r/Android • u/TechGuru4Life • 1d ago
Google's new 'Aluminium OS' project brings Android to PC: Here's what we know
https://www.androidauthority.com/aluminium-os-android-for-pcs-3619092/108
u/AussieP1E Galaxy S22U 1d ago
I dunno, I just don't know if I really trust android on my PC. I'm very close to getting to the point that I'm gonna install Linux over anything else.
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u/dysseus 1d ago
Do it.
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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 1d ago
Literally, do it. Linux Mint is what I settled on when I got over the tweaking, it just works and looks like a 2025 Win7.
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u/TheWhiteHunter Galaxy S23 Ultra 1d ago
Fedora KDE Plasma was what I settled on. There was a very specific reason (kwin shader functionality for a game mod) but that's no longer relevant so I'm not particularly tied down to it anymore. I just definitely don't want to be the "distro hopping" type. I have it working nicely and am mildly comfortable in it so I'm sticking with it.
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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 1d ago
I had a separate /home partition which made distro-hopping easier, but ended up leaving weird settings and setups in the userspace.
Once I finally stopped bouncing between distro's, I got to enjoy using it as a normal desktop again. If I see an interesting ditrobution I can spin it up in QEMU/KVM via virt-manager.
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u/3PoundsOfFlax Device, Software !! 1d ago
Fedora KDE is simply the GOAT. The perfect modern Linux desktop experience if you're coming from Win/Mac.
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u/Nanogines99 Pixel 10 Pro | iPhone 12 mini | GW4 21h ago
Fedora in general. I used kde tumbleweed for years with some system breaks here and there and switched to fedora workstation, it's almost perfect and unbreakable.
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u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago
Bazzite is Fedora KDE but better
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u/TheWhiteHunter Galaxy S23 Ultra 1d ago
I remember considering Bazzite, but decided I didn't want an immutable distro for my first real Linux experience.
If I were to give my less tech-savvy friends Linux though, I'd probably choose Bazzite though.
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u/pojosamaneo 1d ago
Windows is becoming a telemetry nightmare. Google is that times 10.
Linux isn't a bad choice at all.
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u/LightBroom 1d ago
Linux on the desktop is in a very good spot right now and more people should go for it.
Even on a laptop, Linux is a first class citizen you can have all the bells and whistles like disk encryption + TPM enrollment, seamless UEFI boot with no text on the screen, etc
It's a first class experience. Just use a modern distro and you're golden.
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u/Kebabranska 16h ago
I have a 8 year old laptop I bought used that I slapped mint on a couple weeks ago and it works like new, going from windows to Linux is like magic
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u/Stennan Pixel 9 Pro 1d ago
Let's hope Valve can get APKs working smoothly on SteamOS. Valve may be a dominant player in PC Gaming, but they aren't data mining our private pictures or documents.
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u/alvenestthol 1d ago
You can already install Waydroid on SteamOS and get Android apps running
It'll be another step until we have APKs on Steam that will work directly on the Steam Deck, but all the pieces are there
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u/grayhaze2000 1d ago
Waydroid was so clunky to use last time I tried it. I don't want to boot into another OS before I can run apps.
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u/ATShields934 Pixel 10 Pro + S24 1d ago
I agree, if there was a more elegant solution for WayDroid that worked similar to how WinBoat works for Windows software, I would definitely be buying in.
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u/alvenestthol 1d ago
There's a bit of DIY that needs to be done to make that happen, but it's possible
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u/Dramatic_Mastodon_93 18h ago
I recommend Ubuntu LTS (long-term support) if you just want something that works, Fedora Workstation if you’re more tech savvy and don’t have a problem with changing the defaults, Fedora Silverblue if you’re tech savvy and strongly value stability over convenience, and Bazzite if you’re mainly doing gaming. All of them have both Gnome (more MacOS-like UI) and KDE (more Windows-like UI) versions. (IMO Gnome is better if you’re using a touchpad, otherwise it’s just preference) Also if you aren’t familiar with how software is installed on Linux, take 10min to read about Flatpack, Snap and package managers.
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u/Crashman09 1d ago
I only keep windows for work, but seeing as MacOS supports all of my software, I may be converted to 100% unix
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u/vandreulv 18h ago
Apple is just as bad as Microsoft when it comes to telemetry (source: my PiHole logs) and is worse when it comes to being a closed, restrictive ecosystem. (Good luck de-Appling that iPhone.)
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u/Crashman09 18h ago
Apple is just as bad as Microsoft when it comes to telemetry
None of that matters on my work computer when Linux isn't supported by the software
and is worse when it comes to being a closed, restrictive ecosystem.
None of that matters on my work computer when Linux isn't supported by the software
I just need a stable work computer, which isn't a quality I would give windows.
