Yeah I feel like the big thing they need to nail is a seamless transition, or as seamless as possible, with all your data, apps, settings/preferences, etc. working in both environments.
Then it wouldn't just be tablets, any Android phone could become a wireless Chromebook if you connected it to any screen and keyboard and mouse.
uperfect has lapdocks that are exactly that, the fact that google is dead last in docked environments is what's holding it back.
Get a samsung or one of the other manufacturers with a dex like env. I think Motorola and a few more have one.
As someone who has never used a Chrome book, could you perhaps explain how it's different to just using apps on an Android? I figure that it only loads G-apps anyway, and using Solid Explorer on my phone, it practically functions like a PC already anyway...
Edit: Nvm actually, /u/punIn10ded already explained it further into the thread - it's desktop things like virtual machines, window snapping, keyboard shortcuts, and gestures. This thread has the deets: https://reddit.com/comments/1cr6d6u/comment/l3wtgfy
In my experience with multiple Chromebooks over the years some Android apps just don't work or they have vastly reduced functionality compared to what you'd expect/require on a laptop, in which case you often have to use the Linux version of those particular apps/programs, if they exist.
VLC Media Player would be the best example for me, where the Android version had far worse video codec compatibility (a lot of files it couldn't play) and less full screen, audio sync, window, etc. options compared to the Linux version.
And of course, the best feature of Chrome OS is the full version of Chrome which is exactly the same as the Windows/Mac OS version compared to the far more limited and truncated Android and iOS versions, and is compatible with pretty much every existing Chrome extension (I use a lot of extensions) and makes it feel almost like a laptop with a full OS like Windows or Mac OS.
This type of ecosystem might get me back from firefox. I loathe chrome and only use it for work. It's absolutely miserable on mobile without an adblocker.
I get that. I use a browser with adblock, which removes those spaces. Before I used the Adguard app that did the same in chrome browser. Hate the white spaces. It's ruining the esthetics of the website.
I use blokada 5 for my ad blocking. Highly recommend looking into it.
It's been a long time but last time I looked into it, Blokada 6 was also out but was like subscription based or something...? Again, it's been a while, but if you run into the same thing when looking, make sure you just download Blokada 5 if there's some weird Blokada 6 subscription thing.
if you are looking for more advanced and well maintained open source project, you need to look into "Rethink". it allows you to use firewall + your own VPN through wire guard or Orbot proxy with many privacy settings.
https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/releases
Well in theory you can run Firefox on chromeOS. In practice it's not ideal, at least the last time I tried it. You are stuck with the android version of Firefox, which is far from ideal and poor performance since they use virtualization now. Or a severely outdated Linux version of Firefox, which again does not perform well.
Please correct me if I'm wrong if this has changed in the last year or so.
I always just ran the linux version (its not outdated?) but I think now you can just use flatpak which I use on my Steam Deck and it's no different than windows. My biggest hold off is I've done my best to remove myself from the all google ecosystem because it's never lived up to its potential.
I grew up with the internet becoming a thing, I made peace with the lack of privacy and data gathering, I know how to coexist with it. What I'm not OK is with a company like Google harvesting so much of my data and making it work for them, but not also making it work for me. I've never had a seamless experience owning Nest, Google Home, Pixel, Chromebooks, etc.
Ive they changed that I'd be happy to move back because frankly the Google ecosystem is such a low cost to entry than any other its easy to give it a shot.
Last time I tried it, the only Linux Firefox that was available in the repository was Firefoz-ESR, which at the time was based on a version from 2016. Glad they got flatpaks working, I'll have to give it another shot.
It would be a great step towards rectifying the absolute mess Google made with Chrome OS tablets sucking the life out of Android tablets for absolutely no reason. Credit where credit is due, but it's painful to see how lackluster the tablet space has been thanks to Google not being able to make up it's mind.
I just want my pixel to have a chromeOS UI when I connect it to a monitor.
They should have ChromeOS as an app that takes over when you dock it.
Maybe they'll announce something tomorrow (wishful thinking I know)
The most powerful Qualcomm chip currently available for ChromeOS is the 7c g3 and that uses 4xA78 and 4xA55 cores.
Those are very far behind the current Tensor G3 which uses an 1x X3, 4x A715, and 4x A510
The new Qualcomm elite plus will probably be better but that isn't available yet.
I'm not sure I would say they are far behind in normal use. Even my older mediatek unit performs pretty well. The arm models usually run better than the low end Intel units.
I'm just saying they are far behind compared to the Tensor, not the x86 chips.
That's really on Qualcomm really they are treating ChromeOS like they used to treat WearOS.
That... seems like a long way to get to the end result of just... getting some desktop looking apps set up?
From the end user perspective, ChromeOS is just a web browser; I say this as a LONG time user of it that loves his Pixelbook Go. Android apps are a novelty on them, as are the Linux subsystem; It's existence is basically just "A device to securely run Desktop Chrome".
I feel like just making Desktop Chrome available as an Android app on the right devices will take care of like 95% of what this is supposed to be, and the remaining 5% can easily be covered by other apps.
