On August 17, after several months in beta, the official launch of the Google Fuchsia operating system took place – the firmware update number 1.52.260996 is already available and will be automatically installed on all Nest Hub smart screens of the first generation. This was reported by the site 9to5google, which received official confirmation from Google.
Fuchsia – Google’s open-source operating system project designed to run on a wide range of devices – from smart home devices and the Internet of Things to smartphones, laptops, and desktops. Unlike Android and Chrome OS, which are based on the Linux kernel, Fuchsia OS is based on a new microkernel called Zircon, which requires fewer resources. Its interface and software are written using the Flutter SDK, which allows you to create cross-platform code that can be run on both Android and iOS. In addition, Fuchsia supports the Dart language (aka Sky) and the more popular C / C ++, Go, and Apple Swift. In March 2020, the Google Fuchsia OS entered the final internal testing phase before its public release. In May 2021, Google announced the launch of Fuchsia on the first generation Google Nest Hub of 2018 and began sending out the update to the Preview Program beta program participants. Now the official launch has taken place.
Last week Google updated the support site page to display the availability of the final firmware version 1.52.260996. The update is traditionally rolling out gradually, so some will have to wait a little longer.
Previously, the first generation of Nest Hub used Cast OS (based on Linux). As 9to5Google points out, the vast majority of the original Nest Hub owners will likely not even notice the difference due to the lack of dramatic changes in terms of UI and UX. The fact is that the interface was written using the Flutter cross-platform framework. At the same time, no higher operating speed can be expected. And seamless replacement of one platform for another on old equipment – already a great achievement. Funnily enough, Google started testing Fuchsia on the Nest Hub back in 2018.
Google calls Fuchsia “a secure, updatable, inclusive and practical OS for industrial use.” But the company’s specific purpose and plans for Fuchsia remain a mystery to this day. Google previously tested Fuchsia on Pixelbook Chromebooks and has been adding native support for Android and Linux applications.
In 2018, Bloomberg claimed in one of its publications that Fuchsia would debut in 2021 (funny, but the timing was the same) and would eventually replace all Google software platforms (Android, Wear OS, and Chrome OS). At the same time, the head of the direction of Android and Chrome OS, Hiroshi Lockheimer, in an interview with The Verge in 2019, claimed that Fuchsia is not a direct replacement for Android or Chrome OS.
“That’s not really what Fuchsia is about,” Hiroshi Lockheimer said, commenting on rumors that Fuchsia is a potential replacement for Android and Chrome OS. [развития] operating systems and things that we can get from Fuchsia and use in other products. “
Hiroshi Lockheimer
senior vice president of Google for Android, Chrome, Chrome OS and Play
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