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Will Android Change to Chrome OS?

I was just thinking, what with Google making their upcoming Chrome OS, does anyone think Android will undergo a change, or a makeover?
Or in fact, a new line of ChromeOS Phones?
Just wondering...

I doubt it... there may be feature cross-merges... but after working so hard on Android, I doubt google would move to ChromeOS... which by the way is a netbook cloud OS, not a mobile phone OS...

craigacgomez said:
I doubt it... there may be feature cross-merges... but after working so hard on Android, I doubt google would move to ChromeOS... which by the way is a netbook cloud OS, not a mobile phone OS...
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+1. Chrome OS and Android are completely separate entities.

I really don't think this would happen. The reason being that Android is not completely owned by Google, its a project by Open Handset Alliance. ChromeOS is Google's OS for PCs. They might share some features but complete merging of the two is something I doubt...

Actually it was talked about not so long ago here.
Whether that is still the case is another question...

I think this is why it's not the best time to buy an Android tablet. With Chrome OS in development, tablets today will be put in an awkward spot without a way to upgrade confirmed.

I don't see this happening because they're meant for completely different functions. Trying to have them merge into one Super-OS for laptops, notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and cell phones sounds like it would yield a terrible OS. Not only that, but there would be certain parts of the merged OS that you'd never use when in a PC style environment and certain parts you'd never use in a cell phone environment.
The other problem I see is that Android OS has absolutely 0 to benefit from Chrome OS. Anything Chrome OS can do, Android can already do it. It's just the internet, after all. (/queue "Anything you can do, I can do better." )
What Google should do is make Android OS their main platform, and then allow Chrome OS to run Android apps.
BOOM!
That would be downright amazing.
I have no idea if that's possible though...
I know emulating Android on a PC is easy. But via a web browser -- can it be done?
Or maybe just a bootcamp-style switching between Chrome OS and Android?
Anyway, Chrome OS seems weak. I tried it when it first came out; not impressed. My phone does all that already. I'm pulling for Android all the way.
.

I never understood why they had two separate operating systems anyway. I would think Android would be a good platform for any hardware that would be better specced than a cell phone.

I think my biggest problem with Chrome OS is that it's dependant on the Internet.
That brings me to think of two issues:
- Constant streaming would hammer the battery compared to non-streaming OS's
- Nobody gets HSPA or WiFi EVERYWHERE.
This would be perfect when we have blanket LTE or WiMax, but not for another year at least.
It just seems like they constructed it like a phone OS
I Like Paul's idea. Although, I'm sure someone will make an emulator or something similar for android to run ontop of Chrome OS. Perhaps a cloud-based/Flash Android will arise, like all of those website desktops available.

[Q] Moonlight for Xoom's Browser

With the Moonlight source available at http://ftp.novell.com/pub/mono/sources/moon/, I'm curious as to how difficult it might be to compile and package Moonlight for use with the Xoom's browser. My university uses Silverlight/Moonlight for online lecture viewing (pretty sure the software they use is called MediaSite), and it would be awesome to be able to access these from my Xoom.
I run Ubuntu on all my PCs and I've been able to compile applications like MythTV, but I have no experience with Android in that regard. Any ideas?

I'm actually curious to know if that could work. I seriously doubt it, but if Silverlight could be added onto the Xoom's browser, it means that the Xoom could have Netflix support, until they block the Xoom.

Suntarus said:
I'm actually curious to know if that could work. I seriously doubt it, but if Silverlight could be added onto the Xoom's browser, it means that the Xoom could have Netflix support, until they block the Xoom.
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Unfortunately, Moonlight doesn't support the DRM features required by Netflix that are present in Silverlight. It's the same reason why Linux users have issues getting Netflix working. Moonlight is decent, but the lack of DRM support makes it a little less useful for a home user.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

This may sound stupid, but since Silverlight is available for Google Chrome, and the browser on the Xoom (Honeycomb) is basically Chrome, is it possible to port Silverlight to it? I'm thinking while Silverlight is not open source, it might be possible to tweak the Honeycomb browser itself (which is open source) to better match it to Chrome (also open source), and thus provide us with Silverlight in some way.
Of course, doing this would be very difficult, and I'm not even sure that my idea is solid.

It's not possible. Silverlight is compiled for x86 platform and we don't have source code of it. Xoom has ARM processor which is much different.

I see.
Of course, there'll be a Netflix app for any Tegra 2 device (Xoom included) soon enough. ("Netflix is using the Tegra 2 development platform to bring the Netflix experience to Android super phones and tablets. We're working closely with NVIDIA to ensure Netflix takes full advantage of Tegra's outstanding acceleration and security capabilities." -- Greg Peters, Vice President, Product Development at Netflix)
But what about Moonlight? Same issue concerning x86 and ARM? The fact that Silverlight for Mobile exists means that there is a chance to get it working properly.

