Chromium gets touch-friendly in preparations for Chrome OS tablets

As if there has ever been any doubt that Chrome OS would eventually run on tablets, developer François Beaufort has discovered a number of touch-related tweaks in the latest Chromium browser build. And because enhancements from the Chromium project usually trickle down to the Chrome browser and Chrome OS, it is very likely that Google is accelerating tablet plans – especially with Microsoft’s Windows 8 now in the picture. “I compiled Touch UI version of Chromium to see how it looked like”, Beaufort wrote in a Google Buzz post. As you can see from the screenshots (two more below the fold), the Chrome interface has been optimized for touch-based input…

Various elements now allow for more spacing, which is an important pre-requisite for optimal touch experience. The auto-complete items and search suggestions are now lined up as large horizontal buttons instead of being listed in a drop-down menu. The Omnibar is easier to reach with your finger as well. Options in the wrench menu and on the new tab page also have added spacing. Of course, the fact that Chromium has gotten a brand new on-screen keyboard is the biggest indication yet that Chrome OS may hit tablets soon. Google, of course, is advertising Android Honeycomb as a go-to tablet software. That said, having more operating system choices in the tablet space won’t hurt as Chrome OS may be actually a better choice for touch-enabled netbooks and notebooks.