Google could be about to reveal its Android and Chrome OS merger

If you’ve been following Google for a while you’ll know that speculation around the company merging Android and Chrome OS into one single whole isn’t anything new, but the rumours have gained fresh impetus over the weekend.

Sources speaking to the usually reliable Android Police say Google is preparing to combine the two OSes into something codenamed Andromeda inside the company – that’s also the name of the nearest galaxy to the Milky Way or the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, depending on which meaning you want to take.

What adds extra credence to the idea is this tweet from Android and Chrome OS executive Hiroshi Lockheimer: “We announced the first version of Android eight years ago today,” he says. “I have a feeling eight years from now we’ll be talking about Oct 4, 2016.”

What’s Google planning?

Put Lockheimer’s post and Android Police’s sources together and it seems possible that Andromeda is about to be revealed, even if it’s not really ready yet. The ability to run Android apps is already available on some Chromebooks.

Folding Chrome OS into Android means Google can target even more devices with its mobile platform – think laptops and 2-in-1s. Last year The Wall Street Journal predicted that Andromeda would be previewed in 2016, and we’re getting close to 2017.

All of which makes us even more excited for whatever Google has in store at its event on 4 October – new phones, perhaps a smart home device or two, and possibly some huge news about Chrome OS and Android. We’ll bring you all the updates as they happen.

Everything we think we know about the Google Pixel phones:

Source: techradar.com

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6 Comments
  1. Reply Price Spencer September 25, 2016 at 9:33 am

    They would want this: One OS for mobile and desktop that runs the same apps. It is a game changer, neither of their competitors has that. Microsoft is closer but they have too much baggage (x86 compatability). Apple is too stuck on mobile to pull it off.

  2. Reply Emilie Eichmann September 25, 2016 at 11:31 am

    Do Android Apps work well on devices intented for your finger but without touch support though?

    Isn't that the point of ChromeOS? It doesn't need Apps per se as it has the Web. It cuts all the bloat out of owning a laptop to what a lot of people need from laptop: A proper typing experience coupled with the web.

  3. Reply Burdette Waters September 25, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    I agree Larry but x86 remains extremely powerful. Much more so than anything Google has managed. Baggage? Yes but powerful baggage.

  4. Reply Jeff Pfannerstill September 25, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    android is also much heavier on resources (CPU, RAM, battery), which is why long battery life on android phones is such a commodity. OTOH chrome os is very light on resources & as a result not only runs smoother but has excellent battery life. I'm not convinced the 2 could be merged successfully without eliminating the biggest selling point of chrome os, the battery life. I don't have a problem with android apps on chrome os, but beyond that I don't think it's a good idea.

  5. Reply Marlon Bauch September 26, 2016 at 2:51 am

    I still can't think of a good reason why you'd want this? –

    1. Android is already an excellent tablet and phone OS. The apps aren't designed for a Mouse or Keyboard.
    2. ChromeOS is already an excellent cloud laptop OS. It's not designed for your finger.

    Microsoft have just about managed it with Windows 10 but big parts of it, like being dumped into Control Panel, you still need a keyboard and mouse to use it effectively.

  6. Reply Jodie Ortiz September 26, 2016 at 8:51 am

    It's all about the developers. Developers are falling all over themselves writing Android apps. Chrome-specific apps? Not so much. So, ChromeOS continues to linger on being just a bootable web browser. Although it's very effective at this, they need to continue to seek out more ways to gain a competitive advantage to remain relevant for decades.

    Once they allowed Android apps on ChromeOS, I was finally able to gain access to some features I wished someone made available on ChromeOS for years, for instance.

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