Suntarus said:
This may sound stupid, but since Silverlight is available for Google Chrome, and the browser on the Xoom (Honeycomb) is basically Chrome, is it possible to port Silverlight to it? I'm thinking while Silverlight is not open source, it might be possible to tweak the Honeycomb browser itself (which is open source) to better match it to Chrome (also open source), and thus provide us with Silverlight in some way.
Of course, doing this would be very difficult, and I'm not even sure that my idea is solid.
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The Android browser uses the same rendering engine, WebKit, but it doesn't have that much in common with Chrome. Additionally, plugins like Flash and Silverlight need to be compiled for the OS, not the browser. Silverlight works in Firefox on Windows, but not on Linux.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Moonlight on Android
This may sound stupid, but since Silverlight is available for Google Chrome, and the browser on the Xoom (Honeycomb) is basically Chrome, is it possible to port Silverlight to it? I'm thinking while Silverlight is not open source, it might be possible to tweak the Honeycomb browser itself (which is open source) to better match it to Chrome (also open source), and thus provide us with Silverlight in some way.
Of course, doing this would be very difficult, and I'm not even sure that my idea is solid.
The Android browser uses the same rendering engine, WebKit, but it doesn't have that much in common with Chrome. Additionally, plugins like Flash and Silverlight need to be compiled for the OS, not the browser. Silverlight works in Firefox on Windows, but not on Linux.
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So I took up your question with Miguel De Icaza...having wondered this same thing myself just recently.....and his answer...
Miguel de Icaza
@marcelol<omitted> Don't think so.
7 minutes ago in reply to marcelol<omitted> from web
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There you go folks....straight from the man himself. Pesky DRM will get ya every time.

Dual Boot to Chrome from Tegra

Does anyone no how to dual boot the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or G-Slate into Chrome OS?
thanks

chrome OS is designed for x86 hardware(intel and amd, just like your desktop), not ARM. that being said, I believe there is an arm version somewhere but I'm not sure if it's supported to the same degree as the x86. both the launch devices and the cr-48 run on x86 so I imagine that's the platform of choice.
I do believe that someone got it running on the iPad so I guess it's entirely possible. will it happen though? I doubt it. I'd be happy for someone to prove me wrong though
Edit: I don't know why I said someone. I know that it was hexxeh.

Yeah, I was just hoping that someone had compiled it for the ARM architecture.
And if so how to set up a device for that. Or perhaps even Ubuntu compiled for ARM and how to load that.
thanks

smaskell said:
chrome OS is designed for x86 hardware(intel and amd, just like your desktop), not ARM. that being said, I believe there is an arm version somewhere but I'm not sure if it's supported to the same degree as the x86. both the launch devices and the cr-48 run on x86 so I imagine that's the platform of choice.
I do believe that someone got it running on the iPad so I guess it's entirely possible. will it happen though? I doubt it. I'd be happy for someone to prove me wrong though
Edit: I don't know why I said someone. I know that it was hexxeh.
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According to the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome_OS
It is for ARM also. I know that there are a few projects out there attempting to port ubuntu and other linux flavours to run on arm - i can boot ubuntu from my sd card in my Omnia 2 cellphone - just can't do anything meaningful (yet!)
Not really sure why you would want to cripple your tablet by putting chrome OS on it though? Ah he mentioned dual booting - so maybe he wants to dual boot into chrome for when his wife's playing with it and back into Android when it's his turn

Don't want to cripple it, want to understand what the Chrome experience is like on a touch device. The chrome browser supports applications that I don't hav access to on Android.

Here are links to a company that has ubuntu and chrome running on arm. It's all running side by side even with android gingerbread.
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/home/
here's the source code link also
http://git.alwaysinnovating.com/

jvalal said:
Don't want to cripple it, want to understand what the Chrome experience is like on a touch device. The chrome browser supports applications that I don't hav access to on Android.
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ah playing with it a different story and i was only having a go at you

ChromiumOS?

I saw a post here a few weeks ago about Hexxeh (the guy behind all the ChromiumOS releases) having a build almost ready for our TF's, live-booted from a USB. Anyone know anything about the project in regards to progress or a possible ETA? As much as I love my Honeycomb, having a real web browser to actually do things like use Google Docs and what not would be really, really great.

Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?

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You would be better off waiting for Google to release a proper Honeycomb optimized Docs app. Current Linux ports to Tegra-based hardware are slow and buggy, and not really ready for prime time. Even when fully optimized, most of the inherent snappiness in a Chromebook comes from the fact that it packs a SSD and RAM that are capable of several magnitudes faster I/O than the Tegra. The current Android browser performs a lot better than Chrome/Chromium OS ever could on a Tegra.

Well the people behind chrome are now working with the people in Android to make the browser better.

