Chrome OS Arrives On the iPad — No, Seriously!

Thinkcloud writes "A user named Hexxeh has posted a video online of the iPad running Google's upcoming Chrome OS. Hexxeh was able to put Chrome OS on an iPad because the open source code for the operating system is available in its Chromium state, but it's not necessarily true that Apple will allow iPads to run other operating systems going forward. That's typically not a level of openness found in the Apple playbook. Nevertheless, it's worth considering what it might mean to have a robust OS like Apple's on the same tablet as one that runs a cutting-edge operating system like Chrome OS. Why wouldn't users love that?"

I Don't Get Chrome OS

[cob666]

I honestly can't think of anything more useless than an OS that will not work if you don't have an internet connection.

Re:Idiotic Summary

[Darkness404]

...Yet you trust a company which basically says "Hey, we might brick your phone just to spite you"

Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed. Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update, containing many new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store (www.itunes.com), later this week. Apple strongly discourages users from installing unauthorized unlocking programs on their iPhones. Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty.

Re:Idiotic Summary

[Theaetetus]

We'll see on that, but they definitely don't want you running non-approved apps on devices where they control the app store. This particular alternate OS will allow people to run non-approved apps. Apple is not going to allow that.

See, that's just not true. You can write and install your own non-approved apps, and you can even distribute them using the ad hoc distribution method. The only thing Apple is refusing to do is provide storage, distribution, and payment systems for apps they don't approve of. Complaining about this is like complaining that you can't walk into Best Buy and put your own software on their shelves without their approval. They're under no obligation to provide you with shelf space and payment at their registers.

Re:Idiotic Summary

[Anonymous Coward]

You read it that way, I read it as "hey, if you're going to install new firmware and then also install our firmware updater, we aren't responsible if it screws something up. I mean, we haven't even seen your code... how can we possibly know ahead of time if our updater won't wipe some important part of the memory of your homebrew firmware? Look, if you're going to modify the guts of your phone, it's all your responsibility if it fails. Don't come crying to us."

You know, if Apple said that they're not responsible for any of your DATA if you install homebrew software, I'd agree with you. However, if there's anything at all you can possibly do with software, without ever opening your phone up, that actually bricks your device (by the true definition of brick, ie, can't be fixed without the use of a soldering iron), then it's a hardware design flaw. You have to design that shit so there's a read-only failsafe rom that will place your phone in a recovery mode from which you can always reflash to factory firmware.

In fact, I'm pretty sure the iPhone IS designed like that. Which makes the whole warranty voiding thing bullshit designed to scare you into not doing it.