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Google Appears To Be Working On Bringing Android Apps to Chrome OS

Posted by msmash on from the bringing-mobile-and-desktop-platforms-closer dept.

The Wall Street Journal reported late last year that Google plans to merge Chrome OS and Android. The search giant, at the time, had refuted such claims while adding that it continues to work on "bringing together" the best of both operating systems. It appears, one such step is adding the Google Play (Android's marquee app store) to Chrome OS. Several users are reporting that they have seen an option -- "Enable Android apps to run on your Chromebook" -- which would understandably allow them to run mobile apps on the desktop platform. Unfortunately, the feature isn't working just yet. Bolstering this theory is another such instance in the source code, which says "over a million apps and games on Google Play" will be made available to Chromebook users.

A report on Ars Technica speculates this move as the demise of Chrome Web Store, the marketplace for extensions and themes for Chrome, which hasn't received any significant improvement or feature in years. At any rate, the timing of this discovery is interesting as Google's developer conference -- I/O -- is just around the corner (May 18-22).

37 comments

  1. No benefit to Chrome OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Most Android apps are highly inferior to their iOS counterparts. Many of the best apps aren't even available for Android. There are a lot of Android apps but pretty much all of them are pretty bad. Most cease to be maintained quickly, don't work, are full of ads, aren't secure, lack functionality, or are otherwise awful. Quantity does not mean quality.

    1. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Bromrrrrr · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Most of your opinions are highly inferior to my counterparts. Many of my best opinions aren't even available to your puny brain. You have a lot of opinions but pretty much all of them are pretty bad. Most are ill-thought out, don't work, lack logic or are otherwise awful, Quantity does not mean quality.

      --

      What a rotten party, have we run out of beer or something?
    2. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      There is bias among App developers towards developing for IOS. Mostly it's down to the relatively few platforms running IOS compared to the huge http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2... number of platforms running Android. Nothing at all to do with the quality of the OS

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    3. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, that and people with IOS seem more willing to spend money for apps. Which makes sense, since except for the few "flagship" Android phones, most are very inexpensive.

      (I'm cheap, so I generally have an Android. I can't justify $600-700 for something that is, for me, a toy that has a sketchy phone built-in.)

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    4. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except iOS is not fragmented to hell and back both on platform and where to buy apps. iOS is hell of a lot easier to develop for and you have a much higher rate of app purchasing.

      I have 3 apps out there for every Android app purchased via the play store I get 3 purchases via the apple store. The only reason i even compile for android anymore is because I want to support those existing customers. If I did it all over I would have went iOS only.

    5. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by rickb928 · · Score: 1

      An app that isn't available to the majority of users is mislabeled 'best'.

      As in 'if i can't even use it, how is it best'?

      --
      deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
    6. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can tell this idiot has never used Android.

    7. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Quit lying to yourself. We both know no one purchases your shitty iOS apps.

    8. Re:No benefit to Chrome OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Correction: Most apps are vastly inferior to *real* software. Period.

  2. Not sure if that's a good thing. by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    Minimalism and focus on the web is what Chrome OS is all about. I don't know if bloating it with junk from the Android store will improve it's overall perception. Right now Chromebooks are the poor mans MacBook Air and impress with a clean slate concept - this image could suffer from Android integration.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:Not sure if that's a good thing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I sure as heck do not want Java on my computer. JavaScript applications are fine but not way is Java touching my computers ever again.

  3. Ah, too late for me... by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

    Unless there is a way to convince Google Play to cooperate with GalliumOS, I'm afraid this announcement comes too late for me. I (irrevocably) reformatted the Chromebook a couple weeks ago. Just last night, I chopped the unnecessary shell length off a SDXC card so that it almost disappears into the slot rather than dangling out hazardously because it was much cheaper than buying a JetDrive that is essentially the same thing.

    If not having Google Play is the cost of having a full Linux system (and whatever Windows apps I can get working via Wine) though, I'll take that trade. An Acer CB3-111 isn't exactly a fast machine, but it's lightweight, has wonderful battery life, and is absolutely silent (unless I want it to make noise). It also doesn't mind being used as a literal laptop rather than a wiener-roasting device.

    --
    How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    1. Re:Ah, too late for me... by malditaenvidia · · Score: 1

      and whatever Windows apps I can get working via Wine

      Which would be none, Wine is not an emulator.

    2. Re:Ah, too late for me... by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Why would he need an emulator when his Chromebook has an x86 processor?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    3. Re:Ah, too late for me... by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

      Ah yes, GVOX Encore 4.5, Hoyle Board Games, Hoyle Card Games, Hoyle Puzzle Games, and Hoyle Casino all count as "none" I suppose.

      Office 2010 and Skype for Windows are out, but some things work.