I narrowed my choices down to a Chrome Book, Netbook, and a Transformer. Bottom line was that the Transformer gives you many more options, plus the 16 hour battery capacity was a big chicken dinner winner!! I have the Chrome OS running on my laptop at work and all it is is installed icons with hotlinks to existing webpages and sites. Microsoft does offer their "skydrive" with a hotmail account. Skydrive is a 25gb account of free "cloud" storage inside your hotmail account, plus cloud versions of Word, Excel, PPoint and OneNote. But you can still get there on the browser on the Transformer. Between my dropbox, sugarsync, and MS Skydrive accounts, plus Google docs (all free), I can't imagine needing anymore cloud storage (32gb+). I also have an unlimited HostGator account for the really big stuff. Can access that on the Transformer also. Wifi is so universal now I can't remember the last time I actually used a tablet or laptop without a connection. I love leaving the house in the mornings and never having to worry about a plugin all day. At lunch, i just grab the tablet off the dock and do all my reading while eating. It's so light and handy. Tether to my Evo cell phone and I'm online anywhere anytime. Awesome!

ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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I asked that on the other thread if you want a device with an OS installed with ONLY a browser and a cloud app, buy a chrome book!

ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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To have a working brower on the tablet I already bought. Internet is the main reason I bought it based on reviews that the browser was so damn good.
I am hopefull that I will not have to wait for Google to straighten up their Honeycomb browser as that does not even seem like any kind of priority for Android, despite the reorganisation that took place at Google. Saying that the Chrome team is working with the Android team does not equal them working on fixing the browser in a timely manner.

ExploreMN said:
Not to be a smart-ass, but why would you want to downgrade your tablet?
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Click to collapse
I mean... don't get me wrong, I love my TF and Honeycomb very much. I wouldn't be abandoning it, just sort of dualbooting between it and ChromiumOS. I really hope they pull themselves together to make a competent browser, I'm guessing for ICS. I want to be able to use the browser just as I do on my computer. No input lag like I'm experiencing right now typing this. The ability to use fullon web apps like Google Docs. No browser force closes after scrolling through my Tumblr dashboard for too long.

I'd let this one go. Hexxeh got rid of his TF.
Also, as a ChromeOS tester, I can say that it's not really worth even installing on devices made for it. The whole OS will be dead soon anyway, Android is clearly the horse Google is betting on.

SilverZero said:
I'd let this one go. Hexxeh got rid of his TF.
Also, as a ChromeOS tester, I can say that it's not really worth even installing on devices made for it. The whole OS will be dead soon anyway, Android is clearly the horse Google is betting on.
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Ah... now there's the answer I was looking for. I can stop waiting around for this then. Thanks!

[Q] Non metro desktop on Windows 8?

Hello I am looking at windows 8 from an It perspective and was wondering if there is any way of changing home screen to a more familiar UI (Windows 7).

There is, I don't remember the exact steps, but there's a thread in the other section of the forum for Win8 where it teaches you how to edit one registry and completely disables metro
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App

http://www.addictivetips.com/window...-menu-explorer-and-task-manager-in-windows-8/

You might be better off just limiting the apps that appear on the Start Screen--e.g. Desktop, classic IE (or Firefox, Chrome etc), Explorer and so on.
Metro is the future. There's no point in upgrading to Windows 8 if you're just going to neuter it. It's not going anywhere. So, people might as well get used to it.

rorrr said:
You might be better off just limiting the apps that appear on the Start Screen--e.g. Desktop, classic IE (or Firefox, Chrome etc), Explorer and so on.
Metro is the future. There's no point in upgrading to Windows 8 if you're just going to neuter it. It's not going anywhere. So, people might as well get used to it.
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...:ROFL: umm WRONG! ever heard of VISTA or ME?... It will get dumped...
Great UI for phones, tablets, does not mean great UI for productivity based computing environments...
I'll just leave this here http://goo.gl/46gY1
Don't get me wrong I'll play with it but it's going back in the toy box when I'm done, along with all those
children's playthings runing iOS... BTW notice how OSX is not running in an environment that that looks
like an iPhone...

earmuffs said:
...:ROFL: umm WRONG! ever heard of VISTA or ME?... It will get dumped...
Great UI for phones, tablets, does not mean great UI for productivity based computing environments...
I'll just leave this here http://goo.gl/46gY1
Don't get me wrong I'll play with it but it's going back in the toy box when I'm done, along with all those
children's playthings runing iOS... BTW notice how OSX is not running in an environment that that looks
like an iPhone...
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Click to collapse
Apple have no problem selling Iphones though lol It's clear that windows 8 is microsofts last gasp effort to push it's mobile OS and try and catch up with Android/IOS. In my opinion for the first time ever MS have left thereselves open to serious competition on the Desktop OS market. As it stands it has no serious competition, but someone like google could quite easly decide to drop chromium OS and develop a real linux based Desktop OS. MS then could find themselves in trouble.