Google: Beyond Search

The web is Google's main business.  The more people use the web, the more money will find its way to Google's pocket.  That's why Google is everywhere.  Google gives away lots of free stuff just to make it easier for you to use it -- Google Web Apps, Android, Chrome, etc.  What will they do next to keep you inside their ecosystem?


Honeycomb and Everything After
Android 3.0 (a.k.a. Honeycomb) marks the beginning of Google's  reign.  It's not all about Android tablets, even if we're deeply lusting over the Motorola Xoom.  Let's face it, the hiring of Matias Duarte (former Palm webOS designer) was no coincidence -- it was destiny.  The Android that we currently know will be getting a more sensible interface and it's how future Android based devices (smart phones and appliances) are going to look.  This is how important the changes in the Android interface is going to be (and a good move for Google by hiring the guy who designed one of industry's better mobile interface).




The Concept Computer
As Eric Schmidt mentioned, Android will power any device that involves touch while Chrome OS will be for keyboard based computers.  Last December, I was very fortunate to play around with the Cr-48 (even for just a short while), and I should say it's a solid computer concept that anyone should have access to.  The Cr-48 was not built to be sold, instead it is for Google to do a public beta of the Chrome OS platform.

The hardware felt like a MacBook with a hint of a netbook's ugliness.  Cannot stand the look of the VGA port on this thing -- it can be as ugly as they can on a tiny machine like the Cr-48.  The OS on the other hand is as snappy as a speeding bullet (surprisingly has a faster boot time than the newer MacBook Air).  The system environment is an actual sandbox of the Chrome web browser.  Made sense, since most of the stuff that we would normally do can live inside the browser.  You cannot live without being connected nowadays, right?  Everything is portable -- you can swap computers without worrying about your stuff.  All you need is a Google account.  Surprised?  Everything seems to fall into its own rightful place -- making those Google Web Apps be part of the grand scheme of things.

Later this year, it is expected that PC manufacturers will start producing Chrome OS based computers.  They are to be sold with a free limited monthly wireless connectivity.  Not asking too much, but I expect the computer line should have a retail price of not over $200.  The idea of the Chrome OS is to give access of affordable connected computers to everyone that needs them.


Beyond Ideal
After witnessing the revolutionary concept of Motorola's Atrix 4G, wild ideas come to mind.  What if all Android smart phones can be docked and be used as computers.  What if the OS switches from Android to Chrome OS when it is docked.  Everyone will have one active device, the rest will only be dumb terminals (such as the laptop dock seen on the photo).  Would it be neat?