By now you’ve probably heard about the biggest buzz made by Google today. Their much anticipated Google Chrome OS was officially announced. But no, the Chrome OS itself is not yet available. In fact, it won’t be available for consumers, at least for a year starting today. What was announced is the Google Chrome Open Source Project geared for developers so that they can start making cool applications or even their own OS based on the Chrome OS.
Amidst the announcements and interviews, Google’s VP for product management Sundar Pichai made some points that relates to netbooks and the implementation of the Chrome OS once it is available to consumers.
One main point made by Pichai was something about current netbook users will not be able to download Chrome OS on their existing netboks. Google will specify the requirements of the netbook that will run Chrome OS and users will need to buy it.
Pichai also said that Chrome OS netbooks will run on both X86 and ARM chips. And these netbooks will be most likely available same time as today next year. Google will require netbook makers to deliver slightly larger netbooks than what are currently available. Perhaps even with full-sized keyboards and bigger touch pads.
What Pichai didn’t mention or even hinted is whether there will be a Google co-branded netbooks like what they did we the Android phone.
So, there you go. It’s still a long time to go before we see the first netbook running on the Chrome OS.
Liliputing is running a report about PC maker Haleron’s latest operating system based on the Linux platform. This OS according to Haleron supports Linux, Windows and Google Android applications. The OS is based on SUSE Linux but can also run some Windows apps, thanks to the included WINE system. Additionally, the Haleron Ocean OS will also let you run applications that are otherwise made to run on Google’s mobile phone OS.
The Haleron Ocean OS is now available for download here and can be installed on regular laptops and dekstop PCs as well as netbooks. The netbook version is a 420MB download so get your USB cleaned up.
The thing is, installing it on a netbook may require a little more patience and perseverance. If you haven’t installed any OS yet on your netbook before, you may skip this one or have to courage to install it anyway. To help you on your quest, follow the instructions for formating a USB stick here. Then grab the OS and good luck.
Rumors that Apple is about to cripple the latest build of the Mac OS X rendering it useless for netbooks started last month. And a couple of days ago, Apple release the latest update for Snow Leopard. Guess what? It has been confirmed that the said version of Snow Leopard will no longer run on Atom-powered netbooks.
So if you currently have a Hackintosh netbook as you read this post, better not upgrade to the latest Snow Leopard anymore and enjoy your netbook while it last. Or perhaps you might want to wait for the latest build. Who knows, Apple might forget about disabling this feature.
You’re best to having a Hackintosh netbook then is to get those 12-inch laptops that don’t run on Intel Atom anymore. Or bettery yet, why don’t you get a MacBook instead?
The Moblin project steering committee has just release Moblin v2.1 geared specifically for netbooks and nettops running Intel Atom processors. Moblin v2.1 is a result of broadest feature additions, improvement requested by customers and overall polish of the OS to date.
Among the many features of Moblin 2.1, most noteworthy include enhanced browser functionality and plug-in support, enhancements on UI, 3G data connections, Bluetooth device management, input method support for localized languages, integrated application installer for Mobline Garage, stability of performance and additional help and documentation modules.
Internet Browser. After much work, we are including a new internet browser application that far exceeds our previous browser performance and adds full support for features such as plug-in support and add-ons. Many thanks to Moblin users and the developer community for their feedback and contributions.
3G Data Support. Support for 3G data connections using the Ericsson* MBM 3G modems. Support for additional 3G modems is planned for future releases.
Application Installer Integration. The Moblin Application Installer is integrated and provides a logically categorized list of applications that you can choose to install. The selection of applications that appears within the Moblin Application Installer comes from the Moblin Garage.
Clutter 1.0. With this new version of Moblin, we are releasing Clutter 1.0, the Moblin animation framework.
Bluetooth* Device Support. Bluetooth* device discovery and pairing now supported via a new panel in the toolbar, which supports Bluetooth* audio devices, input devices (keyboards, mice), OBEX file transfer, and using a Bluetooth* phone as a 3G modem.
Connection Manager. Connection Manager (ConnMan) has significant modifications particularly in the areas of performance and reliability. The new version of ConnMan now supports Ethernet, WiFi, WiMAX, and 3G.
Nettop Support. UI scaling is provided for a wide range of nettop resolutions, including the ability to show more information in the Myzone panel based on the available screen space.
Improvements to Instant Messaging. Improvements have been included for Instant Messaging account setup, integration within the connection manager, and support for transparent connection to your friends on your local network.
Input Method Support. Input method support is now included across the system.
Localization. Moblin is currently localized in the following languages (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Korean, Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional). We also have a community translation project where Moblin is translated to additional languages by the community.
