Welcome back everyone, to another edition of “The Roundup”!

This week I’m talking about Google’s take on Operating Systems, and then they decide to finally do something with Google Apps, and Amazon made the Kindle a bit more affordable. Take a look, after the jump.

This week I have three stories for you. Let’s get started.

1: From : The Official Google Blog
Introducing the Google Chrome OS
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Google is taking their Chrome browser one step further, into a full on OS. Google announced late Tuesday night (early Wednesday morning on the east coast). The new OS is Google’s attempt to “re-think what operating systems should be”. The plan is to create an OS that is open source, lightweight, and starts quickly so that you can put it on a netbook and get online as fast as possible. It will be based on the Linux kernel, but it has not been announced yet if it will be based off an existing Linux distro, or an entirely new one. More likely it’s the latter. Google says that it will be available (and open sourced) later in the year, and available to consumers via PC makers (OEM’s) such as Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo, and Toshiba in the second half of 2010. Overall, I can’t wait to give it a try.

2: From : The Official Google Blog (again)
Google Apps is out of beta (yes, really)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Also in Google news, they have finally taken Gmail out of Beta! You know, after 5 years of beta, it’s about time. Along with this announcement, Google Calendar, Docs, and Talk have also ended their beta period. Google hasn’t announced any new features to go along with the non-beta. But at least it’s official. Oh, wait, there was one slight new feature, in Gmail Labs, called “Back to Beta”. This labs feature “Soothes the soul by putting the familiar beta sticker back on the Gmail logo”, in case you want to stay in Google’s world of “never-ending beta”.

3: From : TechCrunch
Amazon Makes The Ridiculous Kindle 2 Price Slightly Less Ridiculous
Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Amazon also had an announcement this week; the Kindle is now more affordable. They announced a $60 price drop, with the Kindle now retailing at $299. $60 isn’t that big of a price drop, but positioning the Kindle at $299 is a lot better mentally in a consumers mind than the previous $259. So, the kindle is still too expensive for me to get, but maybe it might finally entice you to get one.

That’s it for this week, see you next time, right here at The iLife.

–Keith Hobin