Tech Rumor: Google Will Merge The Chrome OS With The Android

In the wake of the Pixel C using Android instead of the Chrome OS, reports have leaked out that Google is “folding” the Chrome OS “into” Android. The rationale, as The Verge speculated, is that Android has “emerged to be the more robust OS.” The tech hub eventually updated their report to reflect a statement from Google: The company is committed to the further development of the Chrome OS, and it is, in no way, working on “killing off” the “other” operating system.

According to The Verge’s report, a new operating system merging both Android and Chrome OS together may roll out by the year 2017. They scoped out the news from The Wall Street Journal, no less. The Wall Street Journal’s report claims to have insider info that Google has been developing the rumored “mashup OS” for “roughly two years” now. The report from the reputed news site also notes that a prototype of the merged OS will be showcased by next year.

More from The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/29/9639950/google-combining-android-chromeos-report

The full Wall Street Journal report: https://www.wsj.com/article_email/alphabets-google-to-fold-chrome-operating-system-into-android-1446151134-lMyQjAxMTA1NzIxOTAyMzk4Wj?alg=y

Alternative links, in the event that WSJ locks access to the article:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByxUwAPh-I98Z2tnZ0xsWlN6OUk/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByxUwAPh-I98OGhTa1lBTmsycGM/view?usp=sharing

Amidst reports of this “mashup” came protests, however. An article on The Register came with the headline, “Big mistake, Google. Big mistake: Chrome OS to be 'folded into Android',” which also featured a long list of protests gathered from Twitter. Good points were raised, but the general feel of the Tweets is that of disappointment in the rumored move. The overall consensus is that Chrome OS is a very secure system, and it shouldn’t be folded away into Android.

Even the IT and security parody Twitter account, SecuriTay [@SwiftOnSecurity], had its own two cents’ to share on the matter. Please note that this account is most likely not owned by Taylor Swift, the international recording superstar.

Check out the tweet here: https://twitter.com/SwiftOnSecurity/status/659863506783637505

For the whole report from The Register: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/29/google_chrome_os_android/

C|Net, on the other hand, gave a rather balanced, very sensible take on the matter. They gave three reasons why merging Chrome OS and Android is a good thing, and one compelling reason why the company shouldn’t even think about it. The truth of the matter is that Google is raking in billions by the day. They could afford to maintain a product that may not be as profitable, but helps the end-consumer rein in the costs.

The full report by C|Net: https://www.cnet.com/news/3-reasons-why-google-may-be-folding-chrome-os-into-android/

Ars Technica, meanwhile, issued a report that Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Android and Chrome OS, took to Twitter to reaffirm the company’s commitment to the Chrome OS. Ars Technica also notes that Google has the resources to maintain not one, not two, but three entire OSes, and has the penchant for developing “multiples of everything,” not minding that their products may compete for each other’s markets. A rather astute observation, and knowing Google’s commitment to maintaining a diverse OS ecosystem, Ars Technica’s observation may be accurate.

Ars Technica’s report: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/in-wake-of-merger-reports-google-says-its-committed-to-chrome-os/

Hiroshi Lockheimer’s tweet: https://twitter.com/lockheimer/status/659939015429255168

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On the whole, it’s rather reassuring to know that the Chrome OS is NOT on its way out. A robustly competitive market always means better options for the end-user. A monopoly isn’t healthy for the consumers; it limits their choices, and allows the monopolizing company to impose their terms on the consumers. In fact, there’s a danger that the monopolizing company would offer inferior products and shoddy services, just because the end-user has no choice. With Google’s decision to keep the Chrome OS alive and well, and with the probability of an Android-Chrome OS merged OS on the horizon, the end-user wins, all the way.

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More on the Chrome OS, via Chromebooks: https://www.droidreport.com/chromebooks-101-what-are-chromebooks-11332

About the Toshiba Chromebook 2: https://www.droidreport.com/toshiba-release-chromebook-2-october-11298

About the Pixel C: https://www.droidreport.com/pixel-c-not-chromebook-not-entry-level-device-either-11321