Google wants to make sure you know it’s serious when it says Chrome OS isn’t going away. The company put out a blog post on Monday titled “Chrome OS is here to stay,” and cross-posted it across at least three blogs (Google for Work, Google Enterprise, and Google Chrome).
Last week, The Wall Street Journal ran a report, citing people familiar with the matter, saying that Google plans to fold Chrome OS into Android and that Google would unveil a new single operating system in 2017. An early version, it said, would be shown off as early as next year.
Not so fast.
While it doesn’t point to this report specifically, Google addresses the “confusion about the future of Chrome SO and Chromebooks based on speculation that Chrome OS will be folded into Android.” It acknowledges that it has been working on ways to bring together “the best of both operating systems,” but says “there’s no plan to phase out Chrome OS.”
The company says it has plans to release more features for Chrome such as a new media player, a visual refresh based on Material Design, improved performance, and more security related stuff.
“For everyday use, we’re proud that Chromebooks are continually listed as a best-selling laptop computer on Amazon.com,” writes Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast. “In an effort to make computing even more accessible, earlier this year we introduced the first $149 Chromebook—a fast, affordable laptop. And in the next couple weeks the Asus Chromebit will be available—an $85 device that turns any display into a computer so you can replace your old desktop with an affordable computer the size of a candy bar, or let businesses transform a billboard into a smart digital sign.”
“This year we’ve also worked to redefine the different forms Chrome OS can take, introduced the first designated Chromebook for Work, and brought more of your favorite Android apps to your Chromebook via Apps Runtime on Chrome (a.k.a. ARC),” he says. “But there’s more to do…With our regular six-week software cycle and guaranteed auto-updates for five years, Chromebooks keep getting better over time. Finally, stay on the lookout for dozens of new Chromebooks in 2016.”
The Journal’s article indicated that while Google would fold Chrome OS into Android, Google engineers would continue to support it as an open source offering. This notion is not actually addressed in Google’s blog post.
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