The long-rumored Android-Chrome OS merger might finally be in the works. According to new leaks from Android Police and 9to5Google, a hybrid OS called Andromeda could come on a new Pixel laptop and Huawei Nexus tablet from
What's the big deal about Andromeda? So far, Google has maintained two separate operating systems for its devices: Chrome OS for Chromebooks and Android for Nexus phones and tablets. It's been inching toward more unity, most notably by bringing Android apps onto select Chromeblooks earlier this month. But Andromeda would be a true hybrid of the two operating systems, unifying the OS of Google-designed phones, tablets and laptops.
The laptop, called the Pixel 3 and codenamed Bison, would launch with Andromeda in Q3 2017, Android Police says. It's also likely Andromeda would come on a new Huawei Nexus tablet even sooner, according to 9to5Google.
The Huawei tablet has previously been teased by notorious tipster Evan Blass on
Google's Huawei-built 7-inch tablet, with 4GB RAM, on track for release before the end of the year.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 5, 2016
Hiroshi Lockheimer, a senior vice president at Google focusing on Android and Chrome OS, also teased that Google could be getting ready for a big software reveal at its October 4 press event:
We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today. I have a feeling 8 years from now we'll be talking about Oct 4, 2016. — Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) September 24, 2016
Given that these are leaks from unnamed sources, it's important to take this news with a grain of salt. But Google's inclusion of Android apps on Chromebook laptops indicates it's moving toward more unity between its devices, and Lockheimer's Tweet suggests the company is indeed working on something big in the OS world.
