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Developer Skylar Taylor-Barrick has successfully launched Googlebook OS on Apple Silicon Macs using a new open-source project called gbos-vm. This software enables the operating system to run within a GPU-accelerated virtual machine, allowing users to access Chrome on hardware not originally intended for the platform.
The installation process utilizes an ARM64 recovery image originally designed for the Snapdragon X-powered Dell XPS Googlebook. By replacing the vendor partition with virtual components from Google's Cuttlefish project, the system boots via QEMU. Because the image is native ARM64, it runs on the Mac hypervisor without emulation, though this requirement excludes Intel-based Macs.
Technical requirements for the setup include 16 GB of RAM, 60 GB of storage, and specific development tools like Xcode and the Android SDK. Since Googlebook OS uses Vulkan for rendering, the project relies on MoltenVK to translate calls for Apple's Metal API. The developer notes that initial boot times on an M5 MacBook take approximately 45 seconds.
The project currently faces several limitations, including Bluetooth failures, audio issues, and a display refresh rate capped at 60 FPS. Furthermore, the lack of verified boot and the use of software-based security mean keys are not protected by a secure element. Consequently, the developer advises users to treat the installation as a development environment rather than a primary system.
