I might be looking at something that Google wanted to announce on stage at IO 2016. From the code and few screenshots that I am looking at, Google Play Store, which is an Android only phenomenon, might be coming to Chromebooks.

We can discuss the possibility of Google killing Chrome OS later. We have got some details to get into.

The Code

You can find this code here:

<!– Android Apps –>
<message name=”IDS_OPTIONS_ARC_TITLE” desc=”The title of Android Apps section.”>
Android Apps
</message>
<message name=”IDS_OPTIONS_ARC_ENABLE” desc=”Label for the checkbox that enables Android apps.”>
Enable Android Apps to run on your Chromebook.
</message>
<message name=”IDS_ARC_NOTIFICATION_TITLE” desc=”Title of the first-run notification that enables Android apps.”>
Google Play Store
</message>
<message name=”IDS_ARC_NOTIFICATION_MESSAGE” desc=”Description message of the first-run notification that enables Android apps.”>
Over a million apps and games now available on your <ph name=”DEVICE_TYPE”>$1<ex>Chromebook</ex></ph>.
</message>

I will highlight the best part here for you.

Enable Android Apps to run on your Chromebook.

Google Play Store – Over a million apps and games now available on your Chromebook.

The code goes on with the details on how this will be set up. The first time you start the app, you will be greeted with this announcement and asked to agree to Google Play Terms and Services. And then, you have access to the complete Google Play Store on your Chromebook.

The Settings Menu

The Settings menu screenshot shared by the reddit post shows an option to enable Android apps:

Once this is enabled, you get the Get started screen followed by a Sign in screen. As of now, nothing happens after you click Sign in.

Google Play Store on Chromebook

Play Store might be the best thing that happened to Chromebooks since Chrome OS. Android apps can already run on Chrome OS. However, there are different opinions about if this is really required. I have two reasons why it is.

Google will enable Play Store on Chromebooks only when they are confident that Android apps can run smooth and steady on the new platform. That means we are looking at a more stable version of Android apps for Chrome OS.

Secondly, this shows that Google will not kill Chrome OS or merge it, at least any time soon. This reinstates their commitments to Chrome OS, as they had expressed in a blogpost after the rumors that Chrome OS will be merged with Android.

Is this a sign of bigger things to come for Chrome OS? We will have to wait and watch.

Source: Reddit.