Android must remember its roots before it can become a PC

Google is accompanied by PC, and this could mean that we will finally have another option beyond today’s operating systems stable. After letting Chromeos die in a sea of ​​its own inadequacy, the technology giant confirmed that it would offer a real PC operating system to MacOS or Windows 11 one day … possibly. At the Qualcomm Summit Snapdragon Summit (Complete disclosure: travel and accommodation have been paid by Qualcomm, and Gizmodo guaranteed any coverage as a journey of travel acceptance), Google VP of the Rick Osterloh devices and services spoke with the CEO of Qualcomm Cristiano Amon and hinted this new phase of Android.

“I saw it, it’s incredible,” joked Amon. Without other clue, we must consider what Google must do so that Android works on the big screen. Android on desktop computers or laptops must offer more than an Android iVie version of the latest iPados 26. Google could offer an operating system that allows Mac style continuity between devices without the enclosed garden that limits you to applications dictated by Google. I am one of these PC users, regularly watched over Windows aggravated Microsoft’s Microsoft apps like OneDrive in our gorges with boring contextual advertisements on the desktop. A change in decor would be welcome, but I’m not ready to abandon my Steam library either.

Android on PC will be filled with AI

For these curious people, here are Osterloh’s full comments on Google’s plans for Android on PC:

“In the past, we have always had very different systems between what we build on PCs and what we build in smartphones and we have embarked on a project to combine this. We build a common technical basis together for our products on PCs and office computers, and I think we have another way to make sure that we excite all the models of gémins and developers. I think that is another way which Android will be able to serve everyone in all computer categories. »»

Without specificities, we can only guess which Android form on PC could take. Of course, Google will fill its new operating system on the verge of Gemini AI features. On Chromebook, it is in the form of gemini and applications like notebooklm accessible directly from the taskbar. Google would probably want to use the desktop space to stick Gemini directly in the main user interface, similar to Microsoft Shoving Copilot on the Windows 11 desk. Already, Google Applications like Gmail, documents, sheets and more contain all a button that allows Gemini to access your files. Sometimes it turns out to be useful. The AI ​​is ideal for quickly filling the spreadsheets. In other respects, AI can be silly. I can ask Gemini to find an email on a future event for an upcoming company in October, and that will tell me about an email from last year.

The use of AI to the maximum requires recycling user expectations. This is already a good deal when desktop or laptop users are used to the standard experience on MacOS, Windows – and to a smaller measure -. Android was born as a modified version of a Linux nucleus. After so many years, the open source Android project has taken its own life and now governs the foundation of all mobile devices that are not part of Apple’s IOS Domaine. The best Android option to build muscle in the PC space is to simply go back to its Linux roots.

Google will have to try to let go

No one wants to be liable to an application shop. Google continued to assert the court that the third party and third party application stores ruin the experience. The judges did not buy this line of thought and do not have any users either. There is nothing wrong with having full native access to all Android applications, but they have to work well on a larger display. Beyond that, users expect to download all their main productivity and play applications. Compatibility is what retains PC based on Snapdragon X based on Qualcomm ARM with Windows 11. Google would do better than users can access all Linux versions of the most popular applications than let them load the mobile version of Tiktok.

Chromeos died simple. It borrows the Windows taskbar and allows some replacement features of the control center or via the quick access key to recent Chromebook Plus models. File management may look like a chore. Tasks as simple as crop photos with specific sizes are not simple on the default applications of Chromebook. An office operating system requires a completely different state of mind from what Google has done recently.

PC users want something clean, simple and easy to manage. We do not need the ostentation of the expressive equipment 3. We want to use all of our current devices and external screens and modify our settings according to our needs. A new operating system should facilitate that users modify the components of their desktop computers or more customizable laptops. Google seems to have an eye on Qualcomm PC chips to start. However, this cannot be a unique adventure. Google, always in mind to take a pitcher ax towards well-established features or applications (remember the Stadia game streaming? I do it well) which should take care of this new business in the long term. Compared to Chromeos, this new software suite should not be liable to streaming via the Chrome browser.