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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Dave LeClair

Oops! Google accidentally posted a first look at its unreleased Android PC operating system

Google logo on the side of its HQ.

Google is busy with all kinds of new Android features and updates. The company is working to bring its phone and tablet operating system to personal computers with "Aluminum OS."

Now, after months of rumors about what the OS could be like, Google looks to have accidentally uploaded brief videos showcasing it. Oops. The videos were intended as bug reports about Chrome Incognito tabs, but the eagle-eyed folks at 9To5Google spotted them and pulled them before Google restricted access. There's even a mention of an ALOS software version, which is the shortened version of "Aluminum OS."

What we saw in the leaked 'Aluminum OS' videos

The video above was actually shared on YouTube by Android Authority and shows off the upcoming laptop version of Android 16 running on an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook.

The OS looks good and appears to blend elements from Chrome OS and Android. For example, the start button is in the center, and Google put a status bar at the top, which looks and feels a lot like Android on a phone or tablet. We also see some split-screen multitasking in the video, which is an important aspect of a laptop or desktop OS, since there's much more screen real estate to work with.

Google Play is also seen running, further affirming that we're looking at Android.

Previously, Android head Sameer Samat said we should expect to see more from "Aluminum OS" this year, though I don't think he meant for the new information to come from a leaked bug report. Unfortunately for Google, you can't sneak anything by the internet.

Hopefully, something more official and deeper will come out from Google soon, as it looks like a useful OS to play around with.

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