UNC CAUSE 2013 - Chrome OS: To the Googleverse & Beyond
1. UNC CAUSE 2013
Chrome OS:
To the “Googleverse” and Beyond
Joel Dunn - UNCG
Todd Sutton - UNCG
2. What is Chrome OS?
● A variant of Linux, announced July 2009
● First based on Ubuntu, then Gentoo
● Provides a user experience environment centered
around the Chrome Browser
3. What is Chrome OS?
● Very limited shell (crosh), you have no rights to run as
root or other privileged activities unless you run in
“developer mode”
4. What is Chrome OS?
● Software installations are limited to apps in the Chrome Web
Store which are built for Chrome
○
○
You can’t run Windows, OS X or Linux binaries
You can’t run Android apps from Google Play
5. Chrome
v. Chromium
● Google open sourced the Chromium project in November
2009
○
http://www.chromium.org
● Chrome Browser is to Chromium Browser as Chrome OS is
to Chromium OS
○
“Chromium OS is an open-source project that aims to provide a fast,
simple, and more secure computing experience for people who spend
most of their time on the web.” https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.
org/dev/
● Chrome OS is Google’s proprietary version for a specific set
of devices (Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Chromecast)
6. Where are we today?
● Chrome OS and its devices have rapidly developed
and matured as the device ecosystem and use
cases have multiplied
● Provides the same level of base browser capability
as Chrome on Windows or OS X
● Bottom line is a “laptop” that quickly boots to a
Chrome browser for secure execution of web-based
content
7. Evolution of Chrome OS
...to this...
●
●
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Originally single window
Overlapping, resizeable windows in spring 2012
Rapid changes in 2013
○ Immersive full screen, summer 2012
○ “packaged app” in spring 2013
■ A superset of “legacy packaged app” installed as an extension but
with more access to API for comprehensive app
■ Desktop-type experience with Javascript, HTML5, CSS
■ Look and feel of a “fat client”
9. Some Chrome OS Features...
● Local storage
○
○
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Typically 16GB SSD, for OS and user data
Typically has an SD card reader and multiple USB ports for storage
keys, drives
Think of local storage as a “cloud cache,” not a place to accumulate
GB’s and TB’s of stuff
■ Embrace “statelessness!”
● Includes file manager and media player for common
types
● Rapidly growing application ecosystem
○
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps
10. More Chrome OS Features
● Access to remote systems
○
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Chrome Remote Desktop
VNC/RDP
SSH
Citrix
● Printing via Google Cloud Print
○ Why are you still printing, anyway
?
● Quick boot, security, simplicity, easy updates
11. A word about security
● Any system is vulnerable
● Some are a lot less vulnerable than others
● Chrome OS is a hardened consumer
operating system
○ Verified boot (boot loader in RAM)
○ Sandboxed applications/tabs
○ Automatic updates, so emergent vulnerabilities are
patched
12. What can Chrome OS do?
● Same browser experience as Windows or OS X
● Close connection to Google applications
○
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Plays nice with all Google services
Most Google services are browser-based already
● Think of Chrome OS device as cloud portal
● Google docs maturing rapidly
○
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Offline editing available
Google has purchased QuickOffice for better MS Office fidelity; editing
still “experimental beta” but coming!
13. What can’t Chrome OS do?
● Run “.exe” files or Google play apps (it’s a different OS!)
● Print locally - requires Cloud Print
● Run content requiring custom plugins, but Flash is built
in
○
Silverlight, for example (deprecated by MS anyway!)
● Run Skype
● Interface to some USB devices (UVC ok!)
14. Chrome devices
● Chromebooks
○
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CR-48, December 2010
■ Named from an unstable isotope of Chromium
Retail machines appeared in May 2011
■ Samsung 500, followed by the 550
■ Acer C700
15. Desktops: the Chromebox
● Samsung Series 3 (above) in May 2012
● Refreshed in spring 2013
● Multiple display support, more USB ports
16. Chrome OS hits the mainstream
● Samsung released the ARM Chromebook (model
XE303C12) in October 2012
● Tipping point toward mass market adoption, coincided with
Google mainstream media campaign with TV commercials
● $249 price point with 6 hour battery life captured attention
● Acer releases the C710, as low as $199
17. Chromebook Pixel
a concept device...
● What Chrome OS could be on high end hardware with
an added touch interface
● Released in February 2013
○
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Google says it won’t refresh, was trying to generate ideas
Rumor is that Acer will release touch Chromebook soon!
18. A rolling stone gathers no moss...
● Fall 2013, a flock of new Chromebooks
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Haswell-based models such as the Acer C720
■ Greatly improved battery life, 8+ hours
■ Maintains low price points at $249, including 4GB RAM
HP Chromebook 11
■ Same ARM processor as Samsung
■ Light (just over 2 pounds), 6 hour battery, charges with micro USB
■ Inexpensive fashion (multiple colors), $279
19. Why Chrome OS v. Netbook or
Ultraportable?
● Compute power balanced with the demands of OS
○
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Tuned hardware takes less power to run
Not trying to “put 10 pounds in a 5 pound sack”
● More and more apps/services are or will be web-based
○
You spend most of your time in a browser, anyway, don’t you?
● How many features of Word and Excel do you really
use, anyway?
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Balance benefit of convenience with cost of complexity
20. Markets
● Education
○ K12 has been a big adopter
○ Higher ed has not yet embraced in big ways
● Consumer
○ Rapid adoption thru 2013, spurred by inexpensive devices
● Corporate/organizational
○ Moving but not as fast as education
○ Has tended to be SMB’s
○ Does require a “rethink” of tools and a willingness to drive
change in the way things are done
21. Adoption at UNCG
● Experimenting organically
● Exploring use as conference room device/kiosk
● A smattering of Chrome OS devices are showing up in
IT as well as across campus
● Since UNCG is a Google School, it’s a natural fit
● One vision is use of Chrome OS as the “outer
environment” for email and collaborations, with Citrix for
access to core data center for access to Banner and
restricted data