Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Google's Sundar Pichai confirms that offline Google Drive 'coming in five weeks,' hints at ad-supported Chromebook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/google-sundar-pichai-offline-google-drive-cheaper-chromebook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/google-sundar-pichai-offline-google-drive-cheaper-chromebook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/google-sundar-pichai-offline-google-drive-cheaper-chromebook/#comments Google Sundar Pichai D10

During the closing session here at D10 in California, Google's on Senior Vice President of Chrome & Apps Sundar Pichai was joined by Susan Wojcicki (SVP of Advertising at Google) at Walt Mossberg. Sundar was able to drive the majority of the conversation in the realm of Chrome and Chrome OS, and quite a few interesting nuggets were dropped. For one, he made an offhand comment that "offline Google Drive [is] coming in five weeks," a clue that it'll be revealed and launched in full at Google I/O next month.

On the topic of Chrome's browser market share, he reckoned that around a third of the world's desktop browser use is now done on Chrome, noting that percentages are far, far higher in the consumer realm as compared to enterprise, where lots of companies mandate that employees still use Internet Explorer at work. Oh, and Sundar also stated that it's "not lost on [Google] that it can use advertising to provide better value propositions [for Chromebooks] as well. In other words, Google's at least evaluating an ad-supported Chromebook. Looking for more? A fair amount of the back-and-forth is transcribed after the break.

Continue reading Google's Sundar Pichai confirms that offline Google Drive 'coming in five weeks,' hints at ad-supported Chromebook

Google's Sundar Pichai confirms that offline Google Drive 'coming in five weeks,' hints at ad-supported Chromebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsall things dall things d 10all things digitalAllThingsDAllThingsD10AllThingsDigitalatdatd10atdxchromechrome oschromebookchromeboxChromeOsconferenced10dxgooglegoogle driveGoogleDriveofflineoffline google driveOfflineGoogleDriveoperating systemOperatingSystemsoftwaresundar pichaiSundarPichaiupdateThu, 31 May 2012 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebox-series-3-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebox-series-3-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebox-series-3-review/#comments Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review

More Info

What happens when you put a Chromebook in a box? You get a Chromebox, natch. Not content with launching its new Chromebook Series 5 550, Samsung's adding the Chromebox Series 3 -- a diminutive $329 desktop system -- to its lineup. Like its mobile cousin, the box runs version 19 of Chrome OS and features an Intel Core processor. Though it's clearly targeted at the education and enterprise markets, could Samsung's Chromebox be a compelling option for the Engadget reader? Can it transcend its cloud-based workstation origins? Is it a better choice than an entry-level Mac mini? Find out in our review after the break.

Gallery: Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review

Continue reading Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review

Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChromeChrome OSChromeboxChromebox Series 3ChromeboxSeries3ChromeOsdesktopdesktopsGooglemini desktopMiniDesktopreviewSamsungSamsung Chromebox Series 3Samsung Series 3SamsungChromeboxSeries3SamsungSeries3Series 3Series 3 ChromeboxSeries3Series3ChromeboxTue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebook-series-5-550-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebook-series-5-550-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/samsung-chromebook-series-5-550-review/#comments Image

More Info

When the first Chromebooks hit the market last year, they were greeted with skepticism, curiosity and some noisy debate. Which makes sense: after all, who had ever heard of an operating system based entirely on a browser? Laptops that were only usable when you had an internet connection? It was a wild, ambitious idea, to be sure, but since then, we haven't heard much on that front save for the occasional price cut.

Now, though, Samsung is selling the new Chromebook Series 5 550 (and Chromebox Series 3) it teased at CES, while Google is rolling out a new version of its operating system with offline doc editing, a basic photo editor and a desktop-like space that makes it easier to launch and switch between apps. Like last year's model, the Series 5 still has a matte, 300-nit, 12.1-inch display, 16GB of built-in flash storage and an optional Verizon Wireless 3G radio, but it's dressed in more conservative digs with a retooled touchpad and an Celeron -- not Atom -- processor. Accordingly, the starting price for the WiFi-only model is slightly higher ($449, up from $429), and the battery life is now rated for six hours, down from 10. Finally, the new model adds an Ethernet jack and DisplayPort -- both of which Google hopes will appeal to the schools and businesses considering using Chrome devices.

Most interestingly of all, Google is planning on selling its new Chromebook in retail, signaling an intent to expand beyond geeky early adopters and one-to-one laptop programs in classrooms. If the idea is to win over more consumers, will a faster CPU and improved user experience be enough to make up for the drastically shortened battery life? Should folks in need of a portable machine with a keyboard spend their $450 on a Chromebook instead of a netbook or Transformer tablet? That's a tough one -- meet us past the break where we'll hash it all out.

Gallery: Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 review

Continue reading Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 review

Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>550ChromeChrome OSChromebookChromebook Series 5Chromebook Series 5 550ChromebooksChromebookSeries5ChromebookSeries5550ChromeOsGooglereviewSamsungSamsung Chromebook Series 5Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550Samsung Series 5Samsung Series 5 550SamsungChromebookSeries5SamsungChromebookSeries5550SamsungSeries5SamsungSeries5550Series 5 550Series 5 ChromebookSeries5550Series5ChromebookVerizonVerizon WirelessVerizonWirelessVZWTue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS review (version 19)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/chrome-os-review-version-19/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/chrome-os-review-version-19/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/chrome-os-review-version-19/#comments Image

It seems like yesterday that we reviewed the inaugural Samsung Series 5 Chromebook running Google's Chrome OS, an operating system for laptops based on Chrome. It was, from the start, a world in which everything from music playback to document creation happened in browser tabs. Since we last checked in a year ago, Google has addressed some early complaints -- the browser can actually stream Netflix now! -- but it's only just getting around to ticking off some other long-standing grievances, like multitasking.

The company just announced two new Chrome OS devices -- the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 and Chromebox Series 3 -- and both run a spanking-new build of the OS that ushers in a simplified desktop with customizable wallpaper and the ability to minimize, maximize and close windows -- oh my! More importantly, you can now view multiple windows onscreen, edit docs offline and pin shortcuts to the bottom of the screen -- a combination that promises some seriously improved multitasking. Other goodies: built-in Google Music, Google+ and Hangouts, along with a basic photo editor, redesigned music player and enhanced remote desktop app. So does all this add up to an upgrade meaty enough to make the skeptics give Chrome OS a second look? Could it be time for you to get the low-tech person in your life a Chromebook? Let's see.

