Google denies rumours predicting the death of Chrome OS

A report on Thursday claimed Google is preparing to merge its Chrome OS, which powers the Web-centric Chromebook laptops, with its mobile OS Android.

The reports that originally documented Chrome OS' future could happen in 2017, so there's the possibility the web search company is telling a veiled truth. Last September, Google announced it was making its Chromebooks "even more mobile by bringing the first set of Android apps to Chrome OS".

From there Google bragged about its regular six-week software cycle for Chrome OS, garunteed auto-updates, and how successful its six-year-old operating system is in general, noting 30,000 new Chromebooks are activated every day in classrooms across the US.

Convinced? The consensus seems to be that its only a matter of time before Android adapts into a full-blown Chrome OS competitor, and while the Chrome OS name may stick around, the inevitable focus on Android is undeniable.

Two months ago, Google also revealed it would be coming out with a new tablet - the Pixel C - that would be based on Android rather than on the Chrome OS. According to the scuttlebutt, like Microsoft, Google is wants one OS to rule all devices from the smartphone to the desktop. Whatever the device, it will provide full access to Google's Play Store and its huge selection of apps. Lockheimer closes off the post by saying that dozens of new Chromebooks will be released in 2016. "I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!" It will continue to be an open-source operating system developed by Google, which manufacturers can integrate into any PC.

Designed for low-priced lightweight notebooks, Chrome OS relies in large part on browser-based applications that are isolated from the OS by sandboxing measures that limit their reach to other components. It would be interesting to see how could become a single platform.