Another day another Nexus, oops make that Pixel rumor. According to Android Police’s “reliable source”, Google is hard at working making a 10.2″ Pixel device called the Pixel C, which will depart from the traditional form factor seen on the Pixel line so far, with Google developing the Pixel C as a tablet with a detachable keyboard, and the kicker, it apparently runs on Android.
Before you go running though, there’s also another side to the rumour, with a board being developed in the Google Chromium repository codenamed ‘RYU’ which appears to be the Pixel C, and it’s being developed as a dual-boot ChromeOS/Android device. The board was announced by Chrome advocate François Beaufort as an ‘exciting’ new board, and many references to it exist in the Chrome code repository.
So does this mean we might be seeing a 10.2″ Pixel C dual booting into Android and Chrome OS? The utility of both Android and ChromeOS and their pros and cons as content creation vs consumption devices is certainly pointing at each being great at one, but not the other.
In recent times, Google has been working hard to bring Chrome OS and Android closer together, notably with the running of Android apps on ChromeOS – a new feature announced at Google I/O last year. However, despite those efforts each platform still has advantages and disadvantages over other. So a device that could literately bring you both OSs would be intriguing to say the least.
The devil, however, is in the detail. How do they share user data between OSs? Will my synced files from one system be usable in the other? One part of the solution to this might be the use of android apps in chrome if they can standardise many of the app experiences across the platform and then allow each OS to do what it does best to make the device both consistent and compelling.
According to the rumor the Pixel C will feature:
- 10.2″ 308ppi display (at a 3:2 screen ratio – like the Pixel 2 – the screen resolution would be around 2560 x 1700 – again same as the Pixel 2)
- 500 nit super bright backlight
- Nvidia’s X1 Quad core processor with a 256 core Maxwell GPU
- 3GB RAM
- USB type C connector with two way charging
- All metal body
- Two keyboards in metal or leather
- The now signature “Pixel” lightbar that indicates charge level
The device is rumored to be available from November this year and may carry a hefty price tag -just like the previous Pixel(s) – however, Android Police are thinking it may just make the lineup at tonights Google event in San Francisco.
Are you excited for a potential Android Pixel device? would you prefer it to dual boot? Let us know in the comments.
