So, why is Google so interested in combining Android apps and Chrome OS?
Advertisement
The company further adds in the post that not only this gives a boost to the Chrome OS but will also make it easy for developers to bring their apps on the OS without any need to roll out an update. Any Android app that is distributed via the Google Play Store will run on Chrome OS in the near future, Google says.
Google is bringing Google Play to Chrome OS. “You will get hands-on help from our friendly engineers on how to optimize your Android app for Chromebooks”, said the company on May 19, on its Google I/O website. Also, Google hopes to address the existing needs of Chromebook users such as being able to run more apps, use Office files more easily, connect with a variety of apps, and do more when they’re offline. However, like the Web Store, if the Play Store makes its way to the Chrome Browser, Chrombooks will be at a disadvantage again. However, there’s one serious knock against them: a lack of major apps and games built for Chrome OS. According to the tech giant, Waze was the single most-requested app since the Android Auto interface was made available commercially.
Alongside the Chrome announcement, Google’s I/O developer conference featured announcements such as the latest update to the operating system with Android N, updates for Android Wear and a new messaging app called Allo.
In the below video, this Googler demoed two different use cases for Android Instant Apps.
Chromebooks outsold the entire Mac range in the first quarter of 2016 in the United States, marking the first time Google’s cloud-powered notebooks beat out Apple’s premium product family.
However, beyond the apparent advantages that come bundled with the Chromebook also came a dearth of apps. For timescales Google is rather loose, only saying that Google Play will start rolling out in the developer channel for a select few Chromebook models, with the rest of us asked to wait for more details “over the next few months”.
Advertisement
Google revealed its been working with partners to launch new devices “specially designed” for Google Play access.
