Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

Google Chrome Web Store opens

Google provides updates on Chrome OS, including a netbook pilot program for businesses and individuals
Google Chrome's Web app store

Google Chrome's Web app store

Google opened its Web application store for Chrome browser users on Tuesday, offering highly interactive, graphically rich applications from a variety of sources, including National Public Radio, Amazon.com, Electronic Arts and Sports Illustrated.

Google also provided an update on its Chrome operating system, saying that the first netbooks running the OS will come in the first half of next year from Acer and Samsung.

Meanwhile, Google announced a new technology called Crankshaft that will accelerate the performance of Javascript applications on the Chrome browser, which today has about 120 million active users.

The announcements were made at a press conference in San Francisco at which CEO Eric Schmidt and Vice President of Product Management Sundar Pichai appeared.

Schmidt called cloud computing a journey "we've been talking about for a long time" in reference to the Chrome browser, operating system and application store, which have all been built specifically for online use.

The Chrome Web store will open to users today. "We expect the number of available apps to grow very rapidly," Pichai said.

Amazon officials demonstrated two applications. One lets users browse and search Amazon.com inventory, while the other is designed specifically for the Kindle device. Also demonstrated were a Pogo game from EA, and versions of The New York Times and NPR websites.

The Chrome OS, which is still in development, has been designed for netbooks that are constantly connected to the Internet. To that end, all Chrome OS netbooks will ship with both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity options. The 3G connectivity will be provided via a partnership with Verizon, which will offer various plans, including day passes and monthly subscriptions. Verizon will not require long-term contracts.

Pichai also detailed a number of security features for Chrome OS that he said will make it "the most secure consumer OS that's ever been shipped." They include features like sandboxing, default encryption and verified booting.

Officials from Citrix demonstrated a tool called Receiver that lets Chrome OS users access, via a browser, legacy enterprise applications including software from Microsoft and SAP.

Google also announced a pilot program for Chrome OS netbooks. Initial participants include American Airlines, Kraft, Virgin America, Cardinal Health and the U.S. Department of Defense. These organizations will test Chrome OS netbooks for use by their employees.

Google will also hold a similar pilot program for consumers interested in trying out prototype netbooks, which will feature a 12.1-inch display, full-size keyboard, oversized clickable touchpad and battery life of more than eight hours for active use and more than a week in standby mode.

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: Acer, Amazon, Amazon.com, American Airlines, Cardinal Health, Citrix, Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, SAP, Verizon, Verizon
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the CIO comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Google, Google Chrome OS, software, Google Chrome, app store, web browsers
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Consolidation Without Compromise
    Virtualisation of computer, storage and infrastructure is enabling the transformation of enterprise datacentres into private clouds. The impact is an unprecedented ability to consolidate infrastructure without compromise: no change to service level agreements (SLAs), no loss of performance or scale, and no regression in the organisation’s overall security posture. Read on.
    Learn more »
  • Oracle Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing From Storage to Scorecard
    Getting actionable data in the hands of the right decision makers translates to positive business outcomes – whether that means competing more effectively, reducing operational costs, meeting compliance requirements, or anticipating changing market conditions. To get the right data to the right people at the right time, you need an integrated business intelligence and data warehousing solution that can provide fast access to reliable information and the tools to translate that insight into actions.
    Learn more »
  • Case Study - TNT Express successfully reduces their paper usage and costs using a new document solution
    in 2009 TNT decided to evaluate the market for new head office multifunction devices (MFD) as their current MFD fleet was almost seven years old. The objective was to reduce the number of devices and improve productivity, meet TNT’s future technical requirements and reduce the total cost of ownership of the equipment. They were also looking for a provider who would provide cost and service reporting as well as help streamline their electronic archiving requirements via the scanning of dockets and documents. Read on.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments