Android boss says Google is still “very committed” to Chrome OS
Chrome OS may be absorbed into Android at some point, but Google is not ready to talk about its demise just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Google will “fold” Chrome OS into Android by 2017. That’s due to the prevalence of Android over the capable, but largely unpopular cloud-centric model of Chrome OS, according to the people familiar with the matter. The dual approach of Android on phones and Chrome OS on PCs is “no longer relevant to Google,” the story goes.
In the hours after the WSJ story was published, The Verge and Recode both independently confirmed the information. We will reportedly get our first look at the Android-Chrome OS hybrid at Google I/O next year.
According to Recode, Chrome OS and Chromebooks won’t be going away, at least not right away. Google’s partners will still get to use Chrome OS for their laptops, which have proven a hit in schools and enterprise. But laptops makers will also be able to choose Android for their products.
Hiroshi Lockheimer, the newly anointed head of Android and Chrome, took to Twitter to reassure Chrome OS fans that the operating system will live on, in one form or another.
There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) October 30, 2015
We can’t expect Lockheimer to fess up on Google’s long-term plans. And, small as the Chrome OS ecosystem may be, Google still needs to reassure users, developers, and partners that they are not investing in a dead platform.
Lockheimer’s tweet, however, can be taken as a sign that Chrome OS will live on in some form, even if it’s just functionality integrated into Android.
It will definitely be a very interesting 12-24 months in the world of Android. After tackling wearables, TVs, and autos, Google seems ready to make Android a real computer operating system. It definitely won’t be easy, and Android will need a massive revamp in order to make it truly PC-friendly. But the horizon opened by this expansion is wide open.
Google slaps Symantec for issuing fake web security certificates
Not long ago, Symantec revealed that it had issued bogus security certificates for numerous web domains, including Google’s… and as you might guess, Google isn’t happy. The search firm is warning Symantec that, as of June 1st, any Symantec certificates which don’t meet its transparency policy may create warnings and “problems” in Google products (read: they’ll be deemed insecure). Moreover, it’s asking Symantec to explain why it didn’t catch some of the fake certificates, the causes behind each slip-up and the steps it’ll take to set things right. Not surprisingly, Google doesn’t want malicious sites posing as someone else (especially not Google) in order to deliver malware or perpetuate phishing scams.
Source: Google Online Security Blog
Report: Google to fold Chrome OS into Android by 2017
For years now, there has been an awkward disconnect between Google’s two main operating systems – Chrome OS and Android. While Android was geared towards more touch-friendly interfaces such as smartphones and tablets, Chrome OS was better suited for the desktop, which is why Google powered all of its Chromebooks with the lean OS. Unsurprisingly, that might be changing sometime soon, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
The single OS will become available in the year 2017
The report states that, according to people familiar with the matter, Google plans to fold its Chrome OS into Android by the year 2017. Google engineers have supposedly been working for roughly two full years on the big transition, and have just made significant progress recently. The single operating system will become officially available in the year 2017, though Google will show off an early version next year.
The new version of Android will also run on PCs and will have access to the Google Play Store. Google apparently wants to get its moneymaking software (Search and YouTube) on as many devices as possible, so what better way to do it than this. Additionally, Chromebooks will apparently be renamed, though the new name has yet to be revealed. Google’s Chrome browser will retain the Chrome name.
Related: Google Pixel C hands-on and first look
Although it sounds like a stark change in mindset, this should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been watching Chrome OS and Android develop throughout the years. We’ve seen Microsoft do the same thing with Windows 10, which allows some applications to run on both PCs and mobile devices. Google just recently unveiled a new tablet at its big Nexus event in September called the Pixel C, which, oddly enough, runs Android. It’s the first device in the company’s Pixel line of laptops to drop Chrome OS and run Android, which was no doubt an interesting move. Google has also made Android applications available on Chrome recently, which should be the biggest sign of the two operating systems coming together.
Those are all of the details we have for now, but we’ll definitely let you know once we learn more. For now, tell us – are you excited for Android and Chrome OS coming together, or do you think Chrome OS is better suited for the desktop?
Android and Chrome OS may be combined as early as next year
For years, people have wondered if Google would merge its Android and Chrome operating systems, and the company has steadfastly held to them important but distinct pieces of its strategy. That might be changing: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google has been working for two years to merge Chrome OS and Android. The results of that unified operating system is expected to be officially released to the public in 2017, but we may see an early version as soon as next year.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Google Keep welcomes your pretty drawings on Android
Google’s Keep note-taking app has improved drastically since its release in 2013, thanks to features like labeled to-do lists being added over time. It’s also now available for iOS, which opened the gates to the large audience of people who own Apple devices and use Google cloud services. Now, the search company is adding support for drawings to the Android version of Keep, letting you start dropping in doodles to any of your notes. It’s a nice addition to an application that’s useful as it stands; when you consider that it supports audio, photo and text notes, as well as lists, drawings was arguably the only feature missing. The update via Google Play is said to be rolling out already, but you can grab the APK here (courtesy of Android Police) if you don’t feel like waiting.
Via: The Verge
Source: Android Police
Google wants to cover the entire globe with Project Loon internet in 2016
Google’s Project Loon is an ambitious project to bring internet access to tons of different places in the world through floating balloons. It’s a weird concept, but it’s been growing rapidly and so far, it’s worked pretty well for Google.
The next step for Project Loon, according to Google, involves covering the entire globe with internet access in 2016. That’s a bold plan, but Google is working on creating a string of continuous balloons that will create widespread coverage with no gaps. Initially Project Loon will test continuous coverage in the southern hemisphere, and if that goes well, it will expand from there.
This global coverage is now possible thanks to significantly better technology in the balloons that Google is using to deploy internet coverage. The newer balloons can relay internet connections back and forth, with a range of up to 100 km. That allows internet operators to drastically increase their coverage range to get more and more people connected to the internet.
source: Project Loon (Google+)
Come comment on this article: Google wants to cover the entire globe with Project Loon internet in 2016
Deal: Learn-by-Example Android Developer Course lifetime subscription only $19
Want to learn how to make Android apps? We know it can be an intimidating challenge, but nowadays there are so many tools out there to make the learning process easier. And some of us are better at learning visually, hence people pay thousands of dollars and spend years in school. Today’s AA Deals Store offer helps you polish your Android developing skills with only $19, though. This happens to be a 90% discount over the suggested $199 price point.
Here’s how the system works: the Learn-by-Example Android Developer Course consists of 59 lectures and over 11 hours of content.
Students will build 10 Android apps in the process, as well as learn about all the technologies and APIs needed for making a proper application. Among these apps there will be a news reader, a navigation app, a YouTube app and more. Furthermore, you will gain experience in using Android Studio and Eclipse ADT.
The only caveat is you will need to have some knowledge of Java and Android. In a way, you have to have an intermediate level of development experience, but if you have that covered taking on the course will be a breeze. And those who complete the course will even get a certificate to corroborate their skill level.
So what are you waiting for? Embark on this journey and make your developing dreams come true. This could even be the beginning of a brand new career! And for $19, this deal is a total winner.
Nexus 6P gets the teardown treatment
The folks over at iFixIt have finally managed to get their hands on the brand new Nexus 6P following shipping hold-ups, and have dismantled it in their usual fashion just to show us how difficult it is to repair. The handset can be taken apart in 16 relatively complex steps, earning it a repairability score of 2 out of 10, which isn’t great when you consider its sister smartphone, the Nexus 5X, weighed in at 7 out of 10.
Hit the break to see a few key images from the teardown.
Source: iFixIt
Come comment on this article: Nexus 6P gets the teardown treatment
Google Photos scores a nifty feature with new update
With a new update of Google Photos, Google has expanded further upon its already neat capabilities. The company also brought its popular face recognition feature to Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand along with other parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
With the new update, version 1.8, Google expanded upon its face categorizing feature. Now users can hide someone who appears under “People” so that others can’t see photos of him/her when viewing. It makes perfect sense for when you’re showing your girlfriend your gallery and don’t want her to see your ex. But it can be valuable to just about anyone in some way. Additionally, it will stop resurfacing these people or person under the “rediscover this day” tab.
The update is hitting Android devices now, with iOS support coming “very soon.”
Source: Google (Google+)
Come comment on this article: Google Photos scores a nifty feature with new update
Google Photos will hide pics of your ex on Android
An unfortunate part of the future we live in is photos surfacing in our digital history of people we’d rather not see again. Google has a way around that with the latest update to its Photos app on Android. Now you can hide a specific person under the People tab. As the Google+ post tells it, that’ll keep the new grouped photos tool from resurfacing in those people under the “rediscover this day” tab as well. It isn’t quite the level that Lacuna, Inc. works at but, combined with Facebook’s similar tools, it could help save some heartache. It’s rolling out to folks running Mountain View’s mobile OS right now, with iOS and web updates coming “very soon.”
Source: Google Photos (G+), Google Play
AIVAnet 