Google's Brin sees two OSes merging

Google co-creator Sergey Brin followed up the introduction of Chrome OS with hints that the new operating system may eventually merge with Android. While the two are currently separate in most ways, the executive suggested the two could unite simply because smartphones and notebooks increasingly share common traits. He pointed out that both have Linux at the root and WebKit for their browsing engines.

It's implied that Google may use the two platforms as incubators for ideas that could merge into a unified platform whose interface is useful for both sides. Acer has tried an Aspire One with Android but has encountered lackluster results as it runs the same version of the OS as on a phone and doesn't fully exploit the larger screen and interface as a result.

Media members gathered at the official event repeatedly questioned Google about adding native apps to Android OS but were told the company is focused first on the software's mission of providing web apps as quickly as possible. It won't officially ship until later in 2010 and consequently is unlikely to get fully native apps beyond that point.

Few other platforms can make such an attempt. The iPhone is based on Mac OS X underneath but has a very different interface model and so far only recognizes ARM processors where Mac OS X Snow Leopard is only known to recognize Intel's x86 architecture.

By Electronista Staff