Google leaves OEM partners hanging by abandoning own Android tablet efforts

Google has confirmed rumours that it is exiting its Android tablet hardware business to focus on Chromebook laptops, with Rick Osterloh, head of  Google’s hardware business, tweeting:

https://twitter.com/rosterloh/status/1141791243128590336

Google has also cancelled two follow-ups to the Pixel Slate, but will continue to produce further Pixelbook laptops.

While Google has promised to continue supporting Android OEMs, Android on tablets has always been the redheaded stepchild of tablet operating systems, and Google’s own vote against the platform will certainly leave Android tablet OEMs with less confidence in the development of the market.

Google has reportedly been working on a new operating system for tablets and laptops which is based more on ChromeOS than Android, and with the sudden departure of Google from the tablet arena one wonders of all is well with that project.

Via the Verge