Google has released a platform for running their widget applications (Google Desktop Gadgets and web-based Universal Gadgets) on Linux. Google Gadgets for Linux is an open source project, and includes front-ends for GNOME and KDE environments.

As it strives to replace email, Google has open sourced two chunks of its new-age communications platform, Google Wave. Unveiled to a standing coder ovation at the Google I/O developer conference in late May, Google Wave is a (still-gestating) web platform that crossbreeds email with IM and document sharing, exhibiting a particular talent for near real-time interaction.

At the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco (USA), several leading industry players announced the development of Google TV – an open platform that merges the web and TV.

The team behind the Google Desktop for Linux

Microsoft's rivalry with Google heated up considerably this past year when rumors surfaced that Google might release its own operating system to compete with Windows. Has Google finally jumped into the fray with its own OS?

There has been a new batch of rumors swirling about Google producing a "gPhone" mobile telephone after a Reuters reporter stated High Tech Computer Corp would be designing the Linux phone for Google. A friendly penguin has told us at Phoronix that Google is looking to team up with OpenMoko for their "gPhone".

After the first unsuccessful try with Android (jk), Google strikes again on OS market with Chrome OS. Actually this is kinda Google’s first attempt on OS market, considering that Android is not a genuine Google product. Google acquired Android from Android Inc in 2005.

Google Gadgets for Linux are simple HTML and JavaScript applications that can be embedded in web pages and other applications. By all accounts, Gadget support for Linux was a major undertaking for the Google team as it is an entire platform for mini applications. You can check out the source code for it on Google's Gadget for Linux project page.

Ah, Google. They run all of their servers on GNU/Linux, so try to give back to the Free Software community. Notice how I said “try”. Google is sort of like a two-headed monster. One head looks like a cuddly penguin who just wants to spread freedom. This head started GSoC and GHOP, supported Software Freedom Day, and promoted openness through projects such as Android.