Another day, another device being powered by Chrome OS.
This one is a bit different, though. We’ve seen the official announcement from Google about Google Wifi and we all know what it is and roughly when it’s coming. Most don’t know that it is running our favorite OS, though.
While we’ve been tracking a board by the codename ‘Gale’ for some time, it was tough to tell what it was. We assumed it was some sort of embedded device, but some recent commits caused us to realize that ‘Gale’ was likely Google Wifi. You can see a couple of those here and here.
But, those commits are almost irrelevant as the official Developer Info For Chrome OS Devices page now shows Google Wifi on the list with the codename ‘Gale’. So, mystery solved.
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
Google Home devices (we’re lumping in Chromecast, Chromecast Audio, and Google Home) have previously been shown to run the same software. We’re not totally sure on Google Home, but reports have shown it is basically a Chromecast wrapped in a new body with a speaker. Chromecast software has been shown to be actually a modified, simplified version Chrome OS. So, basically, all the above-mentioned devices are running a form of Chrome OS.
However, we don’t really see anything about these devices in the commits as they aren’t Chromium devices.
Google Wifi and OnHub are a bit different. These devices show up in the commits and on the Developer Info page linked above. We knew before now that OnHub was running on Chrome OS. It is very interesting to see Google Wifi follow in those footsteps.
Here’s Why
With Chromecast and Google Home being 2 of the main 3 things announced for the home last Tuesday, I simply assumed Google Wifi would also be running a modified software stack similar to Chromecast and Google Home. The fact that it is truly a part of the Chrome OS family is encouraging to say the least.
On a day when Chrome OS fans were hoping to see some new announcements, Tuesday’s #madebygoogle Event was a bit disappointing. However, as we now know that Google Wifi is in fact a Chrome OS device, it can make Chrome fans everywhere feel that much more at ease with the longevity of their OS of choice.
Google seems to be firmly invested in Chrome OS, deploying it on a slew of new devices coming this fall. From kiosks and signage devices to routers and laptops, it seems Chrome OS is continuing to broaden it’s horizons. We are obviously happy to see it expand, and are very excited to cover all manner of Chrome OS devices as the expansion continues.
