Chrome OS: The Future?

Yesterday, Google announced the launch of its Chrome Web Store, as well as the pilot launch of a new Chrome OS netbook-a device (and operating system) that's been long-awaited in the tech community and that some say heralds "the future of computing." The real hardware won't hit stores till "mid-2011," but in the meantime, publishers, game producers and businesses can already start making and selling apps in the Web Store.

Bonnier R&D is currently working hard on a beta launch of a Popular Science magazine app for Chrome. We're trying to answer questions like: What should a browser-based magazine look like? How should it function? And how is a browser-based magazine different from, well, a regular magazine website? We have some early answers to these questions, which, as with all R&D projects, will need to be researched, prototyped, and tested. We'll keep you abreast of our progress along the way-be on the lookout for the first edition of the PopSci Chrome app in Q1 2011.

In the meantime, let's talk about what exactly Chrome is, and why it's important. You may already be familiar with the Chrome browser, which can currently be installed on any computer. (If you're not familiar, check out Google's charming demo video here.) The Chrome browser is all Google, all the time. A single bar handles both browsing and search, and as of yesterday it includes a Web Store, where you can download apps and curate your own content experience.

 Extend this simplistic concept to a computer operating system, and you can easily understand Chrome OS. Instead of starting up all the applications and programs that currently live on your desktop, all the data behind the Chrome OS lives online. However, as with the iPhone, many apps also offer the ability to read cached content offline-the content just doesn't get updated till the next time you connect.

A computer that runs most of its software online doesn't have much need for storage-all of your data is kept "in the cloud." That means it starts up instantly, seconds after you hit the power button. Of course, you'll need reliable access to a wireless network, a problem Google's new netbook will solve with both wifi hardware and 3G service provided by Verizon. In yesterday's press conference, Google said the new Chrome netbook will include 100MB of data per day free for two years, and that extra data would be available for $9.99 a month or on a per-day basis with no contract.

The new Chrome OS looks just like the Chrome browser, which is to say it's just a blank space with the potential to hold a bunch of apps. And that's where all of this becomes interesting for media companies.

"Appification" is a compelling a trend for both technology and media. The way people are consuming content is changing from a top-down distribution system toward an increasingly personalized experience that users create and curate themselves. This began a few years ago with RSS readers, but the advent of apps means that your personal content is often cached and available offline, as well. When you've got 100 of your favorite apps organized just the way you like them, there's no real reason to "surf" for content.  Instead, you might get recommendations for new content from trusted sources like friends and colleagues, or you might look to an app store or review site for new apps with great ratings.

Bonnier R&D is busy investigating "appification" to understand what the trend means in terms of user behavior and as a business model for Bonnier brands. What are your thoughts on the impact of Chrome OS, and the rise of appification? Tell us in the comments.

-Megan Miller, Program Director, Bonnier R&D