Google announced the company is working on a new open-source Linux based operating system for netbooks called Chrome OS. While it is not expected until the second half of 2010 Google shared its vision for the "web based OS" on the company blog. Features such as instant boot-up, minimal interface and a high security architecture that eliminates viruses, malware and the need for security patches was promised. Essentially Google Chrome OS will be a light weight Linux distro with just a Web browser. Technical details about how the OS will handle drivers, security and offline content were not yet disclosed.
Google says the code will be released later this year and the OS will ship on netbooks starting in the second half of 2010. Since there are already a number of very innovative "instant-on" netbook operating systems available such as Splashtop, Jolicloud and Moblin it will be interesting to see if Chrome OS will be successful.
Read the official announcement at the Google Blog
