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Android and Chrome OS are MERGING!

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Android and Chrome OS are MERGING!


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Google wants to bring Android to laptops by merging it with Chrome OS


Michael Grothaus

For years Google has been a two-man show when it comes to operating systems. First there was Android for smartphones and tablets, which is the most used OS on the planet, and then came Chrome OS, a browser-based light operating system that only runs on low cost laptops called Chromebooks. Unlike the wild success of Android, Chrome OS accounts for less than 3% of computer operating systems worldwide.

Still, despite the wildly different usage statistics, it was a shock to the tech world earlier this week when the Wall Street Journal revealed that Google is set to merge the two operating systems by 2017. As the WSJ reported: “Alphabet Inc. ’s Google plans to fold its Chrome operating system for personal computers into its Android mobile operating system, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign of the growing dominance of mobile computing. Google engineers have been working for roughly two years to combine the operating systems and have made progress recently, two of the people said. The company plans to unveil its new, single operating system in 2017, but expects to show off an early version next year, one of the people said.”

Of course, this news raises some serious questions: what will a merged Android and Chrome OS look like? Are Chromebooks dead? And why are Google doing this? Here’s everything we know.

Why is Google doing this?

Let’s start with the big one. Google is merging the two OSes, primarily, because Android is so damn popular. It’s the most used OS on the planet thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices. But Google also knows that despite the prevalence of tablets and smartphones, many times the perfect device you need to achieve a task is a laptop or desktop.

Even though Google has Chromebook laptops, it knows most of the world turns to Windows PCs, followed by Apple’s laptops and desktops when they need to work on a device that offers more than a smartphone does. That could present an issue for Google in the future as both Microsoft and Apple attempt to unify their device offerings. Microsoft’s Windows 10 will work across desktop and mobile, making working on and switching between the devices more appealing. Similarly, Apple has worked hard in recent years via improvements in OS X and iOS (such as Handoff and Continuity) to make working on and sharing documents between devices simple. Though Google has a stable platform in Android, it has no real alternative when Android users want to work on a full-fledged desktop OS–and Google is worried that as Microsoft and Apple work to unify their devices, that could lead to people leaving Android for solutions that are part of an ecosystem across all device types: smartphone, tablet, and desktop..

As the WSJ points out, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, who spearheaded the development of the Chrome operating system in 2009 and then went on to oversee Android in 2013 recently said “mobile as a computing paradigm is eventually going to blend with what we think of as desktop today.”

In other words: Google wants to make sure it’s got a solid foot in the desktop game–and the light browser-based Chrome OS just isn’t going to cut it any more.

What will a merged Android/Chrome OS look like?

Good question–and one that there is no answer to at the moment. Clues could perhaps be derived from the Pixel C, which is a hybrid tablet-laptop that runs Android. However, the Pixel C is essentially just Android with a hardware keyboard–not a new desktop version of the OS.

The ultimate merged Android/Chrome OS will most likely retain the look and feel of Android, but add a more desktop-like file management structure (think Finder in OS X). It will also almost certainly support universal apps since the WSJ says the main goal of the merger is to get more Android apps running on the PC (right now Chrome OS can run some Android apps, but few developers are porting their apps over due to the lack of a large Chrome OS user base).

What devices will a merged Android/Chrome OS run on?

It’s likely it will run on all Android smartphones and tablets as well as PCs. What isn’t known is if the merged OSes will only run on Google-authorized laptops (a new rebranded version of the Chromebook perhaps) or will be installable on Windows-based PCs. There’s also the possibility that it might be able to run on Macs, just like Windows can now run natively on Mac hardware via Bootcamp, but we’re not sure Apple would allow this.

When will the merged Android/Chrome OS come out?

The WSJ states that the merged OS will ship sometime in 2017, so it’s still almost two years away. However, it will probably be shown off at next year’s Google I/O, which could make Google’s next developers conference the most exciting in its history.

So are Chromebooks dead?

No. And neither is Chrome OS, according to Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Android, Chromecast, and Chrome OS. After the WSJ broke the news Lockheimer tweeted “There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!”

Google also reached out to the Verge to clarify that Chrome OS is not being “killed”. Instead it will continue to be developed and maintained by Google alongside the merged Android/Chrome OS operating system.

Similarly, the WSJ reported: “Chromebooks will get a new, as yet undetermined, name, the people familiar with the matter said. Google plans to retain the Chrome name for its Internet browser, which runs on both PCs and mobile devices, they said. Chrome OS will remain as an open source operating system that other companies can use to make laptops, and Google engineers will continue maintaining it. However, Google’s focus will be on extending Android to run on laptops, according to one of the people.”

And that’s really all we know for now. But one thing is for sure, the Google/Android ecosystem is going to get much more interesting in the next few years.


10:51, 30 Oct 2015

Features

Google needs to deliver Android to laptops through merging it with Chrome OS

Michael Grothaus

For years Google has been a -guy display on the subject of running techniques. First there used to be Android for smartphones and pills, that is probably the most used OS on the earth, and then got here Chrome OS, a browser-primarily based gentle running gadget that best runs on low value laptops referred to as Chromebooks. Unlike the wild good fortune of Android, Chrome OS bills for not up to 3% of pc running methods around the world.

