Something's stirring in the Googledome. According to web analysts Net Applications, Google employees are testing a secret operating system. Thrillingly, it's an OS that leaves no trace behind.
Says Net Applications' spectacularly named Vince Vizzaccaro: the operating system that some 6,000 Google employees are currently testing has had its user agent string data surgically removed.
By so carefully binning the user agent string from its OS, Google has ensured that other, less sensitive data is retained. Or to put it another way, it's the perfect security setup for an operating system based in the cloud.
Rumours about a Google operating system have been in the blogosphere since Adam was a lad (asking Santa for a T-Mobile G1). And the launch of Google Chrome and Google Android brought it to within touching distance.
Android is, of course, a bone fide OS already, and Google never intended it to be restricted to phone handsets. Perhaps more significantly, as we said at launch, Chrome itself may be more operating system than browser.
After all, in this post-Windows Vista, Linux-infested, netbook-enabled world there's little that Windows natively does that Google hasn't at least attempted to punt in the cloud. And there are plenty of Microsoft Office features Microsoft charges hundreds of quid for that Google offers for free. In principle, all your hardware need do is run Chrome and access the web.
No-one could claim that Google is close to offering even a mature productivity suite, never mind an operating system. But its putting the pieces in place.
And as far as the great unwashed is concerned, Google has one great advantage that Microsoft is unlikely ever to enjoy: its commercial model. Users tend to be a great deal more forgiving of software that's free, than that they're forced to shell out a mint for.
Comments
Forum Editor said: It always interests me to hear people ranting on about Microsoft as being a failed bloated global and monopolistic cash cow and suchlikeIf I thought that about a company I would just ignore it and go on my way - I certainly wouldnt be wasting my time foaming at the mouth about it in a blogThe torch bearing Google is quietly setting about becoming one of the worlds most successful businesses and its doing so by making huge amounts of cash out of the very people who criticise Microsoft You pay Google in the end but it doesnt seem to have dawned on you yet
Geoff said: You would say thatWhy the latex gloves then
Matt Egan said: Man cannot live on vile droppings alone Its an intriguing misconception that the computing press is in Microsofts pocket Like any market leader and I mean that purely in terms of market share MS has absolutely no need to pander to journalists
Gesty said: Its all talk at the momo
Gary said: Why not just come clean and admit that MS are and forever will be seen as a failed bloated global and monopolistic cash cowGranted this maybe hard for a computing press that for decades has been living off its vile droppingsBless the torch-bearing Google
lurkio said: Google could kill microoft long live Google