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Samsung's leaked Chromebook is a pen-toting premium hybrid
Samsung's Chromebook strategy has so far focused on the budget-conscious crowd, but it's about to change in a big, big way. Chrome Unboxed tipsters have uncovered store listings (and briefly, a landing page) for a Chromebook Pro that would cater to people wanting a high-end Chrome OS experience. The 12.3-inch system would not only have a Chromebook Flip-style 360-degree touchscreen, but a pen -- you could turn this Google-powered laptop into an impromptu drawing tablet. The page hints at a pre-installed ArtCanvas app for creative types, and the pen would no doubt come in handy for promised Android app support.
Pixel 2 joins the few Chromebooks that can run Android apps
Prior to a few days ago, anyone wanting to run Android apps on their Chromebook had to be an early adopter. Google finally released a stable build of Chrome OS that included a Play store in beta that would allow users to run mobile apps...but only on the Acer Chromebook R11 and ASUS Chromebook Flip. Since the only one other machine supporting Android apps in beta Chrome OS releases was the Chromebook Pixel 2, we predicted it would be next in line — and we were right.
Google's Android/Chrome laptop may be a year away
We've long heard rumors that Google may be merging its Chrome and Android operating systems into a laptop platform, and we're now getting more substantive reports that point to a Q3 2017 time frame for the hybrid OS. According to Android Police's sources, the purported Andromeda software is set to debut on a notebook codenamed Bison that is more commonly expected to be called the Pixel 3.
Chromebooks now have an easy time running Android apps
You no longer have to be an early adopter to run Android apps on a Chromebook. Google has released a stable version of Chrome OS that includes Google Play Store access in beta, giving you the opportunity to run mobile apps on top of your usual web access. You'll have to own an Acer Chromebook R11 or an ASUS Chromebook Flip to give this update a shot, but it beats having to run a Chrome OS beta just to see what all the fuss is about.
Adieu, Chromebook Pixel 2
The best Chromebook that money can buy is slowly disappearing. As VentureBeat notes, the second-generation Chromebook Pixel is now unavailable in the US, with a mere "out of stock" message displayed in the Google Store. Google has said it's "committed" to the Pixel line, but admits: "We don't have plans to restock the Pixel 2." The situation might be different outside the US -- here in the UK, the laptop is still in stock -- so act fast if you still want to buy one. Otherwise, it's time to say goodbye.
Now you can unlock Chrome OS with a PIN code
Want to unlock your screen by typing in a few numbers instead of a hefty password? The experimental feature is currently being tested in the latest Chrome OS developer update, according to Google employee François Beaufort. In a Google+ post, he describes how to drop the new functionality into your system:
Google is phasing out Chrome apps for Mac and Windows
Google's Chrome browser has supported stand-alone "apps" on Mac, Windows and Linux since about 2013, but they'll be going away before long. The company just announced that it will remove support for apps gradually over the next two years. The decision comes as part of an effort to simplify the Chrome browser -- Google just finished removing the app launcher on those platforms this summer -- and move developers to more standardized web apps. Apps will remain part of Chrome OS for the foreseeable future.
Chrome is nearly ready to talk to your Bluetooth devices
Don't look now, but your web browser is about to become aware of the devices around you. After months of testing, Google has switched on broader experimental support in Chrome and Chrome OS for Web Bluetooth, which lets websites interact with your nearby Bluetooth gear. You could use a web interface to control your smart home devices, for instance, or send data directly from your heart rate monitor to a fitness coach.
HP Chromebook 13 review: a great laptop that doesn't come cheap
Just over a year ago, you basically had two options for buying a Chromebook: Spend $999 on Google's excellent but overpriced Pixel or buy an inexpensive laptop that was inevitably compromised in one way or another. That's starting to change, however. Dell's Chromebook 13, which launched last fall, proved you could pack a sharp screen and keyboard into a device with strong performance and battery life. It was a bit pricier than the competition, but a little extra cash was well worth the upgrades. Now HP is taking the idea of a "premium" Chromebook to the next level with the new Chromebook 13. It starts at $499 and can be configured up to a whopping $1,029. That cash gets you a much thinner and lighter design than Dell's Chromebook, along with one of the best screens on the market. After spending some time with HP's latest Chromebook, there's no doubt it's an excellent machine. The question is whether it (or any Chromebook, for that matter) is worth HP's asking price.
Two more Chromebooks are ready to test Android apps
Nearly two months after Google confirmed the Play Store and more Android apps are coming to Chrome OS, it finally added support for the feature on some new hardware. The Acer Chromebook R11 and Chromebook Pixel have joined ASUS' Chromebook Flip -- where we recently gave Android apps a try -- with support as long as owners switch their devices to the dev channel. Naturally, it's all still early ahead of the real rollout later this year, but if you're a developer or curious user trying to find out how it works for yourself, they might be a couple of laptops you already own.
