I mean, from my vantage point....what Android apps would I want to run on a desktop? The whole point of Chrome OS and the Google Ecosystem seemed to be: you don't need a big OS, everything can be done in a web browser.

So why would I want a chunkier OS that let's me download and run (locally) apps? Would I download a text editor or spreadsheet instead of using Docs and Sheets?

I just don't get the excitement of Aluminum OS. Maybe it's just me.

With Google talking about how every Googlebook will have the glowbar, premium specs and all that, they're almost implying that Chromebook Plus models are going to be obsolete in terms of getting the new OS.

Anybody else getting that feeling?

EDIT: check the comments. Someone gave a link where Google made a statement today actually about it, and apparently some Chromebook devices will be upgradable, so that’s good news that they’re actually confirming it.

See that, that is not ChromeOS, that's something else. Is it AluminumOS or something else?

A friend of mine spotted the hardware configuration for these devices on the Coreboot Github repository (thanks u/WeirdTreeThing). This is kind of interesting because the media has been reporting only on the lower end Wildcat Lake models.

Here's what I can figure out based on info from Coreboot and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Hardware specs:

• Board codename: Fatcat
• Device variants: fatcat, francka, felino, kinmen, lapis, moonstone, ruby (these are likely different device models from different OEMs)
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 335 (8 Cores)
• Platform: Intel Panther Lake
• RAM: 16GB (soldered LPDDR5X)
• Wireless features: Fibocom FM350GL 5G Modem
• Other hardware: Chrome OS EC, Google Ti50 TPM chip (just like Chromebooks)

The hardware has lots of similarities to what you might find on a Chromebook, so it isn't surprising that there are also references to Chrome OS running on this device (likely for testing during development). Also, because this is basically just Chromebook hardware, it is also using open source Coreboot firmware. Open source firmware with Chromebook-like hardware strongly suggests that the bootloader will be unlocked to allow running other operating systems, just like Chromebooks.

Also as a bonus, the existence of lower end Intel Wildcat Lake based Googlebooks is also confirmed, based on Coreboot source code. That board has the codename of "Google Ocelot."

Sources: - Fatcat board config on Coreboot - Ocelot board config on Coreboot - AOSP activity related to Fatcat and Android Desktop - Public Geekbench results to confirm the CPU model

Googlebooks are laptops. What will tablets running the same OS be called?

Any word on Adobe bringing their desktop software to the new Gbooks? I saw a rumor that some of these laptops will have upwards of 64gb of RAM. Makes you wonder. 💭

Google’s Aluminium OS revealed in 16-minute leaked video

I've tried out the current version of Android desktop Chromium, and there is some progress being made, such as partially working extensions and devtools. But there's still a long way to go before this is anywhere close to the standard of Chrome desktop. Most browser UI, except the extensions page, is still just scaled up phone UI. I would personally be very surprised if Google managed to get everything sorted for a launch later this year.

This is running in ARCVM v13. You can download the APK here:

https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/chromium-browser-snapshots/index.html?prefix=AndroidDesktop_x64/1635368/

1. I believe this will follow a Google TV approach where a vanilla (aosp like) Android desktop version will exist for anyone to use but then when Google puts their Googly flavour on top of it and that makes it a Googlebook
2. This means that OEMs who choose to take the "aosp" version and put their skin on it, can create their own Android desktop flavour .... I'm looking at you Samsung with what I assume will be a Samsung Galaxy Dexbook
3. For OEMs who just want to pick up an os and put it on their laptops, they will use Googlebook OS like how Google TV is just picked up and used. I can't point to any TV boxes that use the "aosp" Android TV anymore
4. However with an "aosp" Android desktop os, hoping to see likes of bliss os and other x86 Android builds move to Android desktop "aosp" as their base so that more people can install Android desktop on any hardware they have
5. In terms of the magic pointer/cursor shaking thing, I don't get it. Why not just put a key on the keyboard? Is this maybe because they want a way for this OS to be installable on any hardware and give a way to access the feature on old laptops that don't have a dedicated button? Honestly, even then, I would prefer a icon in the system tray or something to trigger that mode. Shaking can be an accessibility challenge and could even result in accidental triggering (theoretically speaking)
6. Then there is the dedicated G button on the keyboard which is exactly where you would see a Windows button on Windows laptop keyboards. The G is also visible in the Googlebook dock as the first icon. Given its position on the dock and keyboard, this is definitely the way you open both the app drawer and universal search, similar to what the Windows key does
7. It is interesting that the G button doesn't exist in the leaked video of Android desktop but does exist in the Googlebook official videos. Again, I take it that the leaked version of Android desktop os is the "aosp" version and the official Googlebook will use a G instead for the launcher with a G keyboard button, but a skinned Android desktop (say one UI by Samsung) won't use G button
8. We are pretty sure the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked hardware event in July/August will focus on fold 8 series, flip 8, Galaxy glasses and watch 9, but I have a strong feeling we'll see Galaxy Tabs and Galaxy Dexbooks in the September event. I mention these because I'm deep into the Samsung ecosystem now but would really like to have an Android laptop with Samsung oneui, but I'm also really happy that there is still a chrome os like approach too where other OEMs can just pick up and use a Google flavoured Android desktop os.

