So, yesterday, someone released a beta of what was supposedly a Google Chrome OS build. The twittersphere was all twitterpated. I downloaded this .deb file and stood up an Ubuntu 9.04 vm (VirtualBox) to see what it really was.

The Google Chrome OS, as announced in July, is a lightweight linux-based OS with the Chrome browser as its centerpiece.

Turns out, it's a Chromium build (4.0.222.6) with a compact navigation bar and a Google-icon menu on the top, left side. Clicking said icon brings up Google's Short Links.

Here're some pictures:


Starting it up


It's chromium++: note compact top bar with Google menu icon on left, clock bar on right


From ChromeOS


Compact nav bar


Clicking the google icon maximizes the browser and directs you to Short Links, but underlying OS's top bar is still visible.


Short Links info, "?" icon button

There's also this anomalous download of a SUSE vm with Chrome+OpenOffice, etc. Which is not the Chrome OS.

Google's planning on a Chrome OS announcement tonight, so hopefully there'll be an official release and more info other than just these previews.

I, for one, welcome the singularity.

Edit (10/16/2009):
I built the latest Chromium version (4.0.223.1 29191) and the leaked version is pretty different, as the latest browser does not have the compact navigation or the Google icon.

"This is actually just a small recruiting event and we won't be talking about Chrome OS at all," the spokesperson told Betanews moments ago, "just one engineer talking about UI design for Google Chrome (the browser)." The implication that Chrome OS was the subject was chocked up as a "false alarm." - betanews