Gallery: Chrome OS screenshots (version 19)

Continue reading Chrome OS review (version 19)

Chrome OS review (version 19) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChromeChrome OSChromebookChromebooksChromeboxChromeOsGoogleGoogle ChromeGoogle Chrome OSGoogleChromeGoogleChromeOsoperating systemoperating systemsOperatingSystemOperatingSystemsOSOS updateOS updatesOsUpdateOsUpdatesreviewsoftware updatesoftware updatesSoftwareUpdateSoftwareUpdatesupdateupdatesTue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google snags the webOS Enyo team, HP says open source plans are still on schedule (Update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/google-hires-webos-enyo-hp/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/google-hires-webos-enyo-hp/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/google-hires-webos-enyo-hp/#comments Google snags the webOS Enyo team, HP says open source plans are still on schedule

At one time the Enyo app framework was supposed to help webOS run faster and on a wider variety of devices, but as HP continues to struggle, reports have surfaced from The Verge and AllThingsD that much of the team behind it, including leader Matthew McNulty, has been hired away by Google. Numbering a half dozen or so, the immediate danger is the effect this might have on HP's efforts to open source webOS, but in a statement the company indicated it remains on track and will stick to the roadmap it announced in January. Less clear is what these employees might end up working on for Google, although Enyo's focus on web apps and HTML5 suggests the possibility they'll end up working on ChromeOS projects.

Update: The remaining members of the Enyo team have also chimed in now, with a blog post indicating yes, some "key members" have left, but that "the majority of the engineering and leadership team remains." Of course, while it continues work on the product there are some job openings now, so interested coders are encouraged to toss an application HP's way.

Google snags the webOS Enyo team, HP says open source plans are still on schedule (Update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 02:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidchrome osChromeOsenyogooglehirehiringhiring spreeHiringSpreehphtml5javascriptmatthew mcnultyMatthewMcnultymobilepostcrossweb appsWebAppswebosFri, 25 May 2012 02:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Chromebox gets a premature outing, $330 price tag (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/samsung-chromebox-gets-a-premature-outing-330-price-tag/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/samsung-chromebox-gets-a-premature-outing-330-price-tag/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/samsung-chromebox-gets-a-premature-outing-330-price-tag/#comments Image

Samsung has been almost completely silent regarding its Chromebox since its CES outing, so we were taken aback when we were tipped off that it was hiding in plain sight on TigerDirect's web store. Sure enough, a product listing provides a lot more detail about the tiny Chrome OS desktop than Samsung gave us in January, including its use of a 1.9GHz, dual-core Celeron B840, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 16GB solid-state drive and six (not five) USB ports. We haven't seen mention of the promised wireless keyboard and mouse bundle, although the retailer's configuration might reflect a stripped-down trim level: at $330, it's a lot less than the $400 we were quoted at the start of the year. We wouldn't count on the store listing staying up -- at least, not until Google I/O -- but you can get a whirlwind tour of the Chromebox's core features through the hilariously awkward video below, which strips out the price if you're not watching from TigerDirect itself.

[Thanks, Pete]

Continue reading Samsung Chromebox gets a premature outing, $330 price tag (video)

Samsung Chromebox gets a premature outing, $330 price tag (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9 ghz1.9Ghzb840celeronceleron b840CeleronB840chrome oschromeboxChromeOsdual coredual-coreDualCoregooglegoogle chrome osGoogleChromeOsintelintel celeronintel celeron b840IntelCeleronIntelCeleronB840leakleakssamsungsamsung chromeboxSamsungChromeboxsolid state drivesolid-state driveSolid-stateDriveSolidStateDrivessdtiger directTigerDirectvideoXE300XE300M22Tue, 22 May 2012 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/google-drive-now-available-for-chrome-os-dev-channel/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/google-drive-now-available-for-chrome-os-dev-channel/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/google-drive-now-available-for-chrome-os-dev-channel/#comments Image

You knew it was gonna happen, but Google's cloud-based storage service has now been married to its cloud-based operating system, as Chrome OS users who receive updates via the dev-channel may now benefit from integration with Google Drive. Most notably, Drive will now appear as an additional folder within the file manager, although the implementation isn't without its quirks. For example, our peers at TechCrunch described the inability to make these files available for offline access. It goes without saying that dev-channel releases aren't for everyone, but if you enjoy living on the edge, then be sure to take a peep at what Google has in store for the inevitable mainstream release.

Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betachromechrome osChrome OS storageChromeOsChromeOsStoragecloudcloud storageCloudStoragedrivegooglegoogle chromegoogle chrome osgoogle driveGoogleChromeGoogleChromeOsGoogleDrivestorageupdateupdatesFri, 27 Apr 2012 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS and Google Drive to get intimate in version 20]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/chrome-os-and-google-drive-integration/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/chrome-os-and-google-drive-integration/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/chrome-os-and-google-drive-integration/#comments Chrome OS and Google Drive to get intimate in version 20

When Google finally announced its shiny new cloud-based Drive service, many people will have been glad to see an extra bit of storage tacked onto their daily gadget lives. Some, however, spin out a generally more nebular existence, and that'd be the Chrome OS faithful. If you find yourself amongst their number, you'll be pleased to know that Sundar Pichai, SVP for Chrome, revealed in an interview with Wired that the next iteration of its slight operating system will come with Drive tightly sewn into the fabric. The idea is that the service will operate as the local file system, and all the core OS functionality will use Drive for storing data. Third party apps like VMware are already baking in Drive functionality, and expect more to follow when it lands in version 20.

Chrome OS and Google Drive to get intimate in version 20 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome osChrome OS storageChromeOsChromeOsStoragecloudcloud storageCloudStoragedrivegooglegoogle chromegoogle chrome osgoogle driveGoogleChromeGoogleChromeOsGoogleDrivestorageSundar PichaiSundarPichaivmwareThu, 26 Apr 2012 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/chrome-os-update-pushes-aura-desktop-ui-to-devs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/chrome-os-update-pushes-aura-desktop-ui-to-devs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/chrome-os-update-pushes-aura-desktop-ui-to-devs/#comments Chrome OS Update pushes Aura desktop UI to devsWhen the Aura UI first reared its rather ugly head back in November it was unclear what the future of the project was. Now, though, the hardware accelerated window manager and desktop has grown up (at least a little bit) and is being pushed out to owners of Acer and Samsung Chromebooks running on the dev channel. It's becoming clear that Google is prepping to take on the desktop OS market on more familiar ground. The updated UI includes a taskbar, a Launchpad-like launcher and individual overlapping windows, while hardware acceleration allows for those new components to feature slick animations. Chrome OS 19 also gains support for a few new file types, including .gz and .tar, as well as a slightly updated media player. The only truly unfortunate thing is it seems Cr-48 owners are left out in the cold. One more screenshot after the break.

