7 ms·

Google is turning Chrome OS into Android to compete with the iPad

36 points by el_duderino 2y ago

ninju 2y ago
Apple has different OSs for different usecases 1) iOS for phones 2) iPadOS for tablets 3) MacOS for computers Google attempt to use one OS (Android) for both phones and tablets will result an unwieldy API for developers and confusing experience for users. Rather than trying to build 'one size fits' solution they should aim for 'right tool for the job' strategy
- lxgr 2y ago
  iOS and iPadOS are really the same OS under a different marketing label. If you look only at APIs, the overlap even with macOS is very large and getting larger every year. Chrome OS and Android are much farther apart, both in terms of API (web apps and Android are very different; iOS apps can run unmodified on newer Macs, for example) and OS implementation.
- valiant55 2y ago
  Is there meaningful difference between iOS and iPadOS?
  - hackerbrother 2y ago
    They are probably effectively two builds of the same OS.
- blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
  I have a feeling this is less about the design of OSs or APIs and more about how they respond to regulatory pressure to spin off Chrome into a separate business. They may be rebranding parts of the Chrome ecosystem so they aren’t forced to get rid of it.
- mort96 2y ago
  Hm, "will result in"? Android has been an OS for both phones and tablets for decades, most non-iPad tablets already run Android
  - staticman2 2y ago
    The first android tablet launched in 2010, so it certainly hasn't been a tablet OS for decades.
nashashmi 2y ago
Look guys, google sells a pc. It can run web apps. It can ran phone apps (android vm). It can run desktop apps (linux vm). And it no longer runs like the original chrome os did way before (simple and lightweight). It needs to be in the $600 price category to be decent.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  And crap PC at it, because above 500 euros price, I have better options in CPU, memory and SSD offering, with much better case.
  - nashashmi 2y ago
    I agree. But can it run phone apps?
kwere 2y ago
I would love Google developing an Android desktop enviroment meant to be used as an OS alternative to Windows and MacOS. Probably they can have a native compatibility with Linux software, and maybe bring some good UI, UX. Midrange Phone hardware can handle your average productivity needs. Desktop Mode in Android 15 looks like a move into a desktop set up.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- fsflover 2y ago
  GNU/Linux phones already exist, running desktop OSes.
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    And since OpenMoko, never really made a dent in the market, continuous reboots of the same idea, without grasping why normies don't get them, as means to a sustainable business.
    - fsflover 2y ago
      Who said they were designed to be used by the normies? At least in the beginning. I use one as a daily driver and happy.
      - pjmlp 2y ago
        It is a logical consequence of "as means to a sustainable business".
        fsflover 2y ago
        You can't just create a well-polished, iPhone-like device with a company of 100000 times smaller size than Apple. You inevitably start with a niche audience.
youngtaff 2y ago
Sounds like the death of Chromebooks as a development environment
- RandomThoughts3 2y ago
  Sounds more to me like Google taking convergence seriously which is a clever way to attack Apple in the tablet market since Google has no real laptop line to actually cannibalise. With side loading, nothing really prevents you from doing development on Android apart from the poor UX. Technically, I’m fairly sure Google could probably easily give you access to a full sandboxed Linux environment if they think it’s a good idea.
- ankurdhama 2y ago
  Google is already adding a Linux VM terminal app to android (just like the one you have on Chromeos): https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1gpt22g/android_15_qpr2_confirms_google_is_adding_a_linux/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1gpt22g/android_15...
vondur 2y ago
I wonder how this will affect the EDU market here in the US. ChromeBooks are heavily used in K-12 education and are nearly ubiquitous. If they keep the same manageability as is currently available for Chromebooks, it should be fine. IF not, it could be big trouble for schools.
- roody15 2y ago
  Agree. The simplicity of chromeOS has made it a perfect fit for schools. A full Android based desktop could be problematic in the educational space. In a nutshell schools benefit from a a simple, restrictive, laptop device that runs the web well.
ilikeitdark 2y ago
Google messing up their products....again.

