According to recent reports, Google could well be planning to turn its ChromeOS into Android. Running Android as an OS could give people the best of both worlds, and it could help them to take some of the market share from Apple as well. This would offer people various benefits, as instead of working differently between mobile and desktop, Google would be able to develop one OS that supports multiple devices and platforms. This may, in turn, have implications for the sorts of devices they release in future.
Big News for Apps and Developers
Android has always been a solid choice when it comes to both functionality and speed. The new OS could help to bridge the gap, and it might offer the best of both worlds.
As time goes on, mobile applications are starting to mirror desktop versions, becoming simultaneously more complex and intuitive. Facebook’s app, for example, doesn’t compromise functionality and offers all the same features as the desktop site. Netflix’s app equally offers the same content as the desktop variant, complete with options to change settings and customize the experience.
Online poker apps are also following this trend, with a number of sites now releasing top-rated apps that almost exactly mirror the experience of the desktop client. All of this, spanning disparate sectors, is helping to narrow the gap between mobile and desktop users, and it is providing people with more options than ever.
Adopting Android as an OS could be a smart move from Google, as it means that loyal consumers of one format could finally stop missing out on big features.
Could Google be Bringing back the Pixel Laptop?
There are also discussions regarding Google and the possibility of them bringing back the Chromebook Pixel laptop. This was put to rest a couple of years ago, but since then, there have been talks about future laptops running the new Android software. Google is moving in this direction already, as last year, the company decided to merge certain parts of the Android operating system with its own Chrome OS.
One big factor behind their decision to do this is that they are trying to build an Android framework into the ChromeOS to better support AI. With AI being such a hot topic right now, it makes perfect sense for the company to move in this direction.
Embracing the Android framework could open lots of new doors, and it looks like there is a big focus on embracing AI capabilities right now. Google themselves have said that they are taking active steps to ensure this, and bringing back the Pixel Laptop could be the best way to go about it.
Of course, bringing back the Pixel Laptop in the form of a high-end Chromebook could also mean that Google is once again able to rival Apple. Apple iPads were among the highest-selling tablets on the market last year and remain so, and their Mac computers also take up a huge share. Reintroducing the Pixel laptop as a Chromebook, especially if it merged with an Android OS, could be just what the company needs to take back control and bring fresh competition to the industry.