Google Chrome OS and Android to “merge” like open source Voltron?

Thanks to Google Chrome OS and Android having a “great deal of commonality” the Google CEO Eric Schmidt stated that the two platforms may “merge even closer”. Which, seems to point in the opposite direction of their original statements about the future of Android now that the Chrome OS has been announced. This little tidbit came out of a general Google business press conference and certainly sounds interesting, but what does it actually mean for Android itself? No one seems to be sure.

By now we all know what Android is, really, you wouldn’t be on this site if you didn’t. So surely you’ve heard of Google’s upcoming Chrome OS? What’s that? You haven’t? Fear not, here’s the rather recent official announcement. The gist of it is that Google is creating a lightweight, stripped down OS that’s based on a Linux kernel (no surprises there), with their own windowing system, that boots into the Chrome browser. Currently aimed at netbooks, they’ve also got their sights set on desktops some time in the future. Of course, like Android, it will all be open source – so good for them!

You’ve got to wonder though, if the Chrome OS is aimed at netbooks, will we be seeing the much investigated Android netbooks any time soon? Any time… at all? Since the Chrome OS is also being built to run on ARM processors (which power a whole bunch of phones, amongst other things) how long will it be before we see mobile phone versions of this thing? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against the idea. It just doesn’t seem like good business sense to have two ultimately similar products doing essentially the same thing, and maybe that’s the point of this possible “merge” statement.

If Chrome OS turns into a beautiful powerhouse of web-happy applications and greatness over the next few years, and Android keeps up the rapid development cycle, and then they combine the two – we could be looking at one of the best multiple device operating systems ever seen. Plus, it’ll be open, customisable, and best of all – free.

Source: Android Community