Google has rolled out an update for the Chrome OS that will allow the stable version of the operating system to offer users access to the Google Play Store.
Previously, only early adopters that utilize the development and beta channels of Chrome OS were able to access Android apps on their computers. However, as Google has now added access to the Google Play Store to the stable version of Chrome OS, more users will finally be able to natively run Android apps in their Chromebooks.
The Stable channel update 53.0.2785.129 for Chrome OS only includes the beta addition of the Google Play Store, but that is more than enough for Chromebook users who are looking forward to Android apps on their machines.
However, there is a catch. The update can only be applied to two of the newer Chromebooks, specifically the Asus Chromebook Flip and the Acer Chromebook R11. For users who own these laptops, they can expect the update to arrive over the coming days.
The beta access to Google Play Store on the Chromebooks, however, is still a little finicky, according to Android Central. There are times when the software says there is no connection, and at times a restart happens when an app from the shelf is accessed. This is understandable, as the feature is still in its beta version.
Google has been on a mission to allow software developed for the Android mobile operating system to be supported by Chrome OS. The company first encouraged developers to port their Android apps to Chrome OS, but only a limited number of apps were given the treatment.
At the company's I/O conference held earlier this year, Google announced that it was planning to make changes to Chrome OS to allow the Android apps on the Google Play Store to launch in sandbox environments. The company then later provided a demonstration on how Android apps will look while running on Chrome OS through a 23-minute video that it uploaded, then eventually made the Google Play Store available to certain Chromebooks running development or beta channel builds.
The capability is now on the stable version of Chrome OS, albeit on only two Chromebooks. However, this does show that Google is making progress, with Chromebook users now looking forward to when Google Play Store access will be granted to them.
There is no timeline on when Google Play Store access will arrive to all other Chromebooks, but it will surely be sooner than later.
