Is Chrome OS Ready for Primetime? (March 2012)
Question: “If we take Chrome apps to its logical conclusion: Do you like Samsung 5 Chromebook? Do you see any there at SXSW?”
Browser As An Operating Systems
Rumors circulated for years that Google was creating an operating system environment within a web browser. It’s a natural leap for Google because it benefits greatly from Internet expansion. Due to ubiquitous broadband (at least in the States), and relatively fast, and inexpensive processors have given this idea legs: an inexpensive machine that only accesses the Internet and other software that runs in-browser.
Beta
Google has a fun habit of releasing mostly-baked products into the market. They do so with everything: Gmail, Google Music, Android, G+, Chrome (browser). Now, they are doing it with Chrome OS.
When you buy a Chromebook, you are essentially paying to enter an open beta. That’s all well and good if you’ve got the cash, and don’t mind tinkering with partially completed software & hardware, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m happy to beta test a free product from time-to-time, but I won’t pay for the privilege.
What is Chrome OS Good at?
- Browsing the web
- Basic to intermediate word-processing & spreadsheets
- Presentations
- Editing content from within a CMS
Where Does Chrome OS Fall Short?
- Designing
- Developing
- Gaming
- Privacy
The Law & The Cloud
Technology moves fast. Regulations and laws creep when they move at all. Steven Levy put it best:
“…the legal and regulatory framework for cloud computing is still evolving, as we are reminded by the government subpoenas for digital information on people tied to Wikileaks. If we’re going to make the leap to the cloud, we’ll need renewed assurances that personal data on the servers of Google or other companies will enjoy the same protections as the information stored on our personal hard drives and in our desk drawers” (Wired).
This is a big deal because with every passing month, the US government has become more aggressive in expanding online search and seizure.
Are People Using Chromebooks at SXSW?
While I’m hesitant to use SXSW attendees’ behavior as a measure of good tech decisions, I have not noticed a single Chromebook. Mostly I’ve seen a ton of Macbook Airs & Pros, Lenovo Thinkpads, and iPads.
Where is This Headed?
For better or worse, our computers are going to become increasingly more dependent on the cloud. That being said, I do not believe that Chrome OS is the answer. Over the next few years we will witness an operating system convergence.
Apple: iOS & OSX will merge
Microsoft: Windows 8 is all about convergence of the desktop, television, phone & tablet
Google: Android & Chrome will become one
The Bottom-line
Chrome OS is kind of a neat idea if you can already do all of your work in-browser, and can mentally get past the privacy/ legal issues.
Personally, I can’t do all of my work in-browser. I can’t ignore the privacy issues, and completely surrender all of my data to Google. I am deeply troubled by the imbalance between meatspace and cyberspace civil liberties (which is not Google’s fault).
All that being said, this really is an individual decision based on personal values, and use-cases. If Chromebook is all you want and need, enjoy. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a Macbook Air.
Here Come the Personal Drones
Until recently, if an item was small, remote-controlled, had a propeller and flew, then it was a toy… And probably a crappy one at that.
Now quadcopter drones are performing all manner of nifty precision tricks. Make no mistake, these tricks are a precursor to a coming technological revolution. The results of this revolution are unknown, but they will have huge implications for law enforcement, military, journalism, cinematography, and scientific research.
As with any new technology, some of the applications will be incredibly beneficial to human life, and other will be destructive. Drones can rapidly travel where humans cannot to gather data, or make repairs. Drones can also be used for surveillance and murder.
Regardless of their application, you can expect to see drones playing a larger role in our lives over the coming years.
A Brief History of the Internet
This vimeo short is a pretty solid sum up of the history of the Internet.
History of the Internet
(Via Media Influencer)
Dream Theater’s New Drummer – Mike Mangini
Dream Theater finally announced their new drummer, and I’m thrilled that it’s Mike Mangini. Mangini plays with fire, soul and technical skill in a way that few can.
If Mike Portnoy had to leave, I’m happy Mangini is is successor.
Mangini has a ton of videos on YouTube that show his drum smashing insanity, but this Discovery Channel bit does the best job of demoing the man’s range and skill… Plus it’s got some geeky information on the physics and biology of drumming.
I can’t wait to hear Dream Theater’s new album, Mangini’s presence should really change up the dynamic in a positive way.
Bobby McFerrin, Neuroscience & the Pentatonic Scale
Bobby McFerrin is a talented jazz musician who has recorded and performed with artists such as Chick Corea & Bela Fleck… Sadly he’s pretty much just known for the song Don’t Worry Be Happy.
In this nifty video McFerrin trains the audience, and turns them into a giant musical instrument over the course of about three minutes. And he does it without giving a single verbal instruction.
McFerrin has performed this same musical experiment all over the world, and there are plenty of YouTube videos to prove it. It seems that the pentatonic scale is culturally universal, and intuitively understood by humans the world-over.
Musicians like the pentatonic scale because it’s impossible to play an incorrect note with it.
If this interests you, Intellectual Pornography has a more extensive analysis.
The Next Big Thing: Self-Hacking
Geeks are perpetually in search of the next big thing.
Adriana Lukas is one of the people who is always hot on the heals of the next big thing, so when she speaks, I listen. I’ve had many conversations with her about the quantified self, or self-hacking but I cannot convey it the way she does. So I’m delighted that Christian Payne recorded a short interview with her at SxSW and posted it.
Self Hacking with Adriana Lukas
Follow Adriana on Twitter @adriana872
“Nancy Grace” Would Be Awesome if it Were Satire
Nancy Grace’s news (?) program on CNN is an abortion of justice.
Near as I can tell, the only things she accomplishes are turning real crime into entertainment, and seeing to it that the suspects she reports on cannot have a fair trial.
Now she is trying her hand at science, and it’s hilarious.
Nancy Grace, weatherman argue radiation
That’s some of the best television I’ve seen in a while.
It’s good to see CNN provide balanced reporting; they give equal weight to both the correct, and incorrect. Good for them.
(Story via BoingBoing)
(Image via XKCD)
