Google's effort to bring Android app support to Chrome OS is still a work-in-progress, and the purported dual-boot capability a mere pipe dream; but now, the company plans to bring Windows 10 app support to Chrome OS.
In partnership with Parallels Desktop, Google wants to bring Windows 10 app support to Chrome OS for enterprise users, while there is also the plan for Windows OS dual-boot within Chrome OS on a virtual machine using Parallels Desktop, including the possibility of a seamless experience.
The move is quite similar to how Microsoft has brought Linux GUI apps to Windows 10 via WSL2, albeit the technicality may differ, and users would have to use the Windows apps side-by-side with Chrome web apps and Android apps without having to run the entire OS.
Google is still found wanting in its own ecosystem
If you are an Apple fan, you should be familiar with the impressive continuity or convergence between their various devices. For instance, if you are watching a movie on your Mac wearing earphones and got a call on your iPhone, you'll be given the option of receiving the call right on your computer without resorting to your phone.
But same can't be said of Android and Chromebook; with such convergence features lacking on Android, it is a huge turn down, especially for those who are switching from iPhone to Android phone.
And Chromebooks running Google's own Chrome OS can't even boast of the level of convergence in Apple products, despite the ploy to tie Chromebooks and Android devices together, which Google had earlier outlined the authentication by a secondary device plan, allowing users to bypass their phone or tablet’s lock screen (though, optional).
The limitation lies in the fact that you can only open your Chromebook with your Android device in your pocket, with the laptop automatically getting unlocked and signing you into your Google account, without requiring a password.
Why the move to incorporate more convergence into Microsoft systems?
Microsoft has been trying hard to take charge of what’s running on Android, with the additions of "Your Phone" app which it released in 2018. And the company since then has added several other useful features such as SMS Organizer to help Android users achieve better cross-device compatibility with Windows 10.
So, Google now wants to give back, or perhaps, take back some charges, even as it has managed to port Android apps to Chrome OS. Therefore, it has sought after the experts, which in this case is Parallels Desktop, with the experience of running Windows apps on Apple’s macOS.
And Google's new thinking in the line of incorporating more of convergence features into Microsoft systems might be the joker to gain more grounds in the Windows ecosystem.
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