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Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

Summary: Google's source code indicates that the company is working on a tablet version of the Chrome OS and such a move could confuse the Android army, which has banked on Honeycomb.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

Google's source code indicates that the company is working on a tablet version of the Chrome OS and such a move could confuse the Android army.

CNET News' Stephen Shankland dives into the code to find that the Chrome OS is including a touch interface, virtual keyboard and revamped tab page among other goodies.

As Shankland noted, the Chrome OS move isn't all that surprising. After all, Google mocked up a tablet Chrome OS last year.

But what's an Android tablet maker---Samsung, HTC, Motorola etc.---to make of this? Let's ponder the options. A tablet maker today has the following tablet options:

And going forward we can add the Chrome OS to the mix.

Simply put, Google will quickly be catching up to Microsoft when it comes to multiple OS flavors.

At some point, Google will have to define its tablet OS strategy, show how the Chrome OS and Honeycomb go together (or merge) and allay concerns from partners.

The big unknown is whether consumers will notice the OS moving parts and let them influence their buying decisions. Perhaps consumers won't care about the operating system, but Apple's iPad has shown that the OS matters.

Add it up and the Chrome OS vs. Honeycomb adds another layer of uncertainty to the Android tablet equation. At low prices---$200 to $300---this potential fragmentation doesn't matter. At higher price points, you want a more future proof tablet.

Topics: Browser, Google, Hardware, Laptops, Mobility, Operating Systems, Tablets

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78 comments
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  • Hmmm...

    Apple's strategy appears to be just the opposite...
    Gr8Music
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

      @Gr8Music and how's that working out for Apple?
      dheady@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @dheady@... Based on sales pretty good...
        Hasam1991
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @dheady@...

        Well, there seem to be about $300 Billion reasons to say "pretty darn good".
        jscott69
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @dheady@... <br>More than 16,000 apps optimised for iPad vs about 100 for Android honeycomb. Sales of 300,000 iPad2 on opening day. Millions of iPads sold world-wide. Seems to me that everything is going very well for Apple. Thankyou for asking :-)<br><br>Btw the way, how is Xoom with Android 3.0 doing? *snigger*
        Restricted_access
        Reply Vote

      • not everyone wants an ipad...

        They did get a nice head start, but some users actually want flash in their tablet browser. Chrome tablets will be a nice addition to the mix. I recall reading a headline yesterday, hmm can I find it... ah yes

        "Android OS Market Share to Near 50% by 2012"
        -Research projects Android to dominate the world of smartphones

        I don't think I can post a link (will be deleted) but plug that into your search.

        Competition is good...


        cheers
        ~doolittle~
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @dheady@... For the moment its working out pretty well. But I dont see that happening for too long, as people are already starting to pick up cheap Android tablets, its only a matter of time until its a repeat of Androids vs iPhones.
        Jimster480
        Reply Vote

  • ChokemOS was supposed to ship on holidays

    Remember how it was hyped as the Web OS to retire the desktop OS? It was supposed to demonstrate the power of HTML5. It would be able to do this, that and then some, blah, blah, blah?

    This thing was supposed to ship on holidays and it's nowhere to be seen while several months have gone past. What does it tell you about the viability of HTML5 as a platform when Google, the biggest H5 pumper, could not find their HTML5 butt with both hands?
    LBiege
    Reply Vote

    • They're acting more like the Lybian army as opposed to

      @LBiege
      the android army.
      They're get it right in the future.
      Just not sure what year, but the future non the less.
      Will Farrell
      Reply Vote

    • Guys, compared to YEARS late for Vista, the delays in ChromeOS are nothing.

      And, Google is doing very well with HTML5. HTML5 does not have anything to do with ChromeOS, that is built into the Chrome browser, and coming along VERY well.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

      • Wow. You're totally scared of MS, DB

        @DonnieBoy
        I don't think you can make a post without dragging MS in to it, even if it's some really weird angle.

        Change your diapers and go upstairs and eat dinner, your mom's calling you.
        John Zern
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks However I'm experiencing issue with ur rss . Don???t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting an identical rss downside? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx <a rel="follow" href="http://pregnancysymptomsweekbyweekguide.com/">pregnancy symptoms week by week</a>
        kidneyy
        Reply Vote

    • I'd say Apple is more behind HTML5 than google is...

      @LBiege
      After all, they even went so far as to say no flash on iOS, because HTML5 will do all the stuff that is wanted, and currently done by flash.
      shryko
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @shryko

        Apple went out on a limb and openly opposed Adobe Flash to force movement to newer, more open standards.

        Where was Google?

        Bending over and lubing up for Adobe, embracing Flash as vital to it's "open" systems.
        alsobannedfromzdnet
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @alsobannedfromzdnet
        Where was Google? Giving the consumer what they want rather than forcing crap on them. Google actually realizes that I know what I want better than they do! Yes they embraced flash. So? Flash does not hurt anything. They are pushing open standards and HTML5, but realize that a better product also has flash.
        Patrick Aupperle
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

      @LBiege Chrome OS isnt going anywhere. Thats a fact.
      Jimster480
      Reply Vote

    • Doesn't matter when it ships. It's a niche idea with little value.

      @LBiege You're right about the delays, but it really doesn't matter to me and many others. I won't ever use an OS which virtually requires constant Internet access. I want local apps which operate on local data. Sitting on an airplane for 5 hours with no access to my applications, documents, or data would drive me crazy. In this regard, Android beats Chrome hands down. I stopped caring about Chrome OS 15 minutes after playing with a test version.
      BillDem
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

        @BillDem Some airplanes have internet access now. I agree with you. Google should leave all your data and applications intact on the ChromeOS computer. I think they should have a copy both there and on the web. This would give the best of both worlds. Then I would alway have access. I would only need my computer or any computer with internet.
        Patrick Aupperle
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Google's Chrome OS for tablets: More confusion for Android army?

      @LBiege Lol, it took me a while to even realize what ChokemOS was. You should probably use words that make what you are talking about more clear. Seriously, you can't come up with anything better than ChokemOS?
      Patrick Aupperle
      Reply Vote

  • Don't see the problem here

    Maybe it's just me, but I don't see a problem with Google building strong support for tablets into Chrome OS. Android was developed for the smartphone first, and Honeycomb is more or less an adaptation of that for the tablet. Eventually, Chrome may provide the sort of multi-device support that will actually reduce confusion in the long run.
    Quiet_Type
    Reply Vote
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