Still, in spite of the wildly other utilization information, it used to be a surprise to the tech global in advance this week while the Wall Street Journal revealed that Google is about to merge the 2 running techniques via 2017. As the WSJ mentioned: “Alphabet Inc. ’s Google plans to fold its Chrome running gadget for private computer systems into its Android cellular running gadget, in keeping with other folks conversant in the problem, an indication of the rising dominance of cellular computing. Google engineers were running for more or less years to mix the running methods and have made growth lately, of the folk stated. The corporate plans to unveil its new, unmarried running device in 2017, however expects to blow their own horns an early model subsequent yr, some of the folks stated.”

Of direction, this information increases a few critical questions: what is going to a merged Android and Chrome OS appear to be? Are Chromebooks lifeless? And why are Google doing this? Here’s the whole thing we all know.

Why is Google doing this?

Let’s get started with the large one. Google is merging the 2 OSes, essentially, as a result of Android is so rattling in style. It’s probably the most used OS in the world way to the proliferation of cellular units. But Google additionally is aware of that in spite of the superiority of drugs and smartphones, repeatedly the very best software you wish to have to succeed in a role is a pc or computer.

Even despite the fact that Google has Chromebook laptops, it is aware of a few of the global turns to Windows PCs, adopted through Apple’s laptops and computers once they want to paintings on a tool that gives greater than a telephone does. That may just provide a topic for Google someday as each Microsoft and Apple try to unify their tool services. Microsoft’s Windows 10 will paintings throughout pc and cellular, making running on and switching among the units extra interesting. Similarly, Apple has labored onerous in up to date years by the use of enhancements in OS Y and iOS (equivalent to Handoff and Continuity) to make running on and sharing files among units easy. Though Google has a solid platform in Android, it has no actual choice while Android customers need to paintings on a whole-fledged pc OS–and Google is concerned that as Microsoft and Apple paintings to unify their units, that would result in other folks leaving Android for answers that are a part of an environment throughout all tool varieties: telephone, tablet, and computer..

As the WSJ issues out, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, who spearheaded the improvement of the Chrome running gadget in 2009 and then went directly to oversee Android in 2013 lately stated “cellular as a computing paradigm is sooner or later going to mix with what we bring to mind as personal computer nowadays.”

In different phrases: Google needs to ensure it’s were given an outstanding foot within the computer recreation–and the sunshine browser-primarily based Chrome OS simply isn’t going to chop it to any extent further.

What will a merged Android/Chrome OS appear to be?

Good query–and person who there is not any solution to this present day. Clues may just most likely be derived from the Pixel C, that is a hybrid tablet-pc that runs Android. However, the Pixel H is largely simply Android with a hardware keyboard–now not a brand new pc model of the OS.

The final merged Android/Chrome OS will in all probability hold the glance and really feel of Android, however upload a extra computer-like record control construction (assume Finder in OS Y). It may even virtually no doubt strengthen common apps because the WSJ says the primary purpose of the merger is to get extra Android apps operating at the PC (presently Chrome OS can run a few Android apps, however few developers are porting their apps over as a result of the shortage of a giant Chrome OS consumer base).

What units will a merged Android/Chrome OS run on?

It’s most probably it's going to run on all Android smartphones and pills in addition to PCs. What isn’t recognized is that if the merged OSes will best run on Google-approved laptops (a brand new rebranded model of the Chromebook most likely) or can be installable on Windows-primarily based PCs. There’s additionally the likelihood that it may be able to run on Macs, identical to Windows can now run natively on Mac hardware by means of Bootcamp, however we’re now not positive Apple may permit this.

When will the merged Android/Chrome OS pop out?

The WSJ states that the merged OS will send someday in 2017, so it is nonetheless virtually years away. However, it's going to almost certainly be proven off at subsequent yr’s Google S/I, which might make Google’s subsequent developers convention probably the most fun in its historical past.

So are Chromebooks lifeless?

No. And nor is Chrome OS, according to Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Android, Chromecast, and Chrome OS. After the WSJ broke the scoop Lockheimer tweeted “There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very dedicated to Chrome OS. A simply purchased for my youngsters for schoolwork!”

Google additionally reached out to the Verge to explain that Chrome OS is not being “killed”. Instead it's going to remain evolved and maintained by way of Google along the merged Android/Chrome OS running gadget.

Similarly, the WSJ said: “Chromebooks gets a brand new, as but undetermined, identify, the folk conversant in the problem stated. Google plans to keep the Chrome identify for its Internet browser, which runs on each PCs and cellular units, they stated. Chrome OS will stay as an open source running device that different firms can use to make laptops, and Google engineers will proceed keeping up it. However, Google’s center of attention shall be on extending Android to run on laptops, in line with some of the other folks.”

And that’s actually all we all know for now. But something is needless to say, the Google/Android environment goes to get a lot more fascinating in the following few years.

10:51, 30 Oct 2015
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