Android and ChromeOS are merging into a single operating system that will debut in Google’s new line of laptops, Googlebooks, announced at this week’s Android show. With no official name yet, the merged operating system is called Aluminum OS, but that will likely change by the time it hits machines.
We’ve known this for a while that Google’s mobile and cloud operating systems would merge, but several questions remain. Thanks to a few leaks, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Here’s what we know.
What do we know about Aluminum OS?
Although it won’t be called Aluminum OS when it officially arrives, Google has remained tight-lipped about the name. And beyond what Google showed us, we didn’t see much of the operating system in action.
Previously, a now-private ticket gave us our first look at the full Android desktop view. This short video shows two windows side by side reproducing an issue. Hours before this week’s Android Show, the full operating system setup experience was leaked in detail.
The interface resembles Android’s existing desktop view, but the video also showed an extensions icon – something entirely new for the Android operating system outside of third-party web browsers.
We can also expect a lot from Aluminum OS in terms of artificial intelligence. Gemini is already at the heart of Google’s Pixel phones, and that’s exactly what we should see with its laptop line.
How is this different from Android features in ChromeOS?
Since Chromebooks come with the Google Play Store, you might be wondering what’s wrong with Aluminum OS, which is fair. Unlike the Play Store on ChromeOS, Aluminum’s base layer is Android, offering native app support combined with a full desktop browsing experience from Chrome.
In essence, Aluminum OS appears to be a more powerful and flexible version of Android. Given the billions of Android devices in the world, the appeal of this new OS could be considerable. Having your laptop and phone running the same operating system should create a much more integrated software experience across all devices, with Gemini at the center.
