Google’s operating system, Chrome, that was first announced in July, got its first public review yesterday. Google’s official blog has posted a video for those who missed the event at Mountain View. For those who want a quick read on the one and a half hour long video, here’s some highlights from PC Mag in addition to what I’ve noted:

1. Contrary to rumors, Chrome OS isn’t available yet. It will only be released near the end of 2010.

2. What IS launched, is the Chromium OS open-source project, the code will now be open to developers and third-party partners on Chromium.org, for them to install and enhance  it.

3. We will see releases of Chrome for Mac and Linux by the end of 2009. Extensions will also be developed, that is lightweight,easy to use and most importantly, requires low maintenance. The browser focuses on having HTML5 standard capabilities, for functions like video/audio chat, graphics, thread, real time communication and local storage (with a database API for web application)

4. Google Chrome OS looks like the Google Chrome Browser, but with features and functionality of an operating system.

5. Speed, simplicity and security are the three highlights of Google Chrome OS, with speed as its focus to be “blazingly fast”. They further demonstrate this point by showing us that the Chrome OS takes 7 seconds to boot, adding another 3 seconds thereafter to log into an application.

6. Multi-tasking made easy with panels and tabs. Panels are “persistent and lightweight”, they work in a way similar to a “Stay on Top” function some might be familiar with. You can play music, interact with external storage media and chat with friends while surfing. Top applications are also only a click or “tab” away.

7. Chrome OS provides you automatic updates, just like Google Chrome Browser (which was said to be updated 20 times in the past year, which users have been unaware of). It’s all about a seamless experience for the end user.

8. Chrome OS will repair itself. Googlers are also working on the concept of Verified Boot, with cryptographic signature keys, the system will detect malware in your machine and it will get an updated version of the OS and reinstall it.  There will also be security sandboxing, which will essentially protect the OS from web apps, and web apps from each other.

9. Every application is a Web application. No desktop apps, you’ll be relying on cloud based applications to get things done. The Googlers also reiterate this point by saying “third party apps will work as long as they’re Web applications”.

10. All data is in the cloud. Google Chrome OS will not store your data locally, any information you input into the machine, you can access from anywhere else (with the prerequisite of online access). They demonstrate by using the “Notepad” application, which simultaneously syncs to your Google Apps document.

11. There is no hard disk. Google Chrome OS will run on flash memory based storage; with an SSS (Solid State Storage) drive.

12. Google is targeting a specific type of hardware, more information on this is said to be released around June, 2010. Running on the SSS drive, there would be specific hardware components to complement the Google Chrome OS. They mention wanting to work with companies to produce their own “slightly larger” Netbooks, as it aims to have a full-sized keyboard to improve usability.

We would be keeping our ears peeled for more announcements and releases. Till then, if you want to give it a go, TechCrunch has already posted an article with a step-by-step pictorial guide to have the Chrome OS running in VirtualBox.

Give it a try!