Google is finally spilling a few more beans about its forthcoming operating system. The company held a press conference today at its headquarters to give the first in-depth look at Chrome OS and what makes it unique.

First things first: If you’re hoping to replace your current version of Windows with the system, you’ll be out of luck. When Chrome OS does launch – sometime next year – it will only be available on devices specifically made to run with it.

For the most part, that will be netbooks – but likely ones that are notably cheaper than the ones currently on the market. (That could conceivably put them below $200, which would be an efficient way to quickly build an installed base for the OS.)

Chrome OS is very closely tied to the Chrome browser. The OS looks very similar – with tabs for various applications. It won’t run Microsoft office and is entirely Web-based. (Want word processing or spreadsheet applications? You’ll need to use GoogleDocs or some other Web-based app.)

You will be able to set up several ‘virtual desktops’ – allowing you to quickly access applications you use for various functions (i.e. GoogleDocs for a ‘work’ desktop, a music player for fun, etc.)

It’s an incredibly light OS and start-up is reportedly lightning fast – making the system ready to use in seconds, rather than Windows rather laborious start-up time.

It’s not the sort of thing that has Microsoft worried in the short term, but it could lead the charge to an online operating system – which could ultimately put Google in a very powerful position in the OS category.

Curious to see how Google explained it? Check out the videos after the break. 

Blu-Ray may get a little more momentum this holiday season, thanks to a new program from Warner Bros. The studio, which earlier this year ran a trial program allowing customers to exchange their HD-DVDs for Blu-Ray copies of the same film, is now letting traditional DVD owners make the swap.

Consumers who visit the studio’s DVD2BLU website select the movies they want to exchange (assuming they’re one of the 55 listed), send the DVD in to the studio and can get the Blu-Ray version of the same film for a deeply discounted price (as low as $7.95). They’ll receive the BD versions within 4-5 weeks.

One important note: The film selection on the site is generally limited to older films, so if you’ve bought a DVD of a recent release and want to upgrade, you’ll have to make a second trip to Wal-Mart or Best Buy. And many of the films may be on sale during the holidays at prices rivaling the trade-in price. If the promotion gets good traffic, though, expect Warner to expand the number of films available for trade.

Sezmi, a burgeoning broadband service that will stream live TV (broadcast and cable) to sets, is one step closer to widespread launch. The company today launched a pilot program in Los Angeles with several significant partners – and a new cash infusion.

Sony Pictures, MGM Studios, Paramount Studios, Warner Brothers, Lion's Gate Entertainment and Universal Studios have all signed on to stream movies on demand. NBC Universal, Turner, MTV Networks and Discovery channel will offer some or all of their cable offerings (making up roughly 25 of the most-watched TV channels). And all of the major broadcast networks  - ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision – are on board as well.

The company has also received another $25 million in funding from several investors. Among those banking on the company are Morgenthaler Ventures, Omni Capital, TD Fund, Index Ventures, and Legend Ventures and a new, unnamed strategic investor.

Sezmi plans to be a cable competitor, offering live television content via broadband Internet services. Users will have a set-top box allowing them to access both broadcast and cable content, along with on-demand films and Internet video content. The system is promising more personalization options than existing TV providers as well as much lower costs.

Participants in the pilot will receive a free subscription – but when the service goes live, the company will offer two tiered packages.

Sezmi Select, the entry tier, will offer all local channels (in SD and HD) as well as access to on-demand content for $4.99 per month. Sezmi Supreme will run $24.99 per month – and will including the lineup of live cable channels as well as local. (The specific channels have not yet been revealed.)

This is suggested pricing. Sezmi will enter homes through distribution partners, rather than direct sales from the company – so those partners will have final say on what they charge.

Assuming the pilot goes well, the company is aiming for wider distribution in the middle of the first quarter. Sezmi officials say they will reveal more specifics around those plans (including distribution partner names) at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show has lost one of its high-profile keynote speakers.

Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz has bowed out, citing a “scheduling conflict,” according to Karen Chupka, senior vice president of conferences and events for the Consumer Electronics Association.

She declined to offer further details.

The loss of Bartz is a noteworthy one. Yahoo skipped last year’s CES keynote circuit and onlookers were hoping Bartz would this year shed light on the company’s plans for its media properties, which are seeing their funding increase as Yahoo shuts down other divisions. The company also has some interesting projects underway that related to Internet-enabled TVs.

Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs will seemingly take Bartz’s place in the keynote lineup. The CEA added him yesterday at a press conference in New York.

Other keynote speakers at this year’s show include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the CEA’s Gary Shapiro, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Intel CEO Paul Otellini, Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasuvo and Hisense Chairman Zhou Houjioan.

Nikon is getting into the user generated content game. The photography giant today announced plans for a new marketing campaign called the “Nikon Festival” that will award $100,000 for the best 140-second video.

The festival is meant to help promote the company’s D5000 camera, a digital SLR that also shoots 720p video – though entires will be accepted from any camera. Users are being asked to submit short films for the next six weeks with the theme “A Day Through Your Lens” at www.nikonfestival.com.

