For years, Google has been tinkering with the new operating system Fuchsia, which one day will certainly also be used commercially – the big question, however, is: what for? Because the possible uses for fuchsia are slowly running out on the device classes known today, I would like to bring a new theory into play. Fuchsia could launch as a cloud operating system streamed to other devices.
The importance of fuchsia is often downplayed within Google and in the rare statements, it is treated almost like a hobby project that no other product could seriously displace. You can trust these statements or not, but the facts and the long period since the last milestones indicate that the last point corresponds to reality. Nevertheless, Fuchsia is far from a hobby project, because Google has already put enormous effort into the project.
A few days ago I reported in a brief inventory that Fuchsia is running out of options and that practically all the important platforms and device classes are out of the question for using the new operating system. Of course, this can change at any time, but nobody will really believe in a replacement of Android or Chrome OS, which cover large parts of the ecosystem with their offshoots. But it will not have been developed solely for smart displays and their limited possibilities.
However, a very obvious alternative was not considered either by me or by many other observers: Fuchsia could be placed as a cloud operating system that does not even come onto the smartphones and computers of the users but is run entirely on Google’s servers. One could also speak of a streamed operating system.
The operating system for cloud use
Fuchsia could be launched as an operating system platform running on Google’s servers and made available to (paying?) users. Access to the platform is via the browser so that the greatest possible compatibility is given and users need nothing more than a display, an input device and the necessary hardware to stream content. The hardware arms race would thus be a thing of the past.
The concept is not entirely new, as Google has been using this idea at Stadia for over two years. But even at the operating system level, this would not be a novelty if you take a look at the Microsoft offerings Windows 365 or the Cloud PC. With these offers, customers rent a virtual PC with the Windows operating system. They would then rent the Fuchsia operating system from Google. It would be a logical continuation of Stadia, the competition with Microsoft and of course also a 1A product for Google Cloud.
Fuchsia on all devices
Such a deployment would have the advantage that the operating system can be streamed to all devices. Just as Stadia can be streamed to computers, smartphones and televisions, Fuchsia would be able to do the same. This also explains why the operating system was developed to be as variable as possible and why different user interfaces were tried out years ago. Smartphone users get a different interface than PC users or TV users, but all could access the same platform. Comparable to a website that is displayed differently depending on the device, but provides the same content.
With such a concept one could manage to bring Fuchsia to all platforms without sawing the branch of the other operating systems. At the same time, you could save yourself many a virtualization solution or sandbox, which Fuchsia is known to be deeply integrated and can therefore also be offered in the cloud. It would also provide absolute security for the end-user. Because the platform, including all apps, does not run on their computer but is merely a visual and interactive stream. Browser window closed, danger averted.
Broad app compatibility
Fuchsia already supports apps from the Flutter platform, can run Linux applications and also Android apps. Users would have the opportunity to use many apps from different operating systems in parallel. Google’s business would then probably result from the App Store business, as is already the case with Stadia or the Google Play Store. Understandably, only apps offered by Google within the infrastructure could be run.
Chrome OS Reloaded
Ten years ago, Google introduced Chrome OS, a “cloud operating system”, which, however, is only based on the fact that everything takes place in the browser. With Fuchsia, Google could then also bring the operating system itself to the cloud and perhaps achieve the goal of having set itself on a far-off Chrome OS roadmap. Of course, the device on which Fuchsia is to be streamed also needs an operating system under the hood, but it itself wouldn’t matter and might not show up at all.
This would also clarify why Google worked with hardware partners very early on. Samsung and Co could deliver interactive display devices that can do little more than establish the connection and display the stream. Accordingly, they could be sold very, very cheaply.
I think that such a product has great potential that is not yet fully exploited by the Microsoft offering and individual solutions from other companies. In my view, if such a business model were to be established, Google would not even have to ask itself whether it should be active in the market. Fuchsia would certainly be a very good solution. Still, it’s just my theory. So far nothing is known in this direction.