Google gatecrashes Apple iPad party with own Chrome-based tablet

Google made images and video of Google tablet gesture control capabilities available online on the official Chromium website, the open source project behind the Google Chrome browser and Google Chrome OS, for developers to consider. The images were posted online two days before the January 27 event at which Apple unveiled the iPad, a mobile touchscreen-based computing device that will enable users to browse the web, send emails, watch movies, listen to music, play games and read e-books.

"You may have seen our Chrome OS tablet concepts from last Monday; in the video, some floating hands interact with a touch surface," Google Chrome lead designer Glen Murphy wrote in a personal blog post.

"We only used one hand image instead of showing the full range of gestures, but I did make a larger set," Murphy said.

One video, which demonstrated how the device might work, indicated that users will be able to multitask with the tablet, something that the iPad doesn't do.

However, the website only focused on Chrome OS software and did not indicate whether Google would make its own tablet or opt to let others tend to the hardware.

If Google does make its own tablet to rival Apple's iPad, it won't be the first time the two technology giants will be facing off. Google's mobile Android software is built into competitors of Apple's iconic iPhone, including the Internet search engine giant's own Nexus One smartphone released in January.