Actor Rainn Wilson, Internet personality Justine Ezarik (iJustine) and photographer Chase Jarvis will help select one of two winning films, which will be announced in January. The second winner, as selected by visitors to the site, will pocket $25,000.

Contests surrounding UGC are nothing new, of course, but given Nikon’s big user base – both professional and amateur – there could be some interesting things coming from this. And there’s a lot of room for potential growth to the world of Web video even after the awards are handed out. 

Despite overall wallet-tightening and unemployment hitting the 10 percent mark, consumers will still flock to LCD TVs, according to a new report from iSupply.

Principal analyst Riddhi Patel predicts massive seasonal price cuts will spark buying, with 8 million units shipping in the fourth quarter – a 7.3 percent increase over the 2008 figures.

iSupply is looking for some good deals on Black Friday and beyond, predicting prices for HD sets will fall as low as $299 for some 32-inch models and $499 for 42-inch sets.

Deals aside, average pricing for 46- and 47-inch LCD sets should fall below $1,000, which will spur buying as well. And, it says, many consumer will want to upgrade their older LCD sets to premium models with LED backlighting, which results in a more vibrant picture.

It’s an optimistic prediction – and deal-watchers agree that LCDs will see some great holiday bargains this year – but given the still fragile state of the economy, take it with a grain of salt. Most folks are still hanging on tight to the money in their bank accounts – and it’s going to take some spectacularly low prices to loosen that grip. 

There have been a lot of so-called iPhone killers hitting the market since Apple launched its smartphone. None has lived up to its billing.

Now comes the Droid – and while it almost certainly will be just as ineffective at ‘killing’ the iPhone as the Pre and any other challenger, there’s a definite buzz building around this new device from Verizon and Motorola. More importantly, that buzz extends beyond the tiny world of cell phone geeks.

Running Android 2.0, an updated version of Google’s mobile operating system, the phone blends a physical keypad with a touchscreen and offers one of the most impressive screens yet for a cell phone. It also comes with a 5Mp camera and flash. And, the key selling point, it has Verizon’s reliable network backing it up, rather than AT&T’s spotty 3G coverage.

It sets a high bar, but is it enough for you to buy one? If you’re a Verizon customer approaching the end of your contract, are you going to renew with the carrier and give the Droid a shot – or hop over to AT&T and join the cult of iPhone? Sound off in the comments. 

Well that didn’t take long.

AT&T CruiseCast – an in-vehicle TV service the company created with RaySat Broadcasting Corp. – has halted new activations and it current customers will soon be able to get a refund for their installation (and de-installation) costs, as well as equipment and service.

CruiseCast launched in June at the rather staggering price tag of $1,300, plus a $28 monthly charge. It had promised customers 22 satellite TV channels and 20 satellite radio channels.

Live video in the car is a boon for parents, but with competition from portable media players (not to mention the still weak economy) and the high up-front and monthly charges, this one faced long odds from the beginning.

Apple’s reportedly shopping a new monthly subscription service to television networks that would seemingly put iTunes in competition with cable providers.

AllThingsD reports the company has been talking with networks about a $30 per month plan that would deliver programming via the popular software. The service would not be tied to specific hardware (such as Apple TV or the rumored tablet).

Apple is hoping to launch the service early next year, but so far no network has signed on – not even Disney-owned ABC, where Steve Jobs is on the board of directors. The nets are said to be cautious, as they don’t want to upset their cable system partners (and the subscription fees they generate).

Streaming video online is coming of age quickly. Netflix has seen incredible success with its “Watch Instantly” option – signing deals to stream via select Blu-Ray players, the Xbox 360 and (starting later this month) the PlayStation 3. Amazon offers a similar service and even YouTube has had a few successful experiments with long-form content as well.

Then, of course, there’s Hulu, which has found a solid audience online and is now exploring ways to further monetize itself.

With the large installed base of iTunes and the many outlets it services (including the iPhone and desktop PCs), there’s some promise in this. And with the influx of internet-enabled television sets hitting the market and predicted to grow fast, the time could be right for Apple to make a play in the field.

There are, of course, lingering questions. Even if Apple gets the major networks on board, would the service be equivalent to cable offerings? What about premium channels? Would programs be aired in conjunction with their broadcast premieres or would they be time delayed, as they are with FLO TV?

It’s an intriguing idea, though – and it sure would be interesting to see how Apple would distribute it. Hopefully, we’ll learn more at the company’s January event.

Verizon may finally have a phone that can compete feature-wise with the iPhone. The Droid made its official debut today following weeks of Internet buzz. Made by Motorola and running Google’s Android software, the system is an amalgamation of many smartphone trends.

The Droid will go on sale Friday, Nov. 6 for $200. It comes with a touchscreen, physical keyboard, the ability to simultaneously run several applications and a 5MP camera- with flash.

Beyond the usual social network synching, there’s also a free GPS program on Droid that offers turn-by-turn directions and live traffic updates. That’s a big advantage over the expensive GPS apps on other systems.  Unfortunately for Verizon, it won’t be exclusive to Droid for long – and may eventually appear on the iPhone.

Best Buy is already taking orders for the phone (allowing you to skip the rebate process at Verizon). And Engadget has a quick first-impressions piece up about the system after a few hands-on hours with it.