Continue reading Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs

Chrome OS update pushes Aura desktop UI to devs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerAcer AC700AcerAc700auraaura uiAuraUichromechrome oschrome os 19chromebookChromeOsChromeOs19desktopgooglegoogle chrome osGoogleChromeOssamsungsamsung series 5samsung series 5 chromebookSamsungSeries5SamsungSeries5ChromebookUIwindow managerWindowManagerTue, 10 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS coming to ARM?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/24/chrome-os-coming-to-arm/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/24/chrome-os-coming-to-arm/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/24/chrome-os-coming-to-arm/#commentsImageMany moons ago, Google made it quite clear we wouldn't be seeing its browser-based OS on any tablets or phones, but it never said Chrome OS wouldn't run on devices powered by similar silicon. In fact, the issues tracker at the Chromium OS project shows that work's being done to get Chrome OS compatible with ARM architecture, and in particular a Samsung Exynos 5250 chip. That Sammy silicon appears to be inside a new bit of hardware, codenamed "Daisy," but deeper digging failed to provide further details about the mystery device. While it certainly seems like Google's working on a new ARM-powered gadget, it's important to note that the Chromium project functions largely via user contributions, so the work might not be directed by Mountain View. You don't have to take our word for it, though. Head on down to the source link to see the evidence first hand, and feel free to form your own opinion.

Chrome OS coming to ARM? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchromechrome osChromeOschromiumchromium osChromiumOsdaisyexynosexynos 5250Exynos5250googlesamsung exynos 5250SamsungExynos5250Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VAIO VCC111 Chromebook passes through FCC, Chrome OS flies its flag]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/sony-vaio-vcc111-chromebook-laptop-fcc/#comments ImageWondering if Chrome OS has a future? Wonder no more. After Samsung and Acer ushered out Chromebooks of their own following Google I/O 2011, it looks as if Sony's planning to usher in one of its own prior to this year's gala. The VAIO VCC111 has just found its way into the FCC's database, signaling that there's only a minimal amount of time before this here machine is cleared for sale on US shelves. So far as we can tell, this is the first significant proof that Sony was (or is) dreaming of involving itself with Google's cloud-centric operating system, with the user guide clearly explaining the boot-up procedure for a "Chrome OS," and the keyboard clearly resembling that seen on the Series 5 from Samsung -- in other words, the Chrome-ified row of hot keys and an omitted Windows key. Judging by the photos, there's also a headphone port, microphone jack, HDMI socket, SD card reader, a pair of USB 2.0 connectors and an 11.6-inch display. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for more; given where it's at, it shouldn't be long before Best Buy's database picks it up.

Sony VAIO VCC111 Chromebook passes through FCC, Chrome OS flies its flag originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgooglelaptopsonyvaiovaio chromebookvaio laptopVAIO VCC111VaioChromebookVaioLaptopVaioVcc111Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Drive SDK, Gmail integration hinted at in Google Docs source code]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/google-drive-sdk-gmail-integration-hinted-at-in-google-docs-sou/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/google-drive-sdk-gmail-integration-hinted-at-in-google-docs-sou/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/google-drive-sdk-gmail-integration-hinted-at-in-google-docs-sou/#comments Still wondering if Mountain View's Google Drive service will launch as a Google Docs rebranding? The folks at the Google Operating System blog have some code you might want to peek at, then. Apparently the Docs' source code mentions an SDK connected to the upcoming Google Drive, opening the door for third party app support. The code hints at deeper Gmail integration too, "Say goodbye to email attachments and hello to real time collaboration," it says, "Drag anything shared with you to My Drive for easy access." If Drive turns out to be more than a hefty Docs update, at the very least it seems clear that the new service will play nice with El Goog's other web apps -- after all, isn't that what that consolidated privacy policy is supposed to be about?

Google Drive SDK, Gmail integration hinted at in Google Docs source code originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appschrome osChromeOschromiumcloud storageCloudStoragedocsdrivefile syncFileSyncgdiskgdriveGmailgoogleGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogleDocsGoogleDriverumorrumorsSDKsyncsyncingFri, 24 Feb 2012 23:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/google-chrome-update-speed-security/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/google-chrome-update-speed-security/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/google-chrome-update-speed-security/#comments
The week isn't quite over yet, but it's already shaping up to be a busy one for Google Chrome. After finally bringing its browser to Android on Tuesday, Google yesterday announced an update for the original desktop version, promising faster browsing and enhanced security. More specifically, this new Stable release features a revamped omnibox that will now pre-render pages as a user types in a URL or search query, allowing for faster load times. Google has also tweaked its Safe Browsing feature, which will now automatically scan downloaded files for malware, with an especially sharp focus on any ".exe." or ".msi" files. To determine the safety of a given file, the browser will compare it against a list of publishers and files known to be safe. If it doesn't show up there, Chrome will then consult Google for more information. If the file proves suspicious, it'll warn the user and recommend deleting it. Google added that it's working on an update for its Chrome OS, as well, promising a new image editor and Verizon 3G activation portal, though there's no word yet on when that might roll out. For more details, see the source link below.

Google Chrome update brings speedier browsing, enhanced security, joy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserchrome OSchromebookChromeOsgooglegoogle chromeGoogleChromeinternetmalwareomniboxpre renderPreRendersafetysecuritysoftwarespeedstable releaseStableReleaseupdateverizon 3gVerizon3gwebThu, 09 Feb 2012 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Google strikes deal to bring 27,000 Chromebooks to US schools in three states]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/google-strikes-deal-to-bring-27-000-chromebooks-to-us-schools-in/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/google-strikes-deal-to-bring-27-000-chromebooks-to-us-schools-in/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/google-strikes-deal-to-bring-27-000-chromebooks-to-us-schools-in/#comments It remains to be seen if they'll be the big game-changer in education that Google hopes they will be, but the company is making some progress at getting its Chromebooks into schools. The latest push is a deal with three US school districts, which will see some 27,000 Chromebooks land in the hand of students in Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina. As CNET reports, South Carolina's Richland School District Two is making by far the biggest investment of the lot, ordering 19,000 Chromebooks that will be used as part of a three-year program for students in the third through twelfth grades. As for Google itself, it still isn't being too specific on the total number of Chromebooks now being used by schools, noting only that "hundreds" of schools across 41 states are using them in at least one classroom.

Google strikes deal to bring 27,000 Chromebooks to US schools in three states originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome oschromebookchromebooksChromeOseducationgoogleschoolschoolsThu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft signs patent agreement with LG, now covers 70 percent of US Android smartphone market]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/microsoft-lg-patent-license/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/microsoft-lg-patent-license/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/microsoft-lg-patent-license/#comments Microsoft's patent-licensing ways continue, going after manufacturers of Android devices with wild abandon and, more often than not, wrangling them into (surely expensive) agreements. Latest to take the bait is LG and, interestingly, this one covers both Android and Google's little laptop operating system: Chrome OS. With this agreement Microsoft now covers 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the US, which is a quite startling figure. And, of course, one could interpolate from this that LG must have designs on making a Chromebook at some point in the not too distant future.

