Putting rest to all speculations, Google announced this week that it is developing a new operating system for personal computers, Google Chrome OS. With Chrome OS, Google launches a direct attack on Microsoft Corp’s golden goose — its long-dominant Windows franchise.

The new operating system will be based on Google’s 9-month-old Web browser, Chrome. Google intends to rely on help from the community of open-source programmers to develop Chrome operating system. Taking a minimalist view, Google argues that operating software only needs to do what can’t be done externally on the web. It is promising that users will be able to fire up their computers and get on the web in a few seconds.

The rivals have spent years attacking each other, but with Chrome OS, Google makes it entry into Microsoft’s core territory, its lair. So, is it time for Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to get worried? Not really, feel many analysts. Here’s why.

Windows in Netbooks

The early versions of the Chrome operating system will be tailored for Netbooks, a breed of low-cost, less powerful laptop computers that are becoming increasingly popular. However, a vast majority of Netbooks already run on Windows, and that is unlikely to change unless Google can demonstrate the Chrome operating system is a significant improvement, said Forrester Research analyst Paul Jackson.

He pointed out that many customers had returned the original Netbooks that used open-source alternatives to Windows. “It was not what people expected,” he said. “People wanted Windows because they knew how to use it and knew how applications worked.”

Hardware and app support

One major challenge that could delay adoption is getting makers of printers, networking gear, cameras and other devices to develop software that lets their equipment work with the new Google system. There are more than 2 million software drivers that connect devices to Windows PCs.

The success of the Chrome operating system will likely hinge on its acceptance among computer manufacturers that have been loyal Windows customers for years, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst for the research group Directions on Microsoft. “Most people, when they get a new operating system, they get it with their PC,” he said. “I don’t think most people think much about their operating systems.”

If enough computer manufacturers embrace the Chrome operating system, it could weaken Microsoft while opening up new avenues for Google to persuade consumers and businesses to use its suite of online applications and other Internet services, generating more opportunities for Google to sell lucrative Internet ads.

Getting consumers and businesses to switch to computers powered by a new operating system won’t be easy, as Google has learned from the introduction of Chrome.

Windows’ user base

Microsoft’s Windows operating system has been even more dominant for a longer period time despite challenges from Apple Inc and various systems based on Linux, the same type of open-source software that Google plans to use. Analysts feel that people may bitch about Windows, but they are used to it. Windows is almost habit for many. And it is tough to change habits.

“It’s going to be tough,” Standard & Poor’s equity analyst Scott Kessler said of Google’s foray into PC operating systems. “The reality is that as the importance of a device or task increases, people have a much lower inclination to consider a change.”

Businesses will be especially reluctant to abandon Windows because, on average, about 70 per cent of their applications are designed to run on that, said Gartner Inc analyst Michael Silver.

Chrome’s ‘limited’ success

The new operating system is based on a product from Google that has had limited success: the Chrome browser. As of February, it claimed 1.2 per cent market share, compared to nearly 70 per cent for Microsoft’s browser, according to researcher Net Applications.

Microsoft Bing and more…

Analysts also had a warning for Google, cautioning the company’s executives against letting their foray into the PC desktop distract them from the company’s core search and advertising business, where Microsoft is making progress.

Bing, launched June 3 to generally positive reviews, handled 8.23 per cent of US Web searches in June, up from 7.21 per cent in April, according to Internet data firm StatCounter. “They have been making all these attempts at Microsoft. They have been doing nothing with their search,” said Fred Hickey, editor of the High-Tech Strategist Newsletter.

Web as backbone

Similarly, analysts wonder if applications that could once only run on local computers will reliably work on the Web. For, as everyone knows Web has been a disruptive technology, but then it is not always reliable. Network connections can be slow, or non-existent, and any functions that require frequent connections have the possibility of letting users down.

Google has tried to work round this by allowing users to store functions offline. But it remains to be seen Web does pose risk.

The Brazilian carnival (Carnaval, in Portuguese) is an annual celebration held 40 days before Easter and marking the beginning of Lent. Rio de Janeiro has many Carnival choices, including the famous Samba school (Escolas de Samba) parades in the sambadrome exhibition centre and the popular blocos de carnaval, which parade in almost every corner of the city. The most famous ones are:

• Cordão do Bola Preta: Parades in the centre of the city. It is one of the most traditional carnavals. In 2008, 500,000 people attended in one day.
• Suvaco do Cristo: Band that parades in the Botanic Garden, directly below the Redeemer statue’s arm. The name, in English, translates as ‘Christ’s armpit’, and was chosen for that reason.
• Carmelitas: Band that was supposedly created by nuns, but in fact it is just a theme chosen by the band. It parades in the hills of Santa Teresa, which have very nice views.
• Simpatia é Quase Amor: One of the most popular parades in Ipanema. Translates as ‘Friendliness is almost love’.
• Banda de Ipanema: The most traditional in Ipanema. It attracts a wide range of revellers, including families and a wide spectrum of the gay population (notably spectacular drag queens).

