CES is an exciting place for techies to ogle over what's to come in the tech world each year. This year, the show will feature a new computer never seen before, one that has a bit of controversy attached to it – a computer that runs both Android and Windows.
According to The Verge, it is the brainchild of Intel. The company just might showcase a handful of devices that they are currently designing alongside PC manufacturers at CES 2014 in Las Vegas. The idea, called “Dual OS,” allows Android to run inside of Windows thanks to virtualization, meaning you don't need to reboot your device to run an alternate OS. They will run together in perfect harmony.
Nothing New
Samsung did this before with the Ativ Q they announced in June of 2013. It was a Windows-based laptop that allowed you to run a virtualized instance of Android by simply tapping the associated app on the homescreen. It was also called Dual OS, as is a computer designed by Asus as documented in the FCC filing for one of the company's new tablets. This tablet under development has been debuted in one of Asus' YouTube videos.
Dual OS might not be the chosen name for this Android/Windows computer, as indicated by a Time article by analyst Tim Bejarin. He calls them “PC Plus,” and predicts this idea will be embraced by many a manufacturer due to the fact developers are focusing their attention on iOS and Android, not Windows.
The Future?
Intel seems to think that this is the next logical step in the evolution of computers. The company has already put a lot of time developing its Bay Trail tablet chip that functions well on either Android or Windows, as well as optimizing Android for its x86 processors. Getting this Dual OS concept right means a lot for PC manufacturers. Instead of a tablet for Windows lovers or Android, it combines the both to snare more of the market.
But the future of this concept is uncertain. Why? Microsoft and Google, of course. Neither company seems to be behind the idea whatsoever.
The Reason
Analyst with Moor Insights and Strategy Patrick Moorhead believes it's due to the way Windows developers will look at the concept. Why work on creating one app store for both Windows and Windows Phone, as Microsoft is attempting to do, when developers can choose Android instead?
Moorhead believes this is leading to Microsoft working to stop manufacturers from giving the concept a second thought prior to CES. And Microsoft could probably convince them easily, using Windows 8 discounts as a motivator. “If you make this Dual OS PC, there goes your licensing discount.” Google could very well do the same thing with their apps like Gmail and Google Play.
Either way, it is definitely a buzz-generating concept, something typical of products unveiled at CES. Dual OS might happen, but all bets are off if neither Google nor Microsoft are behind the idea. What do you think of the idea? The future of computers, or the next big waste of time?