On The Convergence ofChrome OS and Android
by Joel IsaacsonAscender Technologies Ltd.
Copyright 2014 Joel [email protected]
A URL annotated version of this documents can be found at:http://kvm.ascender.com/chrome_android/
PC Sales are Crashing
Headlines in 2013/14 read: “PC sales continue to plunge” “Worst PC sales drop in history” “Computer Sales in Free Fall” “PC sales continue meteoric death plunge”
This collapse is usually attributed to mobile platforms displacing traditional computer platforms.
But an analysis reveals that computer sales of some categories are doing just fine.
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Who is Losing?
Microsoft! Why is Microsoft losing ground?
Negative reaction to Windows 8. Growing acceptance of tablets and phones. Missteps in the mobile market. Competition from Chromebooks
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Industry Statistics:NPD Group
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*Preconfigured desktop and notebook sales only - Source: The NPD Group/Distributor Track and Commercial Reseller Tracking Service
What Do the Stats Mean?
Raw statistics show that in just one year sales of Chromebook grew by a factor of 48:
From 0.2% of the market in 2012,
to 9.6% of the market in 2013. These statistics should be tempered with
some healthy skepticism. Even so something quite remarkable is
happening!
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Amazon Chromebook Sales4 January 2014
NPD figures are supported by Amazon sales figures for laptop computers.
Three of the bestselling four laptops are Chromebooks!
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Is it Netbooks 2008 again?
Skeptics say Chromebooks will go the way of Netbooks: a fast rise and a precipitous fall.
But the industry environment in 2014 is very different than in 2008.
Two companies will decide the fate of Chrome OS. Microsoft Google
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Microsoft vs Netbooks
Microsoft was very effective in blunting the adoption of Netbooks 6 years ago. Tactics included: Lowered prices for entry level system software. Pressured laptop manufacturers to stop shipping
Linux on Netbooks. Pressured Intel to limit Netbook specification.
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Microsoft vs Chromebooks
Microsoft 2008 was powerful. Not so today. Device manufacturers are not intimidated in 2014,
following Microsoft's loss of market share and weak offerings.
Microsoft realizes the threat that Chromebooks presents. Responded with an attack ad campaign on
“scroogled.com” to squelch growing Chromebook popularity.
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Google and Chrome OS
Google introduced Chrome OS in 2009. Although there was no significant product
take-up, Google stayed the course with Chrome OS for three years.
In March 2013, Chrome OS chief Sundar Pichai replaced Andy Rubin as the senior VP in charge of Android, thereby putting Pichai in charge of both Chrome OS and Android.
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Google and Chromebooks
Google perceives Chrome OS as a strategic product that is as important to its future path as Android.
Chrome OS is cloud based and gives Google 100% control of the device, as opposed to Android where Google's control is only partial.
Google provides a formidable depth of engineering, marketing and cloud resources that was missing from Netbook's backers in 2008.
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ConvergenceChrome OS and Android
Google's two active operating systems are incompatible.
Android apps cannot be used in Chrome OS. This lack of convergence has been noted
many times, but as yet Google has not indicated any path to convergence of the two systems.
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ConvergenceChrome OS and Android
Fundamental differences between Chrome OS and Android make it difficult to run Android apps under Chrome OS: Chrome OS is a stateless system: apps exist in
the cloud and not on the device. Android OS is a stateful system: apps are installed
on the device.
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A Perfect Storm
We are witness to a technological cosmic alignment that will change cloud computing: Fast, low-power 64 bit ARM multi-processors
(Cortex A50) with virtualization extensions. Adoption of Android apps in a broad gamut of use
cases, including the Enterprise. Ever increasing adoption of cloud based solutions. Possibility of efficiently transporting Android
graphics via a long haul network.
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Cloud Based Android
Ascender Technologies Ltd. has pioneered technologies that enable Android apps to be run in the cloud, yielding high performance graphics while using low network bandwidth.
These techniques allow the majority of current Android apps to be run in the cloud without modification.
Ascender's technology provides for the convergence of Chrome OS and Android.
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Remote Android GraphicsWeb Links
General: http://www.ascender.com/remote-graphics
Whitepaper: http://www.ascender.com/remote-graphics/whitepaper
FAQ: http://www.ascender.com/remote-graphics/faq
WebGL Demo: http://www.ascender.com/webgl-demo
Joel Isaacson: [email protected]
Chrome OS and AndroidAscender Technologies Ltd