Google still polishing Chrome OS, postpones debut - TMCnet

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It's taking longer than Google Inc. anticipated to deliver a new operating system designed to make computers run faster.

After more than a year building a much–anticipated system around its Chrome Web browser, Google announced Tuesday that the first laptops powered by the new software won't hit the stores until the middle of next year. The revised timetable is about six months behind Google's goal of having the Chrome OS completed in time for it to debut during the current holiday season.

Google's engineers decided they needed more time to fix bugs and fine tune the Chrome OS before the company launches its ambitious challenge to computers running on long–established operating systems made by larger rivals, Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc.

While Google polishes the Chrome OS, it will collect user feedback through a pilot program allowing a relatively small number of consumers and businesses to test unbranded devices running the software. Consumers will be invited to receive the test laptops through the Chrome Web browser and Google's YouTube video site. The companies getting the Chrome OS machines include AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, Kraft Foods Inc. Logitech (News - Alert) International, and Virgin Airlines.

Acer Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. will make the first Chrome OS laptops available in stores next year. The prices of the machines will be determined by the manufacturers next year.

The postponement threatens to intensify the competitive challenges facing the Chrome OS machines. More people already are snapping up sleek, touch–screen tablets such as Apple Inc.'s iPad to surf the Web and run a variety of applications customized for the devices. Apple sold about 7.5 million iPads in the first six months after its April debut and the tablet is expected to be among the top–selling gadgets this holiday season.

The rising popularity of the iPad and an array of copycats has started to undercut sales of lightweight laptops, or "netbooks," according to industry analysts. Even the next version of Google's Android operating system for touch–screen devices is supposed to include more features tailored for tablets.

The Chrome OS computers will have a 12.1 inch display screen and standard–sized keyboard, but no hard drive. That means the Chrome OS computers will need online access to run more programs. Google is teaming up with Verizon Communications to sell Internet access over Verizon's wireless network when there is no other way to connect to the Web. Online consumption of up to 100 megabytes per month will be offered for free during the first two years of computer ownership. Larger data plans will cost as little as $9.99 per month with no long–term commitment required.

Google decided to build its own computer operating system primarily because its views the hundreds of millions of machines powered by Microsoft's dominant Windows software as plodding, cumbersome relics unable to provide speedy Web surfing. The Chrome OS machines are being designed so they're ready to navigate the Internet within a few seconds after hitting the power button, almost as quickly as a television set is ready for channel surfing .

Developing a Web–based alternative to Windows also realizes a long–held goal of Google CEO Eric Schmidt (News - Alert), who had previously clashed with Microsoft as an executive at Sun Microsystems and Novell Inc. during the 1990s. Google's development of the Chrome OS contributed to Schmidt's resignation from Apple's board in 2009. Schmidt stepped down because he increasingly was steering Google into the same markets as Apple, raising potential conflicts of interest.

By making it easier and more appealing for people to spend time online, Google hopes to attract more traffic to its dominant Internet search engine and boost its revenue by selling more of the ads that generate most of its income.

The push for a speedier Web experience, prompted Google to introduce the Chrome browser more than two years ago. Although it still lags behind Microsoft's Internet Explorer and the Mozilla (News - Alert) Foundation's Firefox, Chrome has steadily been winning converts. Google says Chrome now has 120 million active users worldwide today, up from about 30 million at the beginning of the year.

Chrome will soon get even faster by pulling up websites as people type in an address, in the same manner that Google's search engine displays different results with each keystroke. For example, typing "e:" in Chrome's navigation bar display ESPN's site in the browser, if that is a destination that the user frequently visits.

To help whet consumers' appetite for the new Chrome OS machines, Google unveiled a new store that will distribute Web applications that offer more features and better graphics than the content found on standard Web pages. The Web apps store opened Monday with about 500 free and for–fee applications, meeting the end–of–the–year deadline Google established when it announced the idea in May. More than 40,000 applications already have been developed specifically for the iPad.

The New York Times Co., Time Warner (News - Alert) Inc.'s Sports Illustrated magazine and video game maker Electronic Arts Inc. are among the major companies already offering applications in the Chrome store. Internet retailer Amazon.com (News - Alert) Inc. also previewed an application that for the first time will allow other merchants to sell electronic books for its Kindle reader. The app enables Kindle books to be read through a Web browser.

Like programs designed for the iPad and mobile phones, the Chrome applications store could help publishers bring in more revenue from subscriptions and advertising.

View the original article here

Balance of power still in WA Dems favor - Seattle Times

OLYMPIA, Wash. —

Voters overwhelmingly rebuked taxes passed by Washington state's large Democratic majorities in the Legislature. But while they may have been unhappy with the job Democrats did earlier this year, they appear to be letting them retain control of state government.

