Google are hoping that their new Chrome OS, which they’ll release this time next year, will be able to entice users away from Windows 7 and Apple’s OS X Snow Leopard, not only with its open-source approach, but also because of its inherent speed and security advantages.

Google announced in a blog post yesterday that they are open-sourcing the project as Chromium OS. This means that developers can already start playing about with the OS and are able to contribute to the development of the system. TechCrunch have got a full guide to doing a virtual install of the OS to test if you\'re just interested in getting a peek at it.

Some of the advantages of the OS include the fact that its web based and all apps are web apps. The entire experience takes place within the browser and in the cloud so there are no conventional desktop applications. Basically, you will no longer have to install desktop software or applications, manage them or even update them- that all happens automatically online.

Secondly, the Chrome OS by default doesn’t trust the applications you run. Every app is contained within a security sandbox meaning it is difficult for malware and viruses to infect your computer. According to Caesar Sengupta, Group Product Manager and Matt Papakipos, Engineering Director, "Chrome OS barely trusts itself." When you start your computer the OS verifies the integrity of its code. In the event of a compromise to the system, it will fix itself with a reboot. “While no computer can be made completely secure, we’re going to make life much harder (and less profitable) for the bad guys.”

Finally, there’s its speed, and within Chrome OS you’ll apparently be able to go from booting your PC to browsing the web in seconds. “Our obsession with speed goes all the way down to the metal. We are specifying reference hardware components [to manufacturers] to create the fastest experience for Google Chrome OS,” the pair commented.

If the Chrome OS is half as intelligent and user-focused as Google are saying it will be, Microsoft and Apple will have a lot to worry about in the not too distant future.