Google recently announced that it will be discontinuing support for LaCros, an experimental standalone browser designed for Chromebooks. LaCros, which stands for Linux and ChromeOS, was created with the goal of improving update speeds and performance for Chromebook users. Despite the promise it showed, Google has decided to shift its focus towards integrating more of the Android stack into ChromeOS. This move marks the end of a four-year project aimed at enhancing the user experience on Chromebooks.
The decision to end support for LaCros will come into effect with ChromeOS version 128. Google believes that leveraging portions of the Android stack will be a more effective strategy to drive innovation on Chromebooks. While some users who relied on LaCros for specific features like account switching may be impacted, the majority of Chromebook users are not likely to notice any significant changes in their day-to-day usage.
Google assures users that this change will not affect their overall Chromebook experience. The company will continue to release monthly updates and security fixes for both Chrome and ChromeOS as usual. Furthermore, Google acknowledges that the feedback received from the LaCros experiment has been valuable, leading to performance improvements in ChromeOS such as faster login times and extended battery life during video playback.
This decision comes amidst significant changes in ChromeOS in recent years, including a transition to a four-week update schedule and extended support for new Chromebooks for up to 10 years. Google’s recent announcement about building ChromeOS on the Android Linux Kernel aims to further align development between the two platforms.
While the end of LaCros support may bring about some changes, Google is confident that it will pave the way for more significant innovation on Chromebooks in the future. The tech giant remains committed to delivering a seamless and efficient user experience for all Chromebook users.
