With the recent revelation that Google might be preparing to unleash Android 5.0 Jelly Bean as soon as this summer (possibly during I/O 2012?), it’s time to start playing connect the dots. First up: a new rumor that Jelly Bean will include docking support that allows Android phones to run apps on larger screens when placed into a compatible cradle.
It’s not hard to see why such a rumor would get started. First off, there’s the recently-finalized acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google. That gives the Mountain View team unfettered access to Moto’s Android-related software and hardware portfolio, which, of course, includes a whole slew of lapdock-related goodies.
There’s also the fact that Google is still reportedly not too sure about what to do with Chrome OS. Can it stand on its own? Is there any need to develop a separate Chrome OS and urge manufacturers to build Chrome hardware when the browser is now available for Android devices anyway? If a lapdock mode is built in to Android 5.0 and future versions, why not just run it full time on hardware that might otherwise have run Chrome OS?
DigiTimes’ post did mention that Google wants to take another stab at notebooks, and a lapdock mode for Android would offer a low-risk way to do that. By offering up Motorola’s code to official Android partners, Google could open the door for companies like Samsung, HTC, and Sony to build their own Atrix-style setups. That would lead to more users running Android — and probably Chrome — on notebook-style devices, and that’s ultimately what Google wants. The more users on its platforms, the more metrics Google can gather to power its advertising machinery.
More at Unwired View
Source: www.geek.com
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