Updated on December 10, 2021
Chrome OS’ web-based orientation means its apps are either just bookmarks to websites or actual stand-alone programs. Meanwhile, Android’s much longer history and smartphone dominance means there’s a vast number of apps available. Thus, Google’s promised to bring integration between the two operating systems, which should make Chrome OS more appealing. Last week, Google finally made good on its promise by introducing its first four Android apps for Chrome OS:
- Duolingo: an app used to learn foreign languages.
- Evernote: the popular note-taking app.
- Sight Words: a children’s vocabulary app.
- Vine: the popular six-seconds-long Twitter video app.
The only one of those four I’ve ever used is Evernote, which I use quite heavily as a note-taking application. I’ve been using the website version on my Chromebook, and it’s worked fine. I’ve just tried its app version, and it does work like the Android app. It’s OK, but a few interface features feel a bit confined or Android-oriented, per being designed for a touchscreen versus a trackpad/mouse.
Still, opening up the huge library of Android software (or at least modified/curated versions of such) should make Chrome OS more appealing, and perhaps even spur some development for Chrome OS.
