Developer | Google Inc. |
---|---|
Written in | C, C++ |
OS family | Linux |
Working state | Preinstalled on specific hardware (Chromebooks. |
Update method | Rolling release |
Platforms | x86, ARM |
Kernel type | Monolithic: Linux kernel[1] |
Default user interface | Graphical interface based on the Google Chrome browser |
License | Google Chrome OS Terms of Service[2] |
Official website | www |
Support status | |
Active |
Chrome OS is a project by Google to develop a light computer operating system. It is devoted to using the World Wide Web.[3] The operating system was announced on July 7, 2009. It is based on the Linux kernel, and is visually similar to the Google Chrome web browser. When first released, it was targeted at netbooks[4] but has also been present on laptops (known as "Chromebooks"). It was released to technology journalists in December 2010[5] after being delayed.[6] It runs on systems with either x86 or ARM processors.[7]
Google had stated before release that the Chrome OS project will be open-source[8] by the end of 2009. Although it is based on the Linux kernel, it will use "a new windowing system" (a way to display applications on a computer screen).[9]
Upon release, some technology journalists were unsure on what it could do that a Windows PC with the Google Chrome browser installed could not.[10]
Chrome OS has now been the default for Chromebooks and very few other laptop brands than Google, these are all labeled as Chromebooks, the only difference being the hardware.