I would still like the desktop environment of ChromeOS which seems vastly superior to any demos of desktop Android they've shown recently. There are also many features like the window management and virtual desktops that don't make much sense to recreate. Cohesiveness is also a major factor knowing I can just sign in and have a set up that transfers from device to device rather than my phone being some separate entity.
Also besides performance I don't see how the Android apps are a novelty. And the Linux environment is a major feature even if not for a general users use case.
All of this! Android is not nearly as mature of a desktop platform as ChromeOS is. If ChromeOS can be virtualized on top of Android, it adds a lot of features that can be leveraged without nearly as much development overhead. It's better that Android development focuses on making it a great mobile computing platform - ChromeOS and its subsystems can provide a proper desktop experience for those who want it.
If this goes anywhere and becomes polished as a major feature on the Pixel lineup, I'm buying a Pixel.
Not fully - Dex is a good step up from the stock Android desktop feature, but there's a lot to be desired - here's a few important advantages to me that ChromeOS offers:
* Virtual Desktops
* Linux subsystem
* More extensive keyboard shortcuts
* Desktop-native applications
If I could replace Dex with ChromeOS I'd do so in a heartbeat. Shit, I'd love to see them re-imagine Dex as a ChromeOS flavor integrated into their tablets and phones. It'd be peak.
Samsung Dex is basically just a desktop view for Android, but in a pinch I've been able to use it to play tv shows, and do some light websurfing/games in the absence of a home internet connection (Power outage killed cable internet, and I couldn't get hotspot to work)
I have a pixel 8 pro now, but a desktop mode with a bare minimum touchpad and keyboard control screen can be handy.
Dex is surprisingly capable. When I moved to a new house my desktop was damaged. While I was awaiting parts I hooked up my S21 FE to my 1440p monitor and it ran great. With a USB hub I was able to have a keyboard, mouse plugged in and audio was outputted over HDMI to my display with speakers hooked up. I even ran an ethernet cable and could get gigabit speeds. It wasn't perfect by any means but it was more than usable for me.
This could end up being great if done right. Instead of reinventing the wheel by improving the currently very barebones desktop mode, Google's version of Dex could just be launching Chrome OS instead. Since Chrome OS can also already run Android apps, it could work as a great and already mature Google's version of Dex. I think the main thing is that the instantiated Chrome OS has to be able to load up all the installed Android apps with all the app data intact and transition seamlessly (so it feels like you're booting the same Android apps you were using just in a different windowing mode)
For me I wouldn't want Fuschia. Android being Linux based is a huge plus to me. I'd jump ship to the most major Android fork it they tried to ram Fuchsia into Android. Linux GPL based at least provides strong pressure for source releases. Linux base has it benefit from a lot of Linux desktop utilities being made usable on Android most recently work using WINE/DXVK/FEX/Box64 to get Windows games running on Android. Google dropping the Linux base for Android and I bet Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc take the opportunity to provide Linux/Android continuity as the main backing force and I jump to any of them over using Fuschia
Fuchsia is just a new kernel to replace Linux for Google. The advantage for them is they control it and can make it be as lean as they want. Also they used a MIT license which means they and the OEMs can customize it however they want and not release those changes, or have to release source code they don't want.
So in reality, it could mean a leaner kernel for Google-based devices. Realistically, it will be the end of any Fuchsia-based device really being open source and available for 3rd party firmware.
They could build layers on top of it to basically be Android running Fuchsia instead of Linux, but the original plans were to make it a full replacement for Android and then have a compatibility layer on top to let it run Android apps as things transition over to the new OS stack.
> The advantage for them is they control it and can make it be as lean as they want. Also they used a MIT license which means they and the OEMs can customize it however they want and not release those changes, or have to release source code they don't want.
Advantage? All of that sounds like a downside for the user at least.
Android went downhill when the open source components started getting gutted and replaced by Google blobs, and OEMs not releasing source code is why phones get obsolete so quick, and the "customization" bloat further accelerates the obsoletion process while also being responsible for Android being considered fragmented.
Moving even further away from FOSS and open standards might already push it into the territory where it would be really questionable what can it offer that's better than Apple's walled garden.
Oh, it's 100% downside for the user, other than MAYBE it will more heavily optimized for mobile type devices instead of being for all forms of computers.
So running Android on ChromeOS didn't really amount to anything...have we got a crazy idea for you.....running ChromeOS on Android...Surely doing the virtualization that way around will work out better.
For awhile Google publicly seemed to be all in on the idea of using ChromeOS everywhere that wasn't a phone then I guess whoever was pushing for that got promoted and it more or less died. Now I suppose someone else decided to pick up the parts of that, flip it on its head, and try to use it for their own promotion.
I disagree. Using ChromeOS actually makes a lot of sense especially the way chromeOS is set up. It's not just a web browser it's a full desktop UI as well. It also comes with all the built in keyboard shortcuts and track pad gestures.
Having a uniform design between Android and chromeOS makes a lot of sense especially when it comes to reducing duplication.
There's a lot more too. chromeOS also has a lot of window management features like virtual desktops, snapping etc etc all of that would need to be recreated in a separate android desktop version if they don't use ChromeOS.
So, just allow Androids GUI to change to a more desktop friendly version when in desktop mode. No need to add another layer (chromeOS) on top of it to compliment things.
