Renderings of what a Google Chrome OS tablet could look like first showed up in early February when Google’s Senior Software Engineer Glen Murphy posted a handful of images and a video of what the UI might look like. Then in May, the WSJ and Bloomberg reported that Verizon was working closely with Google on an Android-powered tablet. And earlier this month, the Financial Times hinted that Motorola is building a tablet for Verizon that would be closely connected to FiOS service.
Which leads us to the latest rumor from Download Squad that says HTC is building Google’s Chrome OS tablet that will launch on November 26. How they plan to offer the device is unknown but Verizon is purported to be offering it as well and it will be heavily subsidized – maybe even free.
(Eric Schmidt: Chrome OS Devices To Be Disposable, Cost Under $400)
Specs? According to Download Squad’s source, the Chrome OS tablet will have a Tegra 2 processor, 1280×720 multi-touch display, 2GB of RAM, at least a 32GB SSD, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/3G, GPS and a webcam. Memory might be expandable through a multi-card reader.
So we’ve heard that the fabled Google tablet will either be running Android or Chrome OS. It could honestly go either way but wouldn’t it be counterproductive, too? News out of GDC Europe indicates the Chrome web store will be launched in October. Doesn’t that directly compete with the Android Market? Isn’t Android 3.0 supposed to be a tablet-specific OS? Are the manufacturers to blame for all the half-assed Android tablets that barely work?
Back in July of 2009 when Chrome OS was announced, Google said the following:
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.
That doesn’t really make things any more clear, does it?
More on Techland:
Google and Verizon Push For Open Internet, Net Neutrality Still In Effect
Chrome Store Due ‘Most Likely in October’ with Plenty of Games