Over the weekend someone stumbled onto a Chrome browser build for Chrome OS on Google's servers. We've seen several false-alarm looks at Chrome OS, and while it is only the browser, it provides a glimpse into the direction Google's going.
(Click the image above for a closer look.)
Note: We weren't able to download and verify this build before Google restricted access to the folder, but we did verify that the files in question were there. Looks like we were just a couple of minutes late with the downloading. All of these images come courtesy of an adventurous blogger over at weblog Living in a Google World.
Namely, the Chromium browser build for Chrome OS (assuming the now forbidden folder on the Chromium.org servers was accurately named) looks like it's integrating the tab bar with what would normally be the taskbar/menubar of the operating system. As you can see in the screenshot above, the browser embeds a clock in the top right of the browser window, along with "a network connection dialog (non-functional here), and a battery meter (also non-functional)." That would mean, as we've suspected, that the Chrome browser would likely be the main, basic windowing system for Chrome OS.
On the other end of the browser window, we've got something else to pick apart:
In the top-left, you have what appears to be the new logo (so far I have been unable to find a larger version of that image). Clicking on it opens this Google Short Links window, which doesn't really allow you to do anything unless you have a google.com email address, which I assume is restricted to Google employees only.
It's still clearly a major work in progress, and now Google has entirely forbidden access to the folder containing Chromium builds specifically for Chrome OS, but it's good to get a glimpse at where they're headed.
What do you think? Like the idea of a true netbook where your web browser is the beginning and end of your operating system? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments.
Chrome OS Browser Tour [Living in a Google World via Download Squad]