the cold as the rest of the Android brethren gets new and exciting features.  Of course, having Google Navigation does make things better on that front.

But I'm very curious about the future of Android.  From what I can see, Google's future plans for Android is looking more and more murky.  I don't think that is a bad thing though.  Yes, Chrome OS has really make things less certain for Android.

I think in some circles, COS has really confused both hardware and software developers.  Particularly, mobile device makers like HTC.  We'll continue to see new Android devices but it'll be interesting see what new features Google might quickly port over from COS.

COS is a year away from a formal debut with hardware but Android will be in its 3rd year of existence.  For this reason, I am likely to wait it out and see where things go before I upgrade.  I've got a couple of reason to way.  My G1 is still going strong even if it's going to be left behind in the Android 2.0 upgrade.  As for the hardware, Droid is great except the keyboard is really it's biggest weakness.

I'm sure in another 9-12 months, provided my will power stays strong, I should be able to upgrade to an Android device or tablet that is more closely aligned with what Google envisions for the future of cloud and mobile computing.  

Gearhack Trying To Install Chrome OS Diet On Netbook and XO

The publisher of popular sites, Cynosure, Gearhack, and Camerahacker, is trying to do us a favor and spead some of the Chrome OS love.  I've know Mr. Chieh Cheng for a long time. Going back to when he helped me passed high school physics.

So, dude's pretty smart.  So, he's been in a mission to try to get COS (Chrome OS) Diet working on his MSI Wind and his XO.  I spoke to him about it at length and he's quite knowledgeable with the in-and-outs of these things. Dude's pretty relentless when it comes to these things.

Hence, the word "hack" in his domain name.  Anyway, he's posted some progress he made and roadblocks he hope to overcome.  Let him know what you think and what you might be able to offer him.

Yeah, Android and COS will merge as Google founders have confessed so we might as well start talking about COS too.

The immediate issues are as follows:

• Getting Wi-Fi to work.
• Getting the XO to book from the SD expansion slot.

Any help from 'Droid fans and Linux masters appreciated.