Republicans made gains in both the state House and Senate in this week's election, won an open U.S. House seat and were optimistic of their chances in a too-close-to-call race in another.

While they're not expected to take the majority in the Legislature as they did in 1994, Republicans have cut into Democrats' comfortable margins and ran competitive races in other districts. And voters sent a clear anti-tax statement, rolling back increased snack taxes, rejecting a $2 billion income tax on the rich and making it harder for the Legislature to raise taxes in the future.

"They're going to return Democratic majorities to the Legislature, but they clipped their wings with respect to the budget process," Democratic strategist Christian Sinderman said.

State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser said the passage of Initiative 1053 - which requires a higher bar for legislative votes to raise taxes - plus the addition of more Republican lawmakers "is like a belt and suspenders."

"Voters said 'I'm taxed enough already,'" Esser said. "Hopefully that will chasten many of the Democrats who do remain."

All 98 state House seats and 25 of 49 Senate seats were on the ballot this fall. Many positions were considered safe for either party, leaving intense battles over a relatively small slice to decide which side controls the Legislature.

The GOP steadily lost ground during the last decade, finally giving up its one-seat control of the state Senate in 2004. Before Tuesday's election, Democrats controlled the House with a 61-37 margin and the Senate with a 31-18 majority. As of this weekend, Republicans had moved their margin up to more than 40 seats in the House with a handful of races still too close to call. In the Senate, Republicans appeared to have gained at least four additional seats, with additional close races showing Democrats holding on to three seats needed for the GOP to take the majority.

Washington Democrats' key victory this week was in the competitive U.S. Senate race with the re-election of Sen. Patty Murray over Republican Dino Rossi. Her victory preserves a small cushion for Democrats in the Senate. Republicans made inroads there Tuesday, handing Democrats a slimmed-down majority, and took control of the House.

Republican Jaime Herrera's victory Tuesday night in the open 3rd District in southwestern Washington was part of the Republican wave in the U.S. House. Herrera became the first Republican to represent the district in a dozen years and her win narrowed the state's Democratic majority in the House delegation to 5-4.

Republicans also were closely watching the state's northern 2nd Congressional Democratic incumbent, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen held a slim lead over Republican challenger John Koster.

Larsen won his last re-election bid in 2008 with 62 percent of the vote.

If Koster ultimately overtakes Larsen, it would be the first time Washington's House delegation had a Republican majority since the late 1990s.

Republican consultant Chris Vance points to gains in the Legislature, the Herrera win and the closeness of the Larsen race as proof that Washington state benefited from a nationwide trend in favor of Republicans.

"Did a wave hit here, yes. Was it a massive tidal wave like hit the U.S. House, obviously not," Vance said. "I think now we're returning back to what we used to be, which is a very, very competitive state that can go either way."

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, also saw a clear message. Murray, who is co-chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, said the election shows Republicans are too conservative for many suburban voters, particularly on social issues. But he also faults Democrats for not making the case for changes in the state's tax structure.

"One of the lessons here, post-Obama's election, is this is still the age of Reagan," Murray said, noting that Republicans have been able to make the argument for smaller government and low taxes "on their terms."

"We have not been able to articulate a vision that voters understand," he said.

---

AP writer Curt Woodward contributed to this report.

View the original article here

Space shuttle launch still on hold - USA Today

By Todd Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAYSpace shuttle Discovery's engine controllers all worked as expected during overnight testing, but managers still must give a go to pick up a stalled countdown and the weather forecast for a launch attempt Thursday has worsened.Discovery and six astronauts are tentatively scheduled to blast off to the International Space Station at 3:29 p.m. ET Thursday. But engineers still must build a rationale for flying after a back-up engine controller failed to operate as expected during routine prelaunch checkouts on Tuesday.

The controller on Engine No. 3 first failed to immediately power up, and then a small but unusual voltage drop was subsequently detected. Engineers believe a trace contaminant likely is the culprit and that repeated power cycling cleared the problem.

Each of the shuttle's liquid-fueled main engines is equipped with primary and back-up controllers and all worked as expected during five power-up tests overnight. The suspect controllers has remained powered up since and no voltage irregularities have been detected.

The Mission Management Team will be briefed at 2 p.m. ET today, and a decision will be made on whether to proceed with countdown to a launch attempt Thursday.

The weather forecast, however, now calls for an 80% chance that rain and thunderstorms would keep the shuttle grounded on Thursday. There is a 40% chance bad weather would prohibit external tank propellant-loading operations, which would pick up about 6 a.m. ET.

The bad weather is expected to clear late Thursday, and the forecast for Friday calls for a 60% chance the weather would be acceptable for flight. Winds are expected to pick up and Saturday's forecast calls for a 60% chance conditions would prohibit launch.

Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.

View the original article here