In case you didn’t know yet, Android apps can now run on Chrome OS. However, you can’t just download all apps you see on the Google Play Store because some porting still needs to be done. The first Android apps from Chrome OS were made available September last year and Google added seven more a few months later. This week, the Internet giant has added four more apps so this means there are now 28 Android apps ready to run on your Chromebook.
Google has been slow in adding and porting over to Chrome OS but the Chrome Web Store will soon be filled with more games and tools. When you go to the store, you will see under the new ARC category all compatible apps.
You can view all the Android apps that have been ported over to Chrome OS on the Chrome Webstore. Google has created a new category called ARC compatible apps, which lists all 28 apps. Install the ARC extension on your Chromebook first before downloading any of the Android apps.
The four new apps include Baby Blocks, Math Friendzy, Flashcards, and Photo Editor. These are not really the most popular apps for Android but they can be very useful for education and entertainment of the kids. So far, we know of these Android apps gracing Chrome OS: Vine, Duolingo, Viber, Sight Words, Evernote, Cookpad Recipes, Couchsurfing, and Overdrive. Rumor has it that VLC is coming soon so watch out for that.
Google is testing the Android apps while still updating Chrome OS. The platform is being enhanced to display and run on convertibles and other touchscreens. Recently, Google has opened the system to not only to Android developers but also to ordinary users who want their Android apps running on Chromebooks.
The Chrome OS v.42 is still in beta but we’ve recently featured the Chrome OS launcher with Google Now. As with any OS update, the latest version brings quicker access to your favorite apps from the shortcut row, some proactive prompts, and compatibility with Android Wear-powered smartwatches.
As a result, more Android apps have been added–or rather ported over to Chromebooks. This time, porting is open to everyone. This also means more integration between Android and Chrome OS. Some elements are the same and you can even unlock Chromebook just by placing your compatible Android phone nearby.
Android and Chrome OS working together could mean that someday, the two will freely co-exist and be fully integrated with each other. What do you think?
perfect, I’m ready for Chrome OS
An important evolution. Chrome OS is pretty good for what it is, but it really needs all of th android apps to make it truly useful.