As technologies and services go back and forth within Google, we’ve heard that a new OS will join the family. Indeed, Android is going to welcome a little brother named Microdroid.
For many years now, Google has been working on AOSP (Android Open Source Project) to offer information and source code of its OS in order to promote a freedom of use and development. For further information about AOSP, you can visit the project’s website.
Concerning Microdroid, Here is what Google tells us via the project’s merge comment (check Here ).
“Add microdroid, a minimal Android-based Linux image
microdroid is a minimal Linux image that we will use in VMs. Instead of inventing a whole new Linux image from scratch, we design microdroid as a stripped down version of the generic Android system image (GSI).”
In short, Microdroid is a minimalist and super light OS based on Android, aimed for VM (Virtual Machine).
So far, Microdroid will be aimed mainly for developers to run and test their Android App, but not only. Such as Nox Or Bluestack is offering, for those wanting to run their favorite APK or game on MAC/PC this Microdroid might be another easy way to emulate their phone.
Also, According to the recent news from Qualcomm and its SnapDragon 888. The latter will be able to manage virtualisation. Some are thinking about running an android into an android or more precisely encapsulate Apps or processes into a secure instance within your android system in order to improve security . This is more or less what Chromium Sandbox offered for internet explorers.
Is that all? Can one see further applications to it?
Let’s think about the recent #CloudGaming services using VM such as Google Stadia or GeForce Now.
Let’s think about the recent #CloudComputing services with Shadow which allows you to stream a full computer running windows 10.
Would it be crazy to think about a… #CloudSmartphoning service ?
A full smartphone stored in the cloud that you could stream and access from any terminal / connected devices with a decent 5G or Wifi connexion. No matter the brand of your terminal, its power, storage capacity or OS version (goodbye obsolescence!) , all would be managed and upgraded on the cloud and included in your service fee.
Could it be the new service Google will soon offer to the world?
As the old saying goes : “Wait and see…”
Romain@OMNiceSoft