Media Center OS---how about Chrome?

[Dyvim]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I remember reading the entertainment/media center on the Aptera will be PC -based. Just wondering if there would be any role for the newly announced Google Chrome. Although the OS won't be out until after Aptera release (barring delays), is there potential for some synergy? Revolution in cars, using a revolution in OS? Imagine a Google-backed ad campaign for the car? And Google gets to trumpet running the media system on the Aptera-and with the huge uphill battle they have to penetrate the PC market, seems like a good opportunity.

Anyway, just a thought for Aptera to consider.

Dyvim
"It riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave."

[jstdadd]

Seems like a no-brainer.

[KarenRei]

I think it's in Aptera's best interests to play up their Google links. Of their investors, Google certainly has the greatest brand recognition, and it's generally a positive one. When I'm trying to explain what the heck Aptera Motors is to people who've never heard of it before, I usually use phrasing to the likes of, "They're a new company in southern California funded by Google and some other investors."

Of course, Google only provided a relatively small fraction of their funding, but most people have never heard of, for example, Idealab. And if you mention that one of their angels was an oil company exec (Essenjay), well, that'll just confuse them.

[jkyu99]

Do you recall the prototype images that had an iPhone on the center console? How about a T-mobile G1 Android/Google phone sitting there instead?
I don't have one, but I would have to think that most of the google apps would have some ability to work in android, in particular, google maps / gps.

[KarenRei]

Originally Posted by jkyu99

Do you recall the prototype images that had an iPhone on the center console? How about a T-mobile G1 Android/Google phone sitting there instead?
I don't have one, but I would have to think that most of the google apps would have some ability to work in android, in particular, google maps / gps.

I want to get a T-mobile G1 Android/Google phone, but there's no data service in my area. Not "no 3G" -- there's nothing, not even with a T-mobile affiliate. At least according to T-mobile. And since the phone is only designed to work with their network...

[Iced_Eagle]

It's interesting you bring this up.

First off, you're assuming that Chrome is going to be a competitor to Windows, which may not be the case. As of now, the likely signs point to this "Chrome OS" as being nothing more than an OS that boots into the browser. You won't be able to install applications (aka, any media or nav software), unless it's all web-based (and at that point you're just using it, not "installing" anything). Google is thinking about it being "in the cloud" so all of the apps you use will be things like GMail, Google Docs, etc etc... Obviously it's all rumor, but with Google being so web-centric, and especially with it being called the "Chrome" OS, it's likely just going to be only a browser and much less of an OS than you think. It's basically just going to allow companies to release small, cheap MID (Mobile Internet Devices) with the sole purpose of being able to access the web, and not much else.

They also will be starting off with no hardware support. Aptera would have to wait for Google to either write support into the OS for different hardware they want to use (a costly and timely process), or wait for hardware vendors to change their hardware to work (even slower, costlier and more timely).

As nice as it would be, it just really isn't a reality, especially with it launching v1 in late 2010... Well after Aptera should be released *knock on wood* I'm sure most companies are going to have a "wait and see" approach with Chrome OS, just like they are with Android (Google's mobile OS)

[organik]

Why not a jazzed up version of the iPhone OS. It's already got all the touch screen goodness, etc.

[Ardie3301]

I agree wth KarenR that Aptera, with their beholden links to a significant investor such as Google, is probably obliged to take advantage of Google products whenever possible.

But I -seriously- doubt that Aptera is going to put a pre-production software package into the production version of their 2e. So what? When it *is* released, you upgrade. Its that simple (sort of). We all know software is an ever-changing target. So all Aptera needs to do is to provide a method to upgrade. Hey, I have all kinds of software gets updated over the Net (sometimes without even bothering to tell me).

We are at the doorway to a new vehicle paradigm -- in many ways. I believe the 2e is being designed to be software-upgradeable, just like most computer software and cell phone software of today. So whatever the future may bring, my 2e will be able to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of our world today.

-- Ardie
"Hello, Aptera? I forgot my password again."

[Matthijs]

Reminds me of Gos Cloud. Gos Cloud


Link

[Dyvim]

Originally Posted by Iced_Eagle

It's interesting you bring this up.

First off, you're assuming that Chrome is going to be a competitor to Windows, which may not be the case. As of now, the likely signs point to this "Chrome OS" as being nothing more than an OS that boots into the browser. You won't be able to install applications (aka, any media or nav software), unless it's all web-based (and at that point you're just using it, not "installing" anything). Google is thinking about it being "in the cloud" so all of the apps you use will be things like GMail, Google Docs, etc etc... Obviously it's all rumor, but with Google being so web-centric, and especially with it being called the "Chrome" OS, it's likely just going to be only a browser and much less of an OS than you think. It's basically just going to allow companies to release small, cheap MID (Mobile Internet Devices) with the sole purpose of being able to access the web, and not much else.

They also will be starting off with no hardware support. Aptera would have to wait for Google to either write support into the OS for different hardware they want to use (a costly and timely process), or wait for hardware vendors to change their hardware to work (even slower, costlier and more timely).

As nice as it would be, it just really isn't a reality, especially with it launching v1 in late 2010... Well after Aptera should be released *knock on wood* I'm sure most companies are going to have a "wait and see" approach with Chrome OS, just like they are with Android (Google's mobile OS)

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I understand your objections, and I'm certainly not saying it has to be. I agree, if Aptera's timeline is anything like they say, ChromeOS will not be available at release, but probably will be shortly thereafter. As for the hardware issues, since ChromeOS is supposed to run on netbooks, and scalable to desktops, I would think the Linux kernel more than capable of handling a system that was supposed to be PC-based, and likely running Windows. Given the specific focus of the car's entertainment center, it doesn't seem an enormous stretch to have a focused app-based product as ChromeOS handling it. As for stability, I'm looking forward with amusement to the rash of BSOD problems with the windows based system :P

I think another poster mentioned a paradigm shift in the entertainment center having internet connectivity and active updating. I would think this would be the most forward thinking, a combination of flexibility and web access. I guess we'll see if Chrome ever becomes a viable update to the entertainment center OS.

Meh, for all I know Chrome'll be a gigantic flaming failure of epic proportions, lol.