Facebook quietly developed its own operating system to abandon Android

Facebook certainly does not want its new hardware like Oculus or Portal glasses to be governed by Google when using the Android operating system. So according to a new report by The Information, Facebook has tasked Microsoft Windows co-author Mark Lucovsky with the aim of building a completely new operating system.

” We want to make sure that next-generation technology will have space for us, ” said Facebook hardware vice president Andrew Bosworth. “ We don’t think we can rely on exchanges or competitors to ensure that. And so we will do it ourselves . ”

A separate operating system will solve the pain for Facebook

Virtual reality wearable device – the potential for an interactive operating system for eyes.

Owning a separate operating system, Facebook will have more freedom to bring social interactions – as well as privacy – deeper into its services. It also prevents potential disagreements between Google and Facebook that could divert the path of Oculus, Portal or other devices in the future.

Another plus point for Facebook’s transition to a separate operating system is that it will help them withstand the demands that forced them to separate the companies they had previously acquired. This is especially important if Facebook wants to put Instagram on augmented reality glasses in the future.

This is not the first time Facebook has attempted to do so. Vox’s report said that in 2013, in an attempt to combat the power of mobile operating systems, Facebook was working on a secret project codenamed Oxygen to help them distribute Android apps outside the door. Store Google Play Store if needed. Not long after that, this project was turned to ash.

Smart Portal screen of Facebook.

In addition, there is the Facebook phone project, created through a partnership with HTC, that runs on a customized Android version and Facebook Home interface. However, the experience of pictures of friends and Messenger chat bubbles was not as popular as expected and eventually HTC First and Facebook Home were shelved.

Willing to catch up on new technology trends

Now, Facebook is showing that it has learned from past mistakes when it comes to investing in its own hardware. A new office for this group is located in Burlingame, 15 miles north of the headquarters with a capacity of about 4,000 employees.

However, Facebook’s new services on their existing hardware are showing how serious they are with this effort. A preview of the VR Medal of Honor game coming next year on Oculus Quest shows that this could be the app that convinces users to take out their wallets to get this virtual reality glasses.

Image in preview of VR game Medal of Honor.

In addition, Facebook is also working on hardware experiences for businesses. Facebook Workplace video calls can now run on the Portal with a smart, self-zooming camera system so everyone in the room can stay at the center of the frame. Besides, The Information report shows that Facebook is also testing video conferencing system with VR devices.

These hardware initiatives will benefit the company’s advertising business. Data from user actions on Oculus or Portal can help to better target ads. With a series of potential applications in gaming, virtual travel experiences, … this will be a data gold mine for Facebook to exploit.

Even based on hardware efforts, Facebook wants to read the mind of the user. The Information report shows that the hardware for human and computer communication interface has been shrunk. From the size of a refrigerator, it can now fit in the palm of your hand. But it is still far from being integrated into the phone.

Facebook announced achievements in an effort to develop devices that read people’s minds.

Selling Oculus wearables, Portal screens, and mind readers can generate billions of dollars in profits for Facebook from increased advertising effectiveness. But most importantly, these efforts will help them not to be abandoned in the next wave of computing technology. Whether it’s virtual reality, smart screens or brainwave sensors, Facebook wants to have its presence there and make them more connected, more social.