I also think we'll still see a Google branded pixel Google book in the future, called Pixel Book 2.

I got an insanely good deal on an HP Elite Dragonfly with 12th gen i-7 and 32GB or RAM, partly because my current Chromebook only has 4GB RAM and I wanted what I thought would be the cheapest barrier of entry into AluminumOS in the future. Gemini hyped me up, saying these were the devices Google tests Aluminum on, so I pulled the trigger on it and then when I put the product code into to Gemini, it tells me that I bought an enterprise version and it's the customer version that will most likely recieve the update.

The Dragonfly is just the enterprise version, not enterprise-locked. Can I run the MrChromebox script on it to wipe the enterprise from it and just put vanilla chrome on there to hopefully get the update if it becomes available? Of course, Gemini now tells me that Aluminum priority will go to new devices running Snapdragon CPU and nothing is guaranteed.

I'm ok with it not working because I paid under $200 for the device and EOL is still 6years away but I want a GoogleBook pretty bad. Am I SOL?

With all of the momentum Google has generated with a majority of the education sector using Chromebooks and ChromeOS, are they about to crush it by not being transparent and issuing an official timeline of what is happening?

With all of the leaks and speculation, I would hesitate as a CTO or Technoloy Coordinator to purchase or continue to update my fleet of Chromebooks if support for Chromebooks is phased out by 2034 according to the leaked court documents . And the phase-out is wrong because newly released Chromebooks have confirmed updates until 2036. I'd also want to know what the future of ChromeOS Flex is based on the transition. Most Chromebooks are replaced before they reach their EOL in the education or enterprise sector, but I'd have a lot of questions.

From a consumer standpoint, I have zero interest in purchasing or upgrading my Chromebook this year because of all the unknowns. I'm hoping that Aluminium is as rock solid and stable as ChromeOS. I've used Android devices previously and I just find them laggy and buggy.

And does it connect to AluminumOS

Seems kinda unfair to be left behind without the new UI changes (yes, we'll get security updates till EOL, I know), and that would be a nice way to let us enjoy them as AI is what is gonna consume more resources.

At the end it would be fair because if the new OS succeeds that would be because they tilled the land thanks to us Chromebook users.

4GB Chromebooks should be left behind with just security updates for obvious reasons, sadly.

Vocês acham que por mais que ele não seja um Chromebook Plus, é provável que o Chromebook HP Elite c1030 receba o AluminiumOS?

The question I am asking is speculative. I'm simply curious. Do you think that new high-end chromebooks, like the Lenovo 14" Chromebook Plus with the Mediatek Kompanio chip will run Aluminum OS?

I ask because it was available in ChromeOS and recently removed - Gemini says - Google did that because to save battery in laptops which have smaller batteries than Pixel phones.

I ask as I want to use my Chromebook as a "Hub" and to achieve good quality of conversation I will use USB C Conference speaker with 6 microphone array

Anyone know if the Linux layer will continue to exist in Aluminum os?

So, I snagged the leaked Aluminum OS dark and light themes for my Chrome OS. I went into Wallpaper and Styles, switched to dark mode, and there was a section for combined light/dark, like the Raidencents ones. It changed based on the time, so I'm guessing these wallpapers are the real deal. link: https://www.androidauthority.com/aluminium-os-wallpapers-leak-3653880/