...Unless I'm misunderstanding, I don't think any promises were broken here. Google said they would provide ten years of software updates. Now they're saying existing ChromeOS devices will be upgraded to the new "GoogleOS" within that ten year window, they will continue to receive said updates.
This is annoying if you don't like GoogleOS, but also par for the course. You can't stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates, you have to upgrade to iOS 27.
> For qualifying devices purchased today whose 10-year support lifecycle extends beyond 2034, Google is committed to supporting your transition to Googlebook OS, with many devices offering direct migration paths
The word "many" feels like it's pretty much explicitly saying it's not "all". If it's not "all" then I'd say the promises were broken.
It's possible those devices will offer indirect migration paths (e.g. you have to reinstall the OS). While annoying/inconvenient, that would probably still qualify as keeping the promise in my book.
It's not just security updates, there's also whether all the device management tools and techniques, training and institutional knowledge, and customer acceptance will carry over to the new OS. Whether the devices that are within AUE and receive the update are going to run the new operating system well, or they're going to languish with poor performance or broken drivers that will never get another look from the manufacturer because they're 2 generations behind in a vast sea of models and individual configurations.
I also can't find anything online to do with what they're going to do to Chrome OS Flex, so thank goodness I didn't set it up for my mum who was sick to death of Windows 11.
While your point is reasonable and valid, there was also no guarantee that ChromeOS would keep these management tools, and that the techniques, training and knowledge stay relevent years from now.
I'm imagining a transition akin to mac os 9 -> X or WinXP -> win 7. The OS having the same name and being technically in the same lineage can mean very little for compatibility.
When iOS 27 became available, people were given a choice to upgrade to 27, or to 26.7. I know this because I upgraded my personal phone to 27, and my work phone to 26.7.
You originally said iOS 16. The recent iOS 16 update was only for older devices.
Apple typically continues releasing updates for n-1 iOS for a few months. After that limited window, updates are only released for the latest iOS, except for devices which are too old to run the latest iOS, which continue receiving updates on the last-compatible iOS for a couple of years.
This is annoying if you don't like GoogleOS, but also par for the course. You can't stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates, you have to upgrade to iOS 27.