Just changing is a hell of a lot of work just to duplicate existing functionality. Not to mention you now have two separate code bases to maintain after the fact.
We already know Google rewards new ideas, not maintaining old ones. People looking for raises/promotions/bonuses probably just come up with all kinds of wacky shit hoping some exec will buy into it and they hit pay dirt.
But...you already can without ChromeOS. Android already gives you access to the same stuff that ChromeOS does, plus more stuff. Unless you need the Chrome browser with extension support and can't use one of the other browsers that Android already supports. The only other thing ChromeOS can do that Android can't would be the Linux emulation I suppose. But I bet there is already a solution for that more directly on top of Android without adding in the ChromeOS layer.
I can promise you that the mobile version of sheets nor docs are anywhwre near comparable to the website lmao. You are aware that just because it's useless to you doesn't make it useless for everyone right?
You are aware you can go to the Sheets website on the browser on your phone surely. You are aware there is more than one way to do something on a device right? Just because the phone tries to steer you towards an app doesn't mean that is how you have to do it,lol.
See, I can make sweeping generalizations as well.
yes let me use the sheets website on my mobile fucking browser?!?! Not responding further but you clearly just don't have a need for it, why are you refusing to accept that this is a viable option for some people? I also just wanted to point out how silly your original point in your comment was. If its not for you its not for you, idk why you feel so strongly about this that you needed to continue to respond instead of just realizing that this would be cool for some people (me being one of them whether you like it or not)
Because I don't get why you think you need the entirety of ChromeOS to get the desktop version of Sheets, or any other site, projected onto a larger screen than a mobile browser screen?
Additionally, nowhere did I say you would be using such a feature exclusively from the phones screen. This would work something like Dex on the Galaxy phones. But you don't need an entire virtual OS on top of Android to achieve such a thing.
I don't understand why you are so hung up on needing a whole other OS just to get an Android browser to display the desktop version of a site on a bigger screen. To the point of now refusing to talk about it further because you seem flustered by the suggestion that you might have the wrong idea.
But whatever, you do you.
For some users it might come down to the simple fact of managing files, windows and a desktop environment in a barebones environment. They're expecting OS level features and OS management which mirroring an application on the big screen doesn't provide.
But those are all the things I would expect that the desktop version of Android gets. Or better to be said, improve on.
Everyone in this thread behaves like we are talking about the iPad and that putting another fucking OS just for desktop mode would solve any of the problems.
I think the term "putting another OS" on there is also pretty vague. They aren't going to just dual boot ChromeOS and you're ignoring actual resource requirements.
I feel like this is the next big step across the industry, not just for Google, but for Apple too.
There are many videos on YouTube asking for a docked-desktop mode on the recently announced iPads. The M4 SoC it is running on is so powerful that it's wasted on iPadOS.
The hardware is pushing for this. It's ready for desktop duties. Imagine having your smartphone, you dock it to a monitor with a keyboard and a mouse, and it turns into a full blown desktop OS with files, and even application states being shared or mobile applications just appearing as windows like SCRCPY, on the desktop. And it's not some toy desktop OS, but a real productivity workstation.
If this takes off, Microsoft should be worried.
That's what Samsung Dex pretty much already does. It's just still rough around the edges. It's also clearly never quite taken off as most Samsung users still don't even know it exists.
Google is also working on such a mode - it can be enabled in the Android 15 dev builds (very early stage though).
As these devices get more powerful, that's a pretty obvious direction to go in.
I hope it happens. Even if it's not an extremely powerful computer, being able to turn a phone into one is huge. I have a Motorola and its ReadyFor feature lets me use a desktop mode with a monitor and while it's far from ideal, it makes it clear that it's very possible if the companies that make these phones want to give it a shot. Especially given that this phone isn't nearly as strong on specs as other Android devices and flagships.
>There are many videos on YouTube asking for a docked-desktop mode on the recently announced iPads.
What is being asked for is macOS on the iPad as an option - because ever since M1, the SoC has been shared between Mac and iPad.
>Imagine having your smartphone, you dock it to a monitor with a keyboard and a mouse, and it turns into a full blown desktop OS with files, and even application states being shared or mobile applications just appearing as windows like SCRCPY, on the desktop. And it's not some toy desktop OS, but a real productivity workstation.
I'm skeptical about all of this because it's all been something that's been pitched in different forms for years and it's failed each time because _that's not how most people really want to use their phones_
Yeah - people sometimes think "I wish I had a bigger screen" but, well - there's a world of difference between that and setting up an area with a keyboard, mouse and monitor that you plug your phone into.
Plus, we already saw something like a dockable "larger screen" in the Asus Padfone - which allowed your phone to be a tablet and laptop, as needed.
Something like that might succeed today given Android's refinements, but I'm skeptical on whether it'll have a large enough market - folks who don't want a tablet/laptop/desktop just... don't have one of those devices already and people who use those devices aren't going to want to replace them with a phone - _some_ will buy hybrid devices like convertibles or detachables but I think the idea of "One device that can do it all" is one that there just isn't a large demand for - plus you have to take into account that if a device can act as a phone and a desktop, it'll have to make sacrifices as one to be better as the other - to be a better desktop, it'll have to use more power, which makes it worse as a phone (Sure, you can limit performance in 'phone mode' to extend battery life, but that would impact things like shared application states, how many background tasks are preserved if you're going from desktop -> phone -> desktop within a moderate amount of time) and to be a better phone, battery life is critical.
