Popular Android apps like the short video-sharing tool Vine and the note-taking platform Evernote are now compatible with Google’s Chrome OS.
Those apps, alongside language app Duolingo and kids’ reading app Sight Words are available to download from the Chrome Web Store today.
That means the apps can be installed on Chromebook laptops and operated via a physical keyboard and mouse/trackpad rather than a touchscreen.
Eventually the firm hopes it’ll take very little effort for devs to port their software over to the cloud-based computing platform.
“Chromebooks were designed to keep up with you on the go—they’re thin and light, have long battery lives, resume instantly, and are easy to use. Today, we’re making Chromebooks even more mobile by bringing the first set of Android apps to Chrome OS,” the company wrote on the Chrome blog.
“Over the coming months, we’ll be working with a select group of Android developers to add more of your favorite apps so you’ll have a more seamless experience across your Android phone and Chromebook.
“In the meantime, please tell us which of your favourite Android apps you’d like to see on your Chromebook.”
The ramifications of this initiative could be huge for the Chrome OS as Google seeks to gain traction on Windows 8 and Mac OS X.
Both rival platforms are enjoying the benefits of mobile-style apps offering greater synchronicity with their smartphone and tablet equivalents.
Imagine a Chrome Web Store packed with the best games and apps from the Google Play Store? After a slow start, the future is definitely looking bright for the platform.
Read more: HP Chromebook 14 review
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