VIA Technologies has announced it latest processor – the VIA Nano 3000 Series which is said to be capable of delivering enhanced digital media performance and lower power consumption to Windows 7-powered notebooks and all-in-one desktop PCs, including netbooks.
VIA Nano 3000 processors will support flawless playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD videos without consuming too much power, hence providing longer battery life.
Available clock speeds for VIA Nano 3000 processors will be from 1.0GHz to 2.0GHz. It uses the NanoBGA2 package which makes the processor components pin-to-pin compatbile with VIA Nano 1000 series and other VIA processors. This allows easy upgrade of existing machines running on other versions of VIA processors to the upcoming VIA Nano 3000 series CPUs.
The integrated graphics which most netbooks come out with are pretty unimpressive, especially considering that their full-size counterparts (read: laptops) that are getting released these days tend to have some sort of dedicated graphics of their own. But in some instances, Intel’s GMA graphics chipset is able to hold its own when it comes to games and HD video, and this was proven in a recent demonstration at a Mobile Dev Camp event in Germany.
Pictured above is Quake III running at an average of about 35 FPS on an external monitor while connected to an MSI Wind U115–running Linux! Moblin Linux, that is. Intel’s Atom Z530 processor and GMA 500 graphics work in tandem for this one, and it’s pretty good work indeed. The same netbook was also demoed with other mobile devices playing HD video rather competently. To see the netbook in fragging action, continue reading for a video after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Canonical, creators of open-source OS Ubuntu is not about to give all the limelight in the OS market to Microsoft and Windows 7. Come Thursday, the company is to make available the latest version of its OS geared specifically for netbooks – the Ubuntu 9.10.
Canonical chairman, Mark Shuttleworth said that he is looking forward to another head-to-head battle with Microsoft especially in the netbook department. If you have been following the development of netbooks, you’d remember that the Linux OS was first used in earlier netbooks. But this was completely overshadowed by Microsoft when it starts offering Windows XP to netbook manufacturers. In a way, Microsoft’s entry to the netbook market paved the way for its popularity.
Although he admitted the fact that Windows 7 is a credible release, Shuttleworth however calls Windows 7 as still proprietary and expensive. Windows 7 Starter Edition which is suited for netbooks are both pricey and restrictive of what it would allow users to do, said Shuttleworth.
Ubuntu 9.10 on the other hand promises to support all 25 different netbooks and will offer them with an OS that has simpler interface, faster booth and log-in time, better audio framework and improved 3G connectivity.
If you’ve been wanting to have a netbook with 2GB of RAM inside but don’t have the nerves to wreck open your netbook, well you may want to wait until March when Intel finally allows manufacturers to have 2GB of RAM in their netbooks.
Come March 10, the new Intel Atom N470 which is based on the Pine Trail-M two chip platform will now support 2GB capacity RAM. The N270 has a clock speed of 1.83 GHz, enough to be fully supported by the 3GB RAM.
Currently, netbooks are either sporting the Intel Atom N270 and N280 with clock speed of 1.6GHz. A new processor the N450 is scheduled to be released in January 2010. But netbooks with this CPU would still have 1GB of RAM.
Other possible details of new netbooks to come up once the Intel Atom N470 is available include – Moblin Linux OS, storage guidance up to 20 to 32GB SSD drive or 160GB mechanical hard drive. Screen sizes of future netbooks will vary from 7-10.2-inch. The only let down would have to be their battery life which is expected to go down to a mere 4-cell or less.
Price wise, these new netbooks could go from $299 to $349.
The folks at Netbooknews.de attended Microsoft’s Windows 7 shindig in Taipei, Taiwan and were kind enough to have taken videos of various netbooks running Windows 7. It’s a pretty good watch to give you an idea of how each of these netbooks which you might probably thinking to purchase, fare with Windows 7.
The netbooks show in the video are the Ferrari Acer One, HP DM1, the EeePC 1008HA, the Gigabyte M1022 and T1028, the special HP Mini Edition 110 Tord Boontje. Some nettops were also shown running Windows 7 including – the Acer AspireRevo, EeeBox EB150 as well as other less known machines.
It didn’t take Microsoft that long to put up the Windows 7 USB installer for netbooks who wants to upgrade their netbook’s OS. The Microsoft online store now has all the procedures you would need to successfully install the OS to your netbooks. Granting of course that your netbook has the required system specs to run the OS.
There are some basic tips and hints that will help you decide whether you should upgrade and which edition of the Windows 7 OS you should be upgrading to. Right now, you can actually choose to get the Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate versions. If you’re looking for the netbook edition, well you’re in bad luck since Microsoft may have forgotten to include it just yet.
If you’re brave enough to do it, you can go directly to the Windows 7 download page below:
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