AfterDawn: News

Google CEO explains why Chrome OS is different than Android

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has explained what will differentiate their Android OS from their upcoming Chrome OS, saying mainly that Chrome OS was created for devices that have full keyboards, whereas Android is better for touchscreen devices.

Chrome OS will soon be available on PCs, notebooks and netbooks, which will always include full keyboards, even if they have touchscreen interfaces.



Android, on the other hand, is best suited for smartphones and (eventually) tablets, which may sometimes have keyboards, but will always have a touchscreen.

When asked about Android fragmentation, Schmidt noted that he wants to make sure that in the future, the same apps can be run on all Android devices, no matter what version or what device.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread is expected in the coming weeks while Chrome OS is expected by January.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Nov 2010 16:31

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• 8 comments

• ZippyDSM

  It should be a middle ground between the main windose offeringz and teh "'nix's"(damn subversives ....*spit*.... lulz).
  
  Anyway what will thrill or kill this is DRM and how easily it can run different apps, if it can support most hardware and most hardware ranges from desktops to smart phones it could well take out windose.
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  17.11.2010 10:59 #1

• KillerBug

  So far it isn't much more than a chopped Linux running a web browser. It can compete with most smart phone operating systems in terms of capabilities, and google is hoping to get people who want something that works like a smart phone, but with a large screen, full size keyboard, and a mouse. Unfortunately, I think it will do well.
  

  17.11.2010 22:49 #2

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by KillerBug: So far it isn't much more than a chopped Linux running a web browser. It can compete with most smart phone operating systems in terms of capabilities, and google is hoping to get people who want something that works like a smart phone, but with a large screen, full size keyboard, and a mouse. Unfortunately, I think it will do well. Well if its support by devs and the outside community to the point its as good or better than a hacked Ithing whats so bad about it?
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  17.11.2010 23:14 #3

• KillerBug

  Because at the end of the day, it is just a web browser. It does not offer support for more advanced capabilities. This means that users never get a chance to try these more advanced capabilities, and they never even know that they exist.
  
  This will hurt an already struggling industry, by eliminating much of the demand for better hardware. As it is, we are seeing novice users dropping their PCs in favor of a netbooks and tablets. This is also dangerous because the next generation of techies won't be able to afford current-level tech (the prices will spike with lack of demand), so they won't be ready for next-gen tech.
  
  This will also hurt the software community, and not just microsoft. Same reason...you can't do things like Photoshop, 3D gaming, etc on Chrome...chrome users just stick to the functions built into Chrome for the most part (and free web apps), and don't have the option to go any farther.
  

  18.11.2010 01:19 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Because at the end of the day, it is just a web browser. It does not offer support for more advanced capabilities. This means that users never get a chance to try these more advanced capabilities, and they never even know that they exist.
  
  This will hurt an already struggling industry, by eliminating much of the demand for better hardware. As it is, we are seeing novice users dropping their PCs in favor of a netbooks and tablets. This is also dangerous because the next generation of techies won't be able to afford current-level tech (the prices will spike with lack of demand), so they won't be ready for next-gen tech.
  
  This will also hurt the software community, and not just microsoft. Same reason...you can't do things like Photoshop, 3D gaming, etc on Chrome...chrome users just stick to the functions built into Chrome for the most part (and free web apps), and don't have the option to go any farther. Mmmmmmmmmmm I see what you mean but at the same time it forces the market to keep up with itself, frankly PC hardware has stagnated because of lack of software advancements.
  
  What we will be getting in the next decade or so is smaller faster(for the size) hardware we will lose the normal doubling of hardware,ect every min/day,ect but gain a more balanced setup the smart phone/tablet(or their tech will) will replace the "office PC" the tablet will replace the average PC which is obsolete anyway (and I can run UT3 demo,wotgreal,photoshop,blender and such on my HP i5 touchsmart tablet).
  
  Will the hobbyist tech go up yes because their is no longer a real market for it and "china qaulity" is not helping anyone.
  
  Software game wise will remain on the console coarse with dabbling in PC and smart devices by the mainstream.
  
  The best I can see out of all this current tech being a1/4th or less in size and consuming half or less power, I do not think we will see a true evolution in hardware(meaning faster,better stronger) until soemone creates a better mainstream OS.
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  18.11.2010 02:06 #5

• Bozobub

  The main reason we won't see Moore's Law in action at the consumer level for much longer is much simpler; nothing we do requires that much power, yet! i7s + GPGPU = waaaay more power than nearly anyone needsa, even if they're heavy-duty video editors.

  18.11.2010 12:33 #6

• WierdName

  Originally posted by Bozobub: The main reason we won't see Moore's Law in action at the consumer level for much longer is much simpler; nothing we do requires that much power, yet! i7s + GPGPU = waaaay more power than nearly anyone needsa, even if they're heavy-duty video editors. Not to mention the power wall: MIT 6.189 Lec 2. That's why IBM and Sony developed the cell broadband engine.
  
  EDIT- And multi-cores too. I learned from the lecture though, so that's were I apply it.
  

  Doesnt expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected and therefore mean youre expecting the expected which was the unexpected until you expected it?
  "Opinions are immunities to being told were wrong." - Relient K

  20.11.2010 16:39 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Bozobub/WierdName
  
  Not to mention WIn7 32 bit is a slow hog.......
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  20.11.2010 17:00 #8