Google Android to be replaced by Fuchsia in five years?

Posted on Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 21:25 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
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A new Bloomberg report claims Google's Android operating system may be replaced by something new in the next five years. Over 100 engineers are currently working on Fuchsia, a skunkworks project that aims to overcome the limitations of Android. Fuchsia is designed to run all of Google's in-house gadgets, and is much more focused on security and privacy than Android.
But members of the Fuchsia team have discussed a grander plan that is being reported here for the first time: Creating a single operating system capable of running all the company’s in-house gadgets, like Pixel phones and smart speakers, as well as third-party devices that now rely on Android and another system called Chrome OS, according to people familiar with the conversations.

According to one of the people, engineers have said they want to embed Fuchsia on connected home devices, such as voice-controlled speakers, within three years, then move on to larger machines such as laptops. Ultimately the team aspires to swap in their system for Android, the software that powers more than three quarters of the world’s smartphones, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The aim is for this to happen in the next half decade, one person said.
At the moment, no hard decisions have been made yet so it's too early to write Android's obituary. Fuchsia would enable Google to hit the reset button on mistakes they made early on in the development of Android, but one of the major issues is that Fuchsia's increased focus on privacy would hinder Google's ad-focused business model.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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