Continue reading Microsoft signs patent agreement with LG, now covers 70 percent of US Android smartphone market

Microsoft signs patent agreement with LG, now covers 70 percent of US Android smartphone market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementandroidchrome oschromebookChromeOslglicensemicrosoftmobilepostcrosspatentThu, 12 Jan 2012 09:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung is refreshing the Series 5 Chromebook, releasing the Chromebox in Q2]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-refreshing-the-series-5-chromebook-prepares-the-chromeb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-refreshing-the-series-5-chromebook-prepares-the-chromeb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/samsung-refreshing-the-series-5-chromebook-prepares-the-chromeb/#comments We'll likely never know how many Chromebooks Samsung has sold, but we're guessing it's not a terribly impressive figure. No matter. Sammy is refreshing its first-gen Series 5 with a new model, along with that Chromebox Google first teased last spring. Starting with the Chromebook, it trades its slick cover for something muted, with more discreet logo placement, though that matte, 12.1-inch, 300-nit display has made a reappearance. On the inside, meanwhile, it steps up from Atom to Celeron, though it still has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage. Look for it sometime in the second quarter with some familiar pricing: $399 for the WiFi-only version, and $449 for the 3G model with pay-as-you-go data from Verizon.

As for the Chromebox, Samsung is still staying mum on specs, though the company did tell us it comes with a wireless keyboard-and-mouse combo. It also has a handful of ports, including five USB 2.0 sockets, DVI, DisplayPort and a headphone jack. All that'll run you around $400 when it lands sometime in the second quarter. To be honest, it's difficult to imagine consumers choosing this over a Mac mini or HTPC, though Samsung makes a shrewd point when it says this might find a home in K-12 computer labs, where the cost per student would be low and the systems would consume little space. Then again, the same could be said of laptops like this, no?

Update: The Chromebox, too, has a dual-core Celeron CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage -- just like the Chromebook.

Gallery: Samsung Series 5 Chromebook hands-on (2012)

Gallery: Samsung Chromebox hands-on


Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Samsung is refreshing the Series 5 Chromebook, releasing the Chromebox in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012ChromeChrome OSchromebookchromebookschromeboxChromeOseducationGoogleGoogle ChromeGoogleChromelaptoplaptopssamsungsamsung series 5samsung series 5 chromebookSamsungSeries5SamsungSeries5Chromebookschoolschoolsseries 5 chromebookSeries5Chromebookstudentstudentsultraportableultraportablesverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessTue, 10 Jan 2012 23:17:00 EST<![CDATA[MAME gets Chrome Native Client port, is awesome case study]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/mame-gets-chrome-native-client-port-is-awesome-case-study/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/mame-gets-chrome-native-client-port-is-awesome-case-study/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/mame-gets-chrome-native-client-port-is-awesome-case-study/#comments

We've already seen MAME burn brightly (and briefly) on iPads across the world and now it's been delicately ported across to Chrome's Native Client. Admittedly, the graphics may not stand up against recent gaming wares seen on Google's new platform, but it's still able to cope with the likes of Pac-Man. Managing to turnaround the whole project in a mere four days, Google engineer Robert Muth branded the brief exercise as "relatively challenging" and has noted down all the deep and meaningfuls in a full case study, available at the source below. For anyone unwilling to dip their toes into Native Client waters, however, there's still plenty of power pellets to be downed online.

MAME gets Chrome Native Client port, is awesome case study originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromeChrome Native clientchrome osChromeNativeClientChromeOschromiumemulatorgoogleMAMEminipostnative clientNativeClientpac-manMon, 02 Jan 2012 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Books for Chrome gets offline support, one less excuse for not reading the 'classics']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/google-books-for-chrome-gets-offline-support-one-less-excuse-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/google-books-for-chrome-gets-offline-support-one-less-excuse-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/google-books-for-chrome-gets-offline-support-one-less-excuse-fo/#comments Google Books Offline So, you can read all those tomes you've picked up through Google Books offline on your smartphone and tablet, but what about on your laptop? Well, if for some reason you've got the desire to power through Finnegans Wake in your browser (though, we're not really sure why you'd do that to yourself) we've got good news -- the Google Books app for Chrome now caches your titles for local reading. To download a book, just hover over the cover in library view and select "make available offline" from the pop-up. Then, even when you can't get your Chromebook connected, you'll be able to sit back and relax with a classic novel or seedy romance tale.

Google Books for Chrome gets offline support, one less excuse for not reading the 'classics' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookbookschromechrome oschromebookChromeOse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersgooglegoogle booksgoogle books for chromegoogle chromeGoogleBooksGoogleBooksForChromeGoogleChromeminipostofflineoffline supportOfflineSupportThu, 22 Dec 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hexxeh adds a splash of lime to Chromium OS, brings extra hardware and plugin support]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/hexxeh-adds-a-splash-of-lime-to-chromium-os-brings-extra-hardwa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/hexxeh-adds-a-splash-of-lime-to-chromium-os-brings-extra-hardwa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/hexxeh-adds-a-splash-of-lime-to-chromium-os-brings-extra-hardwa/#comments

The open source version of Google's Chrome OS just got a zesty refresh. Capable of being housed in a mere USB stick, the latest image improves on Hexxeh's Vanilla release with hardware support for more WiFi models and NVIDIA 6 series GPUs and above. It will still benefit from regular updates to the latest Chromium build, while this Lime flavor arrives with full Java support and the promise of more plugins soon. The maker is also willing to accept suggestions for future device support. Chromium obsessives with hardware compatibility woes can try getting in touch at the source below.

Hexxeh adds a splash of lime to Chromium OS, brings extra hardware and plugin support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome osChromeOschromiumchromium osChromiumOshexxehimagelimenightly buildsNightlyBuildsopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemosvanilla nightly buildsVanillaNightlyBuildsMon, 05 Dec 2011 06:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung adds another WiFi-only Series 5 Chromebook, on sale now for $349 (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/samsung-announces-wifi-only-series-5-chromebook-on-sale-now-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/samsung-announces-wifi-only-series-5-chromebook-on-sale-now-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/samsung-announces-wifi-only-series-5-chromebook-on-sale-now-for/#commentsAfter Samsung released its Series 5 Chromebook, lots of you said you'd buy it -- if Sammy slashed the asking price in half. Well, we're not there yet, but the company did just unveil another WiFi-only version, this time with a more palatable MSRP of $349 and a slightly tweaked version of Chrome OS to match. (It has a black lid, too, in case that snow white number was too precious for you.) To recap, it has a bright, matte 12.1-inch (1280 x 800) display, a dual-core Intel Atom CPU, two USB 2.0 ports and a memory card slot. And design-wise, at least, it's a step up from most netbooks, with a comfortable keyboard and surprisingly solid 0.8-inch-thick chassis. In any case, if you were planning on picking one up for the Chrome OS lover in your life (or, you know, the low-tech person who only ever uses a web browser anyway), it's on sale now at the likes of Best Buy, Amazon, NewEgg and Tigerdirect.

Update: Not to be outdone, Acer just sent out a press release announcing it's cut the price of its AC700 Chromebook. It'll now cost $299 for the WiFi-only version (down from $349) and $399 for the Verizon Wireless 3G model (it had been $449).

