Google Embraces Microsoft Tools on New Laptop Platform
Google has launched its new laptop platform, Googlebook, which features Microsoft Copilot as one of its key productivity tools. The move is a surprise given Google's past animosity towards Microsoft's mobile platforms. In fact, Google once blocked the YouTube app from Windows Phone due to issues with ad blocking and downloads.
Today, however, Google seems to have changed its tune. The company proudly showcases Microsoft Copilot on its Googlebook webpage, alongside other productivity apps like Notion and Adobe Acrobat. This is not the first time a competitor has promoted a Microsoft product - Apple recently highlighted Microsoft Office on its MacBook Neo landing page.
Googlebook runs on ChromeOS, powered by Android, and allows users to access their phone files, use native Android apps, and run desktop Chrome browser and web apps. The platform also supports Linux tools, and users can open and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint files using the Microsoft 365 app.
The move is seen as a strategic one, with Google trying to peel Android users away from Windows and macOS. With millions of apps available on the Google Play Store, including Microsoft's Copilot and Microsoft 365, it remains to be seen how this will affect the market.