Google Gpad to take on Apple iPad?

By Charles Kloet on 2 February 2010, 5:29pm

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Steve Jobs apparently laid into Google recently for entering the phone market with the Nexus One and attempting to steal the iPhone's thunder. As we write, the Jobsinator is setting his spleen to its maximum vent setting, because Google may be planning to release a Chrome OS-based tablet PC to take on the newly birthed iPad.

Glen Murphy, one of Google's Chrome OS designers, has posted a concept video (below) of what a Chrome OS interface might look like on a tablet, while documents on the Chromium Projects Web site suggest such a tablet would be between 5 and 10 inches in size, support multi-touch (like the iPad), and use a tabs-based system, rather than windows. Rumours have also been circulating for a goodly while that Google has been in talks with HTC to build a tablet PC.

Check out the video below, and click 'Continue' to see more mock-ups of what the Gpad may look like. Could Google's efforts put the willies up Jobs? Will Google prove too tardy if it does decide to crash the latest tablet party? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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anonymous 2 February, 2010 17:46

Ha! If Google did make it that would really set Jobs off on one wouldnt it!?

Matt Mach 33 2 February, 2010 17:48

The split keyboard is no doubt for thumb typing so you can hold the tablet with both hands and type at the same time, rather than having to set it down on a surface as you do with the iPad.

This looks much better thought out than the iPad, however both are useless products in the wake of cheaper more powerful netbooks, although given Google's profits I think they'd be quite happy to drop the price on this just to kill off Apple's attempt at being the first adopter of a new market a la ipod. Last thing we need is another swarm of apple tweens thinking the apple on the back means it's the best, the first, and the last word in any tablet debate.

MSTRJT 2 February, 2010 17:50

erm the ipad Does support multi touch!!

ledders 2 February, 2010 17:55

Its worth them making it purely to annoy Jobs.

anonymous 2 February, 2010 17:57

CNET, you made a mistake! Apple Ipad does indeed support multi-touch! said so on its website and its release video

Charles Kloet 2 February, 2010 18:04

Sorry about that -- you're quite right on the multi-touch front and we've tweaked the article accordingly. Thanks for the spot.

mmanassian 2 February, 2010 18:14

apparently Google looks like a copyright stealer. He doesn't even makes his own machines, only softwares. One day, Google and HTC might get on the wrong side of each other and the Google phone as well as the tablet thingy of Google might stop to exist and Google will get back to his search engine where he belongs. One must create his own ideas not steal from others.

anonymous 2 February, 2010 18:43

I bet this would support FLASH too ;)

anonymous 2 February, 2010 19:16

Hell yes brother

anonymous 2 February, 2010 19:34

@mmanassian I think your argument is best shot down in flames in hip hop style, courtesy of MC Abdominal:

"Still skeptical?
Well I expect that you?ll
Redirect your perspective and chill
Once you chew on this
Because it?s been done I shouldn?t be doin? this?
That?s like saying Coltrane was a fraud, bro
Because Charlie Parker already played the alto
And since Shakespeare wrote plays
I guess Beckett shouldn?t?ve had his say?
And because Gandhi took a nonviolent approach
Luther King Junior should be reproached?
For adopting the same ideology?
Obviously not and in fact my philosophy
Is follow the traditions
To direct your progression
And that?s a statement
Not a question"

anonymous 3 February, 2010 10:41

A 3D rendering is going to take on the iPad? This is incredible!

anonymous 3 February, 2010 12:24

It all depedns on whether the gPad makes up for what the iPad misses out on. Flash, multi-tasking and ports!

anonymous 3 February, 2010 15:57

I take it this pad could reach the G spot?

anonymous 5 February, 2010 00:40

Hey, cool! Google demonstrates they can use Photoshop.
With a copy of Photoshop you too can compete with the Apple iPad.

anonymous 5 February, 2010 20:03

If it comes to pass, Google has obviously borrowed ideas from Apple.
Now, after the above comment, Google Chrome on a Tablet or other computer will sell like hot cakes. I am sure Google will give it their best & MS & Apple will have a run for their money.
MS, Apple, & Google are all to be commended for their progress in writing OS software. However, AAPL is much easier to use at this point.

anonymous 6 February, 2010 02:31

PRICE IN U.K. AND COST FOR UNLIMITED USE ON 3G BETTER THAN IPAD AS WELL AS FLASH AND I WILL BUY IT INSTEAD. IT WILL HAVE TO BE OUT SOON THOUGH AS I CAN'T WAIT.