This is about Google Chrome, Google's new Internet operating system. I have gotten all worked up about this before, but no one got excited with me. I suspect my readers don't know what an operating system is, so I will give it to you straight: it's the thing that operates your computer. Without one of these, you computer is just some expensive, useless hardware. It's the soul in your machine.
Google's big new idea is to be the organizer behind a new soul for your machine. Note that I did not say it was planning on owning this new soul, like Microsoft owns Windows - it is going to be the soul behind the soul - a very nice place to be. A kind of modern Godfather or Pied Piper that everybody respects and follows.
This is going to be done with open source software development, where everybody gets involved - with some kind of conductor making everybody plays the same music. Google, as you guessed, plans on being that conductor. Check out the clever You Tube video explaining Google's philosophy behind this. The browser is going to be your window to the world - which it is now, but it is going to be faster and livelier - maybe even sexier.
It is also going to put you and all your stuff in the cloud - whether you like it or not. So it's fair to ask: what the heck is the cloud? It's the hottest thing to come along for some time. Technically, it's a humongous lot of computers out there somewhere all linked together with a huge amount of storage space. The result is tremendous amounts of computer power for almost free. Enough to make any company drool at the mouth - and enough to scare the pants off any sensible person.
Like any technological breakthrough, the end results are impossible to predict, but everyone is getting on board anyway - they don't want to miss the train as it leaves the station. The conductor is waving his flag, you gotta get on board now!
So what does this mean, in practical terms? It means in one year from now personal computers will be entirely different, for one thing. And Microsoft will be history - no small matter either. But most importantly - it means a new era of collaboration will be dawning in the computer/software world. It's about time, so far it has been busy shooting itself in the foot.
Hopefully, it will mean companies will have to compete to provide the best services - not just compete to see much they can stomp on everybody else. And smaller players should have better chances of success, without getting their butts bit off.
Will this happen? Probably not. The Powers That Be will figure out some way to stay in control, but it will be harder for them now. If the public comes out of its deep sleep, stops watching television, and realizes what is going on, it could kick their ass - but I don't expect this to happen.
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