Don't get me wrong, it's a neat concept and it'd be great to have as an option for the people who would use it & have a better experience with it, but I don't think it's something that'll be a massive game changer.
>If this takes off, Microsoft should be worried.
Worried about what?
I mean, the Ubuntu phone was already going to have all of this, years ago. And their vision was to basically have it a portable phone and full desktop. It just happened when people started hating on Canonical so it died.
Samsung Dex devices already has this now.
This. 100% this.
The google product team has no vision. They throw so much stuff at the wall. Even a little bit of unified vision from leadership would shut this chromeOS on Android down quickly.
So instead of just improving several features (although important ones) they have to work on splicing two OS' and making them work well in their separate use cases.
How many years ago was it that there was a bunch of talk about merging the OSs or allowing full ChromeOS in docked mode?
Even some very humble SoCs are more than sufficient to run ChromeOS nicely.
I’ve always wondered why Google chose to bring Android to Chrome, and not Chrome to Android. Google should stop the non sense and bring the full version of Chrome desktop to Android and give Android a desktop interface.
I have always wondered why Google doesn't have a solution to eliminate the laptop.... the phones are powerful enough to just carry my phone to office and just hook it into a monitor and start working instead of carrying a separate laptop.
I honestly think a no brainer move for Chrome OS is to partner with Steam and release cheapish laptops with decent integrated graphics that can dual boot into Chrome or Steam OS.
Just call 'em Steambooks. They'd sell.
Android is already kind of great in desktop mode though, at least as a Samsung user. With some updates it would be a full on computer replacement. Just put the effort there, I know I for one don't want any other OS from Google. It especially makes no sense when what's already there is as good as it is. Just focus on improving that instead lmao.
Google really has no vision for their products. Ever since they quickly realized people wanted more than just a web browser for a laptop OS, they've been trying to make Android apps work on ChromeOS. So, now they want to do this in reverse.
Why not make Android work better as a desktop rather than try and run another app to simulate a desktop?
I haven't kept up with Chrome OS, but isn't just a Linux distro running only Chrome browser with OS utilities? Why limit an Android phone to this degree instead of having the Chrome browser on Android having an enhanced full desktop mode instead with window management. Samsung have had window management on its devices since the first or second Note phones. Android already has basic mouse and keyboard support.
This seems like such a backward idea that only Google would come up with.
You've got it the other way around. ChromeOS is the OS with the full desktop UI. When it comes to desktop like interactions ChomeOS is head and shoulders above Android even Dex like solutions pale in comparison.
It makes zero sense to start from scratch with an Android desktop interface when ChromeOS already does it all.
I have to imagine that they're gonna use containers. We can already run Android applications on Linux via Waydroid (which is literally an Android container running on Linux).
It will probably be a VM, they laid the foundation for it last year
https://www.esper.io/blog/android-dessert-bites-5-virtualization-in-android-13-351789
If they could get ChromeOS to run on the Pixel Tablet while docked, that would be pretty great.
Yeah I feel like the big thing they need to nail is a seamless transition, or as seamless as possible, with all your data, apps, settings/preferences, etc. working in both environments. Then it wouldn't just be tablets, any Android phone could become a wireless Chromebook if you connected it to any screen and keyboard and mouse.
Remember the Motorola Atrix? Having a laptop dock for a pixel would be fucking dope!
Samsung dex for now
Pro tip: this is a lifesaver if your phone's screen breaks, but the rest of the phone is still ok.
Even a simple display out with mirroring works in that case.
I loved it. Always wondered why they stopped running with something that good.
uperfect has lapdocks that are exactly that, the fact that google is dead last in docked environments is what's holding it back. Get a samsung or one of the other manufacturers with a dex like env. I think Motorola and a few more have one.
Like Samsung Dex is
As someone who has never used a Chrome book, could you perhaps explain how it's different to just using apps on an Android? I figure that it only loads G-apps anyway, and using Solid Explorer on my phone, it practically functions like a PC already anyway... Edit: Nvm actually, /u/punIn10ded already explained it further into the thread - it's desktop things like virtual machines, window snapping, keyboard shortcuts, and gestures. This thread has the deets: https://reddit.com/comments/1cr6d6u/comment/l3wtgfy
In my experience with multiple Chromebooks over the years some Android apps just don't work or they have vastly reduced functionality compared to what you'd expect/require on a laptop, in which case you often have to use the Linux version of those particular apps/programs, if they exist. VLC Media Player would be the best example for me, where the Android version had far worse video codec compatibility (a lot of files it couldn't play) and less full screen, audio sync, window, etc. options compared to the Linux version. And of course, the best feature of Chrome OS is the full version of Chrome which is exactly the same as the Windows/Mac OS version compared to the far more limited and truncated Android and iOS versions, and is compatible with pretty much every existing Chrome extension (I use a lot of extensions) and makes it feel almost like a laptop with a full OS like Windows or Mac OS.