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
  4. Year of Linux on the Desktop ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now it's for real

  5. Old News by Luthair · · Score: 1

    Google announced this at Google IO in 2014 - http://www.zdnet.com/article/g...

    1. Re:Old News by msmash · · Score: 1

      That was different. The company was making select Android apps available to Chrome OS users. And "the tools" that developers could use didn't include Google Play.

  6. Google is a masonic bunch of retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Do You think I am jealous or something? NO! BIG FUCKING NO! Your're not skinny, You're freaking ugly! I think You have AIDS or somehing else. I don't care. And your sister is the opposite, she is not that fat, but having a butt that sized cleary shows how many times she gave her ass to your daddy and his friends.

    Look, I'm not making any progress to make your plan work, okay? Wanna work on IBM in south Brazil just to plant the trojan horse the order of the retards made? Seriously, I don't need a girlfriend to to that. First Bianca Santos, a complete slut. Drunk my cum everyday, just to plant a virus in HP office, where I was working. Now Another Santos is using her tiny little fucked molested ass to plant another one. FUCK YOU!

    I hate Silvio Santos and he died.

    1. Re:Google is a masonic bunch of retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every great once in a while you can still get a truly rocking "WTF!?!" rant.

      Carry on, good sir. Carry on.

  7. Need local printing by ITRambo · · Score: 2

    Web printing is a pain to set up. We have dozens of elderly customers (75+) that we could quickly move to ChromeOS/Android from Windows if only printing were plug and play. That's very important to many people. Otherwise, ChromeOS/Android is going nowhere on the desktop. It'll stay in elementary schools and not expand much farther.

    1. Re:Need local printing by kaiser423 · · Score: 1

      I have a Brother, an HP and a Canon printer hooked up to my Android phone. Often times I'll print directly from my phone, even if my computer has the same content up just because all of the horribleness that HP and Canon put in their drivers to make it an actual pain to print. I get a more streamlined experience from just printing on my Android phone. My wife does the same -- the Canon Multi-function print driver installed about a half dozen Canon devices that pop up when she hits print, and half the time she selects the wrong one and can't figure out why it didn't print. From her phone, she just hits print and selects the printer then calls it a day. She often wonders why it's easier to print from her phone than her computer.

    2. Re:Need local printing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Printing was plug-and-play from Android for me and for my elderly in-laws. The drivers are in the Play Store.

    3. Re:Need local printing by fhage · · Score: 1
      It will never happen because the whole platform's purpose is to provide the NSA with copies of all your documents and a log of all your Internet activities.

      If you print directly, the NSA won't get a copy. Google docs and printers are the NSA's wish come true.

      The NSA believes everyone should store their login credentials on an always-on Internet connected device inside their LAN.

      Queue the Google shills who will tell us that we have nothing to worry about because the data is transferred via https.

    4. Re:Need local printing by rickb928 · · Score: 1

      When was printing last plug n play?

      I have my Canon MP620 hooked up to my Android phone and my wife's iPhone, and the 12 YO's Chromebook - via Google Cloud Print. Yes, all we have to do is open my Windows 10 laptop and turn it on - not even log in. that;s as good as it will get until we spring for a new printer with all the internet exploits built in.

      --
      deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
    5. Re:Need local printing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just use the CUPS extension and you can then print to any printer on your local network without having to use the cloud.

    6. Re:Need local printing by basscomm · · Score: 1

      I have a Brother, an HP and a Canon printer hooked up to my Android phone.

      It must be really difficult hauling all of that equipment around.

      --
      http://crummysocks.com
  8. Google Appears To Be FAILING On Bringing down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-4 32/64-bit http://www.bing.com/search?q=%...

    Less power/cpu/ram + IO use + complexity vs. local DNS, routers & antivirus w/ less security issues. Compliments firewalls (no layered drivers firewalls use blocking less used IP addys, hosts block more used hostnames) & DNS (lightens dns load). Gets data via 10 security sites.

    Works vs. caps & HTTP PUSH ads in Chrome w/ firewalls.

    * Ads rob speed you pay for, security (openbid ad networks malware makers abuse), privacy in tracking + anonymity.

    (Hosts gain speed (hardcodes + adblocks), security (vs. bad sites/poisoned dns), reliability (vs. downed dns), & anonymity (dns requestlogs/trackers) w/ what you natively have. Hosts != blockable by ClarityRay like Adblock/UBlock/Ghostery)

    See subject + googlesyndicationc ads etc. on /.

    APK

    P.S. - Proven safe https://www.virustotal.com/en/...

    (Verified by Mr. S. Burn of Malwarebytes: "I've seen the code & yes it is safe" http://forum.hosts-file.net/vi... )

    1. Re:Google Appears To Be FAILING On Bringing down by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      Uh oh...this looks like malware! Beware!