Continue reading Samsung adds another WiFi-only Series 5 Chromebook, on sale now for $349 (updated)

Samsung adds another WiFi-only Series 5 Chromebook, on sale now for $349 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chrome OSChromebookChromebooksChromeOslaptoplaptopsSamsungseries 5series 5 chromebookSeries5Series5Chromebookultraportableultraportableswifi onlywifi-onlyWifiOnlyMon, 21 Nov 2011 11:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/chromebooks-now-available-to-enterprise-and-education-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/chromebooks-now-available-to-enterprise-and-education-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/23/chromebooks-now-available-to-enterprise-and-education-customers/#comments Chromebook Google made a big splash when it revealed plans to offer Chromebooks to enterprise and education customers under a subscription model. What's not clear is how much of a splash it actually made in those markets. While the notion of paying a monthly fee for three years, instead of buying a machine up front sounds like a game changer, some people just like the comfort of the familiar. To that end Google is now offering those same customers the option to purchase a Chromebook (with a year of support included) in one lump sum -- $449 for the WiFi model or $519 for the 3G to educational customers, while business are looking at $559 and $639 respectively. After that first year is through, customers have the option to sign up for a monthly support contract, at $5 a month for education and $13 a month for enterprise.

Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschromechrome oschromebookchromebooksChromeOseducationenterprisegoogleSun, 23 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Drive could finally be ready for launch, may just be rebranded Docs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/google-drive-could-finally-be-ready-for-launch-may-just-be-rebr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/google-drive-could-finally-be-ready-for-launch-may-just-be-rebr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/google-drive-could-finally-be-ready-for-launch-may-just-be-rebr/#comments Google DriveGDrive, GDisk, Google Drive - whatever they're calling it these days - is coming. At least according to our friends over at TechCrunch. The service has not just been a rumor, but an actual product since 2007. Sadly though, it never made it past the dogfooding stage. The internal cloud storage tool for Googlers has been highly anticipated, but in 2010 it seemed like the final nail was put in its coffin when Docs was turned into a makeshift replacement with the ability to store any file. Well, Google Drive still exists, and speculation is that Google Docs will eventually be rebranded as Drive and relaunched with non-Docs file storage moved to the forefront. What's more, it's rumored that there will be a desktop syncing component, similar to Dropbox. Of course, the image above (from a Google-sponsored presentation) and recently discovered mentions of Drive.Google.com in Chromium don't necessarily mean anything. But, if Google actually plans on taking this Chrome OS thing seriously, Drive seems like a natural companion service. For now though, we're just going to have wait patiently to see what, if anything, comes of these latest rumblings.

Google Drive could finally be ready for launch, may just be rebranded Docs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome osChromeOschromiumcloud storageCloudStoragedocsdrivefile syncFileSyncgdiskgdrivegooglegoogle docsgoogle driveGoogleDocsGoogleDriverumorrumorssyncsyncingMon, 26 Sep 2011 10:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Dublin City University adopts Chromebooks -- time to go streaking through the quad!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/dublin-city-university-adopts-chromebooks-time-to-go-streaki/#comments Instead of handing out cheap mugs (or iPads... or iPods) and sending students on their merry way, administrators at Dublin City University will be showering incoming freshmen with free Chromebooks -- in doing so, it'll become the first European higher-education institution to adopt the device. As you probably recall, Google's always-connected laptops have gone through various incarnations throughout the years, but they've always included a dash of WiFi or 3G and a pinch of hasty boot -- intentionally ditching local storage for the cloud. The Google Chromebooks for Education partnership is said to support DCU's commitment to make 80 percent of its classes partially or fully online by 2013, allowing coeds to stay in their Scooby Doo pajamas or attend class from Pi Kappa Delta HQ. Now, if only the dining hall supported online ordering...

Dublin City University adopts Chromebooks -- time to go streaking through the quad! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Gchromechrome osChrome OS netbookchromebookChromeOsChromeOsNetbookDCUdublindublin city universityDublinCityUniversityeducateeducationgooglegoogle chromebookgoogle chromebooksgoogle chromebooks for educationGoogleChromebookGoogleChromebooksGoogleChromebooksForEducationirelandlearningonlineschooluniversityWiFiThu, 15 Sep 2011 20:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Gmail, Google Docs and Calendar finally regain offline access]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/gmail-google-docs-and-calendar-finally-regain-offline-access/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/gmail-google-docs-and-calendar-finally-regain-offline-access/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/gmail-google-docs-and-calendar-finally-regain-offline-access/#comments Offline Google Mail Since the death of Gears we've been, rather impatiently, awaiting the return of offline access to our Google apps. Well that day has finally come -- provided you're a Chrome fan. The fine folks in Mountain View just unveiled a new app for their browser (which means it also works on Chome OS) called Offline Google Mail that will keep you connected to your all-important messages even when you can't get a connection. You'll notice the app looks a heck of a lot like the web app for tablets, and that's because that's basically what it is. There are some differences -- keyboard shortcuts work -- but at it's heart it's the same HTML5 browser app mobile users have been enjoying for some time. To install the offline version you'll have to uninstall the standard Gmail Chrome app, which is a little odd, but there's nothing stopping you from typing Gmail.com in the address bar. Docs and Calendar are also going offline. Starting today the feature will be rolled out to users over the next week. To activate it just look under settings for an offline tick box. At the moment Docs is view only when disconnected, but Google promises offline editing is coming soon. Hit up the more coverage link to install Offline Gmail now.

Update: Google reached out to us and it turns out both can run side by side just fine. We were experiencing a bug that shouldn't effect most users since we hadn't let the Gmail app update recently.

Gmail, Google Docs and Calendar finally regain offline access originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appschromechrome browserchrome osChromeBrowserChromeOsgmailgooglegoogle calendargoogle docsgoogle mailGoogleCalendarGoogleDocsGoogleMailhtml5offlineproductivityweb appsWebAppsWed, 31 Aug 2011 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: The stuff Engadget editors are using... in real life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/irl-the-stuff-engadget-editors-are-using-in-real-life/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/irl-the-stuff-engadget-editors-are-using-in-real-life/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/irl-the-stuff-engadget-editors-are-using-in-real-life/#comments Hi, guys! Welcome to IRL, a brand new feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life. One of the reasons we started this column is that we don't necessarily stop evaluating products once we slap on a numbered rating and publish some 3,000 words worth of impressions. This is a dilemma all gadget reviewers wrestle with, really. It's one thing to test a product for a week and report back on benchmark results and battery life, but it's another thing entirely to live with it. Sometimes, there are things we didn't get to test. And if you play with something long enough, the Honeymoon always comes to an end. No exceptions.

We still see reviews as a snapshot in time -- our job, after all, is to size up the products folks might be thinking of buying today, and it's not fair to stay mum while we wait for companies to tweak products they had no business shipping half-baked in the first place. But we don't think the conversation should end with the review. You guys already get to sound off on the things you own in the "How would you change?" column. Consider this our turn.

