by Search Copywriter
D. Warburton
D. Warburton
Never one to stand idly by while competitors garner industry hype, Google has unveiled concept designs for its own version of Apple's iPad.CNN Money reports that it is unlikely Google's tablet will be available until at least 2011, but preliminary designs have already been posted to chromium.org, the website of Google Chrome OS.
Observing the design mock-up, CNN explained: "The designs showed a user interface that includes large, square icons and controls, navigation tabs on the side and the ability to run multiple programs in separate, side-by-side windows at once.
"The tablet running Google Chrome OS would also include a virtual keyboard at the bottom of the screen or a keyboard that could be opened in a separate window that could be placed in different areas of the screen. Applications would be placed at the bottom edge of the screen and could be opened with an upward dragging motion."
Google's much-anticipated open source operating system is set to launch in the second half of 2010, and according to chromium.org it has been optimised for tablets with a five- to 10-inch screen, though it could also work on other devices. Google is reportedly still focusing its operating system principally towards the netbook market, as originally announced, but Chrome developers have stated that the OS "could eventually scale to a wide variety of devices," which presumably includes tablet computers.
A Google spokesperson recently stated: "Google Chrome OS is still in development and we are constantly experimenting with various user interfaces to determine what designs would produce the best user experience."
As was the case with Google's Nexus One smartphone, which was built by HTC, it seems likely that Google will look to partner with one or more hardware manufacturers to design and produce the Mountain View giant's answer to the iPad.
