Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports that leaked images from a Google bug report reveal Aluminium OS, Google’s new operating system designed to replace ChromeOS by combining Android 16 and ChromeOS features.
- The leaked footage shows a desktop-like interface with split-screen functionality, seamless in-app updates, and integrated Gemini AI assistant as core features on an HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook.
- Aluminium OS aims for broader device compatibility across tablets and smartwatches, potentially creating a unified cross-platform experience that could significantly impact Google’s ecosystem strategy.
Google is planning to replace ChromeOS—the operating system that currently powers Chromebooks—with a new one called Aluminium OS. It promises to combine the strengths of ChromeOS and Android into a single, cross-platform operating system… and though it’s far from an official release, we just caught a first glimpse of it thanks to a leak.
9to5Google was able to see official images of Aluminium OS in a Google bug report. These show the first real pictures of the OS’s interface and other elements, such as the status bar. The images were taken on an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5-inch Chromebook with a split screen.
Google reacted quickly and removed the images from the report, but not before the editor shared a video with the public.
Here’s what Aluminium OS looks like
Unsurprisingly, Aluminium OS looks like a mixture of Android 16 and the current ChromeOS. Although you can’t see much in the relatively short clip, this first glance is still pretty interesting.
The taskbar and start screen, which are reminiscent of Android 16’s desktop mode, are particularly striking. For a brief moment, the Google Play Store also opens, providing a glimpse of available apps.
Right at the top of the list of pre-installed applications is Google’s AI assistant Gemini, which will also play a central role in Aluminium OS. While Chromebooks are optimized for AI use, Aluminium OS is designed to run on more devices than merely Chromebooks, including tablets and smartwatches made by Google and other companies.
The video also shows the process of updating apps in Aluminium OS, in this case Chrome. The update runs quickly and apparently without closing or restarting the application in the meantime, which is a significant improvement over how ChromeOS handles things.
When will Aluminium OS be released?
Aluminium OS is set to be a long-term replacement for ChromeOS. As of this writing, there’s no known launch date for the new operating system, nor a timetable for the phase-out of its predecessor.
Nevertheless, Google promises to continue supporting ChromeOS for a while to come—even after Aluminium OS is released.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
Laura is an enthusiastic gamer as well as a movie and TV fan. After studying communication science, she went straight into a job at PCMagazin and Connect Living. Since then, she has been writing about everything to do with PCs and technology topics, and has been a permanent editor at our German sister site PC-WELT since May 2024.