Continue reading IRL: The stuff Engadget editors are using... in real life

IRL: The stuff Engadget editors are using... in real life originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11.6 inch11.6-inch11.6-inch macbook air11.6-inchMacbookAir11.6InchA500Acer Iconia Tab A500AcerIconiaTabA500Appleapple macbook airAppleMacbookAirBarnes NobleBarnesNobleBrian HeaterBrianHeaterChrome OSChromebookChromeOsDana WollmanDanaWollmanEngadget IRLengadgetIRLiconia tab a500IconiaTabA500IRLJoe PollicinoJoePollicinoMacBook AirMacbookAirNetflixNooknook wifiNookWifiSamsungsamsung series 5samsung series 5 chromebookSamsungSeries5SamsungSeries5ChromebookTim StevensTimStevensFri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Citrix app opens Windows for Chromebook owners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/14/citrix-app-opens-windows-for-chromebook-owners/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/14/citrix-app-opens-windows-for-chromebook-owners/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/14/citrix-app-opens-windows-for-chromebook-owners/#comments Google hasn't made any bones about its desire to position Chrome OS as a presence in the business space. But for plenty of users, the relatively limited functionality of Chromebooks doesn't quite get the job done when it comes to doing serious work. The latest offering from Citrix could change that for a number of Chromebook-sporting business-types, offering access to Windows applications and desktops. Citrix Receiver Tech Preview is free from the Chrome Web Store (but requires a MyCitrix login). So now there's no excuse for not getting any work done -- except maybe a bad connection.

Citrix app opens Windows for Chromebook owners originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschromechrome appschrome oschrome web storeChromeAppschromebookChromeOsChromeWebStorecitrixCitrix Receiver Tech PreviewCitrixReceiverTechPreviewgooglegoogle chromeGoogleChromeremoteSun, 14 Aug 2011 19:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix Watch Instantly streaming now works on ChromeOS, when it's working]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/netflix-watch-instantly-streaming-now-works-on-chromeos-when-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/netflix-watch-instantly-streaming-now-works-on-chromeos-when-it/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/netflix-watch-instantly-streaming-now-works-on-chromeos-when-it/#comments It didn't make launch as was originally promised, but today the Netflix Twitter account officially announced streaming access is operational on Chromebooks (when it's not suffering an outage, like it was last night during Amazon's cloud server troubles). The Netflix ChromeOS plugin jumping to 1.0.2 a few days ago was a good indication it was on the way, but now you can take your CR-48s, Series 5s and the like straight to the Chrome Web Store and get outfitted for some Watch Instantly streaming. Unfortunately, despite rumors that it's on the way in the next year or so, there's no change for other environments outside of Silverlight-compatible OS X and Windows, but Linux users can always dream, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Netflix Watch Instantly streaming now works on ChromeOS, when it's working originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgooglenetflixpluginsilverlightstreamingwatch instantlyWatchInstantlyTue, 09 Aug 2011 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[WhiteHat Security hacks into Chrome OS, exposes extension vulnerability at Black Hat]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/whitehat-security-hacks-into-chrome-os-exposes-extension-vulner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/whitehat-security-hacks-into-chrome-os-exposes-extension-vulner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/whitehat-security-hacks-into-chrome-os-exposes-extension-vulner/#comments It's been a rough Black Hat conference for Google. First, FusionX used the company's homepage to pry into a host of SCADA systems, and now, a pair of experts have discovered a way to hack into Chrome OS. According to WhiteHat security researchers Matt Johansen and Kyle Osborn, one major issue is Google's vet-free app approval process, which leaves its Chrome Web Store susceptible to malicious extensions. But there are also vulnerabilities within native extensions, like ScratchPad -- a note-taking extension that stores data in Google Docs. Using a cross-site scripting injection, Johansen and Osborn were able to steal a user's contacts and cookies, which could give hackers access to other accounts, including Gmail. Big G quickly patched the hole after WhiteHat uncovered it earlier this year, but researchers told Black Hat's attendees that they've discovered similar vulnerabilities in other extensions, as well. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said, "This conversation is about the Web, not Chrome OS. Chromebooks raise security protections on computing hardware to new levels." The company went on to say that its laptops can ward off attacks better than most, thanks to "a carefully designed extensions model and the advanced security available through Chrome that many users and experts have embraced."

WhiteHat Security hacks into Chrome OS, exposes extension vulnerability at Black Hat originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black hatblack hat conferenceblack hat securityblack hat security conferenceBlackHatBlackHatConferenceBlackHatSecurityBlackHatSecurityConferencechromechrome oschrome web storechromebookChromeOsChromeWebStoredemoextensionflawgmailgooglegoogle chromegoogle chrome osgoogle docsGoogleChromeGoogleChromeOsGoogleDocshackhackerhackingkyle osbornKyleOsbornMatt JohansenMattJohansenresearchscriptingsecurityvetvulnerabilitywhite hatWhiteHatSat, 06 Aug 2011 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix plugin for ChromeOS hits v1.0.2, is an official release around the corner?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/31/netflix-plugin-for-chromeos-hits-v1-0-2-is-an-official-release/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/31/netflix-plugin-for-chromeos-hits-v1-0-2-is-an-official-release/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/31/netflix-plugin-for-chromeos-hits-v1-0-2-is-an-official-release/#comments When Google Chromebooks started arriving without the Netflix streaming we'd been promised we were predictably bummed, but that may be rectified soon. While Chromebook owners attuned to beta channel updates first noticed an entry for a Netflix plugin last month, it still couldn't actually play movies and didn't appear on older, single-core Atom powered Cr-48 laptops. Fast forward to the present, where one of our friendly comment moderators, masterofrandom has spotted this updated v1.0.2 plugin lurking in the depths of his murdered out 12-incher. There's still no playback to be had, but we're figuring Netflix didn't update the version number past 1.0 because it's finally figured out the perfect queue management system. Chromebook owners or prospective owners (and by extension, Linux users) still awaiting Watch Instantly streaming -- your alert level is at Vermilion.

