Superfast, Secure & Searchable: Google Chrome OS Open for Public Beta

Google has opened their new web based operating system (OS), Chrome OS, for limited public beta. The new 'waitless' operating system promises to be extremely fast and extremely secure.

Superfast, Secure & Searchable: Google Chrome OS Open for Public Beta

What is Waitlessness?
One of the key differences in Google's product, when compared to Microsoft Windows or Apple OS, is that whereas the processing power of most desktop applications is drawn from the computer itself, Chrome OS applications do all their processing in the cloud. This means that laptops running Chrome OS should be cheaper and more 'lightweight'. To put it into perspective, the experience of running Chrome OS is likely to have the 'instant-on' experience you get with an iPad (and other iOS devices), because the OS is not processor intensive.

In fact, the core 'program', in the traditional sense, will be the Chrome browser (which has grown to a 120 million users in 2010), and new software that would have, in the old days, been installed via hardware such as a CD or DVD, will now simply be downloaded from the Chrome webstore. Consequently the Chrome Browser it has been adapted accordingly to have a listed apps above bookmarks in the home screen. You could say "that apps are the new bookmarks" - but most of your bookmarks were to cloud based computing applications anyway, such as Gmail, Google Docs and FlickR - there's actually quite a cool quiz you can do to assess how much cloud based computing you are doing without knowing it already.

Another cool feature of Chrome OS is simply the fact that as everything is web based, all your programs sync across every device that can run that Chrome Apps. Chrome OS also supports a 'guest mode' so other users can use your computer without using any of your personal data.

Again because it's all web/cloud based, the implication is that security will be tighter too. Thousands of different users increases the number of threats to adapt to, so the OS should evolve more quickly. Furthermore a cloud based computer can re-install uncorrupted backups of the OS from the web.

From all of the above, it's clear that a distinguishing factor of Chrome OS is how personalized it will make the laptop or desktop computer. In many ways, it's a mobile OS that can be transported to any device so, where you might have a separate computers for work and home; with Chrome OS you might simply have separate accounts. This threatens to disrupt the desktop market in a significant way as a cloud based OS means that everything you really love about the computer and how it works exist in the operating system, not on the device. To get a sense of the depth of change this could engender, just think back to how the iPhone interface transformed the mobile phone.

Once out of beta, the stark contrast between what is possible on one high spec computer running one operating system and a single decent operating system that is interoperable between many devices and the realization of what a single person's personal computing needs versus business computing needs really is likely to cause significant change in what the market expects from desktop computing.

In fact, the possible impact Chrome OS could have on the way we use our computers are various and significant enough that YouTube users have been invited to create their own commercial advertising it. This gives you a chance of winning a Chrome enabled laptop, but also seems like a direct challenge to Microsoft, who once invited the web to create commercials that demonized the concept of "search overload" in support of Bing (not a search engine, but a decision engine apparently).

Interested users and companies can also apply to be a beta tester of the new Chrome Notebook. Google are giving away thousands of Cr-48 notebooks, which feature12.1in screen, full-size keyboard, 802.11n Wi-Fi and a Verizon 3G modem with 100MB of data free each month. Additional data can be purchased by the gigabyte, or an unlimited day pass can be purchased for $9.99 without signing up to a contract. A preview of the Chrome Netbook can be seen here:

A lucky few may be paid an early visit from Santa this year. Selected users of Chrome, YouTube and Facebook may receive an invitation to get a free Cr-48 while fans of Chrome's Facebook page can enter a competition to win one of the new systems.

But remember kids, don't be evil, because Santa running Chrome OS definitely knows whether you have been naughty or nice.

Why Google Chrome OS & The Cloud May Be Bad Ideas

The cloud, go to the cloud, find the cloud, seek the cloud, get the cloud... Clouds are pretty and white and good in the sky at least, but what about on the Internet? What is the cloud and why is it not, maybe, such a good idea?

Surely the cloud must be good. Microsoft has ads that tell me it's good. Google will soon send out an operating system called Chrome OS that is all based on the cloud.

It must be good, right? Wrong, well at least not in this case.

Shiny Object Warning!

Please don't drink the Kool-Aid folks. The cloud, for all its good, has the potential to be so wrong, and could be so, so bad for you and those you love.

Note: Yes I know we use the cloud for things like e-mail, accounting systems, video, images and the like, but that isn't quite the same as using it for your operating system.

So Why The Cloud Hate?

First, I appreciate the benefits of the cloud for many things. It has many advantages, especially when it comes to simple programs with limited functionality.

However, the cloud should be something that is kept in the vertical where it is best applied serving limited user needs. This means for web-based applications that have niche or focused purposes where a cloud applications makes the best sense.

