Concepts like ASUS’ Transformer and Padfone series are great conversation-starters and very unique apparatuses. The idea of having multiple components/devices, and being able to make them work together is certainly engrossing – but is it what we are looking for? It appears Google is willing to bet on it.
The Search Giant was granted US patent #8,649,821 last February. It revolves around a concept of a phone docking into a laptop computer. But this is unlike what we have seen in the past.
How is Google’s concept different?
Of course, we can assume Google would use Android and Chrome OS as the main platforms in this project. But how could this make any sense? Other manufacturers have made the smartphone the brains of the contraption. The tablet, laptop dock and any other components simply take the phone’s processing power and storage.
Their larger screens become a form of extension to the smartphone, if you will. Google’s new combo would work the opposite way – both devices would work separately and take advantage only of the parts they need from each other. For example, the laptop would be able to use the cellphone’s cellular antennas for data; or the phone could act as a speaker/microphone for the laptop’s VOIP calls. Likewise, the phone could take advantage of the laptop’s speakers and battery.
Android and Chrome OS working together?
If our assumptions are correct, Google would create a connection between both platforms, allowing them to work seamlessly. It’s assumed this device would not use microUSB to create this connection, so it would take advantage of some form of proprietary connector.
Aside from all the technical factors, though, how well can Android and Chrome OS work in tandem? In essence, this would be more of a hardware partnership than it would be a software crossover. They would just code both devices to take advantage of each others parts. There would also not be much of a need for storage sharing, as Chromebooks work mostly in the cloud. This means files could be shared via Google Drive, Music, Photos and the like. Regardless, this may be a step into a long-rumored future where Android and Chrome OS either work amazingly close or become one.
Don’t get your hopes up, though. This is nothing but a patent filing. Such device(s) could be announced soon, in a long time, or never.
from Android Authority http://ift.tt/1sN13ie
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