[Thanks, masterofrandom]

Netflix plugin for ChromeOS hits v1.0.2, is an official release around the corner? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta channelBetaChannelchromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgooglenetflixpluginstreamingwatch instantlyWatchInstantlySun, 31 Jul 2011 00:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla planning a Chrome OS-like operating system for phones and tablets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/26/mozilla-planning-a-chrome-os-like-operating-system-for-phones-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/26/mozilla-planning-a-chrome-os-like-operating-system-for-phones-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/26/mozilla-planning-a-chrome-os-like-operating-system-for-phones-an/#commentsThe jury is still out on whether Chromebooks will sell like hotcakes (we're guessing not), but no matter to Mozilla. The organization behind Firefox has plans to develop its own operating system for mobile devices -- a clear shot across the bow at Google's browser-based Chrome OS. In a page on Mozilla's own wiki, a handful of senior developers announced their intentions to create a "complete, standalone operating system for the open web" running HTML5 apps. The OS, codenamed "Boot to Gecko," will be designed with tablets and handsets in mind, says Mike Shaver, the foundation's VP of technical strategy. And here's the fascinating part: the OS will rely on Google's own Android drivers and kernel to boot the device. In a Google Groups discussion thread, the lead devs said they chose Android over a Linux stack since so many device makers have focused their efforts on Android, and it makes sense to "reuse its lower layers." Still, they insist that they otherwise intend to borrow from it as little as possible. Obviously, don't hold your breath for Firebooks, as the project's very much in its infancy, but in the meantime there's some mighty interesting conversation happening in that discussion thread about Mozilla's lofty end game: breaking "the stranglehold of proprietary devices over the mobile device world."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Mozilla planning a Chrome OS-like operating system for phones and tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andreas GalAndreasGalBoot to GeckoBoot to Gecko OSBootToGeckoBootToGeckoOsBrendan EichBrendanEichChris JonesChrisJonesChrome OSchromebookchromebooksChromeOsFirefoxGoogleHTML 5HTML5laptoplaptopsMike ShaverMikeShaverMozillaMozilla FirefoxMozillaFirefoxoperating systemOperatingSystemOSTue, 26 Jul 2011 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Chromium OS running on a MacBook Air: somewhere, a mad scientist cackles in the night]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/#comments Does it hurt your brain to look at the picture above? That'd be Chromium OS -- running on a MacBook Air! Pretty much the definition of "worlds colliding," this feat is brought to you by Hexxeh, whose most recent mind-warping project put Chrome on an iPad. The platform-mixing maestro says in this case everything works except Bluetooth, owing to a lack of support. But hearty souls who seek to follow in his footsteps, take heed: there's no dual-boot option, and you will lose OS X -- so perhaps this is a job for your now outdated model. Click the source link for 14 easy steps to turning your svelte laptop into Frankenstein's monster, but sadly, there's no mention of where to buy that hopelessly cute Chrome pillow.

Update: Diligent researchers found the Chrome pillow. Peep it in the second source link. Thanks, Matthew.

Chromium OS running on a MacBook Air: somewhere, a mad scientist cackles in the night originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleAppleIpadchrome osChromeOschromium osChromiumOsgooglehackhackinghexxehlaptopmacbookmacbook airMacbookAiroperating systemOperatingSystemosportWed, 20 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer AC700 WiFi goes on sale, is your $350 ticket to the Chromebook club]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/acer-ac700-wifi-goes-on-sale-is-your-350-ticket-to-the-chromeb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/acer-ac700-wifi-goes-on-sale-is-your-350-ticket-to-the-chromeb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/acer-ac700-wifi-goes-on-sale-is-your-350-ticket-to-the-chromeb/#comments Good niches don't come cheap, but while $350 isn't exactly a steal, Acer's new AC700 will, at the very least, get you into the wonderful cloud-based world of Chrome OS for a good deal less than, say, Samsung's Series 5. Of course, there are certain sacrifices to be made for the sake of affordability, namely the fact that the current version of Acer's entry into the space is WiFi-only -- a 3G version is set to hit later this summer for, one assumes, a noticeable price bump. The AC700 has an Atom N570 processor, 16GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM, and best of all, is available right this very moment.

Acer AC700 WiFi goes on sale, is your $350 ticket to the Chromebook club originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac 700Ac700aceracer ac 700AcerAc700chromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgoogleintel atomIntelAtomnetbookMon, 11 Jul 2011 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Chromebook boards Virgin America, checks-in at Ace Hotel for summer vacation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/chromebook-boards-virgin-america-checks-in-at-ace-hotel-for-sum/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/chromebook-boards-virgin-america-checks-in-at-ace-hotel-for-sum/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/chromebook-boards-virgin-america-checks-in-at-ace-hotel-for-sum/#comments How do you solve a consumer education problem like the Chromebook? You put it into the idle hands of urbanite travelers -- that's how. The fast-booting neither laptop, nor netbook entity with negligible storage and not-yet-defined purpose will find a temporary summer home at select Virgin America gates and New York's Ace Hotel starting Friday. Jet-setters flying between San Francisco and either Chicago O'Hare, Dallas / Fort Worth, or Boston Logan can get an on-the-fly, marketing-fortified crash course in Chrome OS computing by visiting special 'Chrome zones' located near departure gates. Virgin's also thrown in some free in-flight WiFi to ensure you test drive Google's Cloud-dependent lap-dweller . And if you're one of the millions of tourists planning on seeing the Big Apple in all its humid splendor, the Ace Hotel's got an on-the-house stash that lobby lizards can use, but only guests can take out. But the promotional push doesn't just stop there: all partners involved have bundled specialized travel-planning apps into the experience -- sure to be ripe with cooler-than-thou recommendations. It's a noble attempt by our search giant overlord to make a name for its portable computing entrant, and a helpful distraction from that armrest hog next to you.

Continue reading Chromebook boards Virgin America, checks-in at Ace Hotel for summer vacation

Chromebook boards Virgin America, checks-in at Ace Hotel for summer vacation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ace HotelAce Hotel ChromebookAceHotelAceHotelChromebookChromeChrome OSChromebookChromeOsCloudGoogleGoogle ChromeGoogle ChromebookGoogle Virgin AmericaGoogle Virgin America Ace Hotel ChromebookGoogle Virgin America ChromebookGoogleChromeGoogleChromebookGoogleVirginAmericaGoogleVirginAmericaAceHotelChromebookGoogleVirginAmericaChromebookVirgin AmericaVirginAmericaThu, 30 Jun 2011 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer's AC700 Chromebook coming to the US this month for $350, 3G model arriving later this summer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/acers-ac700-chromebook-coming-to-the-us-this-month-for-350-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/acers-ac700-chromebook-coming-to-the-us-this-month-for-350-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/acers-ac700-chromebook-coming-to-the-us-this-month-for-350-to/#comments Samsung's beautiful-but-pricey Series 5 Chromebook too rich for your blood? Fear not, cloud-dwellers. Acer just announced that its Chromebook, dubbed the AC700, will go on sale in the states this month for $349.99, to be followed by a 3G-equipped version later this summer. If you're part of the niche market that would happily live in Chrome OS in exchange for instant-on access, be advised that it runs on an Atom N570 processor and 2GB of RAM, and has 16GB of flash storage, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, two USB 2.0 ports, and a 4-in-1 memory card reader. We'll be curious to see how the build quality compares to the Series 5's, though for some people, that $70 price gulf will render that a moot point. PR after the break.