So when is the cloud an issue? When is it time to be concerned about the cloud? How about when your computer is no longer yours, when it has no brain of its own (a hard drive) and becomes merely a slave to the web?

What happens when you never own your own apps? When you're never able to download anything to your own computer? To have all your data live on the web, on someone else's server, with all its security and privacy issues?

Own Versus Rent

Currently, most of my programs (except for Adobe Suite) cost me under $75. Once these are paid for, they are mine to keep for as long as I want, or until my computer dies and goes to computer heaven. This means my HomeSite alone paid for itself seven years ago.

Now with the cloud you don't own your programs, you use them on loan from a company such as Google or Microsoft. How long do you think you will be getting these web-based apps for free? In our capitalistic economy it's a fool's bet to believe that you'll be able to rely on the benevolence of software companies to provide you your apps for free.

Now imagine, you can no longer buy your programs and download them to your hard drive? Guess what this is called in the offline world? It is called renting.

You will rent your apps. Rent! How about that, renting your software? Sure, they'll probably give it a nice "shiny object" name, but a rose by any other name... well you know the drill.

Think This Can't Happen?

Google already does this on the professional and government levels with its current applications.

But for argument's sake, let's say companies are benevolent and charge you only a few dollars per month. How quickly will this add up on your monthly bill? Do you really want to be paying indefinitely for apps that you could own for less than $100?

Let's take my HomeSite into account. At a modest iPhone style charge of $4.99 a month, my $69 HomeSite would now have cost me $419.19. Who do you think that benefits?

Relying on the Benevolence of Software Companies

So let's take it one step further. What happens when you hit hard times and can't pay that monthly charge? Do you still have access to these apps during that time? My current paid for cloud apps will turn off if I don't pay.

Do you want to trust that you'll never have financially difficult times, where you have to decide between food and your livelihood? Anyone considering an all web-based OS should be thinking about this, especially given the hard times we've all been, and many still are, facing.

The Only Safe Server is One NOT Connected to the Web

So let's say renting your apps for the lifetime that you own them isn't a concern to you. What about security?

Last year when I went to DefCon (a hacker's conference here in Las Vegas), I asked a few hackers just how hard it was to get into Google or the cloud in general. They laughed, and not politely either.

After they were done laughing, they told me they were sorry, and asked if I was serious (it was a hacker's conference after all!). I said that I was a layman when it came to hacker issues and was wondering their thoughts.

They told me that the cloud was infinitely less secure than my hard drive and that telling people to put their life on the cloud was irresponsible. But they were hackers, so I thought maybe they were being dramatic for effect.

Infinitely Less Secure

So I asked my friend Christopher Warner, an Information security adviser at the Internet Business Group here in Las Vegas (he's also a subject matter expert in all things related to cyber security and has worked for federal agencies and in cyber operations). He told me that the cloud was indeed infinitely less secure and that only safe system was one not connected to the Internet.

While hard drives are in a way connected, a cloud system was online all the time in a server system and this made it infinitely less secure. (Hmmm detecting a pattern here?) In addition, he said the cloud isn't a place for people to be storing the information they would normally store on a hard drive.

So if you still aren't convinced, just search for hacked or hackers and Google, Microsoft, or any cloud system and you will find references to breaches just in the past year. (You can also see they accessed the NSA, the FBI and the World Bank all the last 24 months.)

So with hackers being able to get into the Google, NSA, the FBI, the World Bank, do you really want to store all your data online? Do you really want everything your write, speak, and say to be stored on a company's cloud with the hopes that they never get hacked? Because getting hacked is usually a matter of when, not if, especially if a hacker knows your entire computer life is stored on a system.

Will it really affect you if your data is hacked (as long as it isn't financial)? Probably not, unless you're famous. But I still like the idea of having my personal documents, photos, blogs, etc., on myown computer and not stored on the web unless I put them there.

Speed vs. Security

For all this forsaking of your own freedom on your own computer, you get a quicker boot time and the perception of increased security (yet, remember, even Google has been hacked). So that's it. Some seconds saved when you boot.

These are just shiny object distractions that will be used to get people to forgo their objections. It's up to you whether you let them distract you.

So Who Really Benefits?

Well Google for one, but that was obvious, or any program or application company that can charge you to use their programs on your system. Unless you own an application or software company, I'm pretty sure you won't benefit.

So please people, reconsider the cloud operating systems before you find yourself without any choices and your computer a slave to the very powerful companies that now run the technological world we live in.

Because as so many have seem to forgotten, we do have one very powerful choice left: to just sayno.

