Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Chrome OS may soon get Android notification badges

By

Chrome OS
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Chrome Story has reported that Chrome OS will be taking another feature from Android. The OS, which powers Google’s Chromebook line, will be getting the notification badges found on devices running Android Oreo 8.0.

Google has not officially made any announcements regarding this new feature, but evidence for the feature’s existence was found buried within Chrome OS’ code. One of the comments makes mention of this new feature, though the details are scarce. For starters, we don’t know when the new feature will come out or what it will look like. However, one of the comments describes the badges as being in the top right corner of the app image.

Recommended Videos

One other lingering question lies in whether this feature will work with only Android apps or just Chrome OS apps. Again, nothing is confirmed, but one of the comments suggested that this change would apply to both Android and Chrome OS apps.

Related

Another comment suggested that Chrome OS will get the pop-up feature that appears when you long press an Android app, such as displaying recent contacts in a messenger app. However, that feature’s inclusion has yet to be confirmed.

When Chrome OS first launched, it proved to be a popular choice for many people, thanks to the low price and long battery life offered by Chromebooks. However, Chromebooks were largely useless without an active internet connection. Recently, Google has taken steps to address this by including support for Android apps on Chromebooks, which makes the devices much more useful than they were before.

The wide array of Android apps allowed for Chrome OS users to play games, consume media, and enjoy other features without having to rely on an internet connection, though of course, Chromebooks do work much better with an active internet connection.

The inclusion of Android apps has led to some speculation that Google may seek to combine the two operating systems in some way. That remains to be seen, however, and it is possible that the mysterious Fucshia OS may replace both Chrome OS and Android one day. At this time, though, Fucshia remains a distant project.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Eric Brackett
Eric Brackett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I took my son shopping for his first school laptop. Here’s what surprised me
A young man using the HP 14-Inch 2-in-1 Chromebook.

My son began second grade this past September, and his school issued him an old, beat-up Chromebook to his backpack as his first laptop. Unacceptable! As a tech writer, I could not settle for what the school was offering. So, I did what any tech nerd dad would do and took my boy shopping for a new Chromebook.

But as I quickly learned, the world of Chromebooks can be dizzying. If I was going to find the right option for my kid, I'd need to check my own tech knowledge and preferences at the door.

Read more
This laptop completely changed my perception of Chromebooks
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook front angled view showing display and keyboard deck.

I get the appeal of Chromebooks -- I really do. Sometimes less is more, and an operating system that is simpler can provide a less distracting experience for the right audience. But it's never been a good fit for me.

I'm pretty bought into Microsoft's Office suite, and I'm willing to pay a premium for top-notch hardware. I want my laptop to look and feel like a serious work tool without compromises -- and that's always made me think Chromebooks weren't for me. Then I tried the HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook.
Chrome OS hardware really can be top-notch

Read more
This critical macOS flaw may leave your Mac defenseless
A close-up of a MacBook illuminated under neon lights.

Apple’s macOS operating system has such a strong reputation for security that many people mistakenly believe Macs simply aren’t affected by malware. Well, Microsoft has served up a reminder that that’s not true, as the company has identified a serious vulnerability that affects one of macOS’s most important lines of defense.

According to Bleeping Computer, the bug was first reported by Jonathan Bar Or, Microsoft’s principal security researcher, who named the flaw Achilles. It is now tracked as CVE-2022-42821.

Read more