Facebook To Reduce Reliance On Android By Developing Own OS

Facebook is planning to reduce reliance on Google’s Android OS by developing its very own operating system. Based on a report by The Information, the production of the unnamed Facebook OS is helmed by former Microsoft veteran, Mark Lucovsky, who previously co-authored the Windows NT operating system.

Not to confuse our readers, the company’s renowned social media platform is not planning to exit the Android operating system. Rather, Facebook – as a company – aims to have its in-house devices such as Oculus and Portal to run independently from Google’s platform.

According to the report, Facebook’s head of AR and VR, Ficu Kirkpartrick says that “it’s possible” that the company’s future hardware won’t need to rely on Google’s software. Head of hardware, Andrew Bosworth, also told The Information that the company “really want to make sure the next generation has space” for them. “We don’t think we can trust the marketplace or competitors to ensure that’s the case. And so we’re gonna do it ourselves,” he commented.

This isn’t the first time that Facebook attempted to produce its own operating system. However, its first attempt – which is actually a modified version of Android running exclusively on the HTC First back in 2013 – did not fare well, and was poorly received by users and critics.

Other than developing its own OS, sources such as TechCrunch, Blomberg and Financial Times reported that Facebook is also venturing on creating its own custom chip hardware, a voice assistant, and augmented reality glasses codenamed “Orion.” 

(Source: The Information via The Verge.)

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