This protects their privacy and enhances the overall experience. Q: Is Chrome OS a safe operating system? A: Yes, Chrome OS is a very secure platform. Read next: The 8 best Chromebook deals you can get right now. What is Chrome OS and who is it for? Chromebooks and their prices have probably caught your eye. Get to know them here! Features By Mitja Rutnik.
Pros: Simple: Chrome OS is all about simplicity. The Chromebook operating system is so simple, even your grandma could use it. It also works fast and boots up in mere seconds. Cheap: Chrome OS is open-source and free to use.
Android app support: As already mentioned, Chromebooks released in the last few years all support Android apps, making them a lot more useful than they once were. Linux app support: In recent years, Google has added support for Linux applications. This means Chromebooks can now run desktop-level software, given that the Chromebook supports Linux apps and has enough power to run them.
Chrome OS is available for developers or anyone with an interest. You can download a copy for your home computer, but you need Linux and an account with root access. If you've never heard of a sudo command , you should buy Chrome pre-installed on a consumer device. Google launched a pilot program using a beta version of Chrome installed on a netbook, called the Cr Developers, educators, and end-users could register for the pilot program, and a number of them were sent the Cr to test.
The netbook came with a limited amount of free 3G data access from Verizon Wireless. Google ended the Cr pilot program in March of , but the originals were a coveted item after the pilot ended. Although Android runs on netbooks, Chrome OS is developed as a separate project. Android is designed for phones and phone systems, and it's not designed for use on computers. Chrome OS, on the other hand, is designed for computers rather than phones.
To further confuse this distinction, many Android apps run on Chrome OS. This functionality is designed by Google to work in conjunction with the Chrome browser to expand the available applications for Chrome OS by building on Android's foundation. Chrome OS and Android are far from interchangeable, but there's a chance you can run your favorite Android app on a Chromebook.
Chrome uses a Linux kernel. Long ago, there was a rumor that Google planned to release a version of Ubuntu Linux dubbed Goobuntu. This isn't exactly Goobuntu, but the rumor is no longer quite as crazy.
Chrome OS is essentially a modified version of Linux at its core. Some Chromebooks run Linux applications, and others can be modified to install Ubuntu or another Linux distribution. Chrome OS is designed to provide a separate and distinct experience, entirely different than a traditional Linux distribution. Chrome OS is geared toward non-technical audiences and doesn't require any Linux knowledge or experience to use.
Chrome OS is designed as an operating system for computers that are only used for connecting to the internet. This means that Chrome OS is usually used for web browsing, streaming video and music, and online document editing.
Google Chrome OS runs on specially optimized hardware in order to get enhanced performance and security. Chromium OS does not auto-update by default so that changes you may have made to the code are not blown away , whereas Google Chrome OS seamlessly auto-updates so that users have the latest and greatest features and fixes. A non-exhaustive list: Graphics Libraries e. Where can I download Chromium OS?
Keep in mind that Chromium OS is not for general consumer use. I am a hardware manufacturer, who can I talk to about making a Chrome OS product? Officially, the regular stable version of Chrome OS is updated every two to three weeks with minor fixes and every six weeks with more significant revisions.
Sometimes, though, upgrades arrive even more frequently than that. Like Google's Chrome browser, Chrome OS has three different channels from which you can choose: the Stable channel, which provides fully tested and polished software and is the best bet for most users; the Beta channel, which is updated every week or so and sees new features more than a month ahead of their Stable channel release; and the Dev channel, which is often updated multiple times a week and includes cutting-edge stuff that's still actively being developed and often rough around the edges or sometimes even completely nonfunctional as a result.
Click "Detailed build information," then click "Change channel. Just be aware that anything other than Stable can — by its very nature — make your system less stable to use, since it relies on software that's still being tested and developed instead of a polished final release.
The Dev channel in particular comes with a warning that it's subject to bugs and should be selected only by advanced users who are interested in seeing what's in the works and don't mind the occasional glitch. Even though Chrome OS itself doesn't typically jump and shout about incoming upgrades, Google does make detailed info about what's new readily available for the curious among us.
The easiest way to keep tabs on releases is to follow the official Chrome Releases blog. Look for the posts involving the Chrome OS channel you use " Stable Channel Update for Chrome OS ," for instance , and click inside to find out what's changed with any given update. Google says all Chrome OS devices now receive regular upgrades for a minimum of six and a half years from when their chipset first appeared on the platform — which usually ends up meaning any given device will be updated for at least five years from its initial sale date.
In some cases, the window ends up being even longer. Note: An earlier version of this story stated that the upgrade guarantee was six and a half years from a device's launch date, but Google has clarified that the term is actually now tied to the launch of the chipset , not the device itself — a change from the way things used to be handled. Google maintains a Chrome OS end-of-life database that lists out exactly when every Chromebook and Chromebox will stop receiving OS updates.
It tends to be updated quite quickly as new devices launch — so anytime you're thinking about buying a Chrome OS product, mosey on over to that page first so you'll be fully informed about how long it'll remain current. One important footnote to keep in mind: Devices' end-of-life dates do sometimes end up being pushed back later than what's initially listed — thus giving you a longer than expected period of updates — but Google promises it'll never go the other way, and you'll never end up receiving a shorter window of support than what that page had promised.
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