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New 'docking' Chrome OS feature looks a lot like Window 8's snap mode

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Google must really like Microsoft, as the latest feature of Chrome OS looks strikingly similar to one of Windows 8's core features.

As part of the Chrome operating system's most recent update, users can now dock windows to the left or right side of the screen. To promote the feature, Google tweeted an image showing one window snapped to the right side of the screen, similar to Windows 8's snap mode. Both features have been touted for their multitasking abilities.

Tech companies borrowing ideas from each other is nothing new, but the feature does illustrate the battle between Google and Microsoft for the low end of the computer market. Microsoft's Metro interface, where the snap feature exists, is largely designed for touchscreen devices that are typically tablets, while Google is aiming at a similar price segement with its Chromebooks, which began offering touchscreens in February 2013.

According to NPD data, Chromebooks accounted for about 21 percent of all U.S. commercial notebook sales in 2013, though the overwhelming majority were still Windows-powered notebooks. School districts have increasingly relied on Chromebooks, though consumer sales of the laptops have been miniscule in comparison.

Source: Google (Twitter)

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