Google has come up with a massive new plan to change the way you use your Chromebook, and with it, could revolutionize how users use their Android devices.
The key to making this paradigm shift a reality lies in Google’s efforts to bring Android apps to Chrome OS. While Google has been working on Android app support on Chromebooks for a while now, the project is finally getting ready to enter its public phase, according to Googler François Beaufort.
This means that users should see the ability to install and use Android applications on their Chromebooks by early 2017, which could bring a range of new capabilities that wouldn’t be possible with traditional web-based applications. This could also mean a huge step forward for Chrome OS as a whole, as Android app integration could finally bring a level of parity between Chrome OS and Windows laptops.
The potential of this idea is tremendous. Android apps have a distinct advantage over web apps in terms of features and ease of use. For example, users could easily access their banking features on the Chrome browser, as most banking apps are now available as Android apps. Additionally, Android apps would also enable better offline access, allowing users to access their data on the go.
The beauty of Google’s plan is that the same integration process used for Android apps on Chromebooks could be applied to the Chrome browser on Windows and OS X. This could open a huge range of new possibilities for the web, allowing web developers to create and distribute web apps on all major platforms, feeling confident that their apps will be compatible with a wide range of devices.
In short, Google’s big Android app plans could bring a great array of new possibilities for Chrome OS, and for computing in general. If successful, this project could be the next big step in the evolution of the web. With Android app support on Chrome OS, users could finally have the best of both worlds – the ease of use of native applications and the flexibility of web-based applications.
