Details of the Google Chromium operating system have been sloshed around the internet since they were announced yesterday.

And, you’ll be happy to hear, I’m not going to repeat them.

However, watch the video below (taken from the Chromium website) and, in particular, the last few seconds. Do you see that boot time? And they’re looking at how to get it better. Superb.

One last thing to note – if you haven’t noticed already from some of the press releases – there’s no intention to release this as a package for people to update their existing PCs. Instead, Chromium OS will be supplied to hardware manufacturers for release on new products. This, apparently, is because Google are going to have a strict hardware policy (e.g. only solid state hard drives).

No, not the name of a new publication related to robots Of course I’m referring to Google’s rather excellent mobile operating system.

My current phone contract expires soon and I’m seriously interested in getting an Android handset. But which to have. I was excited by the Samsung Galaxy but reviews have generally not been as glowing as I’d hope for – issues such as a hidden¹ marketplace icon and abysmal PC connection software have rather tainted it. On top of this, although it’s on O2 (my current provided), it’s only available from O2 themselves and not Carphone Warehouse (which is where my contract is with). Oh, and it’s expensive.

The viable alternative is the HTC Hero, with excellent reviews, but a poorer quality camera (yes, the camera is one of the selling points for me) and, gulp, only available in pink or brown from the Carphone Warehouse.

However, the Hero has just won the T3 award for best mobile phone and best gadget of 2009. I’m not sure I can argue with that.

Having said that, I’ve just noticed that 3 are bundling Spotify Premium with the HTC Hero…. Hmm. Between now and my contract renewal, it may get quite exciting!

If anybody has any thoughts, have tried either phones, then please let me know.

1. although I believe it is there! [↩]

First of all, let me start by saying that I don’t normally blog about technology stories that are already being plastered everywhere, including the BBC news page. However, in this case, I’m so excited about the story that I feel the need to comment.

Google has announced – finally – that it’s working on an OS to compete with Windows.

Here are the points you need to know…

• It’s initially aimed at Netbooks, but will eventually work it’s way onto PC’s.
• It will be compatible with both x86 and ARM processors
• It will take a matter of seconds to boot up
• It is designed around internet use and will be easy to use with a clean interface
• Security will be at it’s heart, with Google hoping for a virus and spyware free experience
• It will be separate to Android, it’s mobile platform
• The OS is expected to be launched in the middle of next year
• It will be Open Source, and the source code is likely to be made available later this year

Roll on next summer!