Google has been amazing these days launching product after product on web. Very impressive when it comes to releasing to market & preserving the reputation as an innovation leader. Chromium series has two offering from Google a open source browser and open source operating system, when using I didnt found why i need two seperate things, would make sense when both are independent, but OS part is very dependent on the browser here.
I checked this new operating system of Google and tried to figure out when it comes to Operating system what Google got and are they good enough to compete against the giants. Lets not get into bug hunting (as Google says work is in progress), so here is what I found the Chromium OS got? what promises claimed and whats the delivery so far?
The Promos :- Google is promoting the chromium OS software as 7 sec booting OS. Promo video on web are comparing the generic OS and Chromium. The videos displays why Chromium is quick, appreciating Google work for designing a awesome and quick operating system. I got confused, comeon Google, Is chromium providing all the functionalities of the regular OS ? Is the Google Chromium so versatile that I can hook up my own hardware and make a move? Does Chromium allows me to use what I want to, not what Google wants me to? Answer I found after testing was "NO". Then how come Google can claim that this is faster OS? Compare your OS with the OS providing the same set of feautures (rather call it a limitation). Promote the Software the way it is and for what it meant to be, If its for netbook and with specific set of features and hardware support let it be exactly the same.
Installation: - I compiled Cromium binaries as was suggested on the "chromium.org" website, it took me well two days to get the troubles resolved and get up with the OS image. I checked blogs on the Chromium web pages, found many were able to install the OS with no prob, so definetly the trouble is at my end, but Google why u didnt released a ISO at least, I had to specifically download Ubuntu (700 MB) install it and then make another download of Chromium(200 MB) binaries? Google doesnt seems to be getting user friendly? . I liked the way Chromium got installed, but I also tested the already available VM from "http://gdgt.com/" . The VM available here was quick on my machine so I preferred using it rather.
Booting and first Look:- when I booted the OS I was soon on the welcome screen, asking for user credentials, But here is the big thing, I have to use the Gmail username and password. What if I donn have any? I am all stuck. There needs to be option to create a new login credential, or else allow creating user accounts on the machine, as this is not about web this part is about getting in the machine to use, then the web. As under the current structure it seems like Google is forcing the users towards Google not just web, thus a first resemblance of creating the monopoly. This is taking on the competition by not providing the room for competition. Anyway, I created the test login on Google account and here is what it looks, immediate display of Gmail (on one part its nice): -
The OS, GUI & Functionality:- The GUI of the chromium OS is very basic, I found it to be unorganized. Its just a Chrome browser at display and thats it. I can't do much on web if my chrome browser is incapable, and there is no doubt chrome got to catch a lot with Firefox and IE, no availability of add-ons, support for many portals especially banking websites etc. What if I am not the Fan of chrome browser I want IE or Firefox providing me the services? What if next day a big vulnerability gets exploited in the Chrome and thus paralysing my work? What if other browsers are providing the cutting edge features not chrome at the moment, and chrome takes time to catch up? This more or less looks like monopolizing the software world. If Microsoft gets criticized for pre shipping the IE and avoiding the fair competition, what should we call Google? What about the Google's saying and support for Firefox? Google claimed to have created the OS but its more or less just the browser shipped with regular boot up option (core of Linux), which it got there for very specific needs.
The support to live on web from Google is its only alternative against Microsoft, but when its about Microsoft, Its about user friendliness. The Google Chromium OS with its regular Google chrome GUI, doesnt seems so. The portal Google.com except for the search part needs evolution, re-shaping and better organization, if it wants to be the face of the OS. The Google docs, Google reader is not impressive to me (its to many though), Its all just different things in different places. These needs to arranged on a dashboard or similar for easy navigation. Google in its new role has to start managing things it creates.
The Chromium OS has very basic functionalities to offer so its all about the users who just want to live on web and are Google fans. But is the web mature enough to take care all the tasks of a regular user like reliable & interactive file sharing and managment, seucred and trusted information management, high availability etc ? If work is in progress for Chromium OS and its concept so should be for Web applications. Both the sides needs to shaped well as mismatch is hard to adjust with.
Google OS hardly figures out well, performance of the Google browser & its services, is what its all about.
Browsing services: - The browsing services is matched by the extensive support of variety of content on the versatile WWW. The browser needs to have high support for extentions and add-on, but currently its under in construction, says Google, provide some to try from the store. Now will the Browser carrying add-ons and extentions to support all the versatality, be not going heavy in operations on runtime?
Why is the search box where multiple search engines can be integrated on the browser and can easily be switched, is absent ? its available on all the prominent browsers. Now its about open the search portal and shoot the search query.
Chrome History and failure recovery feature: - The history feature of the Chrome OS is very basic, but its ok with me till the auto fill option on the address bar is available and effective, otherwise unamanged history display is just a space eater, it got to be more meaningful.
When the chromium OS is restarted after an improper shut down it displays a notification to restore the tabs, This feature got to be more interative by either keeping it in a fresh tab, displaying all the last URL used enabling user to make choice, rather than just restore all.
