While the last set of leaked Google Chrome OS screenshots turned out to be fake, that hasn’t stopped the Web from throwing up a whole new set of screenshots our way. Of course, these should be taken with a pinch of salt as well, since they have the same amount of credibility as boy with the chocolate-stained shirt who says he didn’t eat any cookies.
The screenshots, obtained by Download Squad from an anonymous tipster, show what is supposed to be a Google Chrome OS pre-build, namely ‘Developer’s Edition Alpha 0.2.5’.
The most perplexing thing about the screenshots is the prominently featured ‘Google Browser 3.5’ window. Now, in a Chrome OS, why wouldn’t the company be using Google Chrome itself as the browser?
The ‘Google Browser 3.5’
Image Credit: Download Squad
And while some commenters have suggested that this could be the equivalent of Windows Explorer, we strongly disagree for a few reasons: Opening a Web site in it (to demonstrate an explorer? Really?), leaving a column for bookmarks and having a search bar in the top-right column. This last bit throws up a red flag like no other, because one of Chrome’s biggest features has been the all-in-one address bar.
What is more likely is that some user has taken a Linux distro, thrown a skin onto it and created a custom ‘Google-ised’ theme for Firefox. The search bar of Firefox is almost impossible to remove when creating themes for the open-source browser, so it seems likely that this is a FF build.
Still, to satisfy your curiosity, check out the gallery below for a few of the alleged screenshots, or head over to Download Squad for the full series of pics.
Source: Download Squad