Google And Microsoft Form Unlikely Alliance Bringing Chrome To Windows 10 On ARM
According to 9to5Google, Google is getting help from none other than Microsoft to develop a native ARM version of Chrome. A number of commits were discovered from Microsoft engineers that are actively working on developing the ARM-compliant version of Chrome.
This will allow devices to get around performance limitations of using x86 emulation. This latest revelation comes after a Qualcomm senior director revealed last month that the company was working on its own ARM port of Google Chrome.
Given the popularity of Google Chrome, and that fact that many applications and services (a la Slack and Visual Studio Code) make use of certain aspects of the Chromium code base, this collaboration could help to make users and developers take Windows 10 on ARM more seriously going forward.
With that being said, 9to5Google wisely points out that just because Microsoft engineers are helping with the ARM version of Chrome doesn't mean that the app will be available in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft's current rules pertaining to browser engines precludes its inclusion.
Windows 10 on ARM are not exactly flooding the market place these days, but Samsung recently released the Galaxy Book 2 Always Connect PC that uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 850 processor. The 2-in-1 convertible features a Snapdragon X20 gigabit LTE modem and 20+ hour battery life.
