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Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Open Source, Beta

How not to fake Google Chrome OS

This morning, a commenter on Brad's post regarding the now debunked beyond reasonable doubt video "demo" of Google Chrome OS said "Sure is fake why don't you download and boot it up..." and offered a URL to the download.

What the hell, I'll bite. I followed the link.

The first thing I noticed is that the link doesn't point to a Google Code project. That's kind of odd, since all of Google's other open source goodies are hosted there - like Chromium, for example. I'll play along anyway. I clicked through and downloaded the torrent from Mininova.

What's provided is a tarballed VMWare machine image. Built with SUSE studio. ORLY?

Upon loading the machine, I'm given a pretty standard (though Chrome-themed) Grub loader. The failsafe entry made me chuckle, because it's safe to assume that this thing is fail. Moving on!

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Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Browsers

Google unveils Chrome OS preview video? Update: Nope


Ever since Google announced plans to launch a new computer operating system called Chrome OS a few months, we've seen an onslaught of so-called "leaked" screenshots of the operating system. But last night the Google Chrome Browser team posted a message on Twitter linking to a Google Chrome OS preview that looks like it could be the real deal.

Update 2 (see update 1 below): OK, it's almost definitely fake. The Twitter account in question is not affiliated with Google. Nice looking fake though.

The video makes the OS look slick, polished,and definitely looks like a web-based operating system based on the Chrome Browser. The only reason I'm still a bit skeptical is because the video was uploaded in July and the Tweet doesn't say explicitly that this is the real thing.

It looks like you'll have to login to Chrome OS with your Google Account credentials. Once you're in you're presented with a browser window and a dock with links to web applications including Gmail, Google Calendar, and GTalk. There's also a program launcher which gives you access to more applications, including Skype and other programs that I'm assuming need to run from the desktop, so Chrome OS isn't all about web applications.

The video also shows a chess match, which looks like it's being played with another user through Google Wave. Google Chrome OS is designed to be run as a netbook operating systems at launch and should be available as a developer preview later this year. It could show up on mini-laptops in 2010. You can find another photo and a video after the break.

Update: CrunchGear, which spotted this story before we did, determines that the video is fake since the chess match is identical to one being played in a Google Wave promotional image. That doesn't really mean anything though. It could just be the same shot used in two promos. But the fact that the video was posed in July still gives me reason for pause.

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Filed under: Design, Windows, Google

Make Windows XP look like Google Chrome

No, I'm not kidding. I wish I was, but the truth is that a DeviantArt user has cobbled together a skin for Windows that gives it a Google Chrome-y look. And think Chrome on XP - without the sex appeal you get with Aero Glass.

Thick, powder blue borders? Check.

The Chrome logo replacing the start orb? Check.

The comments on DevArt are all very positive, though I'm personally going to pass on this one. I'm just not a big fan of all that blue.

But hey, if you're miffed by the fact that Chrome on XP doesn't look consistent with your other application windows at least now you can apply the Google dress code to them.

A number of other blogs are calling this a "Google Chrome OS Transformation Pack." That'd be a pretty amazing feat, since we only have 1) questionable leaked images to go by and 2) they appeared two weeks after the creator posted this theme to DevArt.

Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Open Source

Are these the first images of Google Chrome OS?

Google wasn't especially generous with the specifics when it came to Chrome OS in their original announcement. In a nutshell, they called it "an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks."

Looking for something a bit more tangible? We just might have it for you.

An anonymous tipster sent the following images to us this morning, claiming they are actual images of Chrome OS. We can't say much for certain at this point, so pass judgment yourselves in the comments.

Do these images really show the early stages of Google's enigmatic OS, or are they just the work of a clever and industrious techy?

Check the gallery after the break, then share your thoughts!

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