Google's Chrome OS, set to debut next year, will make use of Google's browser and Web-application technology.

(CNN) — Google is jumping into Microsoft Windows territory — and threatening to change the way personal computers work — with its own version of a computer operating system.

The company says the forthcoming Google Chrome OS will revolutionize how computers operate, putting more emphasis on Web functionality, making computers faster and opening them up to helpful tinkering by outside program developers.

“The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web,” Google said late Tuesday on its official blog. “It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.”

Chrome OS will be available to consumers in the second half of 2010, Google says.

But why should you care?

A trim and speedy Google operating system, which has been buzzed about online for some time, is interesting for several reasons — even if you think it could flop out of the gate. iReport: What do you think about Google’s Chrome OS?

The first is that Chrome OS will be available as “open-source” technology. That means software developers will be able to mess with the code behind the system, allowing them to develop new applications for it.

In essence, it puts the users in control.

This wisdom-of-the-masses philosophy flies right in the face of Microsoft Windows, which keeps its code locked away.

The open-source nature of Chrome OS also has led to some speculation that the software will be free, as many open-source platforms are. Google Inc., based in Mountain View, California, hasn’t commented on price as of yet, although most of its services, such as Gmail and Picasa, are free.

Second, Google’s operating system supports another buzz term in the tech world: cloud computing. That phrase means a bunch of things to different people, but it essentially refers to the idea that a lot of computing can be done through Internet servers instead of on the computer that’s sitting in front of you.

Cloud computing, in part, is behind the rise in netbooks — small laptops that are essentially portals of entry into the much greater vat of information, storage space and computing power that exists “in the cloud.”

Google’s blog says its OS will be designed specifically to work with netbooks at first. Later versions are expected to target the larger desktop and laptop computer markets.

The OS also probably will partner well with Google’s Web browser, also called Chrome. Essentially, the operating system could become an Internet-based experience.

Michael Arrington, co-editor at TechCrunch, says that’s a big threat to Microsoft’s business, but it may help consumers.

“Don’t worry about those desktop apps you think you need. Office? Meh. You’ve got Zoho and Google Apps,” he writes. “You won’t miss Office.”

Finally, Google says in its blog post that it’s “going back to basics” with this operating system.

The company realizes that speed and functionality are top priorities for computer users who now live on the Internet.

“People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files,” the company writes.

“Even more importantly, they don’t want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates. And any time our users have a better computing experience, Google benefits as well by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.”

Many tech writers seem enamored with the idea.

Writing for TechCrunch, MG Siegler says Google is inventing an operating system that users almost won’t notice. It will boot quickly, then get out of the way.

“What Google is doing is not recreating a new kind of OS, they’re creating the best way to not need one at all,” Siegler writes.

Siegler says Google is “dropping the mother of bombs on its chief rival, Microsoft,” adding that the move is “a genius play.”

Microsoft Corp., based in Redmond, Washington, did not respond immediately to a request for comment on this story. The company is set to release Windows 7, its latest operating system — or program that helps your computer’s hardware run software applications — on October 22.

Ars Technica, a tech site that reportedly broke the story Tuesday before Google announced the news on its blog, writes that Google’s OS will forward the idea of computing in the cloud.

“With such an OS, Google could obviously make it extra easy for users to access the full range of Google cloud applications through the browser — Google Docs, Gmail, Google Maps, etc,” the site says.

But a Google operating system, combined with the already extensive reach of Google products, could draw more attention from the federal government for possible antitrust violations, says CNET writer Stephen Shankland.

“The move has widespread implications,” he writes. “One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the Web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and Gmail.

“Another: it opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for antitrust regulators to pay close attention to Google’s moves.”

Others say the news is somewhat overblown.

The Silicon Alley Insider says success of the operating system is “far from guaranteed.”

Reporter Henry Blodget writes that Google’s operating system could go the way of the Chrome Web browser — which has turned out to be more of a niche product rather than a true rival to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

“Google’s browser initiative, Chrome, has been a fun little science project, but as a product it has been a flop,” Blodget writes.

“The same can be said for almost all of Google’s non-search products. If Google wants to have a chance at success in this business, it needs to focus on it with the same intensity it once put into search. This will be challenging for Google, which, for the last several years, has had the luxury of dabbling in whatever it pleases.”

