Android and ChromeOS are merging into a single operating system that will debut in Google’s new laptop lineup, Googlebooks, announced during this week’s Android Show. With no official name yet, the merged operating system has been going by Aluminum OS, but that will likely change by the time it arrives on machines.
We’ve known for some time that Google’s mobile and cloud-based operating systems would be merging, but several questions still remain. Through a handful of leaks, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Here’s what we know.
What do we know about Aluminum OS?
Though it won’t be called Aluminum OS when it officially arrives, Google has remained tight-lipped about the name. And beyond what Google has shown us, we haven’t seen much of the operating system in action.
Previously, a now-private issue ticket gave us our first glimpse of the full Android desktop view. This short video shows two side-by-side windows replicating an issue. Hours before this week’s Android Show, the full setup experience of the OS was leaked in detail.
The interface looks similar to Android’s existing desktop view, but the video also showed an extensions icon — something entirely new to the Android operating system outside of third-party web browsers.
We can also expect a lot from Aluminum OS in the way 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 lineup.
How is this different from ChromeOS’s Android features?
Given that Chromebooks ship with the Google Play Store out of the box, you might wonder what the big deal is with Aluminum OS, which is fair. Unlike the Play Store on ChromeOS, the base layer of Aluminum is Android, offering native app support combined with a full desktop browsing experience from Chrome.
In essence, Aluminum OS seems poised to be a more powerful and flexible version of Android. Given the billions of Android devices worldwide, the appeal of this new OS could be substantial. Having both your laptop and phone running the same operating system should create a far more integrated software experience across devices, with Gemini at the center.