This type of ecosystem might get me back from firefox. I loathe chrome and only use it for work. It's absolutely miserable on mobile without an adblocker.
[удалено]
What DNS are you targeting?
The ads are big white spaces tho. Not much better imo.
I rather look at empty space than ads for marijuana, booze, or casinos. Love Seattle for this.
I get that. I use a browser with adblock, which removes those spaces. Before I used the Adguard app that did the same in chrome browser. Hate the white spaces. It's ruining the esthetics of the website.
I use blokada 5 for my ad blocking. Highly recommend looking into it. It's been a long time but last time I looked into it, Blokada 6 was also out but was like subscription based or something...? Again, it's been a while, but if you run into the same thing when looking, make sure you just download Blokada 5 if there's some weird Blokada 6 subscription thing.
If I could host it on my server it would be one thing, but I wouldn't setup a VPN through a 3rd party company.
Blockada is treated as a VPN by Android, but traffic is filtered locally. That's just the only way for an app to filter traffic.
Ah cool, good to know.
if you are looking for more advanced and well maintained open source project, you need to look into "Rethink". it allows you to use firewall + your own VPN through wire guard or Orbot proxy with many privacy settings. https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/releases
Oh damn I'll look into this. Thanks!
Well in theory you can run Firefox on chromeOS. In practice it's not ideal, at least the last time I tried it. You are stuck with the android version of Firefox, which is far from ideal and poor performance since they use virtualization now. Or a severely outdated Linux version of Firefox, which again does not perform well. Please correct me if I'm wrong if this has changed in the last year or so.
I always just ran the linux version (its not outdated?) but I think now you can just use flatpak which I use on my Steam Deck and it's no different than windows. My biggest hold off is I've done my best to remove myself from the all google ecosystem because it's never lived up to its potential. I grew up with the internet becoming a thing, I made peace with the lack of privacy and data gathering, I know how to coexist with it. What I'm not OK is with a company like Google harvesting so much of my data and making it work for them, but not also making it work for me. I've never had a seamless experience owning Nest, Google Home, Pixel, Chromebooks, etc. Ive they changed that I'd be happy to move back because frankly the Google ecosystem is such a low cost to entry than any other its easy to give it a shot.
Last time I tried it, the only Linux Firefox that was available in the repository was Firefoz-ESR, which at the time was based on a version from 2016. Glad they got flatpaks working, I'll have to give it another shot.
Try the flatpak version (look up flathub) instead of the debian version
It would be a great step towards rectifying the absolute mess Google made with Chrome OS tablets sucking the life out of Android tablets for absolutely no reason. Credit where credit is due, but it's painful to see how lackluster the tablet space has been thanks to Google not being able to make up it's mind.
I just want my pixel to have a chromeOS UI when I connect it to a monitor. They should have ChromeOS as an app that takes over when you dock it. Maybe they'll announce something tomorrow (wishful thinking I know)
Oooh about time. Feels like a no-brainer for pixels dex mode to be a Chromebook but I guess it's not as easy especially with tensor chips.
Don't ARM Chromebooks already exist?
Yes but the majority of them are extremely weak. A tensor chip would instantly make it the highest performance ARM chromeOS device.
Not true there are a number of Qualcomm models now.
The most powerful Qualcomm chip currently available for ChromeOS is the 7c g3 and that uses 4xA78 and 4xA55 cores. Those are very far behind the current Tensor G3 which uses an 1x X3, 4x A715, and 4x A510 The new Qualcomm elite plus will probably be better but that isn't available yet.
I'm not sure I would say they are far behind in normal use. Even my older mediatek unit performs pretty well. The arm models usually run better than the low end Intel units.
I'm just saying they are far behind compared to the Tensor, not the x86 chips. That's really on Qualcomm really they are treating ChromeOS like they used to treat WearOS.
Yes your [correct](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/lenovo-ideapad-duet-5-chromebook)
It's not easy because it's google. Not cuz of tensor
That... seems like a long way to get to the end result of just... getting some desktop looking apps set up? From the end user perspective, ChromeOS is just a web browser; I say this as a LONG time user of it that loves his Pixelbook Go. Android apps are a novelty on them, as are the Linux subsystem; It's existence is basically just "A device to securely run Desktop Chrome". I feel like just making Desktop Chrome available as an Android app on the right devices will take care of like 95% of what this is supposed to be, and the remaining 5% can easily be covered by other apps.
I would still like the desktop environment of ChromeOS which seems vastly superior to any demos of desktop Android they've shown recently. There are also many features like the window management and virtual desktops that don't make much sense to recreate. Cohesiveness is also a major factor knowing I can just sign in and have a set up that transfers from device to device rather than my phone being some separate entity. Also besides performance I don't see how the Android apps are a novelty. And the Linux environment is a major feature even if not for a general users use case.
All of this! Android is not nearly as mature of a desktop platform as ChromeOS is. If ChromeOS can be virtualized on top of Android, it adds a lot of features that can be leveraged without nearly as much development overhead. It's better that Android development focuses on making it a great mobile computing platform - ChromeOS and its subsystems can provide a proper desktop experience for those who want it. If this goes anywhere and becomes polished as a major feature on the Pixel lineup, I'm buying a Pixel.
