Over the years, there have been whispers — talk even — of Google combining Chrome OS and Android ever since both came into existence. As both grew in maturity, the search giant has been making strides in bringing each more in line with the other. Coupled with Chrome’s lead Sundar Pichai moving to become the head of Android, and eventually the CEO of Google, others speculated it would be a matter of when, not if, for the combination of Android and Chrome OS. Even so, Google has been very adamant that both operating systems would separate but despite being adamant, actions speak louder than words.
According to an inside source, the growing dominance of mobile computing has Google planning on folding Chrome OS into Android. For the past two years, engineers at Mountain View have been working on combining the two OS’s and have apparently made progress recently. Positive strides aside, it looks like the earliest we’ll see the new combined OS in 2017. While that may be a little while to wait, we could see an example of an early version of the OS as early as next year.
According to these inside sources, this new version of Android will run on PCs and offer users access to Google’s Play Store and all its available apps. Chromebooks will receive a different moniker as well, although the Chrome browser will continue to carry the same name.
The move makes sense. Currently, while Chrome OS has been able to take advantage of some of Android’s apps, Google still has to develop two operating systems and combining the two will make it easier for developers who will have one thing to focus on. Folding Chrome into Android makes sense as well, considering it’s everywhere, and Chrome OS fills a small niche.
We’re still a ways off from 2017 and Android 7 or 8.0 — assuming that’s where we’ll be at that point — and the convergence of Chrome OS and Android. Though, it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out. What say you? Are you interested in what a Chromeified Android will look like? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.
[button link=”http://www.wsj.com/articles/alphabets-google-to-fold-chrome-operating-system-into-android-1446151134″ icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: The Wall Street Journal[/button]Image source: Bloomberg
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
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