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Google offers new Chromebook buyers three months of Disney+ for free
Disney+, Disney's streaming service, has arrived in a big way with 10 million sign-ups already. The service normally costs $6.99 per month, but you can get three months for free if you buy a new Chromebook.
Google Cloud Print follows Reader and Inbox to the trash heap after 2020
If there's anything Google loves as much as launching interesting new projects (say hello to Stadia and Duplex on the web!), it's killing them off after a few years, and now we have an end date for Google Cloud Print. The service launched in 2010 as a way to make printers more accessible for Chrome OS, but 9to5Google points out a post on the support site that indicates its services are no longer needed. Google correctly notes that it has improved native printer support on Chrome OS, but Cloud Print has been a welcome link from all kinds of devices to the printers we know, love and are endlessly frustrated by when they refuse to work. Its easy link to other services came through in the clutch more than once, but now we're headed back to one-by-one setups and disparate printing apps. If you've come to rely on the service, then you have until the end of 2020 to work out an alternative, because when the lights come on in 2021 -- "devices across all operating systems will no longer be able to print using Google Cloud Print." Cloud Print never even made it out of beta status.
Apple's Phil Schiller says Chromebooks won't help kids succeed (updated)
Apple's focus might be on its high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro at the moment, but marketing chief Phil Schiller has also chipped in on the lower end of the market -- namely, how he thinks it might affect students. The executive told CNET in an interview that students using Chromebooks are "not going to succeed" in schools due to the systems' limited abilities. The laptops are "cheap testing tools for required testing" that don't properly inspire students, Schiller said. To no one's surprise, he believed the iPad was the "ultimate tool" for K-12 students due to its ability to keep children engaged as well as tools like Swift Playgrounds. "You need to have these cutting-edge tools to help kids really achieve their best results," the exec said.
Chrome OS officially supports virtual workspaces now
Chrome OS just became more useful if you rely on it for getting work done. Google is rolling out a Chrome OS 78 update that more formally introduces the virtual desktop support seen in August. Anyone can create "Virtual Desks" that organize app and window layouts as separate spaces. You could have an all-business desktop for when you're trying to finish a report, and a leisure desktop when you want to watch videos and catch up with friends. You only have to open Overview and hit New Desk to create a space.
Google Pixelbook Go review: Function over form
Google has been building its own Chromebooks for a while now -- first, there were two iterations of the Chromebook Pixel, and then there was 2017's Pixelbook. All three were great laptops with one glaring flaw: They cost way too much money. We're talking $1,000 or more, at a time when most Chromebooks were $500 or less. Google is back at it this year with the new Pixelbook Go -- but for the first time, the company is no longer aiming for absolute quality regardless of price, just to prove a point. Instead, Google is trying to build a Chromebook that anyone can use and afford: The Pixelbook Go starts at $649, a full $350 less than the original Pixelbook. It's still a lot of money for a Chromebook. But there are plenty of other manufacturers building premium Chromebooks in that price range now. The Pixelbook Go certainly can hold its own against just about any other Chromebook out there. But unfortunately, in its quest to get the price down, Google also sacrificed a lot of what made the original Pixelbook so intriguing in the first place. The question is whether those trade-offs are worth it.
Logitech unveils its first mouse and keyboard built for Chrome OS (updated)
Now that the Pixelbook Go is here, you might want a mouse and keyboard to go with it. Logitech, unsurprisingly, is happy to oblige -- the company has unveiled its first Made for Google devices, the M355 Portable Wireless Mouse (not shown to scale) and K580 Slim Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard, Chrome OS Edition. The K580 is the highlight, packing both a row of Chrome OS shortcut keys as well as a dedicated Google Assistant key for your voice queries. You'll also find a built-in cradle to rest your Pixel phone (or any phone, really) while you're getting work done, and a button lets you switch between three two different devices if you like to bring your keyboard around. A maximum three-year (!) battery life guarantees that you won't be swapping cells very often.
HP targets businesses with its latest Chromebooks
Much like Dell did recently, HP has unveiled a couple of Chromebooks and a Chromebox for enterprises, touting the cheaper, simpler and more secure nature of Google's cloud-powered Chrome OS ecosystem. The most powerful of the trio is the Chromebook Enterprise x360 14E G1, a convertible with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors that can run up to 13 hours on a charge. The elegant, but bland device has a 14-inch touchscreen, an aluminum chassis with narrow bezels, USB-C docking and B&O audio with dual speakers.