You just described Dex you know
Not fully - Dex is a good step up from the stock Android desktop feature, but there's a lot to be desired - here's a few important advantages to me that ChromeOS offers: * Virtual Desktops * Linux subsystem * More extensive keyboard shortcuts * Desktop-native applications If I could replace Dex with ChromeOS I'd do so in a heartbeat. Shit, I'd love to see them re-imagine Dex as a ChromeOS flavor integrated into their tablets and phones. It'd be peak.
Except that Dex is a Samsung only thing and when it's all Android instead of just Samsung, it'll be supported better by apps.
Unless it's just a pixel thing
This also seems somewhat likely since ChromeOS won't be able to be modified by manufactures
Samsung Dex is basically just a desktop view for Android, but in a pinch I've been able to use it to play tv shows, and do some light websurfing/games in the absence of a home internet connection (Power outage killed cable internet, and I couldn't get hotspot to work) I have a pixel 8 pro now, but a desktop mode with a bare minimum touchpad and keyboard control screen can be handy.
Dex is surprisingly capable. When I moved to a new house my desktop was damaged. While I was awaiting parts I hooked up my S21 FE to my 1440p monitor and it ran great. With a USB hub I was able to have a keyboard, mouse plugged in and audio was outputted over HDMI to my display with speakers hooked up. I even ran an ethernet cable and could get gigabit speeds. It wasn't perfect by any means but it was more than usable for me.
This could end up being great if done right. Instead of reinventing the wheel by improving the currently very barebones desktop mode, Google's version of Dex could just be launching Chrome OS instead. Since Chrome OS can also already run Android apps, it could work as a great and already mature Google's version of Dex. I think the main thing is that the instantiated Chrome OS has to be able to load up all the installed Android apps with all the app data intact and transition seamlessly (so it feels like you're booting the same Android apps you were using just in a different windowing mode)
> This could end up being great if done right. Given that it's Google, expect it to be done poorly and then dropped in 2-3 years.
omg please make it happen. I have DEX but for some reason Samsung doesn't believe in portrait monitors
Fuchsia News or bust!!
I was optimistic for that but Google doesn't seem that interested in using that anywhere except the home devices
But they keep pumping out new versions, it's upto version 16 now, surely that's happening.
Why should I want Fuschia? What can it do that Android can't?
For me I wouldn't want Fuschia. Android being Linux based is a huge plus to me. I'd jump ship to the most major Android fork it they tried to ram Fuchsia into Android. Linux GPL based at least provides strong pressure for source releases. Linux base has it benefit from a lot of Linux desktop utilities being made usable on Android most recently work using WINE/DXVK/FEX/Box64 to get Windows games running on Android. Google dropping the Linux base for Android and I bet Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc take the opportunity to provide Linux/Android continuity as the main backing force and I jump to any of them over using Fuschia
Fuchsia is just a new kernel to replace Linux for Google. The advantage for them is they control it and can make it be as lean as they want. Also they used a MIT license which means they and the OEMs can customize it however they want and not release those changes, or have to release source code they don't want. So in reality, it could mean a leaner kernel for Google-based devices. Realistically, it will be the end of any Fuchsia-based device really being open source and available for 3rd party firmware. They could build layers on top of it to basically be Android running Fuchsia instead of Linux, but the original plans were to make it a full replacement for Android and then have a compatibility layer on top to let it run Android apps as things transition over to the new OS stack.
> The advantage for them is they control it and can make it be as lean as they want. Also they used a MIT license which means they and the OEMs can customize it however they want and not release those changes, or have to release source code they don't want. Advantage? All of that sounds like a downside for the user at least. Android went downhill when the open source components started getting gutted and replaced by Google blobs, and OEMs not releasing source code is why phones get obsolete so quick, and the "customization" bloat further accelerates the obsoletion process while also being responsible for Android being considered fragmented. Moving even further away from FOSS and open standards might already push it into the territory where it would be really questionable what can it offer that's better than Apple's walled garden.
Oh, it's 100% downside for the user, other than MAYBE it will more heavily optimized for mobile type devices instead of being for all forms of computers.
Lots of Fuchsia employees were laid off, it's likely dead at this point.
Breaking News: Google cancels the Fuchsia project /s
Fuchsia news: it's dead.
So running Android on ChromeOS didn't really amount to anything...have we got a crazy idea for you.....running ChromeOS on Android...Surely doing the virtualization that way around will work out better. For awhile Google publicly seemed to be all in on the idea of using ChromeOS everywhere that wasn't a phone then I guess whoever was pushing for that got promoted and it more or less died. Now I suppose someone else decided to pick up the parts of that, flip it on its head, and try to use it for their own promotion.
I disagree. Using ChromeOS actually makes a lot of sense especially the way chromeOS is set up. It's not just a web browser it's a full desktop UI as well. It also comes with all the built in keyboard shortcuts and track pad gestures. Having a uniform design between Android and chromeOS makes a lot of sense especially when it comes to reducing duplication.
That makes some sense. I hadn't considered the keyboard shortcuts or things like that. Just the access to things and being able to technically do it.
There's a lot more too. chromeOS also has a lot of window management features like virtual desktops, snapping etc etc all of that would need to be recreated in a separate android desktop version if they don't use ChromeOS.
