Leading hardware manufacturers, including Samsung, are currently working on Android laptops which are likely to hit the market in the next three to four months, according to KGI Securities analyst Mingchi Kuo.
According to a report in 9to5 Google, while a version of Android optimised for laptops known as Android 5.0 or a Google-built “Android Book” laptop won’t be available in time for Google I/O this year, hardware vendors are currently working on laptops running Android 4.x based on Intel Atom processors.
“Android Book won’t be introduced at the upcoming Google I/O as development of Android 5.0, which is targeted at NB, is incomplete,” Mingchi says.
“We think Android Book featuring Android.4x will be rolled out in the coming 3-4 months because some brand vendors, like Samsung (Korea), want to move first. But shipments will be limited as the current Android OS isn’t well supported for laptops.”
Other key products believed to be in Google’s development pipeline include Google Glass and a smartwatch device.
“In addition to Google Glass, we expect Google Watch will be launched as Google’s venture into the wearable device market. Given the myriad design challenges for wearable devices, however, we don’t expect mass production to begin this year,” he says.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