HP’s latest x360 Chromebooks ship with universal stylus compatibility
HP has announced its updated x360 Chromebooks, which feature a 360-degree hinge, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage. More notable, though, is the Chromebooks' compatibility with the Universal Stylus Initiative's standard. USI 1.0 enables stylus compatibility across any touchscreen device that has integrated the technology, meaning you'll be able to use the same stylus for your smartphone, tablet and touchscreen computer.
Google extends update support on some Chromebooks until 2025
Google's Auto Update Expiration (AUE) policy is something of a controversy among fans of the company's tech. In a nutshell, it means its products, such as smartphones and Chromebooks, will only get updates for a certain period of time. After that, they won't receive the latest security or feature enhancements. The AUE can be an important consideration for buyers, who could end up with a model whose lifespan is about to run out -- but Google has now issued a surprise reprieve for a set of Lenovo devices.
Google's rumored Pixelbook Go laptop may pack a 4K display
Despite doubts, that rumored Pixelbook successor appears to be a Google-made device -- but it might also represent a rare return to basics. Sources for 9to5Google say the new Chrome OS device, now believed to be called the Pixelbook Go, will be a relatively plain 13.3-inch touchscreen laptop -- not a convertible, not a tablet. It would stand out primarily through conventional upgrades, including at least one that's rare on Chromebooks.
Lenovo's fall lineup includes an all-in-one inspired by a tree
Lenovo has unveiled its latest product lineup ahead of consumer electronics show IFA, and there's a lot going on. The range, which includes laptops, monitors, tablets and an all-in-one desktop, has been designed for mainstream shoppers with reasonable budgets looking for decent tech this holiday season, with everything touting smart, adaptive features and an accessible price tag.
Google and Dell team up on the first Chromebooks made for business
The next time you get a laptop from your company's IT department, you might be getting a Chromebook. Not that you couldn't already get a Chromebook from your office, but these offer extra security and organizational features that might leave IT professionals more reassured. The Dell Latitude 5400 Chromebook Enterprise and Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chromebook Enterprise were born from a partnership between Dell and Google, though the latter also has some updates around Chrome OS enterprise to share today. Unwieldy names aside, these new machines are based on existing models of Dell's Latitude laptops, except they run Chrome OS. So don't be surprised if you find them familiar.
Chrome OS finally supports virtual desktops
Chrome OS is adding a mainstay feature that other computer platforms have had for years: virtual desktops. The newly released Chrome OS 76 supports "Virtual Desks" that, like elsewhere, lets you create app layouts you can switch to in a heartbeat. You could have a writing-focused space that revolves around Google Docs, for example, and another space that helps you keep up on your social networks.
Ask Engadget: Should I buy a laptop or a 2-in-1 for school?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question is a buying comparison between a Chromebook or a 2-in-1 Surface Pro 7. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! I'm going to college in September and I want a device that can do all. At first I wanted to get a Surface Pro 7 since it's both a laptop and tablet (I would think a tablet is necessary for drawing diagrams) but then my friend told me I should just go for a Chromebook since it's cheaper and will get me by. What do you think?
The successor to the Pixelbook might not be Google-made after all
A device codenamed "Atlas" has long been rumored as the Pixelbook's successor, especially since (as 9to5Google noted) it's being built by the same manufacturer. But if these recent video leaks truly feature the laptop, then Atlas might not be a Made by Google Chromebook at all. About Chromebooks has unearthed the videos from within the Chromium Bug Tracker, and they show a device that doesn't look anywhere like Google's premium offering.
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.
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.
Acer's latest Chromebooks for schools include models with AMD chips
Acer is hoping to shake up its school-ready Chromebooks in the same way it did with its everyday models. The company has introduced no less than six new Chromebooks for education, including two AMD-powered models. The 11.6-inch Chromebook Spin 311 R721T convertible (above) and the more conventional Chromebook 311 C721 both use AMD A4 processors with Radeon graphics that should deliver reasonably speedy visuals for students. Logically, they're also built to handle abuse with military-grade bodies, tamper-resistant keyboards and an antimicrobial touchscreen on the Spin.
HP's latest school Chromebooks are built for exploring
It's the start of a new year, and that means new HP Chromebooks for schools -- this time, including an update to a long-in-the-tooth model. The centerpiece is the Chromebook x360 11 G2 Education Edition, (above) a refresh of the two-year-old G1 convertible tablet. The 11.6-inch system is still ready for less-than-gentle students and has options for both a Wacom pen as well as a signature 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for exploring the outside world. This time, though, there's a much newer 1.1GHz Celeron chip, up to 8GB of RAM (not so common in budget Chromebooks) and as much as 64GB of expandable storage. It'll be relatively future-proof for schools watching their budgets.
