The coming together of Android and Chrome OS

There have been a number of stories in the media recently about how Google may be working towards combining Android and Chrome. This includes Android apps that run on Chrome OS and vice versa. PC World looks at eight ways Google is beginning to unite Android and Chrome OS.

Engadget

According to PC World:

…Chrome OS and Android have been forging closer ties over the past months, evolving into two highly complementary operating systems. Chrome OS can run Android apps, and Android can run Chrome apps. But it doesn’t end there: New features will make a Chromebook and Android phone or tablet complement each other much more nicely. Here are eight notable ways the lines are beginning to blur.

1. Easy unlock 2. Android notifications on your Chromebook 3. Android apps on Chromebooks 4. Chrome apps on Android 5. USB file transfer 6. Chrome tabs in Android’s app switcher 7. Material Design 8. Project Athena

More at PC World

PC World isn’t the only site speculating about a unification of Chrome OS and Android. ZDNet also wondered if Android and Chrome would marry, and CNet thinks a change in executives could herald such a merger. Even the Wall Street Journal’s Digits jumped in with a story about Chrome OS and Android being brought together by Google.

Of course speculation about Chrome OS and Android merging is nothing new. Way back in 2009, Engadget had an article that quoted Sergey Brin in a CNet interview as saying that Android and Chrome OS “will likely converge over time.” So what’s happening now is most likely just Google’s long-term plans for both operating systems coming to fruition.

Is a true merger of the two operating systems really going to happen anytime soon? We’ll just have to wait and see what Google does in the days ahead.

How to filter out junk apps in the Google Play store

Android Police reports that Google has added a filter to limit search results to apps with four stars or higher ranking.

Android Police

According to Android Police:

The new filter is in a dropdown at the top of the screen when you limit searches to apps only (I mean apps generally, so games too). Just click the “4 stars +” option in the rating dropdown and you’re done. Maybe more rating categories will be added later, but this is probably the most useful. I can’t think of many instances I’d want to include apps that get less than 4 stars in a search.

More at Android Police

Kudos to Google for adding this filter, I think it’s a great idea. I have no doubt it will probably anger some developers who have apps that are ranked below four stars, but they should consider this new filter to be motivation to improve the quality of their apps and games. Developers who create the best apps and games will get the highest ratings from users, and that’s how it should be in the Google Play store.

The Reddit reaction thread had a funny post in it from a user that speculated on how some developers might respond to the new filter: “To continue to the next level, you must rate us 4 stars!” Ha! I can see some peeved developer doing something like that in a fit of rage. Well no, not really. But it is funny to think about the reaction of a user that saw a popup like that.

Will your device get the Android 5.0 Lollipop update?

Many Android users are wondering if their devices will be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Engadget has a list of manufacturers that have confirmed their devices will get Android 5.0.

According to Engadget:

If you’re a die-hard Android fan, you’re probably champing at the bit waiting for that Lollipop upgrade — when will you get it? Are you going to get it? Thankfully for you, a number of companies have already promised to upgrade some of their devices to this candy-flavored OS. Google’s Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 models are naturally first in line, as are Android One and Google Play Edition hardware; its outgoing Motorola brand is equally on top of things with plans to patch the Moto E, G and X alongside Verizon’s Droid Mini, Maxx and Ultra.

HTC and OnePlus don’t have full details, but they’re both pledging to give their recent flagships a taste of Lollipop within 90 days of receiving finished code. NVIDIA and Sony, meanwhile, are being a bit vague. While they’re respectively teasing plans to update the Shield Tablet and the Xperia Z series, they won’t say exactly when just yet; Sony has committed to the “beginning of 2015” for Z2 and Z3 models.

More at Engadget

TechRadar also has information about Android 5.0 Lollipop updates, and GSM Arena has list of devices scheduled to get the upgrade.

What’s your take on all this? Tell me in the comments below.