A Chromebook may be a super affordable alternative to the MacBook, but relying solely on web apps inside Google Chrome, they’re not ideal for those who have more than basic computing needs. Except they won’t just run web apps soon.
At its I/O conference in California today, Google announced that Chrome OS is finally getting the Google Play Store with full Android app support.
Without native apps, Chrome OS has a lot of limitations that put it out of reach for a large number of laptop users. Everything runs inside a browser tab — kind of like “apps” made for the original iPhone before Apple introduced the App Store.
But Google is changing that. Later this year, Chrome OS will be able to run all the apps and games you can currently get on your Android smartphone and tablet. Every single one of them. And they won’t be emulated; they’ll run natively, taking full advantage of your device’s hardware.
Android apps will run in windows — just like desktop apps — so you’ll be able to use as many as you want at once and easily switch between them. They’ll accept input from your Chromebook’s trackpad and keyboard, and from your finger if it has a touchscreen.
Over time, Android apps on Chrome OS will get even better as developers optimize them for larger displays, but Google has already made some changes. For instance, Android’s share menus — which will continue work exactly as you’d expect — have already been resized.
It’s important to note that Google isn’t replacing Chrome OS with Android; Chrome OS as you know it is going nowhere, and everything you get from it now will remain. It will just run Android apps as well.
Developers will be able to get their hands on the updated Chrome OS with Android app support in June, but they’ll need a Chromebook Pixel 2, ASUS Chromebook Flip, or Acer Chromebook R11 to run it. Google says it will be adding support for more devices later.
Later this year, Android app support will rollout to all Chrome OS users, and Google will be hoping that it can boost Chromebook sales. With support for apps, they finally become viable replacements to Mac and Windows machines for many more consumers — especially those who are already fans of Android.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
5 responses to “Google’s MacBook rivals will soon run Android apps”
nice!
Great, a desktop class computer that gets to run mobile applications… brilliant! LOL
Why is it that companies come out with computers that look physically like Apple products and think they have an “Apple killer”? What is continually missed is that Apple users like the software interface. Mac OS is the reason I use Macs, and it’s just a perk that the hardware looks great and is very durable. It’s the operating system that makes Macs so enjoyable to use. It’s the niceties that Apple builds into its human interfaces that make using a Mac or an iOS device so pleasurable — primarily because you’re not constantly fighting the OS to get things done.
I certainly see your point, but some people like Macs and can’t afford them. I know a couple of people who used Macs for years, but only have basic computing needs, so when their old machines became too slow, they switching to Windows just because it was cheaper.
There’s huge demand for computers that are thin and light and shiny like Macs but cost a lot less.
Can a Mac cold-boot in 7 seconds like a Chromebook? Can a Mac claim that it is malware/virus-proof like a Chromebook can? If you lose or destroy your Mac, can you just log onto another one and continue working with access to all your apps and files like you would with a Chromebook? Does a Mac user never need to download and install updates like Chromebook users never do? Can $300 buy you a touch screen Mac notebook that folds into tablet mode just as less than $300 does buy that kind of Chromebook? There are many, many stories of people who’ve gone from Macs to Chromebooks, but rarely visa versa. There are numerous practical reasons why people choose to almost exclusively use a Chromebook AFTER they’ve actually used one for long enough to actually know what they’re talking about. In short: They just work!