3 Chrome Extensions To Help You Write Better

How many of you are 100% sure that your writing is error-free and meaningful all the time? If you are, you need to think over it again. This is because there is no one in this world who has become such a perfect writer. By perfect writer, I mean the one who does not even make a single mistake while writing any kind of stuff.

No matter whether you are a CEO or Manager, Reviewer or Writer, or Teacher or Student; your writing is certainly not 100% perfect! It can be so only if it has gone through a round of review. However, you can improve your writing so that anybody can rely on what you write without reviewing it.

Writing is a course that takes years to become so perfect that you feel happy to share your work and others feel it nice to read your work. Ask a keen writer or blogger and you will know that the key to become a better writer is to keep writing a lot and then getting it reviewed via experts such as online tools.

How about improving your writing by using a few Chrome apps and extensions? These extensions are quite useful for bloggers, note takers, and freelance writers. Most of these utilities are also available in text editors or word processors such as MS Word and Open Office.

However, we need to accept the fact that not all of us use these applications for writing. Nevertheless, if you are using Chrome and are looking for some quick ways of improving your writing, do take a look at the top three Chrome extensions that are available at the Chrome Web Store.

After the Deadline

This free extension features artificial intelligence for proof reading. Spot and rectify spelling, grammar, and style mistakes in your tweets, comments, and e-mails instantly. Previously, it was available as a Firefox add-on, but it is now released for Chrome. In short, it is a comprehensive text checking tool that can highlight misused words, misspelled words, and grammar as well as style issues. Although it is unable to catch all the mistakes, it is still better than the Chrome’s built-in spell-checkerthat does not work with WordPress.

You will be happy to know that After the Deadline extension works for English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French text. All you need to do is just click the ABC icon located in the bottom-right corner of the editable section to proofread the text.

Doing so will send your data to the Google server via SSL for proofreading after which it will be deleted for respecting your privacy. Further, you can also send bug reports and queries tohttp://chrome.afterthedeadline.com/contact-us/. In short, you socialize with coolness!

Pillarbox

This is a clean full-screen editor that is somewhat similar to WriteRoom. It aims at facilitating long writing sessions without any disruption, but is certainly not apt for taking notes. Some of the cool features of this extension are typewriter scrolling, offline mechanism that eliminates the need of Internet connection and storing data on a risky server, and auto-saving ability after every 10 seconds and upon closing.

Further, you can also expect live word count, word count goal setting that notify you when you accomplish it, writing timer, customizable appearance with live preview, spell check ability as you type, adding custom styles, a comprehensive toolbar, and availability of fonts installed on your machine along with the Web-safe fonts. The only con is that it is available in English only.

5 Firefox Add-On Management: 5 Add-Ons For The User Who Installs A Lot Of Add-Ons

Do you regularly install add-ons in the Firefox browser? If you have installed many add-ons and you use most of them, this means you are a Firefox Add-ons Power User.

Add-ons are installed to perform various tasks such as search and security. They are an essential item in web browsing. Certain tools are required through which the add-on management can be done automatically rather than manually.

5 Useful Add-ons for Firefox users

Restartless Restart

You have to start your browser again whenever an extension is installed. You do not have to face this restarting trouble in Chrome. There are certain add-ons available for Firefox using which you do not need to restart your browser. You must install Restartless Restart.

It is a 12KB add-on that is very simple to use. A restart feature is added in your right-click menu. To start Seamonkey or Firefox again, a CTRL/CMD+Alt+R hotkey is added. There is no need to search for the start icon of Firefox if you are using this add-on.

Is It Compatible?

This add-on is simple to use. Compatibility versions of all the add-ons are displayed in the Manager window of the Add-on.

It helps you in taking decisions about the immediate upgradation of the browser  or deletion of some add-ons with any new upgrade.

Add-on Compatibility Reporter

Sometimes, you do not want to wait for the launch of the latest version of a browser and you try its releases in alpha or beta stage. This leads to certain compatibility issues of the browser with the add-ons.

The Add-on Compatibility Reporter lets you test the compatibility between your add-ons and the browser. In case they do not function properly, the problem should be immediately reported toMozilla. Mozilla can also be informed if the add-on is working.

CLEO (Compact Library Extension Organizer)

It is similar to an extension packager. In case you have a large number of add-ons, CLEO is quite useful in organizing them.

These add-ons are combined in an installable file. You can keep this file in the form of a backup that can be exported to a specific location. This can also be used in various computers.

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension)

It is a very easy solution for your backup & restore needs. You can use this add-on to back up your themes, preferences, extensions, cookies, passwords, bookmarks and any folder or file. You get an option to restore the items you want.

Your backups can be scheduled and stored in folders stamped with a date. You can also upload thebackups to box.net account. This can be done automatically. FEBE maintains back ups for the extensions which are saved in an installable file.