Good OS Announces Cloud

From Think gOS -

NETBOOK WORLD SUMMIT; PARIS, France — December 1, 2008 — Good OS, most known for its gOS Linux that debuted in Wal-Mart computers, today announced “Cloud,” a new operating system that boots into a browser with Google, Yahoo! and Live in seconds, and optionally boots into Windows. Good OS will preview Cloud on a GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbook at the Netbook World Summit and online at http://www.thinkgos.com. GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbooks will be preloaded with Cloud and Windows XP together early next year.

“We are excited to preview the GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbook with Cloud and Windows together, said a Good OS spokesperson. “With Cloud, GIGABYTE Netbooks will power on to the Internet in seconds, while still supporting killer applications together with Windows XP.”

Cloud uniquely integrates a web browser with a compressed Linux operating system kernel for immediate access to Internet, integration of browser and rich client applications, and full control of the computer from inside the browser.

Cloud features a beautifully designed browser with an icon dock for shortcuts to favorite apps, tabs for multi-tasking between web and rich client apps, and icons to switch to Windows, power off, and perform other necessary system functions. Users power on their computers, quickly boot into Cloud for Internet and basic applications, and then just power off or boot into Windows for more powerful desktop applications.

“Cloud is my favorite gOS product yet,” said David Liu, Founder and CEO of Good OS. “Just seconds after I power on, I’m Googling, Yahooing, and truly Living. I am very excited about the upcoming GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbooks with Cloud and Windows. I think the GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbook’s forward thinking hardware and software will make it the best Netbook to hit the market!”

More details about Cloud and GIGABYTE Touch-Screen Netbooks will be released on Januaary 8 2009 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

gOS's new Linux OS embraces Google applications

From Webware -

gOS has announced gOS 3 Gadgets, its main feature being is its ability to instantly launch Google Gadgets for Linux on start-up, allowing users access to more than 100,000 iGoogle and Google Gadgets apps. WINE 1.0 and Lightweight X Desktop Environment (LXDE) have also been included. WINE allows users to use Windows applications on Linux while LXDE is a renewed effort to develop more lightweight desktop applications.

The new OS version can also run other Google applications more well-known in Windows platform including Google Desktop, Google Picasa, Google Earth and Google Maps. In addition, other Google's web-based applications such as Documents, Calendar, and Mail launch have a closer appearance and functionality to desktop applications than other platforms.

gOS on the Eee PC

Ultramobilegeek has posted info on installing the gOS operaitng system on the Asus Eee PC. gOS is the Linux distro that is bundled with the USD199 Everex gPC being sold at Walmart. It will also be pre-installed on Everex's forthcoming USD399 Cloudbook lappie. It was recently featured in the post gOS 2.0 "Rocket" debuts.

gOS (the g stands for Green and not for, as commonly mistaken, Google) is based on Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" so all Eee Ubuntu drivers and hacks should work. However it has a tight interface with on-line Google applications - hence the common misconception. So if you are an avid Google fan, you might want to check it out.

If you are interested, you can download the gOS operating system here.

gOS 2.0 "Rocket" debuts

From Engadget -


gOS, the Linux-based OS that is bundled with Everex's low-priced gPC being sold by Walmart, has announced version 2.0, named Rocket. The most notable new feature is online / offline synchronization technology from Google that enables offline use of web apps.

Also included are gBooth (a browser-based web cam), integration with Facebook, shortcuts to launch Google Reader, Talk, and Finance on the desktop, an online storage drive courtesy of Box.net, Virtual Desktops, and Adobe Flash Player 9.

You will be able to download it to try it on your Asus Eee PC . The new version download page should be accessible from the Thinkgos website starting January 7.

The gOS: An Alternate OS for Asus Eee PC?

Extremetech has a hands-on review of Good OS LLC's gOS operating system that comes bundled with Everex’s bestselling $199 desktop (featured in this post).

What makes gOS interesting is that it is available free for downloading. And while the “g’ in gOS might suggest it stands for Google as it offers extensive Google integration, it actually stands for “green” as the OS supposedly offers efficient energy management. The Google integration should come in handy for a machine that is intended primarily for surfing/email, something like the Asus Eee PC.

And like Asus Eee PC’s Xandros, the gOS is also based on a Linux variant (Ubuntu 7.10). It also uses a user-friendly interface, the Enlightenment E17 that simplifies several tasks. However the interface resembles more of the Mac OS X than Windows. Still, novice users should find it easy to use.

The gOS' ibar (similar to Dock in Mac OS X).


However the gOS appears to still be a work in progress. As the review indicated, it still does not have a Trash Bin, and is missing some standard components like a media player. Users, however, can download additional apps. Still, it should be functional and stable enough for those willing to try it out.

You can read the review in full here.

You can download gOS here.