Intel, predictably enough given its exit from the smartphone system-on-chip market, is defocusing on its Android developments. Even projects focused on x86-based Android tablets are in question as the company goes through a massive cost-cutting program, which will involve 12,000 job losses. However, this does not mean the once-close partnership between Intel and Google will loosen, any more than Qualcomm has gone cold on its Microsoft alliance because Windows Phone is a wash-out. Intel has made a surprising success of the Chrome OS cloud PC market, and its device-centric efforts with Google are now likely to focus on Chrome – which is taking an increasingly strategic role in the search giant’s strategy anyway. Intel has not commented on specific details…