Chrome OS adds option to browse without a Google account

Most users of Google Chrome OS are likely to be savvy users -- you know, like the people reading tech blogs. And most of those users either already have a Google account or will sign up for one soon after purchasing a Chrome OS device.

Boot up Chrome OS, sign in with your Google account, and away you go. It's a no-brainer if you're already utilizing Google Docs, Chrome Sync, or any one of Google's dozens of other services. Still, there are certainly good reasons to have a sign-in free option on Chrome OS.

Suppose I want to let my friend check out how slim and speedy Chrome OS is -- and he doesn't have an account? It'd be kind of a pain to create one just to kick the tires.

Chrome OS will also be a good option for kiosk setups, say at libraries and coffee shops. Many users might just want to take a seat and start browsing -- again, without wanting to enter account info. There are security concerns here, too, and some people may be averse to using their personal accounts on shared computers.

The Chrome developers recognize this need, and they've landed a change which makes log-in free browsing possible. According to the notes on revision 48635, users will be able to jump right in. Click into this "guest mode" and Chrome OS will mount a temporary file store and spawn a new Incognito browsing session. No Google account necessary, no history retained, nada.

Once you're in, standard browsing rules apply, of course -- so you're free to check your GMail inbox or Google Reader items. You'll just have to sign in via the browser itself rather than the Chrome OS login window.

Tags: account, chrome, chrome os, ChromeOs, chromium, google, incognito, osupdates