Android operating system now runs on computers, ready to be launched next year

 Android operating system now runs on computers, ready to be launched next year

Google has officially confirmed its plan to merge its mobile operating system Android and its laptop-based ChromeOS into a single new operating system for computers. At Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Summit, a top Google executive revealed that the much-anticipated system will arrive next year.

The announcement signals a major shift in Google’s operating system strategy. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said he has seen the new system and that it is amazing. He is also a key partner in the project.

Google’s platform and device chief Rick Osterloh, who was on stage at the opening ceremony of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, gave an update on the ambitious project. “In the past, we have always built separate systems for PCs and smartphones, but now we have started a project to connect them.”

“We’re building a common technology foundation for PCs and desktop computing,” Osterloh added.

This common foundation aims to bring Google’s Gemini AI model, the entire Android AI stack, and Android’s vast application and developer community to the PC ecosystem.

How and when is it coming?

At the same event, Google’s head of Android ecosystem, Samir Samat, explained more about how the merger is happening. “We’re taking the ChromeOS experience and re-baselining the underlying technology to Android,” he said. This means that while users will get the same ChromeOS experience, the underlying foundation will be Android.

Samat responded to a question about when the system will be available, saying, “This is something we’re really excited about next year.”

After Google’s presentation, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon gave a very encouraging response. He said, "I've seen it, it's incredible. It makes the vision of combining mobile and PC a reality. I'm excited for it."

Amon's statement suggests that the project is well advanced and could be a sign of a new hardware product. This collaboration between Google and Qualcomm is significant, as Qualcomm is not only making powerful chips for Android phones, but also for Windows PCs, such as the Snapdragon X2 Elite.

The move suggests that future Chromebooks and Google's rumored 'Pixel Laptop' could run Android instead of ChromeOS. Google has already been improving Android for larger screens.

These include features such as desktop mode, better window management, and external monitor support. This combination of Android and ChromeOS is expected to bridge the gap between mobile and PC computing.