Google offers distinct operating system (OS) versions according to the kind of device. ChromeOS is for Chromebooks, and Android is for smartphones. Tablets are one product segment, nevertheless, where both OSs are used. According to a recent analysis, it is probably no longer the case. According to reports, Google intends to start a project to completely convert ChromeOS into Android in order to create a product that can finally rival the iPad.
It has been rumoured that Google intends to combine its ChromeOS and Android in order to provide a more cohesive platform that can rival Apple’s iPad. In the future, Chromebooks might run a desktop-optimized version of Android with enhanced support for external displays, Linux compatibility, and extension compatibility. The goal of the action is to disrupt Apple’s domination in the tablet industry and expedite development.
Android Authority described Google’s intentions to convert ChromeOS into Android in a report released on Monday, citing a source. According to the article, the tech giant from Mountain View, California, is engaged in a multi-year initiative to create a hybrid platform that might rival Apple’s iPadOS, which powers the iPad.
In order to better compete with the iPad and manage engineering resources more effectively, Google is apparently planning to consolidate its OS efforts. According to reports, it has plans to move Chrome OS into Android rather than combining the two to create a completely new platform. As a result, more Android apps will be available, and developers will earn more money because of the enlarged user base, according to the report.
As part of a multi-year plan to more effectively compete with Apple’s iPad, Google is attempting to fully integrate Chrome OS into Android, according to people with knowledge of the situation. With this change, Google’s operating system strategy will undergo a substantial change, which could put an end to Chrome OS’s existence as an independent platform.
The rumored Pixel Laptop, which is reportedly in development, will be among the first gadgets to run on this hybrid platform. According to reports, this device was codenamed “Snowy” and has high-end internals. According to reports, the business is working on a number of new features to give Android users a desktop-like experience. These features include improved support for keyboards and mice, support for multiple desktops and external monitors, and more.
Although Google’s internal Android-on-laptop project is the main target of these efforts, there are also rumours that they will increase the capabilities of tablets, such as the rumoured Pixel Tablet 2, which is expected to have an upgraded Tensor chip, an improved camera, and a new keyboard cover accessory.
According to Android Authority, rather than Chrome OS, future Chromebook devices would come pre-installed with a desktop-optimized version of Android. This is a significant extension of Google’s June 2024 announcement that some Android components would be incorporated into Chrome OS.
By creating a new Chrome browser for Android that supports extensions and a Terminal program that works with Linux, the business is already setting the stage for the shift. Multiple desktop spaces, enhanced keyboard and mouse input, and better support for external displays are other desktop-focused improvements under development.
Despite iPadOS’s limitations in multitasking, neither Chrome OS nor Android have been able to successfully compete with Apple’s supremacy in high-end tablets. The consolidation attempts to consolidate Google’s development resources while providing a unified platform to combat Apple’s dominance.
By bringing in more developers and growing its user base, the merger may help Android’s ecosystem. According to a different source, Google is also working on a high-end Pixel laptop that might introduce the new Android platform designed for desktops.
Google declined to comment on intentions to phase out Chrome OS in favour of Android when approached by Android Authority. Although the multi-year project scope indicates a gradual transition rather than an abrupt move, the timing for finishing the merger is yet unknown.
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