Google just gave the world its first real look at Aluminium OS - and it wasn't on purpose. A bug report accidentally published to the company's Issue Tracker yesterday included screen recordings from an HP Chromebook running the highly anticipated Android-ChromeOS hybrid. The leak confirms Google's plan to merge its two desktop platforms into a single OS, with footage showing a distinctive mashup interface that borrows the best (and most familiar) elements from both systems.
Google has been working on Aluminium OS behind closed doors for months, but someone inside the company just let the cat out of the bag. A routine bug report uploaded to Google's public Issue Tracker yesterday included something far more interesting than a Chrome Incognito tab glitch - two full screen recordings of the unreleased operating system in action.
9to5Google caught the leak before Google could scrub it from public view. The report has since been restricted, but not before the tech publication downloaded the videos and confirmed key details. The bug tracker explicitly mentioned an ALOS software version - the confirmed abbreviation for Aluminium OS - and listed the device as an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook. That's a clear sign Google's using existing ChromeOS hardware to test what comes next.
The footage itself tells the story of a platform stuck between two worlds, but in the best way possible. The videos show Android 16 running with a build number matching the ALOS designation, confirming this isn't just a modified version of either parent OS. Instead, it's exactly what Google promised - a genuine fusion.
The interface borrows ChromeOS's taskbar layout but relocates the start button to the center, mimicking Android's design philosophy. A status bar sits at the top of the screen displaying familiar Android icons for battery, Wi-Fi, and system settings - a departure from ChromeOS's more minimalist approach. Users get a glimpse of the Play Store, suggesting full Android app compatibility will be a cornerstone feature, along with split-screen multitasking that appears smooth and responsive.