In 1840, the first Carnaval was celebrated with a masked ball. As years passed, adorned floats and costumed revelers became a tradition amongst the celebrants. Carnaval is known as a historic root of Brazilian music.

Once a pagan celebration in ancient Rome, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is now considered one of the greatest shows on Earth.  Rio de Janeiro is known as the cultural capital of Brazil and was the administrative capital from 1822 to 1960, when Federal Government moved to the new capital, Brasilia. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.

The famous carnival parade has been going on since the 1930s. The parade starts Sunday evening and continues into early morning Monday of the celebration. Until 1984, when it was moved to Av. Presidente Vargas, the parade took place at Praca Onze. In 1984 the parade finally found its permanent home, the Sambadrome ["sambódromo" in Portuguese]. The Sambadrome is a large structure that was built in the downtown area, which includes several buildings that make a circular open area in the middle. In the off season, the buildings of the Sambadrome are used as classrooms for the local public schools.

The carnival parade is filled with people and floats from various samba schools. A samba school can either be an actual school or just a collaboration of local neighbors that want to attend carnival. Samba schools include: Imperio Serrano, Academicos do Salgueiro, Unidos da Tijuca, and Beija-Flor de Nilopolis.

Besides the magnificent carnival parade, there are wonderful balls. Balls of every kind can be found in Rio including gala balls, balls for singles, and gay balls. The gala balls are the only luxury balls that are still around that can be enjoyed at the Copacabana Palace. Many different people attend the gala balls such as local socialites, soccer players, models, and international stars. The gala balls are a luxury event which requires black tie or fancy costumes. Besides the fancy gala balls are more casual and specific balls including the balls for singles and gays. Balls for singles are found at Copacabana Beach and a club called Scala. Gay balls are found at the Gala Gay at Scala and are open to everyone, especially for gays with alternative lifestyles.

Incorporated into every aspect of the Rio carnival are dancing and music. The most famous dance is the samba, an African dance brought over by the slaves. The samba was created by the African slaves mixing with the choros, street bands, of Brazil. The samba remains a popular dance not only in carnival but in the ghetto villages outside of the main cities. These villages keep alive the historical aspect of the dance without the influence of the western cultures. Other dances include the lundu, the polka, and the maxixe.

Gold has held mankind enraptured since time immemorial. It has been prized for its beauty, easy workability, indestructibility, and value.

The average global demand for gold in the past 10 years has been mainly for jewellery at 76 per cent, followed by industrial applications of 14 per cent and 10 per cent for investors. The available gold supply is from new mining, reclaimed scrap, official or new bank sales and gold loans made from official reserves.

There are five international gold trading centres: New York, London, Zurich, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

India, world’s number one buyer of gold!

The craze for the yellow metal in India is phenomenal. It has traditionally been the world’s largest consumer of gold. India buys an average of 800 tonnes of gold every year and its total jewellery market is worth more than $20 billion.

However, in recent times the demand for gold in India has waned slightly, with the price of the precious metal zooming to record highs. Yet, the country remains the largest buyer of gold, at 770 tonnes in 2007.

China: 2nd largest buyer; number one producer

Beijing has gold holdings of 1,054 tons, up from 600 tons in 2002, and still wants to buy more gold.

China produced 280.5 tons of gold in 2007, making it the world’s number one producer of the precious metal.

China is also the world’s second largest buyer of gold. It bought 328 tons of gold in 2007.

USA: 3rd largest buyer; 4th largest producer

The United States of America is the world’s third highest buyer of gold. In 2007, it purchased 275 tons of the yellow metal.

However, the US is also the world’s fourth largest producer of gold. In 2007, it produced 240 tons of gold.

Turkey: 4th largest buyer

Turkey is the world’s fourth largest buyer of gold. In 2007, it bought 250 tons of the precious metal.

Saudi Arabia: 5th largest buyer

Saudi Arabia purchased tons of gold in 2007, making it the world’s fifth largest buyer of gold.

UAE: 6th largest buyer

The United Arab Emirates is the sixth largest gold-buyer at 107.2 tons (figures pertain to 2007).

Russia: 7th largest buyer; 6th largest producer

The world’s seventh largest buyer of gold is Russia. In 2007, Moscow procured 85.6 tons of gold.

Russia is also a big producer of gold. In fact, it is the world’s sixth largest gold-producer. In 2007, it produced 169.2 tons of gold.

Vietnam: 8th largest buyer

Vietnam bought 77.5 tons of gold in 2007, making it the world’s eighth largest gold-buyer.

Egypt: 9th largest buyer

Egypt follows in the ninth position. In 2007, it procured 69 tons of gold making it one of the biggest gold-buyers in the world.

Italy: 10th largest buyer

Italy is the tenth largest buyer of gold in the world. In 2007, it purchased 59.2 tons of the yellow metal.