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Google might launch a reborn Chromebook Pixel and smaller Home
Do you still have a Chromebook Pixel-shaped hole in your heart months after Google pulled the plug? Good news -- Google might be bringing it back. A source speaking to Android Police claims that a "Pixel-branded Chromebook" will launch alongside the next Pixel phones at an event this fall. Details are scarce, including whether or not this is the fabled laptop that would run Andromeda, the long-rumored cross between Android and Chrome OS. That system was supposed to be a convertible PC with a tablet mode, a 12.3-inch display and an optional Wacom stylus, but there's no certainty that this design is the one that launches. We certainly wouldn't count on the originally planned $799 pricing.
Acer's latest Chromebook packs speed in a tiny rugged body
When you spring for a Chromebook, the choice between performance and ruggedness is usually an either/or proposition: you can get a durable machine or speedy hardware, but seldom both. Acer thinks it can strike a balance between the two. It's launching the Chromebook 11 C771, which theoretically blends a tough body with better-than-usual processing power. The system is the first 11.6-inch Chromebook to pack Intel's 6th-generation chips, which promise both a speed bump over rivals and very healthy battery life (up to 13 hours on a non-touch model). It starts off with a 1.6GHz Celeron chip, but you'll get Core i3 and i5 models in September that should be up to more demanding web tasks.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 review: King of the Chromebooks
It's been years in the making, but Chromebooks are escaping "second computer" or "cheap netbook" status. Google thinks these machines can be your main computing device, and they're finally getting better build quality, nicer screens and quality keyboards. But they're also getting higher prices. ASUS' first entry into the premium Chromebook space is the Chromebook Flip C302. This is the second Flip ASUS has made, but it's significantly different from the first, which was a tiny, netbook-sized device with a low-quality touchscreen and weak Rockchip processor. But for only $250, it offered the essential Chrome OS experience in a super-portable package. The new Flip is a different beast entirely, made to compete directly with Samsung's $550 Chromebook Pro. It has a bigger, pixel-dense screen, Intel processor and access to the Google Play Store for Android apps. The Flip's $470 price, significantly higher than the original, reflects these upgrades. But after spending a few weeks with the Flip C302, I've come to think it might be the best Chromebook on the market right now. It's not perfect, but it's enough computer for almost anyone.
Touch-friendly controls are coming to Chrome OS
Google's lightweight Chrome OS was never intended for touch, but that didn't stop the likes of Samsung and Acer creating touch-enabled Chromebooks. It probably helped that the OS was set to receive access to millions of Android apps. All that was left was to put those touch displays to good use. And, the updated launcher for Chrome Canary (the experimental iteration) is a sign of things to come.
Chrome OS is ready to use printers without the cloud
Despite decades of attempts to straighten out the connections between printers and computers, it's a situation that always (at least for me) seems to have an extra complication. On Chrome OS, ever since launch it has by default relied on Google Cloud Print and compatible printers to get the job done, but now that version 59 has reached the Stable release channel, it's a little easier to use. That's because it has a new ability for "Native Printing," which basically means that it can connect directly to compatible printers on your network, without the need for any cloud connection at all. Some manufacturers and third parties have been getting around the cloud print requirement with extensions like this one, but now support is built in and available to everyone.
Samsung's delayed Chromebook Pro arrives on May 28th (updated)
Chrome OS didn't get any real attention at the Google I/O keynote this week, but a little news popped up regarding the delayed Samsung Chromebook Pro. The laptop -- one of the first to run Android apps -- was supposed to arrive in April, but there hasn't been a peep about its delay. But today, Chrome product direct Kan Liu told The Verge that the laptop should be available to purchase on May 28th.
Watch the Google I/O 2017 keynote right here!
Last week we heard the latest Windows plans from Microsoft at Build and now it's Google's turn. The company kicks off its annual Google I/O developers conference today at 1PM ET and we'll bring you all the news as it's announced from the stage. As always, you can complement your livestream experience with witty commentary and real-time analysis via our liveblog starting at the aforementioned time. For your convenience though, we've embedded the YouTube livestream down below so you don't have to go looking for it yourself. Until then, familiarize yourself with what we expect to hear more about in our Google I/O 2017 preview.
Chrome OS' experimental night mode saves your eyes
Google isn't going to sit on the sidelines while Apple and Microsoft bring night modes to their platforms. Users have discovered that Canary builds of Chrome OS now include an experimental night mode (Night Light, to be exact). Flick it on and it'll give the screen a yellowish tint that cuts down on blue light and, theoretically, helps you sleep. At the least, it should be easier on your eyes during those late-night Chromebook sessions.
Lenovo's convertible Chromebook is built with Android apps in mind
Convertible Chromebooks are all the rage lately, but you wouldn't have known it by looking at Lenovo's offerings. It did release the Chrome-powered ThinkPad Yoga 11e, but that was aimed at schools. Now, however, Lenovo is building a 2-in-1 Chromebook aimed at the mainstream -- it just launched the Flex 11 Chromebook, a budget 11.6-inch hybrid designed to run Android apps. It can't actually use Android apps yet (Google Play support is "coming soon," Lenovo says), but its combination of a tablet mode with a quad-core, 2.1GHz ARM processor should make it well-suited to your favorite mobile titles. Just don't expect it to be speedy compared to Chromebooks using Celeron or Core chips.