Majority of this article was adopted from CNN’s Google Takes on Windows With Chrome OS. Also make sure you read Google Chrome: Microsoft Killer.

So recently i got hold of some of those cool I’m a PC stickers by Microsoft and i am looking to give them out for Free but only for people in Pakistan but if you are outside of Pakistan and really really want those stickers i may be able to make an exception.

I’m a PC Stickers

So how do you get some of these I’m a PC Stickers …… well i am gonna go with what Manan did here all you have to do is comment on this post and complete the sentence: “ I’m a PC … ”

And Please use valid email in the comments because that’s the only way i will be able to contact you regarding your I’m a PC Stickers !

The day i published my blog post about QR Codes, i also posted a link to that post on Twitter and after a few minutes guess who do i get a “Follow” by ? Yep @MicrosoftTag and when i checked out their profile i was surprised never knew Microsoft Tag even existed so i checked it out and played with it all night so i could write a blog post later on : )

So first Question what is the Difference between QR Code and Microsoft Tag, Well both are 2D Barcodes and both work pretty much the same way but the real difference is in the platform, there is no real company standing behind QR Code no one really working to promote it there isn’t any one official website where you can generate QR Codes and get a QR Code Reader for your device while on the opposite Microsoft Tag has got well “Microsoft” behind it and by the looks of it Microsoft Tag is a bit more feature rich than QR Code.

Microsoft Tag Features :

• Microsoft Tag is available for all major Devices such as J2ME, Series60, iPhone , Windows Mobile, Blackberry
• Online Panel to manage all of the Tag’s that you have created.
• Detailed Statistics for each Tag like how many times people scanned the tag and followed the link !
• The ability to set end date for the Tag so Tag’s can actually expire ! like coupons
• Create Colored , Black and white or Design your own Custom Tags ! ( now that’s what i like most )
• Create a Tag with a vCard or Contact Details
• Create a Dialer Tag with a Phone Number you want to be Called
• Password Protect Text, Dialer or vCard Tags

To be Honest I like Microsoft Tag more specially because its easy to customize these Tags , while QR Codes were just simple plain old black and white tags but still after a bit of trying i was able to customize them but with Microsoft Tag its just easier.  Here are some fun ideas for using Microsoft Tag

Link people to your profile, blog, or contact information.

• Mix it up! Use one Tag for business colleagues and another version for social networking.
• Your Tag can link people to mobile sites, profiles, videos, podcasts, products, or other little pieces of content like ringtones and wallpapers.
• Never lose a number; contact data can be automatically added to your mobile address book.

Hyperlink the world.

• At an exhibit, snap a Tag and access additional information or interactive experiences.
• Bookmark the artist’s online page or brochure, promote a coming exhibit, or send e-mail with an invitation to a private reception.
• Tags are a shortcut to information that is ordinarily difficult to track down quickly on a mobile device.

Just head that Windows 7 will be released on October 23rd 2009 it’s hard to believe but you never know , I have been using Windows 7 since Microsoft Launched the first Public Beta and also the Windows 7 RC 1 went out to MSDN Subscribers today so i believe the final Launch can happen by October but you can be really sure about the date.

Also according to the Windows Blog the Windows 7 RC1 one will be available to the public on 5th May 2009.Also their is a rumor going on that Microsoft will be giving free Upgrade to Windows 7 to people who bought a Windows Vista PC between January to July from Dell or someone else but the dates can change and it still is a rumor !

Both Microsoft and Yahoo have been trying to compete with the big daddy of Internet search engine " Google " , I think that’s a good move by Microsoft because I don’t think Microsoft would ever get closer to compete Google unless they buy Yahoo ! , these two companies would be a perfect match and a perfect Team that can easily take over Google may be not that easily, a little bit of effort might do the Job.In a conference call, Microsoft’s Kevin Johnson said that the combination of the two companies would create an entity that could better compete with Google.

"Today the market [for online search and advertising] is increasingly dominated by one player," he said

Tim Weber, business editor, BBC News website says :

It is a shotgun marriage, but the person holding the shotgun is Google

On the other hand some people are saying that this deal could even help Google ! huh ? Shaun Carney said that

"I think the increased competition this merger brings will force Google to stay on top of its game by offering more innovative Internet tools and expanding on the tools it already offers,"

may be but i still think that after some time , money and effort MicroHoo ! can take over Google.