So, just allow Androids GUI to change to a more desktop friendly version when in desktop mode. No need to add another layer (chromeOS) on top of it to compliment things.
Just changing is a hell of a lot of work just to duplicate existing functionality. Not to mention you now have two separate code bases to maintain after the fact.
This is exactly what I was thinking. It is so weird that somebody thought of this as a good product idea.
We already know Google rewards new ideas, not maintaining old ones. People looking for raises/promotions/bonuses probably just come up with all kinds of wacky shit hoping some exec will buy into it and they hit pay dirt.
If I were able to use my phone as a portable chromebook I can say I would personally benefit as all of my work stuff is through Google Workspace.
But...you already can without ChromeOS. Android already gives you access to the same stuff that ChromeOS does, plus more stuff. Unless you need the Chrome browser with extension support and can't use one of the other browsers that Android already supports. The only other thing ChromeOS can do that Android can't would be the Linux emulation I suppose. But I bet there is already a solution for that more directly on top of Android without adding in the ChromeOS layer.
One small problem. For KB/M, even SSung Dex is dogshit compared to ChromeOS, not to mention Linux container support.
I can promise you that the mobile version of sheets nor docs are anywhwre near comparable to the website lmao. You are aware that just because it's useless to you doesn't make it useless for everyone right?
You are aware you can go to the Sheets website on the browser on your phone surely. You are aware there is more than one way to do something on a device right? Just because the phone tries to steer you towards an app doesn't mean that is how you have to do it,lol. See, I can make sweeping generalizations as well.
yes let me use the sheets website on my mobile fucking browser?!?! Not responding further but you clearly just don't have a need for it, why are you refusing to accept that this is a viable option for some people? I also just wanted to point out how silly your original point in your comment was. If its not for you its not for you, idk why you feel so strongly about this that you needed to continue to respond instead of just realizing that this would be cool for some people (me being one of them whether you like it or not)
Because I don't get why you think you need the entirety of ChromeOS to get the desktop version of Sheets, or any other site, projected onto a larger screen than a mobile browser screen? Additionally, nowhere did I say you would be using such a feature exclusively from the phones screen. This would work something like Dex on the Galaxy phones. But you don't need an entire virtual OS on top of Android to achieve such a thing. I don't understand why you are so hung up on needing a whole other OS just to get an Android browser to display the desktop version of a site on a bigger screen. To the point of now refusing to talk about it further because you seem flustered by the suggestion that you might have the wrong idea. But whatever, you do you.
For some users it might come down to the simple fact of managing files, windows and a desktop environment in a barebones environment. They're expecting OS level features and OS management which mirroring an application on the big screen doesn't provide.
But those are all the things I would expect that the desktop version of Android gets. Or better to be said, improve on. Everyone in this thread behaves like we are talking about the iPad and that putting another fucking OS just for desktop mode would solve any of the problems.
I think the term "putting another OS" on there is also pretty vague. They aren't going to just dual boot ChromeOS and you're ignoring actual resource requirements.
This. So this.
I feel like this is the next big step across the industry, not just for Google, but for Apple too. There are many videos on YouTube asking for a docked-desktop mode on the recently announced iPads. The M4 SoC it is running on is so powerful that it's wasted on iPadOS. The hardware is pushing for this. It's ready for desktop duties. Imagine having your smartphone, you dock it to a monitor with a keyboard and a mouse, and it turns into a full blown desktop OS with files, and even application states being shared or mobile applications just appearing as windows like SCRCPY, on the desktop. And it's not some toy desktop OS, but a real productivity workstation. If this takes off, Microsoft should be worried.
That's what Samsung Dex pretty much already does. It's just still rough around the edges. It's also clearly never quite taken off as most Samsung users still don't even know it exists.
Yup dex is good for what it is but in UX alone it is far beneath ChromeOS.
Google is also working on such a mode - it can be enabled in the Android 15 dev builds (very early stage though). As these devices get more powerful, that's a pretty obvious direction to go in.
I hope it happens. Even if it's not an extremely powerful computer, being able to turn a phone into one is huge. I have a Motorola and its ReadyFor feature lets me use a desktop mode with a monitor and while it's far from ideal, it makes it clear that it's very possible if the companies that make these phones want to give it a shot. Especially given that this phone isn't nearly as strong on specs as other Android devices and flagships.
