Google Chrome OS: Facts and Rumours

Closing Thoughts

Google hasn't said an awful lot about Chrome OS, but many commentators have weighed in with their feelings on the subject. There's a lot of scepticism around at the moment precisely because Google hasn't said an awful lot about its plans - the timing of the announcement was strange to say the least.

The announcement also raised questions about Google chief executive Eric Schmidt's role on Apple's board of directors now that the search giant has effectively announced that it is competing with the company in third market - the other two being browsers and mobile phones. Schmidt isn't the only director serving on both Google's and Apple's boards though as Arthur Levinson, the former CEO of Genentech, has seats at both tables.

This is going to result in more attention from antitrust regulators and the Federal Trade Commission began an inquiry in May. "The list of areas where Google and Apple compete just keeps getting longer," said Anthony Ha. Schmidt said that he would discuss his role with the Apple board before adding that "there is no issue" at the moment, despite the FTC's probes.


If anyone is going to feel the pressure from Google Chrome OS though, it's probably going to be Apple. Its business is mainly focused on consumers and professionals - it's the former where it will be the most vulnerable to Chrome OS. Like Apple, Google is a 'hip' brand in the tech world and if Chrome OS is going to be locked down, manufacturers will be left to differentiate their products with sleek lines and designs - something that Apple is incredibly good at of course - and if Chrome OS ends up on devices with similar form factors to the MacBook Air and 13in MacBook Pro, we could be in for an interesting battle of the brands, especially as Chrome OS is going to be free.

That said, it's difficult to see Apple being pushed into a corner by anyone, even Google at the moment - the iPhone continues to go from strength to strength and competitors still haven't been able to bridge the gap. Google's own Android really hasn't made a dent in the iPhone's market share thus far. One could argue that it's waiting for a decent handset, but then how many attempts are needed before we get that world-beating handset?

Apple's Snow Leopard is going to move things forward in a positive fashion, just as Windows 7 will do. By the time Chrome OS comes out in the middle of next year, the operating system market could look vastly different and that may take some of the shine off Google's entry into the market... but at the same time, it could play into Google's hands because it has revealed very little information about the OS - we're going to have to wait until the code is released to the open source community later this year before we get any more concrete information.

If you've got your own theory on how Google's Chrome OS is - or isn't - on course for world domination, why not drop your thoughts in the forums?