Could Google Deliver a Chrome OS-based Tiny Stick PC?

While the Raspberry Pi has grabbed many headlines as a tiny, ultra-inexpensive, pocketable computer that runs various open source operating systems, it's actually only one of many tiny LInux computers being touted as part of a new "Linux punk ethic." As we've noted, there are various pocket-size Android devices selling online for under $100 (see the photo).

These devices are illustrating that the prices for very powerful miniature computers can be driven very low. Now, there are some reports emerging that Google may be working on a small, inexpensive HDMI stick PC that runs Chrome OS. It wouldn't be a bad idea.

According to Geek.com:

"Google may be working on an inexpensive HDMI stick PC of its very own called the Chromekey. It’s going to be quite a bit different than Dell’s Project Ophelia or the innumerable Android sticks you may have read about. There’s some debate about what kind of software the Chromekey will ship with. If the name is accurate, you’d expect Google to go with Chrome OS."

There are some different spins on these reports. Droid Life reports that a Chromekey from Google might be more of an intermediary device that you could buy for around $35 (exactly the Raspberry Pi price target) and use as more of a receiver to interact with your tablet, PC, phone and possibly TV:

"You will be able to 'CAST' the Chrome browser from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV so that you can enjoy the full internet on any display. But beyond just Chrome, the Chromekey will allow you to mirror content from YouTube, Google Play, and Netflix directly to your TV. You could even pull up sites like Hulu, ABC, Google Maps, or other video sites."

Hey, that sounds pretty cool. Google has yet to confirm anything about such a device, but the various Linux- and Android-based tiny PCs on sticks have emerged as big stories on the open source scene. Google could probably get developers to produce some very interesting devices for a Chromekey. Let's see if this idea comes to fruition. 

 Photo Credit: CNX Software