Google recently announced on their official blog that, in response to user demand & feedback, they are developing a completely new operating system based on Google Chrome.  The project which will be open-sourced has been dubbed Google Chrome OS and is set for release in late 2010.

Google Chrome OS is touted to revolutionize how computers operate and how we the user interact with them.  The new system has been designed for people who live on the web, who are searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends.   Google state that the emphasis will be on Web functionality, making computers faster and opening them up to helpful tinkering by open-source program developers.

Existing operating systems that web browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web, so this is Google’s attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.  From late 2010 all Google’s new netbooks will run on Chrome OS rather than Windows or some other operating system, and all new devices will be optimised for the Web and will boot up directly into the browser.  Google Chrome OS will not be available as software to purchase, so if you want the full Google experience you will have to buy one of their new netbooks in 2010.
Google have fired a warning shot across the bows of software giant Microsoft and 2010 is set to be the year when Microsoft will have to step back up and raise its game