Google

Today I am going to blog about Google. Being more specific I am going to blog about: Google Chrome, Google Operating System and Google & Privacy.

What is Google Chrome?

Google Chrome is the open source web browser Google launched to compete with Internet Explorer, Firefox,….
Google announces it (http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/index.html) as being:

Fast – “Chrome is designed to be fast in every possible way: It's quick to start up from your desktop, loads web pages in a snap, and runs complex web applications
fast.”

Simple – “Chrome's browser window is streamlined, clean and simple. Chrome also includes features that are designed for efficiency and ease of use. For example, you can search and navigate from the same box, and arrange tabs however you wish — quickly and easily”

Secure – “Chrome is designed to keep you safer and more secure on the web with built-in malware and phishing protection, autoupdates to make sure the browser is up-to-date with the latest security updates, and more”
Google Chrome was launched in 2008 and today is the 3rd most used with a market share of 6,73% (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome ).
For me the functionality that makes Google Chrome singular is that he combines the address bar with the search bar “One box for everything”. I am an Internet Explorer user and 90% of the times a go to a webpage is via www.google.com .Google made it easier.

Google Operating System

“Google Chrome OS is an upcoming open source operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web applications. Announced on July 7, 2009, Chrome OS is set to have a publicly available stable release during the second half of 2010.
The operating system is based on Linux and will run only on specifically designed hardware. The user interface takes a minimalist approach, resembling that of the Chrome web browser. As a browser incorporating a media player will be the only application residing on the device, Google Chrome OS is aimed at users who spend most of their computer time on the Internet”. (Source: www.wikipedia.com )

“Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.” (Source: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html )

Seems this OS will focus in internet using. This makes me excited about it and hoping the see lots of innovation here.

Google & Privacy

My major concern as a Google user is privacy. Every day I use Google tools to search around 90% of the web pages I see. This way Google knows very well what my habits in internet are, what I like and don’t like. And I can say that I like that Google know what I like, so they can and are using this information to suggest me pages that I really like and advertisement that I think is interesting. With the broad range of products that Google has and will launch (e.g. Google OS), Google will have access to all possible information related to personal internet use. As I said privacy is a concern for me but so far I can’t complain and I hope it will keep this way.

P.S.: This post about Google was done using Google as the research tool.