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The ASUS Chromebox 3 is destined for businesses
The vast majority of machines running Google's Chrome OS are laptops, but that hasn't stopped some companies from trying to put the lightweight software into tiny desktop boxes. ASUS has been making a Chromebox since 2014, and they're announcing a new one at CES 2018. Unfortunately, details are rather limited: we know it'll run an "8th generation Intel Core processor" with an untold amount of DDR4-2400 RAM. There's no mention of storage space either. What we do know is that the Chromebox 3 will include USB 3.1 via a type-C port and Gigatbit Ethernet, a logical choice for something you won't be moving around as much as a laptop (don't worry, it still has WiFi, too).
Google's video conferencing kit gets an AI camera and display
Google has been trying to get a seat in your board room this year, courtesy of its tools and products for meetings. In March, it pivoted its Hangouts app to businesses, following it up with a $5,000 interactive display with collaborative cloud features. Not content with the two-punch software and hardware combo, the big G is now taking another stab at video conferencing. Remember the Chromebox for meetings bundle the company dropped in 2014? Well, it's back, courtesy of some rebranding and a bunch of upgraded products.
Acer's Chromebox CXI ships next month for $180
Have a spare display sitting around that you want to turn into an (albeit limited) PC? You might consider picking up a Chromebox. The tiny low-powered machines, which run Google's Chrome OS, are best for basic productivity apps and content consumption, but if you don't need to do any complex processing, they might be a solid fit -- especially if you're on a very tight budget. Today, Acer announced a new model of its own, the Chromebox CXI. There's an Intel Celeron (Haswell) processor, a 16GB SSD, plenty of connectivity and support for two displays. One version includes 2GB of RAM and ships next month for $180, while a model with 4 gigs of RAM will run you $220. Both include a keyboard, mouse and mounting kit in the box.
Chrome OS gets better organized with latest update
The Chromebook revolution is here and, naturally, Google is doing everything it can so that these devices keep improving even as time goes on. As such, the search giant today revealed some new things rolling out to Chrome OS laptops and desktops, including support for folders within the launcher and the ability to use hands-free voice commands (aka "OK, Google") in English. What's more, this new version of the OS, released through the Chrome stable channel, brings back the minimize button, with Google stating that it listened to your feedback and knew you really wanted the feature to be part of the window controls. Unfortunately, not all Chrome OS devices will get this -- namely, the ASUS Chromebox and Samsung Series 3 Chromebox. Google didn't say whether the update will ever come to the omitted Chromeboxes, but we'll let you know if anything changes.
Google aims for the mainstream with 20 new, more powerful Chromebooks
If you haven't picked up a Chromebook just yet, you might want to wait a little longer. Intel has just announced plans to roll out as many as 20 new Chromebooks by the latter half of this year. This new set will be thinner, lighter, more powerful and generally more diverse in terms of design. It's clear that Google is making a play for the mainstream.
ASUS' pint-sized Chromebox ships on March 14th for $179
If the simplicity of ASUS' Chromebox is enticing, you'll be glad to hear that you can pick up the miniscule computer very soon. The $179 Chrome OS desktop is now available for pre-order at stores like Amazon, Newegg and TigerDirect, with the first wave of orders due to ship on March 14th. A base system starts out modestly with a 1.4GHz Celeron and 2GB of RAM, although you can splurge for a Core i3 model (the Core i7 variant isn't coming stateside). Just don't expect a completely silent machine -- AnandTech understands that none of the Chromeboxes are fanless, contrary to some expectations. As long that isn't a dealbreaker, though, you can snag ASUS' cheap PC at one of the source links.
Daily Roundup: Rugby on an Oculus Rift, Sony sells its PC business, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
HP's first Chromebox arrives this spring
HP has revealed more about the Chromebox that it's making to support Google's video conferencing system, and we have good news: it won't be confined to meeting rooms. The company's inaugural Chrome OS desktop will be available to both home and business customers when it ships sometime in the spring. It should also be more powerful than the North American version of ASUS' Chromebox, since at least one US variant will arrive with a Haswell-based Core i7 processor inside. DisplayPort, HDMI and four USB 3.0 ports will come standard. There isn't any mention of pricing at this point, although it's safe to presume that the Core i7 Chromebox will cost more than ASUS' $179 entry-level model.
Google takes on the conference room with Chromebox for meetings
Been trying to figure out just what you'd do with a Chromebox? Google has an idea: build a new video conferencing system. At least that's what Google VP of Product Management Caesar Sengupta announced in Mountain View this morning. It's called Chromebox for meetings and, well, it's a Chromebox bundle designed to outfit meeting rooms with a robust, easy-to-use meeting solution powered by the Google Cloud. On the surface, the $999 bundle doesn't seem that different from the devices ASUS has already announced -- it includes a Core i7 box, an HD camera, a microphone/conference speaker and a keyboard-equipped remote. Plug the setup into your existing conference room monitors, log into the Google management platform and you're ready to go. How about in use? Well, that looks like a mash-up between Google Hangouts and Chromecast.
ASUS' Chromebox arrives in March for $179
As promised late last year, ASUS unveiled its new Chromebox packing Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors today. The most compact Chromebox yet, the computer comes sporting either Intel's Celeron 2955U or i3-4010 processor. Another i7 version of the box will be available outside of North America. Under the hood of the svelte 4.88 x 4.88 x 1.65-inch device, you'll get Intel-integrated HD graphics and 16GB of onboard storage. If you need more room to store your stuff, ASUS is also offering buyers 100GB of free cloud storage through Google Drive. Display-wise, the i3 and i7 Chromebox supports 4K Ultra High-Definition displays, and all three have HDMI and DisplayPort out ports for dual-monitor capabilities. You'll also find four USB 3.0 ports on the device, as well as a built-in SD card reader. You can snag your own ASUS Chromebox in March starting at $179; check out more images below.