36 points by el_duderino 2y ago

Apple has different OSs for different usecases 1) iOS for phones 2) iPadOS for tablets 3) MacOS for computers Google attempt to use one OS (Android) for both phones and tablets will result an unwieldy API for developers and confusing experience for users. Rather than trying to build 'one size fits' solution they should aim for 'right tool for the job' strategy

lxgr 2y ago
iOS and iPadOS are really the same OS under a different marketing label. If you look only at APIs, the overlap even with macOS is very large and getting larger every year. Chrome OS and Android are much farther apart, both in terms of API (web apps and Android are very different; iOS apps can run unmodified on newer Macs, for example) and OS implementation.
valiant55 2y ago
Is there meaningful difference between iOS and iPadOS?
- hackerbrother 2y ago
  They are probably effectively two builds of the same OS.
blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
I have a feeling this is less about the design of OSs or APIs and more about how they respond to regulatory pressure to spin off Chrome into a separate business. They may be rebranding parts of the Chrome ecosystem so they aren’t forced to get rid of it.
mort96 2y ago
Hm, "will result in"? Android has been an OS for both phones and tablets for decades, most non-iPad tablets already run Android
- staticman2 2y ago
  The first android tablet launched in 2010, so it certainly hasn't been a tablet OS for decades.

nashashmi 2y ago

Look guys, google sells a pc. It can run web apps. It can ran phone apps (android vm). It can run desktop apps (linux vm). And it no longer runs like the original chrome os did way before (simple and lightweight). It needs to be in the $600 price category to be decent.

pjmlp 2y ago
And crap PC at it, because above 500 euros price, I have better options in CPU, memory and SSD offering, with much better case.
- nashashmi 2y ago
  I agree. But can it run phone apps?

kwere 2y ago

I would love Google developing an Android desktop enviroment meant to be used as an OS alternative to Windows and MacOS. Probably they can have a native compatibility with Linux software, and maybe bring some good UI, UX. Midrange Phone hardware can handle your average productivity needs. Desktop Mode in Android 15 looks like a move into a desktop set up.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
fsflover 2y ago
GNU/Linux phones already exist, running desktop OSes.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  And since OpenMoko, never really made a dent in the market, continuous reboots of the same idea, without grasping why normies don't get them, as means to a sustainable business.
  - fsflover 2y ago
    Who said they were designed to be used by the normies? At least in the beginning. I use one as a daily driver and happy.
    - pjmlp 2y ago
      It is a logical consequence of "as means to a sustainable business".
      - fsflover 2y ago
        You can't just create a well-polished, iPhone-like device with a company of 100000 times smaller size than Apple. You inevitably start with a niche audience.

youngtaff 2y ago

Sounds like the death of Chromebooks as a development environment

RandomThoughts3 2y ago
Sounds more to me like Google taking convergence seriously which is a clever way to attack Apple in the tablet market since Google has no real laptop line to actually cannibalise. With side loading, nothing really prevents you from doing development on Android apart from the poor UX. Technically, I’m fairly sure Google could probably easily give you access to a full sandboxed Linux environment if they think it’s a good idea.
ankurdhama 2y ago
Google is already adding a Linux VM terminal app to android (just like the one you have on Chromeos): https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1gpt22g/android_15_qpr2_confirms_google_is_adding_a_linux/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1gpt22g/android_15...

vondur 2y ago

I wonder how this will affect the EDU market here in the US. ChromeBooks are heavily used in K-12 education and are nearly ubiquitous. If they keep the same manageability as is currently available for Chromebooks, it should be fine. IF not, it could be big trouble for schools.

roody15 2y ago
Agree. The simplicity of chromeOS has made it a perfect fit for schools. A full Android based desktop could be problematic in the educational space. In a nutshell schools benefit from a a simple, restrictive, laptop device that runs the web well.

ilikeitdark 2y ago

Google messing up their products....again.