Gallery: Acer AC700 Chromebook

Continue reading Acer's AC700 Chromebook coming to the US this month for $350, 3G model arriving later this summer

Acer's AC700 Chromebook coming to the US this month for $350, 3G model arriving later this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AC700AcerAcer AC700acer chromebookAcerAc700AcerChromebookChrome OSchromebookChromeOsGoogleMon, 27 Jun 2011 17:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Series 5 lands in Europe June 24th, starting at 399 euros]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/samsung-series-5-lands-in-europe-june-24th-starting-at-399-euro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/samsung-series-5-lands-in-europe-june-24th-starting-at-399-euro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/samsung-series-5-lands-in-europe-june-24th-starting-at-399-euro/#comments The US has already tasted its first piece of the Chromebook pie, and now Samsung's serving up a slice to our friends across the pond. That's right, the Samsung Series 5 will grace European soil starting this Friday, and will set our European brethren back €399 (or £349) for the Wi-Fi model and €449 (or £399) for the 3G version. The Chrome OS laptop will be available in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy to start, and is said to be on the way to other countries in the next few months. So stop licking your lips already. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Series 5 lands in Europe June 24th, starting at 399 euros

Samsung Series 5 lands in Europe June 24th, starting at 399 euros originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availabilityChrome OSChromebookChromeOsEuropeGooglelaptoppriceSamsungSamsung Series 5SamsungSeries5Series 5Series 5 chromebookSeries5Series5ChromebookultraportableWed, 22 Jun 2011 15:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now shipping in Arctic White -- Titan Silver edition still to come]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/samsung-series-5-chromebook-now-shipping-in-arctic-white-tita/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/samsung-series-5-chromebook-now-shipping-in-arctic-white-tita/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/samsung-series-5-chromebook-now-shipping-in-arctic-white-tita/#comments Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now shipping in Arctic White -- Titan Silver edition still to come We already knew it was coming -- Samsung hasn't been particularly shy about its teasing -- but the big day has finally arrived, and the Series 5 Chromebook is now officially shipping to those eagerly awaiting the Google-powered laptop. If you weren't among the high-end coupon clippers who snatched one up during the surprise sale at Gilt a couple of weeks ago, you can now pick up a Chromebook of your own. At least for now, however, it looks like you'll have to settle for a white exterior -- the "Titan Silver" (also known as black) edition is still in pre-order mode at both Best Buy and Amazon.

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now shipping in Arctic White -- Titan Silver edition still to come originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonarctic whiteArcticWhitebest buyBestBuyChromechrome OSchromebookChromeOsgooglelaptopnetbooknotebooknow shippingNowShippingsamsungsamsung chromebooksamsung series 5SamsungChromebookSamsungSeries5series 5 chromebookSeries5Chromebookshippingultra portableUltraPortablewhiteWed, 15 Jun 2011 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/samsung-chromebook-series-5-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/samsung-chromebook-series-5-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/samsung-chromebook-series-5-review/#comments For almost two years now, Google's been talking up the idea of always-on, always-connected laptops based on a version of its Chrome browser. Local storage, of course, was not an ingredient in the equation. And while a lucky few developers got to put the concept to the test with the help of the CR-48, it never surfaced as an honest to goodness consumer product. At last, though, the Chromebooks are here, starting with Samsung's Series 5, a cute little number that promises instant-on access, 3G connectivity, and long enough battery life to web surf with the best of 'em. But is this new class of computers -- and this solidly built one, in particular -- poised to make an impact? Let's find out.

Gallery: Samsung Series 5 Chromebook review

Continue reading Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review

Samsung Chromebook Series 5 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12.1-inch3GChromeChrome OSChromebookChromeOsCR-48GooglereviewSamsungSamsung Series 5Samsung Series 5 ChromebookSamsungSeries5SamsungSeries5ChromebookSeries 5Series5ultraportableVerizonVerizon WirelessVerizonWirelessvideoFri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung and Acer Chromebooks now available for pre-order at Best Buy and Amazon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/samsung-and-acer-chromebooks-now-available-for-pre-order-at-best/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/samsung-and-acer-chromebooks-now-available-for-pre-order-at-best/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/samsung-and-acer-chromebooks-now-available-for-pre-order-at-best/#comments Some folks have already gotten their hands on a Samsung Series 5 Chromebook thanks to an early sale at Gilt, but everyone else can now finally get their order in at a couple of more traditional sources: Best Buy and Amazon. In addition Samsung's Chromebook (available in both white and silver starting at $430), that also includes Acer's Chrome OS-based offering, which is now known as the Acer Cromia and starts at $380 for the WiFi-only model. Neither retailer is quoting a ship date just yet, but Google's previously stated that they'll be rolling out on June 15th.

Samsung and Acer Chromebooks now available for pre-order at Best Buy and Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceracer cromiaAcerCromiachrome oschromebookchromebooksChromeOscromiagooglesamsungsamsung series 5SamsungSeries5series 5Series5Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Chromebook goes on sale early at Gilt (update: sold out)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/samsung-chromebook-goes-on-sale-early-at-gilt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/samsung-chromebook-goes-on-sale-early-at-gilt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/samsung-chromebook-goes-on-sale-early-at-gilt/#comments We can't say we expected Gilt to be the first place to offer Samsung's new Chromebook but, well, here we are. Google's now sending out emails like the one above to at least some folks that signed up to be a part of the Cr-48 pilot program, telling them that they can join a "limited time" sale on the high-end discount site starting today, June 1st. In true Gilt fashion, the Chromebook (otherwise known as the Samsung Series 5) will also come paired with a "limited edition" sleeve designed by Rickshaw. Unfortunately, "limited" seems to be the keyword here -- the sale is only open to those that have received the email, and it's not clear how many Chromebooks are actually available.

Update: And they're all gone, but there is a wait list if you want to hang onto some hope of getting one before the official launch on June 15th.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung Chromebook goes on sale early at Gilt (update: sold out) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome oschromebookChromeOsgiltgooglesamsungsamsung series 5SamsungSeries5series 5Series5Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Google releases OTA update for Chrome OS, Cr-48 owners can upgrade now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/google-releases-ota-update-for-chrome-os-cr-48-owners-can-upgra/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/google-releases-ota-update-for-chrome-os-cr-48-owners-can-upgra/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/google-releases-ota-update-for-chrome-os-cr-48-owners-can-upgra/#comments Google recently rolled out the beta release of Chrome 12, and now Cr-48 owners are getting a matching version of Chrome OS. This latest version, 0.12.433.48, brings bug fixes, Flash 10.2.158.22, a file manager context menu, and some spiffy new icons and avatars to its browser-based UI. We grabbed the update on our own Google-fied laptops and got some pics of the beta's new bits for your viewing pleasure. We're still getting acquainted with all of the changes, so if you've also copped the new Chrome OS let us know how it's treating you in the comments.

[Thanks, Alex]

Gallery: Chrome OS 12 update

Google releases OTA update for Chrome OS, Cr-48 owners can upgrade now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug fixBugFixchromechrome 12chrome oschrome os 12Chrome12ChromeOsChromeOs12cr-48googlehands-onsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateMon, 23 May 2011 20:33:00 EST