Android Netbooks Tested By Google

Rob Jackson
16 years ago

android-netbook When Android was first announced, Google tried to keep the attention on Android Phones while speculation arose about Android being used as somewhat of a nomadic OS that could be used on other types of devices as well. While they never denied Android could and might be used elsewhere, it wasn’t something liked to talk about. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t thinking about it… or WORKING on it!

Mike Jennings, former Developer Advocate and Android evangelist at Google, has stayed in touch with his friends at Google and says they were always pushing the boundaries of Android OS capabilities. They were even testing out Android on a netbook… LAST YEAR!

“From day one, people have been tinkering with Android on other stuff. I remember back in the day somebody had almost got Android running on a mini PC – this was a year ago or more,” he said.

Aspirations of OHA companies to make an Android Netbook have come to light and now there is little reason to deny the possibility liklihood. While Google putting Android on Netbooks was probably just a “test”, I wouldn’t discount the possibility of seeing a gBook of sorts that comes with all Google products. That means based on Android, Chrome Browser, Google Gears for using Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Google Reader and all down the line.

But at this point we know one thing – these companies aren’t S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G Android to run on Netbooks, it’s an intended extending of the platform and we’re probably going to be seeing a lot more of this in 2009. Afterall, who wouldn’t want a super cheap netbook running Android?