Today, after the release of the Google Chrome browser, there are more than 30 million people who regularly use it.
At the same time, it is clear that the operating system, for which the browser was designed, were coined long before the advent of the Internet. Therefore, it is not surprising that someone will try to invent a new approach to the creation of an operating system on the basis of the modern needs of users.
Apparently, this new approach should be embodied in the Google Chrome OS – a “small” operating system, primarily designed for work with netbooks. This device will be available in the second half of 2010.
The key concepts of the project Google Chrome OS are speed, simplicity and safety among the main goals of the developers: fast access to the internet and the preferred orientation in the work of “World Wide Web”, minimalism with respect to the design of the user interface, re-planning of the safety systems.
It was expected that Google Chrome OS will work on the basis of ARM and x86 processors. The system will be built on a Linux kernel with the use of windows. It is planned that applications for the OS will focus on the work in the network, and will also correspond with Windows, Mac and Linux.
Company CompuLab presented its technical innovation – the smallest PC in the world Fit-PC2.
Dimensions of Fit-PC2 have amazing compactness, combined with surprisingly good technical characteristics.
Its size (115x101x27 mm) allows you to place it everywhere. Pipsqueak fit-PC2 operates on the basis of OS Linux (Ubuntu Linux 8.04). But to those who are more conservative, it offers models with Windows XP.
Fit-PC2 has a processor Atom Z530, 1 GB RAM, 160-gigabyte hard drive. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet-Card, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 (6 pieces), the slot for flash cards miniSD.
Of course, a miniature personal computer can operate with less noise than the traditional-size colleagues.
For those who are used to save electricity, we have good news: the gadget crumb consumes minimum power, 6 watt in total.
The cost of Fit-PC2 varies depending on the stuffing. For example, the processor Z510 at 1.1 GHz without a hard drive and pre-install OS is about $ 245. And the most expensive version recruited by Z530 1,6 GHz processor and installed Windows XP will cost up to $ 400.
The idea of folding keyboards is already quite old; the idea of a folding gadget MID – a little new, but it is quite possible that in future it would be realized. And the word «folding» in this case does not necessarily imply to folding the two halves, like with modern mobile phones.
The concept that we offer, is embodied by Edward Ballisterom, Doctor of Science, working in close collaboration with Intel. MID announced that Dragonfly can be folded four times, and fit in your pocket, but when expanded it will become a notebook.
The gadget will work on the basis of Moorestown chip from Intel, a major operating system called Windows XP. But the installation of two systems (one of which will be Linux) is also possible.
Scientist argues that he plans to install the gadget in two-LCD displays with LED backlighting, but it will have to be postponed until the next-generation devices. But the battery, with which the gadget will “live” all day, is ready, because the release of the first devices is scheduled by the end of the year.
Of course, Mr Ballistera can be seriously wrong, considering the facts that the manufacturer of Dragonfly have not yet been defined (and certainly not named), and a developer cannot yet demonstrate a working prototype. Nevertheless, working on such an idea is worth our attention.
Even a couple of years ago, few people knew the term «notebook», but now it is so widely distributed that the term «inventors» decided not to defend all the rights to its use. Now the continued miniaturization and convergence of technologies make us use new terms for all types of emerging gadgets. And one of them is smartbook.
For the first time it was used for Computex in Taiwan, which described the prototype gadgets, resulting from the joint work of Freescale and Qualcomm. But soon it is possible to expect the spread of the term referring to all the gadgets that can be placed in a niche between notebooks and smartphones.
By technical characteristics smartbooks will a little concede notebooks, but they will be able to work in the networks of cellular communication and in wireless computer networks. The use of special platforms with low power consumption should increase working time and will allow refusing from coolers (which, in turn, lead to more subtle designs). The main operating system of smartbooks should be a special assembly based on Linux (the primary candidate, in my opinion, is the Android).
Several conceptual smartbook designs were developed at College of Art and Design Savannah. Who knows, maybe in the near future they will become the most common form factors of new gadgets.