Unsynced Tabs and Google Application & troubles: - The tabs, since are maganed by Chromium keeping Google applications on priority, but the Home icon of the browser doesn't syncs well with the Google account at all. If I log in to the Google OS with the Gmail account and I am checking my mails, why is there a need to re-login on the home Icon to start the dashboad again? and allows me to login as different user, & if I do that, then already existing Gmail account tabs are not working properly. To amaze me further once the session with the Google account is established, why do I need to login again on my Google Wave account?
The Google Chrome to amaze me further does a spell check on the username field, how many user use perfect dictionary words as username? Its not a big trouble but its unecessary, and kills the look.
During the maturity testing of the Google portal itself when it comes to the implementation of the all the web concept of Google, Itried logging on Google docs with one account and on the other tab I opened another tab of Gmail, signed out of it, and signed in with a new account. Now on the first tab of Google doc if I have to save the doc which then, Ineed to sigin again that either signs me out from the second tab or else i have to loose the document I created. In case of too many tabs opened, and user gets lost, there exists big scope of information loss, because of mis managed Google apps, how the Google will be tackling it? What significance now is it to have OS logging as Gmail when it can be changed ? what about the profile protection and significance of Google accounts?
The situation gets complicated as the according to the Google chrome browser one can't close the last tags. So if a User has a signed out of the Google account, and has first tab running yahoo portal. Then the home icon of the browser is a totally ineffective Dashboard or the home menu. Come on Google have atleast a all time static dash board which in case you want can increase or decrease as per the dash board support. So isn't the user friendliness gets compromised? Doesn't one of the feature of the chrome browser becomes ineffective, so the OS?
Window switch & tab location:- The windows switching part is very dissapointing part of the current face of Google's Chromium OS. If one opens a new browser window, then to get back to any tab of the previously opened browser, one needs to end the current browser session, then go back. On opening new tabs, Chrome doesn't displays all the opened tabs in small window, but rather some recently vistited URLs. This feature is a big limitation. The ineffectiveness of the Chrome browser easily reflects on the OS, and makes it worse, specially the absense of "quick tab" feature of IE and Firefox, which is very effective in case of mutiple tabs opened. Is ineffective Chrome browser acceptable as only option on a web OS?
The Application trouble and OS: - With very weak set of integration of Google's own applications and the immaturity of the web to keep the user only on web completely, its hard to guess the immediate and long term success of this concept. I logged in a tab with Google Wave account, and not to be amazed this time, the home dashboard didn't reflected the updated status, which still wants me to login with a google account. In if case I do login I will lose my Google wave window with another user login session. So will the Google needs to enable multiple user sessions on a single machince ? or is it so easy to integrate all the web Google app and reshape them, as a presentable web interface?
Another concern is the management of the chat messengers on web, since the Google's chromium OS doensn't want users to install the softwares. what should a user do in order to ease himself to chat with his friends club of messengers, either he can login to the independent portals of Yahoo, Google, Live, Hotmail, MSN etc. and then signs in to the chat in this case the navigation magement of the chromium OS is higly ineffective. In case one uses the web integrated messenger applications like "meebo.com" won't we be depriving the user from the feature rich desktop application, which supports a lot, voice chat, easy file transfer etc ?
There are two icons on the top of the chrome browser for the same menu, for tab or window opening etc etc, and other is the Tools menu. why one needs two icons for the same thing? but the task manager of the Chromium OS is nice, as it needs nothing more than what it got.
Security and service: - Security has now evolved as prime concern, people live with two identities, one given by the country they live in and one they aquire on web. How come the Google Chromium OS is going to deal with it, especially being open source? Will the other phishing security products of Norton, McAfee, Microsoft be also be available as an add-on for the lone browser of the OS? or Will the Google chrome browser prefers to just be dependent on the existing anti-phishing security, it already offers?
Google Chromium OS saves the user login information, for offline mode. So The users login information is on some machine, which he could be owning or has shared someones machines. In this situation if the Google's chrome browser gets comprosimed not just the Machine becaomes vulnerable, but also the Google profile of the user. Do we need to isolate the machine login from the Google account's login ? what if for some avoidable reason Google's portal goes for a toss ? Or my concerns are just mere concerns?
Checking and testing the operating systems and its features has always been a cumbersome task, and full of risks, especially when its about the OS that has development in progress. Google has always been a favourite when it comes to innovation. But looking at the performance of the Google's products other than search, I still find it hard to recognize them as a good software product manufactures. The claims of Google being a mother who gives birth to its child and then forgets it, is easily visible. Google needs to be proactive with its approach towards the product it pushes to the market, as the craze is towards the brand name, which even Google doesn't wants to play with. Google still got time in hand but at this moment seems the competitors like Microsoft, Apple & Linux can take breath, neither the Google android nor the Chromium are able to make the mark. What about friends becoming foe as Google Chromium OS is not allowing users to use Firefox or safari at this moment? Both the products of Google have long way to go, all Google has to do is meet its promise with quality products. I hate to have another "SearchMash" story from Google.
No matter where the market is heading or user choices are, the innovation is at its best and competition is fueling it well. Considering the importance of PCs, Notebooks, Advance mobile Devices, and now intermediate netbooks, where is the new fundamental of the Google Chroumium finds a place and how effective will it be in bringing a new technological revolution? Only the futer can answer. Will Google be changing the way with OS, or the Web will change its shape, or both goes together?
Lot to answer, and more to withness.................................................................
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