Chrome OS Beta Gets Google Play Access Today

At Google I/O, Google first announced that Google Play and Android apps would make their way to Chromebooks via an update to Chrome OS v53. The initial rollout came in the unstable developer channel and is expected to be stable later this year as availability widens. Today, Google Play access has graduated to the beta channel and is rolling out to the Chromebook Pixel (2015), Acer Chromebook R11, and Asus Chromebook Flip. 

This is Chrome OS beta 53.0.2785.36 and while it is a beta and includes Google Play access, Google mentions that the Google Play portion of the update is still a “Developer Preview” and may not work as fully intended. With that in mind, expect there to be bugs.

The good news is that the beta channel of Chrome OS should generally be more stable than the dev channel, so your overall experience should be much better even if the Google Play and Android side of things is a bit rocky. If you are currently running the dev channel on any of the supported Chromebooks, feel free to upgrade to the beta.

To see an early hands-on of Google Play and Android apps running on Chrome OS, be sure to check out this video.

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Via:  Chrome Releases

Kellen

It’s not often that you get to merge personal passions into a professional life, but that’s what Kellen did when he launched Droid Life in 2009. After working years of unsatisfying jobs in the medical and property management fields, he took a risk to try and create an online community while playing with the coolest gadgets on the planet each day, a risk that has turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Outside of Droid Life, Kellen is your typical Portlander who drinks way too much good beer, complains often about the Trail Blazers, and can be found out on the streets for a run, rain or shine.

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24 Comments

  • I understand that Crossover is developing a compatibility layer for android, it will require
    an intel processor to run window apps on chrombook

  • If you are running the developer channel on the Asus Chromebook Flip, what happens if you switch now to the beta channel? Will your apps/ the play store change?

  • Yup, and meanwhile Android 7 is coming out soon, and no one will get the update, as is normal for Android.

      • That this isn’t going to get to chrome os laptops like how Android isn’t getting updates. Typical google product.

        • I like to eat potatoes while playing in traffic and singing the number 7 in it’s entirety.

          At least mine made sense.

          • Keep that deep-throating up. It’s going to do you well in the Samsung/Google/Apple owned world.

    • Because it’s been done and promised multiple times before by multiple different companies, most of whom were much more reputable than the Andromium. Kickstarter is notorious for flops, delays and outright thieves. The only reporting Android Police should do on the Superbook is to steer people away from it.

  • What about other Chromebooks? Is there any new information on other devices that will receive the update?

    • The non-touch Chromebooks on the to-be-supported list will require Android 7.

      I’m guessing Google Play will be available on my Toshiba Chromebook 2 “Swanky” by the beginning of September.

      • I have the Toshiba Chromebook 2 also. I hope you’re right about September release!!

        • Sure should make that laptop more useful. I might even be able to stop dual-booting a Linux distro off the USB 3.0.

  • Nice, just got a Flip to replace my Nexus 9 and may move to the beta channel to check this out.

        • and did v 53 dl for you when you switched? it still wont download for me I guess it’s rolling out slowly

          • Currently running version 53.0.2785.36 dev. I didn’t need to download anything. I just started running in developer mode about 3 or 4 weeks ago and have continued to get periodic updates.

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