Open-source tool runs Googlebook OS on Apple Silicon Macs
Developer Skylar Taylor-Barrick published gbos-vm, a toolchain that boots Googlebook OS in a GPU-accelerated VM on Apple Silicon Macs.
Developer Skylar Taylor-Barrick has released an open-source toolchain called gbos-vm that lets owners of Apple Silicon Macs run Googlebook OS inside a GPU-accelerated virtual machine, according to Android Authority. The project was shared publicly on Reddit and GitHub.
The toolchain is aimed at users who want to try Googlebook OS on Mac hardware without buying separate hardware. Taylor-Barrick describes the Mac experience as an experimental preview rather than a finished product.
Running it requires an Apple Silicon Mac with at least 16GB of RAM, Xcode Command Line Tools, the Android SDK and NDK packages, and 60GB of free space.
The current build has known limitations: Bluetooth does not work, a background TPM daemon issue is present, and the display is capped at 60Hz.
Googlebooks have started reaching the hands of consumers, though the virtual-machine route is not an official Google offering and remains separate from that hardware.
Quick answers
What do I need to run Googlebook OS on an Apple Silicon Mac?
An Apple Silicon Mac with at least 16GB of RAM, Xcode Command Line Tools, the Android SDK/NDK packages, and 60GB of free space.
What are the known issues with gbos-vm?
The toolchain has broken Bluetooth, a background TPM daemon issue, and a 60Hz display cap.
Where was gbos-vm released?
Developer Skylar Taylor-Barrick shared it publicly on Reddit and GitHub.