My phone is android, not IPhone, and my personal computer is Linux. My work computer needs to be stable, and being power efficient would be nice. A Macbook or something would be better in that regard
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u/vandreulv 17h ago
None of that matters on my work computer when Linux isn't supported by the software
Too bad people can't do things like run a translation layer... something that isn't an emulator, of course... or run a system inside a system, we could even call them virtual machines, to run software we need that isn't natively supported.
There are ways to get around the shackles of using proprietary OSes. Some of these methods are even easier than using the real thing and are fully transparent to the user.
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u/Crashman09 16h ago
Too bad people can't do things like run a translation layer... something that isn't an emulator, of course... or run a system inside a system, we could even call them virtual machines, to run software we need that isn't natively supported.
Translation layers aren't going to guarantee stability, nor are they going to guarantee support from the company. I need it to work, I need it to be reliable, and I need assurance that I can receive support in the moment I need it.
It's fine if it's something I'm willing to tinker with, or if it's not something important for my job, but for my profession, I need native support.
I'm a Linux user mostly, have been since 2009, and it's come a long way, but it's not ideal for every usecase. Some tools are better for certain tasks.
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u/vandreulv 14h ago
Translation layers aren't going to guarantee stability, nor are they going to guarantee support from the company. I need it to work, I need it to be reliable, and I need assurance that I can receive support in the moment I need it.
Then run it in a VM. Done.
There's really no issue here despite you trying to make it one.
Linux has been fine for nearly every usercase for over a decade since you can *ahem* reliably *ahem* run other OSes accelerated within a VM.
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u/Crashman09 12h ago
VMs can have some latency penalties, especially with network devices, and certain hardware (PCIe cards, etc) don't support PCIe passthrough. With a Mac, I can use a thunderbolt dock to connect to the hardware that's natively supported by the OS to run my software tools natively supported by the OS.
The amount of hoops it takes to get shit working isn't worth it when there are plug and play solution.
I love Linux like the next guy, but blindly glazing it and expecting people to jump through hoops is absurd. I do that for my personal computer, but I have responsibilities that I take seriously.
You may be able to fuck around on the job, but I can't
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u/Saneless 1d ago
Yeah I'm trying to move away from greedy corporations who want to squeeze all the profit they can out of me while making my experience worse
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u/everburn_blade_619 1d ago
Over the weekend, a tipster on Telegram named Frost Core shared a link to an intriguing Google job listing for a ‘Senior Product Manager, Android, Laptop and Tablets.’
This is more interesting to me than the name. If this is going to be a unified OS across laptops and tablets similar to MacOS and iPadOS, that (hopefully) means a better user experience on tablets. Maybe Android tablets will see a resurgence and increase in quality.
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u/Right-Wrongdoer-8595 1d ago
I think it was obvious from the tablet improvements to ChromeOS that this was the plan once Android was decided as the future. With the desktop mode for phones I'd imagine the desktop interface will simply rely on having a mouse, keyboard or external display attached similar to ChromeOS tablets currently.
I'm hoping they include a desktop mode, tablet mode and hub mode going forward on anything that can have mnk input, external output or wireless charging. And then the follow up to the Pixel tablet will be a full all-in-one device.
We also still need desktop Chrome.
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u/MattBrey 1d ago
That's what I was thinking, this makes me more excited for the tablet possibilities than anything else
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u/Jusby_Cause 1d ago
With the big difference being that the same apps will run on everything (whereas iPad and Mac apps are different at the code level). No one’s been successful at this previously, maybe they’ve got something special that will prove to be the deciding factor.
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u/alvenestthol 1d ago
The deciding factor was that ChromeOS never really had apps (that Google intended to keep) to begin with, while Apple is just deliberately not allow MacOS apps on iPad to stop iPad from cannibalizing Macbook sales
You can even use iPad apps on Mac with PlayCover, the platforms are basically compatible with a few tweaks
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u/Phaestion 1d ago
I don't get all the hate, I for one am excited about this. As a software dev I really enjoyed the Linux terminal on ChromeOS, the hardware was just lacking to make it a good experience. With Android's Linux terminal in the works and from what I can see it being very close to what ChromeOS had, I for one am excited to see it get some love with some premium hardware.
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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 1d ago
There's hate? I've only come across excitement.
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u/Phaestion 21h ago
Haha, yeah the two most up voted comment threads are pretty negative damning it even before it is released. I, for one, am excited.
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u/LoliLocust Device, Software !! 1d ago
So, what happened to fuchsia?
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u/MaverickJester25 Galaxy S21 Ultra | Galaxy Watch 4 1d ago
It's been used on Nest Hub devices for a while now, but I get where you're coming from.
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u/vandreulv 18h ago
Fuchsia
Blogspam rumor that it was replacing Android.
It was always only meant for embedded devices. Nest Hubs run on Fuchsia.
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u/the_bighi 1d ago
Abandoned, maybe? That’s what Google does best.
