Test Android 11 arrives for Chromebooks
Google has released a significant update for Chrome OS-based laptops – a test version of Android 11 is now available.
Android 11 arrives on Google laptops: the long-awaited dark theme and more
It’s been two years since the Android OS on Chromebooks received a significant update. Android 9 Pie proved to be somewhat disappointing due to the small number of improvements. Since then, Google has only been fixing the current problems and reworking Android under the ARCVM (ARC Virtual Machine) system for running applications.
And now, the wait is over and a new build of Android 11 with ARCVM has become available in the beta version of Chrome OS. Enthusiasts have already tested Android 11 on the HP Chromebook x360 14c and Acer Chromebook 713. They did not notice any performance degradation or any significant innovation in the new Android build – the main changes took place under the hood, including the move to ARCVM. Nevertheless, there are still a couple of notable innovations for users.
First, a dark theme, long requested by users, has appeared. Chrome OS 89 introduces a new toggle for dark mode in developer settings that finally lets you dim the glow of Android apps, though only a few. Second, Google has made a more successful attempt to properly scale Android apps in Chrome OS, the Achilles heel that developers have long fought with without much success.
With Android 11 and ARCVM on Chrome OS, the general way of launching apps has changed. Android apps now run in a virtual machine. On the one hand, this increases security, and on the other, it gives hope for more regular and faster Android updates for Chrome OS.
