Google begins testing its Fuchsia OS on Pixelbook

It's almost been a year since Google began experimenting with a new operating system called Fuchsia. However, very few details are known about this OS as the search giant hasn't detailed any information about the OS in specific. But the interesting thing here is that the project is open-source and everything is almost transparent. As such, Google has also allowed developers to help build, test and evolve the OS.

Having said that, as of now we know what Google is working on, but what we can't pinpoint is what the new system will actually be used for. While there are a lot of points to talk about, Google has now reportedly started testing its Fuchsia Operating System (OS) on the $1000 Pixelbook hybrid laptop that was unveiled alongside the second-generation Pixel smartphone and Google Home Mini smart speaker at the company's 2017 hardware event in California.

"This isn't your typical developer operating system, and you'll need two machines to host and target a Pixelbook to load the OS. It's interesting that Google has chosen its own Pixelbook to experiment with," the Verge notes.

"Fuchsia has mostly been linked to embedded systems like wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the past, but testing was expanded to Intel's NUC and Acer's Switch Alpha 12 Chromebooks," the publication adds.

Besides looking at the Fuchsia documentation, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 and Intel NUC are the only supported 'target' devices. Now Pixelbook also makes it to the list though. From what we can say, these devices are most likely the top devices used for testing the OS.

A page about installing Fuchsia on the Pixelbook states that it is not easy and the tech giant has reportedly recommended of placing the laptop in developer mode and installing the OS with a USB drive.

Since the OS is open-sourced it is also quite different from the Linux kernels that are also the foundation of Android and Chrome OS. Meanwhile, this operating system, which is being developed, is Google's third operating system after Chrome OS and Android.

Talking about the end use, the OS has apparently being targeted towards "modern phones and modern personal computers" that would put it in competition with both of Google's existing operating systems, according to tech website Ars Technica.

Inputs from IANS