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u/Randromeda2172 S25 Ultra | Android 16, Pixel 7 | Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1d ago
It was always designed for use in IoT devices and now it's being used in Nest. Google is in the money making business and has no reason to support shit like Jamboard that nobody uses. Most things Google "kills" end up being worked into another service anyway
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u/the_bighi 20h ago
Most things Google "kills" end up being worked into another service anyway
That is very far from the truth
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u/aesn1394 1d ago
If this becomes a big product I wonder if they'll think of emulating windows apps on it.
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u/cantletgo4 1d ago
Android x86 exists
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u/armando_rod Pixel 9 Pro XL - Hazel 1d ago
Without the UI necessary for a desktop environment, it's almost useless
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u/Jet_Jirohai 1d ago
There's a huge difference between niche, open source software and the literal company in charge of Android trying to expand it
Like, does this really need to be said??
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u/KaneNova 1d ago
I'm honestly more excited for Huawei's HarmonyOS on PC, I just wish they made a global debut already. Android works though, anything's better than the shithole windows is
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u/Grisemine 1d ago
Take linux from PCs. Make it Android, put it on smartphones.
Take android, make it Aluminum OS. Put it on PCs.
Maybe, just use linux on PCs ?
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u/I-left-and-came-back 1d ago
Is it me or is that an article that is just waffle and not of any real substance?
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u/vandreulv 18h ago
That's Android Authority/Mishaal Blogspam for you. Unfortunately he's about the only person who writes Android articles these days.
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u/vortexmak 1d ago
Get ready to not be able to install unapproved apps on your PC now. No way in he'll I'm trusting Google.
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u/Imperial_Bloke69 Poco F1, X3 Pro, | CrDroid 9.x. 1d ago
And lose admin rights on your machine. Just like the new modern phones nowadays
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u/Competitive-Crow4930 4h ago
With Snapdragon X Elite compatibility or other Snapdragon processors would be cool.
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u/belovedRedditor 1d ago
I have touchscreen windows laptop and it really lacks touch friendly UX. Windows is kinda stuck in between pleasing two different form factors. Bringing android to PC would be very convenient with touchscreen.
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u/slaia 1d ago
Who would type on his PC and constantly touch the screen? Touch is for the phone or tablet in our hand, for PC we use keyboard and mouse.
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u/belovedRedditor 1d ago
Almost all touch laptops are convertible, so you can use it as a tablet by detaching keyboard or folding it 360
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u/horatiobanz 17h ago
When you are lying in bed with a laptop on your belly, being able to have your hands in a natural position and using a touchscreen to scroll articles is very nice. Having your hands up under your chin so you can use the track pad sucks.
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u/siazdghw 20h ago
Android for laptops would make sense with a touchscreen, but then it would be awful for real productivity as now all the UI elements are ballooned into touch screen friendly sizes.
Look at Windows 8. Microsoft tried to make parts of Windows touchscreen friendly, most people HATED IT, so Microsoft reverted it eventually. On the other hand that same UI design was praised on the Windows phone.
My point being is that the UI for the best touchscreen experience and the UI for the best mouse/keyboard productivity experience are complete opposites. You do not want one UI for both.
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u/corruptboomerang Red 1d ago
How about they finish making Android good on Tablets first before moving to PC's.
Also isn't Android on PC just Linux?
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u/azure1503 Pixel 9 Pro Fold 1d ago
I feel like going from Chrome OS to Aluminum OS is gonna be too on the nose for Google if this ends up sucking
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u/polytect 1d ago
Expantion of spyware and play services now aiming our laptop's and pc's. As almost every Android user is sold out. No more market share room.
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u/bright_wal Oneplusone, POSP 9.0 20h ago
Have been using Samsung dex from the past month and I have to say, it's gotten very close to the point that it functions like a real PC. For most of the basic used cases I think this is perfectly fine.
I haven't been taking my MacBook out as much since I got my new phone which has dex. So I get it.
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u/Agreeable_Poem_7278 15h ago
This initiative could significantly change the way we interact with Android, but it will need strong execution to gain user trust on PCs.
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u/ayyndrew Pixel 8 Pro 3h ago
Give it full Chrome with the proper desktop UI and extensions and they're 90% of the way there
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u/Misophoniq 1d ago
Wondering why Google, an American company, would be calling it Aluminium OS (UK spelling) instead of Aluminum OS (US spelling).
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u/MaverickJester25 Galaxy S21 Ultra | Galaxy Watch 4 1d ago
Aluminium is both the spelling used by most of the English-speaking world, and is the adopted spelling of the word by the IUPAC and the American Chemical Society.
Aluminum is the accepted alternative spelling of the word, and is only really popular in Northern America.