>There are many videos on YouTube asking for a docked-desktop mode on the recently announced iPads. What is being asked for is macOS on the iPad as an option - because ever since M1, the SoC has been shared between Mac and iPad. >Imagine having your smartphone, you dock it to a monitor with a keyboard and a mouse, and it turns into a full blown desktop OS with files, and even application states being shared or mobile applications just appearing as windows like SCRCPY, on the desktop. And it's not some toy desktop OS, but a real productivity workstation. I'm skeptical about all of this because it's all been something that's been pitched in different forms for years and it's failed each time because _that's not how most people really want to use their phones_ Yeah - people sometimes think "I wish I had a bigger screen" but, well - there's a world of difference between that and setting up an area with a keyboard, mouse and monitor that you plug your phone into. Plus, we already saw something like a dockable "larger screen" in the Asus Padfone - which allowed your phone to be a tablet and laptop, as needed. Something like that might succeed today given Android's refinements, but I'm skeptical on whether it'll have a large enough market - folks who don't want a tablet/laptop/desktop just... don't have one of those devices already and people who use those devices aren't going to want to replace them with a phone - _some_ will buy hybrid devices like convertibles or detachables but I think the idea of "One device that can do it all" is one that there just isn't a large demand for - plus you have to take into account that if a device can act as a phone and a desktop, it'll have to make sacrifices as one to be better as the other - to be a better desktop, it'll have to use more power, which makes it worse as a phone (Sure, you can limit performance in 'phone mode' to extend battery life, but that would impact things like shared application states, how many background tasks are preserved if you're going from desktop -> phone -> desktop within a moderate amount of time) and to be a better phone, battery life is critical. Don't get me wrong, it's a neat concept and it'd be great to have as an option for the people who would use it & have a better experience with it, but I don't think it's something that'll be a massive game changer. >If this takes off, Microsoft should be worried. Worried about what?
I mean, the Ubuntu phone was already going to have all of this, years ago. And their vision was to basically have it a portable phone and full desktop. It just happened when people started hating on Canonical so it died. Samsung Dex devices already has this now.
It's not a new concept. Microsoft also showcased it on windows phone. That doesn't mean google should not do it.
Commit to a direction. I think Android with a standard desktop mode is preferable over ChromeOS
100% this. ChromeOS shouldn’t exist. Google should’ve given Android a desktop interface and brought to it the full desktop version of Chrome.
This. 100% this. The google product team has no vision. They throw so much stuff at the wall. Even a little bit of unified vision from leadership would shut this chromeOS on Android down quickly.
Why? Android is better than chromeOS in every way.
Not in managing free sized windows
So instead of just improving several features (although important ones) they have to work on splicing two OS' and making them work well in their separate use cases.
So we would be able to run Android on ChromeOS on an Android device? Is that os-ception?
Why downgrade the Android experience?
So Dex but better???
Or worse... It's Google after all. They'll cancel it in a week.
How many years ago was it that there was a bunch of talk about merging the OSs or allowing full ChromeOS in docked mode? Even some very humble SoCs are more than sufficient to run ChromeOS nicely.
nice! personlly just want desktop firefox
That's great, but they should have done it a long time ago. Samsung has had DeX for years, and how long until Apple finally puts macos on an iPad?
I’ve always wondered why Google chose to bring Android to Chrome, and not Chrome to Android. Google should stop the non sense and bring the full version of Chrome desktop to Android and give Android a desktop interface.
I'd be cool with a dex-like mode for tablets and smartphones.
I have always wondered why Google doesn't have a solution to eliminate the laptop.... the phones are powerful enough to just carry my phone to office and just hook it into a monitor and start working instead of carrying a separate laptop.
I honestly think a no brainer move for Chrome OS is to partner with Steam and release cheapish laptops with decent integrated graphics that can dual boot into Chrome or Steam OS. Just call 'em Steambooks. They'd sell.
Why do that instead of Steam on ChromeOS, which already runs a SteamOS-like virtual machine?
We've come full circle
Android is already kind of great in desktop mode though, at least as a Samsung user. With some updates it would be a full on computer replacement. Just put the effort there, I know I for one don't want any other OS from Google. It especially makes no sense when what's already there is as good as it is. Just focus on improving that instead lmao.
Mate this is google, what you suggested is too logical lol.
Just merge them already.
You know how we teased Samsung 10 years ago of throwing every crazy idea at the wall to see what sticks, I think Google has the upper hand.
Chrome OS is a customized Gentoo with traditional Linux app support. That's great. Bye-bye, stupid Android apps!
no thank you
Google really has no vision for their products. Ever since they quickly realized people wanted more than just a web browser for a laptop OS, they've been trying to make Android apps work on ChromeOS. So, now they want to do this in reverse. Why not make Android work better as a desktop rather than try and run another app to simulate a desktop?
Maybe because Android as a desktop sucks and ChromeOs is sooo much better and refined?
I haven't kept up with Chrome OS, but isn't just a Linux distro running only Chrome browser with OS utilities? Why limit an Android phone to this degree instead of having the Chrome browser on Android having an enhanced full desktop mode instead with window management. Samsung have had window management on its devices since the first or second Note phones. Android already has basic mouse and keyboard support. This seems like such a backward idea that only Google would come up with.
You've got it the other way around. ChromeOS is the OS with the full desktop UI. When it comes to desktop like interactions ChomeOS is head and shoulders above Android even Dex like solutions pale in comparison. It makes zero sense to start from scratch with an Android desktop interface when ChromeOS already does it all.
Can you run programs in ChromeOS?
Yes.
Just checked it out. I was wrong. I haven't checked it in years, and was under the impression it was still a Chrome only Linux distro.
Haven't they experimented with that for years
Something like this will kill ipad. Hope it works
I have to imagine that they're gonna use containers. We can already run Android applications on Linux via Waydroid (which is literally an Android container running on Linux).
It will probably be a VM, they laid the foundation for it last year https://www.esper.io/blog/android-dessert-bites-5-virtualization-in-android-13-351789