Neverware's Chrome OS for old computers now includes Office 365
Neverware has made a name for itself with its CloudReady software, which essentially transforms any old PC or Mac into a Chromebook. But while that's a nice way to breathe new life into aging computers, it's naturally reliant on Google's online services. Now, the company is offering a new version of Cloud Ready for schools that integrates Microsoft's Office 365 online suite instead. It might seem blasphemous, but it could be useful for schools and other organizations that are already deeply integrated with Microsoft's software.
Google makes its screen reader easier to use on Chromebooks
To improve the Chromebook experience for users with visual impairments, Google announced a new version of its ChromeVox tool this week. First, the screen reading feature is now the default option on all Chromebooks running Chrome OS 56 and newer. All you have to do to turn it on is hit Ctrl + Alt + Z.
Samsung and Google have work to do before the Chromebook Pro launches
Samsung's forthcoming Chromebook Pro, which the company introduced in partnership with Google at CES last month, appeared to be the latest contender in my search for the perfect premium Chromebook. For me, that means a high-resolution screen, excellent keyboard and trackpad, and a battery that lasts all day. I'm also looking for a well-designed machine, not the cheap, netbook-inspired computers that were the hallmark of earlier Chromebooks. On the surface, the Chromebook Pro offers all of that, along with a few new hardware and software tricks. It's the first Chromebook specifically designed with the Google Play Store and Android apps in mind. It's also the first Chrome OS device with a stylus, and Google added new features to its Keep note-taking app to make it work with a pen. Samsung and Google claim that the machine learning prediction should remove latency to the point that it feels like writing on the Surface Pro 4 -- one of the best stylus experiences available.
Adobe's Creative Cloud Android apps are coming to Chromebooks
There has been a lot of chatter over Chromebooks running Android apps in recent months and creative types are about to get a handful of new tools. Adobe announced today that as part of a beta for Chrome OS devices that launches this month, it will release a collection of six free Android Creative Cloud apps that are optimized for the machines. However, if you have one of the three Chromebooks that are already capable of running Android software, you can use these Adobe apps immediately.
Every Chromebook released in 2017 will support Android apps
You currently have to be picky about your choice of Chrome OS devices if you want to run Android apps, but you won't have to be quite so choosy going forward. Google has quietly mentioned that all Chromebooks arriving in 2017 or later will support Android software -- you won't have to spring for premium models just to run your favorite mobile apps. The news isn't surprising given Google's eagerness to push the feature (especially with talk of a hybrid Android/Chrome platform due this year), but it's a relief if you're in the market for a machine. It also makes Chrome OS a better competitor to conventional PC platforms, since you no longer have to wonder whether or not you'll have a large app ecosystem at your disposal.
Samsung and Google built their ideal Chromebook
Late last year, I lamented that Google didn't make Chromebooks a priority over the holiday season. With Android apps and the Google Play Store coming to the platform, it seemed like a perfect time to push Chrome OS. As this morning's leak showed, I just needed to wait another month: Samsung and Google have just announced the Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro, a pair of laptops that strive to present the best Chrome OS experience a user can have.
Samsung's leaked Chromebook Plus is built for Android apps
Samsung is getting ready to release a convertible, stylus-equipped Chromebook, judging by an apparently accidental Best Buy listing. It bears a striking similarity to another leaked model, the 12.5-inch, 1080p ASUS Chromebook that appeared last month on Newegg. Samsung's device is reportedly called the Chromebook Plus, but there are no specs accompanying the images. However, we can see that it's a thin, all-metal laptop, probably in the 12- to 13-inch range, equipped with USB-C and an SD card reader.
ASUS' future Chromebook is a premium alternative to the Flip
ASUS' Chrome OS efforts are currently headlined by the cheap-and-cheerful Chromebook Flip, which mainly stands out for combination of a 2-in-1 design with a bargain basement price. However, the PC maker is about to shake things up in a big way. In the culmination of a series of leaks, Newegg has listed a $499 C302CA laptop that appears to be an upscale sibling to (but not replacement for) the Flip. It touts a larger 12.5-inch, 1080p screen, and it's running Intel's Core m3 processor instead of the budget Rockchip part you saw in the Flip last year. Combine that with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage and it's clear that this is a premium Google-powered system -- not at the level of the Chromebook Pixel or HP Chromebook 13, but much nicer than the Celeron-based portables that dominate the Chrome OS world.
Google's Keep note-taking app lets Chromebook users doodle
Google has added drawing tools to its widely-used note-taking Keep app on Chrome, giving Chromebook users an Android feature that has been around for a year. Spotted by 9 to 5 Google, it's only available via the Chrome Web store, and doesn't work on any browser, including Chrome. You can add a doodle by creating a "new note from drawing," selecting the pen, highlighter or marker tool and choosing from 28 colors and 6 line thicknesses. You can also add a drawing to any existing note with the "add drawing" option.
Lenovo is bringing Chrome OS to its Yoga Book next year
Lenovo already debuted Android and Windows versions of its Yoga Book and it's planning to add a Chrome OS option next year. Laptop Magazine reports that the third version of the hybrid gadget that ditched a traditional keyboard in favor of a touch surface for both typing and scribbling was confirmed during an interview with Lenovo vice president Jeff Meredith. Meredith oversees Android and Chrome devices for the company.
Google snaps up the creators of a game-focused Android emulator
You can already run Android apps on a Chromebook, but would you run games and other intensive mobile apps on it? Probably not. However, Google might be taking steps to make that practical. The creators of LeapDroid, an Android emulator that specializes in games, have revealed that they're joining Google just months after releasing it to the public. The team isn't discussing "specific plans," but they're halting both development and support for LeapDroid. You can continue running the latest version, but you won't get anything more than that.
