Google is looking to help Chrome OS and Chromebooks join the race for dual-touchscreen supremacy, based on some recently-spotted Chromium source code. Sighted under the codename „Palkia” by 9to5Google, the code points not just to a Chrome OS gadget with two touch panels. It also hints that device would come with a trackpad.
There are several other key details that suggest this won’t be anything like what other companies are offering too. Or like any of the experimental devices on tap from the likes of Microsoft and its partners.
What makes this dual-touchscreen Chromebook so different?
Chromebooks built on Palkia would also split the dual-touchscreen layout between two purposes, the code notes. And that could be the defining feature differentiating this from other dual-screen devices. Namely, one of the screens is a fairly standard touch-enabled panel. That rests above what would presumably be a keyboard to go along with the above-mentioned touchpad.
The other display panel would be visible on the outside when the device is closed. But that wouldn’t be with the device closed in a 2-in-1 tablet configuration. Instead, this appears to be a device that only folds in 'clamshell’ mode like a standard laptop.
That holds a couple of implications. Microsoft’s experiments all seem to center around a device with a second display in place of or above the keyboard. In the latter case, that’s something similar to what has already been released in the form of the ASUS ZenBook Duo Pro.
With one screen on the inside and one on the out, a similar setup from Google’s Palkia doesn’t seem likely. Instead, this device could be used for other use-cases such as allowing more than one user to view a mirrored display from opposite sides of the laptop. When the device is closed, however, the code seems to indicate the device would be placed in Chrome OS’s tablet mode.
So the outer display would effectively function just like a standard 2-in-1 folder but without the folding mechanism. Of course, that’s with some extra functionality tacked on.
Will this ever be released?
Palkia doesn’t appear to be a one-off forever destined for the drawing board either. Although it’s very obviously a prototype experiment, the code defines the location of chips for controlling both panels. That, combined with the in-depth descriptions seems to point Google’s intention to finalizing something for release. And it may do so regardless of whether Palkia itself is ever finalized. Especially since multi-screen Android phones and similar technologies are becoming prevalent.
Even if Google does eventually release something similar to this concept though, it’s going to take quite some time before it’s ready for prime time.
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Source: ndroidheadlines.com