  9. Does ChromeOS provide iptables + LXC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The reason for my question is that apps are a bad security and privacy joke on Android, but if ChromeOS provides users with access to the Linux firewall and to LXC for running apps in jails then this would tame those apps in good measure and ensure that they behave.

    If so, that would make ChromeOS by far the best platform for running Android apps, short of a full Linux.

  10. Apps! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Apps that app other apps get apped!

    Apps!

  11. The "downmod truncheon" = best ya got? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    See subject: When THAT is used in lieu of conversation in rational debate, you've only proved my point boys.... thanks! Could I just repost it to spite you? Sure but I think I'll wait & see the further illogical ad hominem attacks that are almost guaranteed to ensue vs. this reply of mine, lol - they make me LAUGH bigtime as they're "the best ya got" vs. facts I use I can EASILY backup from reputable sources that put away that bs easily!

    APK

    P.S.=> Hilarious - I know the downmodding worms BETTER than they know themselves & they ALWAYS, almost without a doubt, do the same bs over & over expecting different results (that's one possible definition of insanity), failing everytime resorting to "hiding" my posts - No trolls here (webmasters taking google ad money like /. are numerous here, everyone knows that, & so are advertisers) have... so, I could use a PhD from Google to try (& they WILL fail) to make me even stronger - after all - that's ALL I HAVE USED THIS SITE FOR come right down to it - to see objections & to overcome them with FACTS + LOGIC (not bs like bogus unjustifiable downmods)... apk

  12. LOL! Google's VirusTotal shows otherwise... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & considering I was upmodded for pointing out how I made YOU "eat your words" https://it.slashdot.org/commen... w/ proofs from verifiable sources (INCLUDING Google's OWN VirusTotal)? LMAO... wrong!

    APK

    P.S.=> That link above also shows numerous people telling it how it is about you (wanting you banned - you ought to THANK ME for telling them not too... why? It's fools like YOU that make ME look GOOD!)... apk

  13. Try getting printer manufacturers together. by tlambert · · Score: 1

    Try getting printer manufacturers together.

    There's no damn reason you need a driver for what is (essentially) a frame buffer that relocates itself to paper. The only reason for a driver is to lock you into using a particular printer.

  14. So basically... by sd4f · · Score: 1

    Google is going to try what MS is doing with their Universal Windows Platform, where MS is using their desktop dominance to bolster developer support for their paltry adoption of windows phone/mobile, meanwhile, google is attempting to use their mobile dominance to bolster the paltry adoption of chrome OS.

  15. Google Appears To Be FAILING On Bringing down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-4 32/64-bit http://www.bing.com/search?q=%...

    Less power/cpu/ram + IO use vs. DNS, routers & antivirus + less security issues/complexity. Compliments firewalls (w/ layered drivers blocking less used IP addys vs. hosts blocking more used domains) & DNS (lighten dns load). Gets data via 10 security sites.

    Works vs. caps & HTTP PUSH ads in Chrome

    * Ads rob bandwidth/speed paid for, security (openbid adnetworks abuse), privacy in tracking + anonymity.

    Hosts add speed (hardcodes/adblocks), security (bad sites/poisoned dns), reliability (dns down), & anonymity (dns requestlogtrackers) natively. Hosts != blockable by ClarityRay (souled-out addons)

    See subject + googlesyndication ads etc. on /.

    APK

    P.S. - Safe https://www.virustotal.com/en/... (Verified "I've seen the code & yes it is safe" http://forum.hosts-file.net/vi... )

  16. A "downmod truncheon" = best ya got? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: When THAT's used in lieu of conversation in rational debate, you've only proved my point boys.... thanks!

    I just reposted it to spite you since you downmodded it last time I posted THIS VERY FACT https://mobile.slashdot.org/co... last time, lol!

    Your EFFETE vain downmods (since I can repost as much as I like often as I like) make me LAUGH bigtime as they're "the best ya got" vs. facts I use I can EASILY backup from reputable sources that put away that bs easily!

    APK

    P.S.=> Hilarious - I know the downmodding worms BETTER than they know themselves & they ALWAYS, almost without a doubt, do the same bs over & over expecting different results (that's one possible definition of insanity), failing everytime resorting to "hiding" my posts!

    Trolls here (webmasters taking google ad money like /. are numerous here, everyone knows that, & so are advertisers) haven't proven facts I use backed by reputable sources wrong!

    Thus, I challenge GOOGLE!

    I could use a PhD from Google to try (& they WILL fail) to make me even stronger when I crush THEM into the dirt too!

    After all - that's ALL I HAVE USED THIS SITE FOR come right down to it - to see objections & to overcome them with FACTS + LOGIC (not bs like bogus unjustifiable downmods)... apk