Over a year ago and long before Google launched the Chrome Browser there were many who suspected that the search giant would launch an operating system.  Today, Google has announced that it is indeed working on an OS x86 and ARM processors.    The OS should be out the second half of next year and will be focused on the web which comes as no surprise.  Microsoft may not be nervous about Mac, but you can bet this shakes them up a little.  See the full release below:

It’s been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we’re announcing a new project that’s a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we’re already talking to partners about the project, and we’ll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear — computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files. Even more importantly, they don’t want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates. And any time our users have a better computing experience, Google benefits as well by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

We have a lot of work to do, and we’re definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision. We’re excited for what’s to come and we hope you are too. Stay tuned for more updates in the fall and have a great summer.

  Taking advantage of the massive growth in Netbooks, Microsoft is launching this mouse in August for just under $40 dollars.  It has a nano Transciever and uses their Bluetrack technology for tracking on almost any surface.  They will come in a variety of colors as shown above.  We will be sure to get ahold of one to show you what it’s all about.

The Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 is a perfectly portable mouse designed to work anywhere with Microsoft BlueTrack Technology — the world’s most advanced tracking technology — so consumers can use their mouse with confidence on virtually any surface.¹ The mouse also features a Nano transceiver so small that it sticks out less than a centimeter from the USB port and can easily remain plugged into the computer when traveling. All this is wrapped in a fun, sporty design in five color options that really pop: teal blue, berry pink, lime green, graphite and white.

See the Press Release Below:

Top Features and Benefits

Perfect package for netbooks or any PC with a compact shape, Nano transceiver and go-anywhere BlueTrack Technology.

BlueTrack Technology is the world’s most advanced tracking technology, working on more surfaces than optical and laser,² including granite, marble, carpet and wood.¹

Snap-in Nano transceiver gives consumers the option to leave the transceiver plugged into the computer or conveniently store it under the mouse. When stowed, the transceiver turns off the mouse to conserve battery life.

Comfortable, ambidextrous design offers cross-hatched rubber side grips and portable comfort for use in either hand.

One AA battery provides more than 10 months of battery life for extended use.

Two-color battery life indicator warns consumers when it is time to replace the batteries.

2.4GHz wireless technology gives consumers a confident wireless connection and a range of up to 15 feet, even in crowded wireless environments.

One-touch access to Windows Flip lets people easily see a thumbnail preview of all open windows and then scroll to the desired application. A full-screen preview will automatically display behind the highlighted thumbnail for easy selection.³

  Intel demonstrated the new "Moorestown" chipset in Taiwan today, which is set to come to market between 2009 and 2010.  The new chipset is based on 45nm technology and incorporates the processor, graphics, memory controller and video encode/decode onto one single chip.  The video shows the Moorestown MID which uses this chip to do all of its work.

Intel is aiming at the internet based PC’s and Cell Phones and will allow future netbooks to be released in smaller, lower power consuming form factors.  The chipset also supports 3G, WiMAX, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and mobile TV

"Moorestown comprises of an SOC, codenamed "Lincroft," which integrates the 45nm processor, graphics, memory controller and video encode/decode onto a single chip and an I/O hub codenamed "Langwell", which supports a range of I/O ports to connect with wireless, storage, and display components in addition to incorporating several board level functions. Chandrasekher stated that Intel is on track to reduce Moorestown platform idle power by more than 10x compared to the first-generation MIDs based on the Intel Atom processor."

[via Intel]