Chrome coming to Windows on ARM: Google and Microsoft work together
Windows on ARM may receive a native version of Chrome for ARM architectures. Both Microsoft and Google are working on the project, with the collaboration of Qualcomm.
It seems that engineers from Microsoft and Google are collaborating to support a version of the Chrome web browser compatible with the Windows on ARM operating system. To reveal the novelty was 9To5Google, which would have discovered some ” commits ” related to the Chromium project that explicitly speaks of browser functions for the version of Windows running on ARM architecture. And in the tasks in the list of work in progress, you also read the names of Microsoft technicians.
The new details on the subject follow the announcement last month of a Qualcomm executive, with the American company that would also seem involved in the work behind a version of Chrome compatible with ARM architectures on Windows 10.
The news is not surprising, seen that the benefits are evident for all three companies: Chrome is one of the most famous apps on Windows 10, and is also the most-used browser on the desktop, as well as on mobile.
It could be difficult for Windows on ARM to collect the desired success without a version of Chrome developed natively for the ARM architecture. It should also be remembered that the relationship between the Chrome divisions of Google and Microsoft Windows have not always been roses and flowers: in addition to marketing campaigns in favor of one or the other browser on both sides, only last year Microsoft deleted Chrome from the Windows Store for violating policies.
Microsoft does not allow other browsers to be present on the Windows 10 store, unless they use JavaScript and HTML engines compatible with the Windows platform. Microsoft also blocked other web browsers incompatible with the store already starting from Windows 8. Unless the company does not loosen the grip on these policies, then, the new Chrome native to ARM architectures on Windows may not arrive on the Windows Store.
The collaboration between Microsoft and Chrome could also have other implications on third-party Electron-based apps. Software like Slack and Visual Studio Code work in part using the technologies available on Chromium, and the collaboration could bring performance benefits with apps that use the same system.
Microsoft and Google are also working together to add a dual-boot option with Windows 10 even on Chromebooks, with the project called Campfire. In short, the relationship of collaboration between Google and Microsoft could have very interesting results, both on Windows on ARM, and on all other products of the companies.