ASUS plans new smartphone and Chromebook launches for early 2014
ASUS' bread and butter is in the PC business, so as growth dwindles, it's got to reinvent itself elsewhere. According to the Taipei Times, the company is set to introduce its first line of Chromebooks and a number of new smartphones early next year. We'll likely see new handsets at CES 2014 in January, possibly including the 5-inch MeMOFone, followed by new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch Chrome OS-powered notebooks (said to be priced at $199 and $249 respectively) later in the quarter. ASUS previously teased Haswell Chromebooks at Intel's Developer Forum in September, where it also showed off its new lightweight Chromebox PC. Further down the line, ASUS will become the latest entrant into the wearable market -- we'll apparently get to see what it's been working on at Computex in June.
Google readies Chrome OS for all comers at the kiosk
If you've yet to lay your hands on a Chromebook or Chromebox, that could change shortly, as the computers may soon find a new life in libraries, hotels, retail stores and even the break room. Today, Google announced an update to its management console for Chrome OS that allows for Managed Public Sessions -- in other words, a kiosk mode. Central to the idea, users will be able to login to the computer without supplying credentials, and their data will be automatically cleared at the end of the session. The setup has plenty of appeal for system administrators, too, as they'll find the ability to set the default web page, block access to specific sites and apps, configure device I/O operation and manage timed logouts. Google has tested Managed Public Sessions with Dillards, The Hyatt in San Francisco and the Multnomah County Library in Oregon. If anything, it's a good reason to keep a keen watch on your surroundings... you might just spot a Chromebook in the wild that's begging for some attention.
Samsung Chromebox Series 3 pops up in online stores with a Core i5
No one would accuse Samsung or other Chrome OS supporters of hardware overkill: the Chromebox Series 3 and other Google-based PCs often carry just enough processing grunt to browse the web properly. Imagine the resulting surprise when a Liliputing reader discovers an unannounced Core i5-equipped model listed as in stock at multiple retailers. The XE300M22-A01US carries a 2.5GHz, Sandy Bridge-era dual-core chip on top of the usual 4GB of memory and 16GB solid-state drive. That's far from cutting edge, but more powerful than the creaky Celeron reserved for those who didn't receive a Google I/O edition. Samsung hasn't confirmed the existence of the quicker Chromebox, and there's some question as to whether the system incorporates the sleeker 2013 redesign or sticks to the tried-and-true 2012 layout; we've reached out to both Google and Samsung and will let you know if there's more concrete information. Quoted prices suggest there's a premium over the original at $405 or more, as of this writing. It's a lot to pay for a PC without native apps, although those who want only the unfettered web might have something close to their dream desktop.
Samsung gives its Series 3 Chromebox a facelift, specs remain the same
Keeping the Chrome OS party going, Samsung released an updated model of last year's Series 3 chromebox. Gracefully named the XE300M22-B01US, this cloud-based workstation features the same 1.9GHz Intel Celeron B849 processor, 4GB of RAM, six USB 2.0 ports and 16GB SSD as its predecessor. The only real change here is the system's appearance, which is now a sterile white plastic shell with a latch covering its front-facing inputs. The computer recently went on sale in the UK for 279 GBP ($453.50) with Samsung remaining mum on stateside release plans. However, if patience isn't your strong suit and you've gotta have this machine now, you can pick up last year's model (virtually the same hardware) for around $329 or less.
Chrome OS update revamps app list and Google Drive saves, allows relentlessly adorable wallpapers
Aw, wouldn't you look at the cute little... wait. Right, there's a Chrome OS update. At its heart, the upgrade to Google's cloud-based platform introduces a streamlined app list that both occupies less space and carries an internet-wide search box. It's also possible to save files directly to Google Drive, and audio can now play through either HDMI or USB. Don't lie to yourself, however: the real reason you'll rush to update your Chromebook today is newly added support for custom wallpapers, which guarantees all-day, everyday viewing of your most favorite dog in the whole wide world. Or at least, a nice change of pace from Google's run-of-the-mill backdrops. Isn't it so sweet?
Chrome OS version 20 hits stable release channel, brings Google Drive and Aura UI for Cr-48s along
If you're a Chrome OS user who doesn't live on the bleeding edge, it's finally time to experience the latest version 20, which most notably adds support for its Drive cloud storage. Also mentioned as included in the upgrade is offline support of Google Docs, Pepper Flash upgrade, access to the new Aura UI on Cr-48 systems and other tweaks. Tighter integration with Drive and Docs may address a few of the issues noted in our review of v19, Chromebook and Chromebox owners can check it out as it arrives on their machines over the next several days and let us know if that's the case.
Google's Sundar Pichai confirms that offline Google Drive 'coming in five weeks,' hints at ad-supported Chromebook
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.
Chrome OS review (version 19)
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-156285%
Samsung Chromebox Series 3 review
More Info Chrome OS review (version 19) Samsung Series 5 550 review Google teases Samsung-built Chromebox, desktop version of Chrome OS 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.
Samsung Chromebox gets a premature outing, $330 price tag (video)
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]
