Chrome OS and Java?

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MassH

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Nov 20, 2009, 10:47:18 AM11/20/09
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Anyone know if and how Java related technologies will be supported by
Chrome OS?

Chrome OS will support Flash, HTML 5, O3D, and if Chrome will run the
browser version of Microsoft Excel, I believe that means Chrome OS
will support Silverlight. I didn't hear anything about Java, but I'd
assume that wouldn't be excluded.

Kfir Shay

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Nov 20, 2009, 10:59:51 AM11/20/09
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> browser version of Microsoft Excel, I believe that means Chrome OS
> will support Silverlight.

what?!
why on earth would google use Silverlight

Google apps currently has a spreadsheet does it use Silverlight... oh
well not sure why I am even writing this
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MassH

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Nov 23, 2009, 12:00:38 PM11/23/09
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In the Google demo of Chrome OS, they plug in a flash drive with some
Excel files, double click the Excel file, and it opens up Microsoft's
web version of Excel (which I believe is in closed beta right now),
which runs in a web browser using Silverlight. The presenter jokes,
"for the record, I'm an avid Google Spreadsheets user, just a
disclaimer"

I think the point is that Chrome OS is completely open and supports
all web apps, not just HTML and HTML 5 stuff but also Flash and
Silverlight too. I think it's a safe bet Java will be included in some
form, but I didn't see mention of that and thought this crowd would
know more. Will there just be a simple Java browser plugin port or
will there be more integration?

Reinier Zwitserloot

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Nov 23, 2009, 3:44:40 PM11/23/09
to The Java Posse
Interesting. This moved the viability of Google Chrome OS up
considerably in my book. Someone out there at the Chrome OS project is
tossing ideology to the wind and injecting a bit of realism in there.
The amount of people who can make do without Microsoft Office is still
rather small, especially when you move away from the geeks (who won't
use Chrome OS because it's not a power-user OS, and isn't intended to
be), and into the 'I use a computer because I have to / Grandma and
Grandpa' areas where Chrome OS is a great idea. I've set up my parent
with Mac OS X, and even though they can do much more with it than
Windows, I still have to explain rather a lot, and from time to time I
have to help them. If Chrome OS delivers an experience where they
really (almost) never need any technical help, that would make for a
compelling argument to use it.

Of course, M$ dependence is waning fast, so possibly in the future
silverlight will be removed from Chrome OS at some point. And,
probably Chrome OS will go the iPhone direction - there's no dodging
the need for native apps. Then again, the main reason people wanted
native apps for the iPhone was primarily proper integration and speed.
The apps DO NOT get universal background access and the like. With
Chrome OS, speed is going to be far less of an issue, and websites are
much closer to the native experience than on the iPhone. I'm split
50/50 on whether or not its going to actually get any serious use in
the near future.

jpf

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Nov 23, 2009, 10:50:39 PM11/23/09
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Microsoft's web version of Excel does not require silverlight

http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/FAQ#bkm6

ChromeOS does not support silverlight and no comments from Google on
this

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=27578

"10:58 am: Will you support Silverlight? In the case of certain
specific plug-ins, the company is working hard on those and more
information to come next year. Follow-up question: So, you’re talking
to Microsoft about Silverlight. Quick answer: No comment."

Reinier Zwitserloot

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Nov 23, 2009, 11:26:01 PM11/23/09
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That's a much simpler explanation. Of course, microsoft's site on
IE9's internet standards compatibility starts the silverlight install
process, so the original poster can be excused for thinking excel of
all things is a silverlight thing.

MassH

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Nov 24, 2009, 1:06:58 AM11/24/09
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"Office Web will use Microsoft's Silverlight rich Internet plug-in for
added functionality such as extra zooming or prettified fonts, though
users aren't required to use it, he said."

from here: http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/28/28idg-MS-finally-to-b.html
That is a year old, so may be out of date...

I was mistaken as I thought the web version of Excel was going to
require Silverlight....

Also, when the Google guy opened the Excel doc, you can briefly see
the swirling dot loading animation that Silverlight uses. Of course,
that can easily be done in HTML/JS, but I just presumed it was
Silverlight.

Mohamed Bana

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Nov 24, 2009, 4:44:02 AM11/24/09
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Silverlight has a 'DataGrid' control which is almost Excel-like.  SL also provides zooming support, so it's understandable.

 —Mohamed

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