Android apps will unlock the full potential of Chromebooks
For me, the most exciting announcement at Google I/O in May wasn't even mentioned in the opening-day keynote. During the second day of the conference, Google dropped some rather big news: The Play Store and Android apps will come to Chromebooks later this year. As someone who's been a big Chrome OS believer for years now, I was quite pleased at the notion of having more apps and better offline capabilities. It's just what the platform needs to fully move past its "glorified browser" reputation. While the Play Store won't officially come to Chromebooks until the fall, there is a way to give it a shot today. If you install the Chrome developer channel on the ASUS Chromebook Flip, you can try Android apps out now. I've spent the past few weeks seeing how much running Android on a Chromebook changes the experience of using the platform -- for good and for bad.
HP's new touchscreen Chromebook is ready for Android apps
It's no secret that HP loves making Chromebooks, and today the company is expanding its lineup with the future of Chrome OS in mind. Enter the HP Chromebook 11 G5, an 11.6-inch laptop which features a touchscreen, meaning it'll support Android apps when Google rolls that service out later in 2016. Additionally, the new lightweight (2.51 lbs) Chromebook comes with an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and, according to HP, up to 12.5 hours of battery life. But the best part, perhaps, is that the 11 G5 will only cost $189 when it hits stores in October.
Chrome OS is getting a much-needed storage manager
With Android tablet apps coming to Chromebooks, the very basic storage management in Chrome OS is going to be an issue. You can get your total free space via the Files App, but that doesn't give you any info about how it's being used. It can also break things down file-by-file, but that can be too much info for many folks. Luckily, Google is about to unveil a storage manager for Chromebooks that gives you just the right amount of info at a glance, according to insider François Beaufort.
Google shows how Android apps will run on your Chromebook
Google was quick to tout Chrome OS' upcoming support for Android apps during its I/O 2016 keynote, but how does it actually work in practice? You won't have to travel to Mountain View to find out: the search firm has posted the video of a developer presentation that shows how the Play Store and Android apps will run on your Chromebook. As a rule, it appears to be seamless. Android's intent system makes it relatively easy to share files between apps, while offline support will keep you entertained during those long flights. And yes, games appear to run smoothly.
Chromebooks beat Mac sales in early 2016
According to research firm IDC, more Google Chromebooks were sold in the first quarter of 2016 than all of Apple's Mac line. The milestone marked the first time Google's Chrome OS moved more units than OS X in the United States.
Android Apps and the Play Store are coming to Chrome OS this year
Google CEO Sundar Pichai was handed the reins of Android in early 2013, putting him in charge of both Chrome and the company's mobile OS. Ever since then, rumors have swirled that Google would look to merge its two distinct operating systems into a unified whole. Those picked up steam this past fall, and indeed Google is finally unveiling some closer ties between Chrome OS and Android. But that doesn't mean Chrome OS is going away. Quite the opposite, in fact: This year, Google's browser-based operating system will become compatible with the million-plus Android apps available in the Google Play Store. The company accidentally revealed its plans yesterday, but a session this morning at Google I/O makes it official.
Google I/O schedule leaks info on Android apps for Chrome OS
It wasn't mentioned during today's keynote, but we're pretty sure that tomorrow we're going to hear about Google getting Android apps, and the Play Store running on Chrome OS. In a since-updated I/O calendar entry spotted by 9to5Google, the company said, "Today we announced that we're adding the best mobile app experiences in the world, Android apps and the Google Play store, to the best browser in the world, Chrome!" In any case, this isn't a surprising development. Reports last year suggested that Google was working on merging Android and Chrome OS, and indeed, some Chromebook users have been seeing an option to enable the Play Store for some time now. While we wait for more details, developers at I/O have an incentive to arrive early: The first 50 are promised a free Chromebook for their trouble.
HP's new Chromebook 13 is a Pixel for everybody
Hewlett Packard is making another Chromebook. This one, dubbed the HP Chromebook 13, is a little different from its previous efforts, though. It's the result of a design partnership with Google and it looks relatively premium. It features an anodized aluminum chassis, 13.3-inch QHD+ display running at 3,200 x 1800 resolution and a thickness of 12.9 mm. Beyond that, the new Chromebook comes with Bang and Olufsen-tuned speakers and weighs just under three pounds (2.86, to be exact) -- depending on how you configure it.
Google will soon bring the Android Play Store to Chromebooks
Android apps in Chrome OS may already be a thing, but there really aren't that many available on the Chrome Web Store. That could soon change, however, as the search giant appears to be on the verge of launching the Play Store on Chrome OS, as evidenced in a new screenshot recently shared on Reddit.
Google opens up its tool for testing your Android phone's lag
For years, Google has had tools to test the lag in Android and Chrome OS devices, letting it know when bad hardware or sloppy software is causing delays in touch input or voice commands. Wish you could check that lag yourself? As of now, you can: Google has posted the source code for WALT, its latency timer. While you'll need to build some Arduino-based hardware to perform the tests, Google promises that the whole thing will cost you less than $50. You won't need to go all-out and recreate the company's TouchBot, then. True, this will mostly be useful to developers who need to check their code, but it could come in handy if you've ever wanted to prove that a phone was unacceptably sluggish.
