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Acer's new $399 Chromebook Plus 514 hits the mark for a solid budget laptop
Acer's latest Chromebook Plus 514 sounds like it hits the sweet spot of price and performance.
Google's new Classroom tools include a 'reader mode' for people with dyslexia
Reader mode is but one of the new features and updates Google has rolled out for education users.
How to take a screenshot on any device
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to taking a screenshot on the most popular phone, tablet, PC and gaming platforms, from iOS and macOS to Windows and Android.
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Hear me out: The modular Framework Chromebook is worth the $1,000 (for some)
It’s been a little over a year since the first Framework laptops launched, and now the company has a new model, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition. It offers the same benefits as its Windows sibling – namely, solid industrial design and specs coupled with the promise of customization and future expandability. That said, it’s also one of the more expensive Chromebooks available, starting at $999. That’s a lot of money for a Chromebook – but if it can last you five years or more, it might be worth the cost.
Xbox Cloud Gaming gets a resolution boost on Steam Deck and ChromeOS
ChromeOS and Linux users (including those with a Steam Deck) should now be able to play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles at higher resolutions.
Steam for ChromeOS works on more devices and is easier to install
Google and Valve have announced that Steam for ChromeOS has graduated to beta. The software now works on more devices, has better hardware support and includes a number of usability fixes.
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook review: The best of ChromeOS, but not worth the price
Google has been making high-end Chromebooks for almost a decade now, dating back to the $1,300 Chromebook Pixel in 2013. At the time, many people saw it as a beautiful but strange device. In the years that followed, both Google and its hardware partners have made premium Chromebooks more and more commonplace. Though, a still-unconfirmed report earlier this year suggests Google is giving up on making laptop hardware, at least for now. The company hasn’t said anything of the sort yet, but the reality is that Google hasn’t made a new Chromebook since the Pixelbook Go in late 2019. Of course, that hasn’t stopped other manufacturers from making Chromebooks with gorgeous screens, great industrial design and powerful hardware. But HP’s Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, released earlier this year, might be the nicest I’ve used in a long time. It also has a jaw-dropping price point, starting at well over $1,000. Much like the original Chromebook Pixel, HP’s latest is a joy to use that is very hard to recommend because of that price.
Acer’s cloud gaming Chromebook is a solid laptop, even if you don’t game
Earlier this week, Google and hardware partners ASUS, Acer and Lenovo announced a somewhat surprising initiative to build Chromebooks expressly for cloud gaming. While many Chromebooks are a riff on the classic 13-inch laptop, the first round of these devices have large, high-resolution screens with fast refresh rates, anti-ghosting keyboards, powerful processors and a few software tweaks to better work with cloud gaming services like GeForce NOW. All these laptops are set to be released by the end of October, but I got a chance to check out a pre-production version of Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE. Over the last week, I’ve played some games with it as well as put it through my daily work routine. I’ll need to test the final version before giving it a proper review, but the Chromebook 516 GE has a lot going for it, whether you play games or not.
Google is trying to make Chromebooks built for cloud gaming
One part of Google may have given up on cloud gaming, with Stadia set to be discontinued in a few months. But on the ChromeOS team, there’s a whole new initiative to try and push back on the whole “you can’t game on a Chromebook” thing. Today, Google — along with a handful of hardware and software partners — are announcing what it calls “the world’s first laptops built for cloud gaming.”
Google Play Games are coming to Windows PCs in 2022
Google executives announced on stage at the 2021 Game Awards that, come 2022, the app service will be available on Windows PCs in addition to Android and ChromeOS.
Chrome OS adds more natural voices for 'Select-to-speak' accessibility feature
With today’s update, more natural voices are available in 25 languages and various accents, with more to come.
The latest Chrome OS update improves accessibility on Chromebooks
There are more cursor colors and Google improved the text-to-speech features.
NVIDIA brings GeForce Now game streaming to Chromebooks
NVIDIA is launching a beta version of its GeForce Now game streaming service on ChromeOS today. Instead, you can simply point your browser to play.geforce.now and login with a new or existing GeForce Now account. GeForce Now supports a range of titles from digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store and Ubisoft’s Uplay.
Google is making it easier to create apps using Chromebooks
ChromeOS.dev has resources for web, Android and Linux development.
Google reveals its timeline for killing off Chrome apps
Chrome apps have been on death row since Google announced in 2016 it would wind down support. Almost four years later, the company has finalized its timeline for phasing them out across Windows, Mac Linux and Chrome OS.
Chrome now supports your PC's media keys
Chrome is finally ready to make use of your keyboard's media buttons. Google has released the polished version of Chrome 73, and its centerpiece is support for the media keys on many newer PC keyboards. You'll need a Mac, Windows or Chrome OS system (Linux is coming later), but this will let you pause a web video even when the browser is in the background. We could see this causing problems if you regularly leave a media app open, but it could be immensely valuable if you treat YouTube like a jukebox or just have to dash off in a hurry.
Chromebook App Hub gives teachers ideas for class activities
Many schools use Chromebooks, but they might not always know how to make the most of those systems in the classroom -- and Google knows it. The firm is launching a Chromebook App Hub that will both help teachers find activity ideas and connect institutions with developers that might fit their needs. Educators can both create and look for "idea sparks" and apps based on the age range, subject, idea category and even specific learning goals.
Chrome OS update expands Google Assistant and Android Pie support
Google has moved the latest version of its Chrome OS from beta to release status, and with the arrival of version 72 there are changes you'll notice -- if you're using the right kind of device. One of the biggest adjustments is its native integration of Google Assistant (and Android 9 Pie) that brings it to more Chromebooks. Similar to Android, there's a pill-shaped bar at the center of the screen that can expand for users to type into, or access via voice controls. If you're using Chrome OS on some convertible tablet-style hardware like the Pixel Slate, you'll probably appreciate updates to the Chrome browser that make it easier to control with the touchscreen while in tablet mode. 9to5Google notes there's also a now on-by-default picture-in-picture mode for videos playing in the browser, as well as tweaks to menus for its Cast feature and Settings. On the security front, Chrome OS 72 sandboxes its "Shill" network manager to prevent exploits like this one uncovered in 2016, and it delivers the USBGuard feature that secures down access to its ports when the device is locked. That helps prevent attacks using "Rubber Ducky" USB devices that plug in and pretend to be a keyboard to execute commands when your computer should be safely asleep. As usual, Chrome OS hardware should grab the update automatically over the next few days.
Chromebook to Android instant tethering expands beyond Google devices
There were hints Google was expanding its Internet Tethering feature to third-party devices, and now it's official. The simple cellular hotspot connection is available on 15 additional Chromebooks and 31 further Android phones, making it that much easier to get online when you're away from WiFi. You can read the full lists for both below, but the Chromebook list includes models from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung, while the phones include relatively recent hardware from HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, OnePlus and Samsung. There's a good chance you're covered.
Chromebook instant tethering comes to non-Google phones
Chrome OS' Instant Tethering is very handy if you need to keep your Chromebook online, but there's still a major gotcha involved: you need a Nexus or Pixel phone for that automatic hotspot to work. Things appear to be loosening up, however. Numerous users talking to Android Police have reported that their Beta and Dev channel versions of Chrome OS now support Instant Tethering with non-Google smartphones. It's not clear how many devices are compatible, but readers have had success with multiple OnePlus and Samsung models.