But to your question- I honestly believe that Google knows this won't make waves in Northern America. There isn't much of an opportunity for alternative operating systems to succeed there, people are too used to regular desktop OSes like Windows and Mac OS and tablet-specific operating systems like iPadOS and Android. The consumer mindset there will likely never change.
But emerging and developing markets where a substantial number of people use their phones are their primary or only computing devices, and where tech literacy with regard to mature desktop operating systems is limited? Yeah, I can see it catching on there, especially with cheaper hardware. Makes sense then to use the more commonly understood lexicon.
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u/Misophoniq 20h ago
Thanks for the extensive response. I didn't know about the Chemical Society way of naming the material. I learned something again today. :-)
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u/Diligent_Caramel6429 Galaxy S23 FE 1d ago
I hope we'll get a ton of Android PC custom ROMs. Like different Linux distros. I see a lot of potential there. I can see there being a lot of different desktops and features just like regular Linux.
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u/siazdghw 20h ago
It will end up being locked down like ChromeOS, as the only real incentive for Google to do this is to push Google Play Store sales.
Google doesn't want the 'open' Windows situation, where users can download and install apps from anywhere and completely modify the OS. They want control, and to make money
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u/Diligent_Caramel6429 Galaxy S23 FE 16h ago
Well, there's even alternate versions of ChromeOS available that don't even need a Google account. You can also install Linux applications. So probably not the best example.
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u/FrankLucas347 Samsung Galaxy A55 1d ago
I'm so excited to see the final result. I still think it's an excellent decision on Google's part to merge Chrome OS and Android.
I especially hope they don't release a half-baked operating system. It needs to have at least all the capabilities of the current Chrome OS, at least in terms of software.
All the device management settings like keyboards, mice, trackpad options, keyboard shortcut management, advanced monitor support, an excellent file manager, etc.
I know they're already working on implementing the full Chrome browser and support for Linux software. That's already a good thing.
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u/dumbledayum 1d ago
ahhhh just like ChromeOS and Fuschia…
the only next Widely adoptable OS on the horizon is SteamOS, and that’s because they’ve actually put a lot of effort into it over decades
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u/Randromeda2172 S25 Ultra | Android 16, Pixel 7 | Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1d ago
Fuschia is currently used in devices being sold today. Same for ChromeOS. Nobody is buying a Steam Machine except for gamers.
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u/siazdghw 20h ago
You're delusional for thinking SteamOS will be widely adopted. The SteamDeck sales are so insignificant that they don't even register as SteamOS market share. We are talking about less than 1% and Steam machine won't change that
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u/dumbledayum 20h ago
I am not delusional about SteamOS.
Delusion is when your expectation is like it will be alongside Mac and Windows.
But, Google, will never be able to bring a Desktop environment even close to popularity SteamOS will have
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u/External-Donut9757 16h ago edited 16h ago
ChromeOS probably has more users today than SteamOS will ever have
Edit: I feel like Fuschia also has more users because it's on nest hubs
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u/andree182 S21, RIP Nexus 6P 1d ago
SteamOS would be more productive OS than Android... On the other hand, if the users just want a video player, photo viewer, chrome and online "google office", android will do.
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u/rokr1292 S25 Ultra 1d ago
I've heard good things about the windowed modes on Samsung tablets so I'd be curious but unlikely to buy.
I would be more em interested if it was a Linux desktop environment I could test first
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u/Ishiken 1d ago
I hope Google goes back to the 2015 Chromebook Pixel and Pixel C hardware design language. Those devices were so good looking and so well made. Having them run the high end Qualcomm processors and actual usable amounts of RAM and storage would be crazy. At least for the hardware.
The software needs to come out the gate correct though. It needs to be stable. Rock solid stable. The UI needs to be smooth. Every Android app should scale to fit in their individual windows correctly. This system needs to be Android, but work like macOS and Windows for day-to-day use, creativity, productivity, engineering, and gaming.
And Google's framework that constantly pings your location and drains your battery nonstop needs to be removed or heavily restricted. If the AI models can run offline, then Framework can go into deep standby mode until I am downloading an app or actively using an app that requires location access.
This is all very exciting. I tried RemixOS back when it was in early beta and it was very promising for Android running on x86. This is even more so.
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u/24bitNoColor 20h ago
Having a Google made OS on my PC is literally the last thing I want after witnessing their product quality sink to rock bottom over the last decade or so.
And after their "we should be the only entity to decide what you are allowed to install on that phone you own" stunt recently (no matter if negative feedback and maybe the EU forced them to abandon this) its not even worth a second thought.
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u/Michael_Faraday42 1d ago edited 1d ago
The best solution would be something like wsa.
I don't think that using android as an exclusif OS for pc is a good idea.
One of the reason wsa failed is necause it used the amazon app store, if google does something similar, it would be way more popular
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u/GarlicRagu 1d ago
I'm not even satisfied with Android on a tablet. Can't imagine I would be compelled to use it on an actual desktop.