By owning the browser, and by default having google servers providing live hints within the address bar, Google can aquire the URLs to the those sites that are not (by design or not) currently indexed in seach engines.

The dark web consists of sites/pages not linked or only linked within their own subwebs. This gives Google an advantage in the search game – more indexed sites. Sites that the other seach players can’t currently crawl as they don’t know where they exist.

Potentially next time your spelunking around looking for prerelease info on a website before it goes public you may be providing a google crawler with a direct link to the content. Making it searchable before release.

Might be far fetched, but worth considering.

I have to say I haven’t used Chrome yet but that’s okay because this isn’t a product review.

I’m most interested because everyone is calling Chrome a Browser and I’m not sure it is.

John C Dvorak, has said he thinks this will lead to a Google operating system but I’m not sure this isn’t the operating system itself, loosely anyway.

Maybe I’m linking elements together incorrectly but for me you have to consider 3 elements and the impact they will have on the Technology Industry and beyond.

First, Google Apps, essentially a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Why bother with Microsoft Office if you can have all your applications on the Internet and using Google’s computing power rather than you own.

This is what is being called ‘the cloud’, Apple have their MobileMe platform allowing you to store your files on the Internet so that you can access them from anywhere.

All of these services are trying to achieve the same thing, use the Internet more, use it for storage, processing, synchronisation etc.

Secondly, there is Internet access and generally it is getting quicker and more available away from your office or home; there is WiFi, WiMax, 3G etc

Third there are the devices themselves. Asus Eee PC, the really small PC using a Linux based operating system. With this you don’t get a huge amount of power but it’s very portable and hey if your going to use Google’s Servers for your processing needs why do you want a big laptop when a small one will do.

Also there is the iPhone, which I’m using to write this post, or Google Android or whatever the competition comes up with in the future. These devices are pretty much connected to the Internet or could be 24 7.

So put them all together and what you get is ultra small and ultra mobile devices which are incredibly powerful (they have the power of Google’s servers) and they are constantly connected to the internet for browsing, email, letters and reports, spreadsheets, presentations or data access.

You can choose a pocket sized smart phone or a more traditional laptop style or indeed an ultra mobile, a tablet, or if you prefer a windows PC or a media centre to give you access to your Video on Demand service.

The choice is yours, to suit your needs and your budget.

So why do you want to pay for that ultra fast PC, unless you are gaming, or why do you want the power of Microsoft Windows or Office when it’s all more conveniently on the cloud and you can access it anywhere via the same interface and applications you are used to. You can access you office files without the need to bring them home in your brief case and you can access your home files to see how much you need to pay that bill for.

There are of course some down sides to this scenario but most of these will be fixed over time.

What do you do when you don’t have access to the Internet, I travel most days by London Underground, and until they get WiFi it’s going to be dead time in this scenario.

Also there are security and EULA issues.

Finally there are alternatives, kind of, why not put all your files on a memory stick and if you need applications you can use a U3 memory stick to take your desktop with you from computer to computer.

So is Google chrome a browser or a platform giving you access to the cloud and all of your computing needs through any device running it.

As always, we live in exciting times, which is why I love tech and my job so much.

Jim Stevenson
Managing Director
Bletchley Group
http://www.bletchleygroup.com

Just don’t have pictures of the naked kid in your computer. Or even better, don’t *take* damn pictures of the kid naked. The kid will thank you later. I know I did.

I think you are underestimating the intelligence of most computer users. When people discover, and the words gets out, that no, you can’t control all the files on your computer and those pictures of the naked kid in the bath are getting the law involved, look for people to ignore a box like this.

Sure, there just may be some people that want a shiny new computer for under cheap, but very few.

But then, maybe I am overestimating the general intelligence levels out there.

That’s fine for YOU, but I think the average 4-app user will gladly take the free ones.

Most people I know have given up their stand-alone email application for the on-line version.

Heck, most don’t seem to understand they even changed.

If Google makes an Internet appliance that comes “pre loaded” with an office suite, most users won’t understand that it is on-line.

They’ll be darn happy they don’t have to load or upgrade software. Also, they will be glad their documents weren’t lost when their internet box blows up.

I am NOT saying that a Google Internet Box will replace every desktop with locally-loaded software.

I, myself, won’t convert over easily. But, most of my extended family certainly will.

P.S. Shouldn’t your name be Ah_Yeah??? Just sayin’.

This might by an answer from google to those pesky MS attempts to buy Yahoo. MS wanted to control the browser & the ads. Now, google is positioned to get the thing MS wanted the most: ad revenue from controling the ad service & the receiving client. Only, if the browser gets traction (and there a billion gullible guys out there, see oytunes).

Let’s see if MS reacts at all.

They were trying to target McCain supporters and the young Republicans.

No thanks, I’d rather choose what software I use.

Uhh, I think you’re missing the whole point of Chrome.

Seriously, If I were Google, I’d have had a custom corporate free OS released already. Preferably pre-installed in a cheap appliance.

The main job of the OS would be to get the user on-line via broadband.

It would have automatic live updates but all apps would be provided by Google on-line.

I know this idea isn’t new and I didn’t make it up. But I have to wonder why it hasn’t been done yet.

#16 yes, it will. It’ll block every ad not coming from google.