With Google’s Chromebooks, updates to Chrome OS and the Chrome browser are tied together. This means that in order to get the latest version of Chrome, Google needs to issue a new update to Chrome OS. Given that Chromebooks do have a life expectancy, it means that eventually your Chromebook will expire, and along with that, your Chrome updates.
When you buy an accessory for a computer, typically on the box it shows symbols or icons that says that it is compatible with Windows or Mac computers. However, Google’s Chrome OS doesn’t get much love on that front, and while there are certain peripherals and accessories that work with Chromebooks, it isn’t always so obvious.
Updates are generally welcome since they usually introduce new features, improvements, and bug fixes. However, there have been times when updates actually cause more problems than they solve, and in more severe instances, have been known to cause software to stop working entirely and even brick devices.
If you’re not a macOS user, then you might not know about a certain feature of macOS called “Hot corners”. Basically with this feature, all you need to do is move your mouse to either corner of your display and it will trigger an action, such as putting the display to sleep, or enabling the screensaver.
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Google’s Chrome OS platform and its Chromebooks aren’t exactly known for being designed for gaming. The relative simplistic and straightforward nature of Chrome OS is great for work and students who don’t really require too much from their computers, but it seems that Google is working towards changing that perception.
When it comes to Chromebooks, for the most part, the design of the computers tend to be pretty boring. Then in 2017, Google launched the Pixelbook which brought a certain level of class and premium feel to the Chromebook lineup, and now it looks like Samsung is doing the same as the company has officially announced the Galaxy Chromebook.
While the majority of external keyboards will work with a Chrome OS computer, they tend to fall slightly short as there are certain keys that are missing, but for general typing, you should be able to get away with using a standard keyboard with your Chrome OS device. However, if you’re a stickler for optimization, then look no further than Logitech.
In addition to announcing the Pixel 4 smartphones, Google’s event also saw the company announce a new Pixelbook laptop in the form of the Pixelbook Go, whose photos were actually leaked a few days ahead of the event. If the Pixelbook was a laptop you’ve had your eye on but felt it was a bit out of your price range, then Google might have your back with this model.
Google will be hosting an event next week on the 15th of October where it is expected that the company will be launching their new Pixel smartphones. However, in addition to new smartphones, it has been speculated that Google could also be planning on launching new laptops as well, one of which is the Pixelbook Go.
Google Assistant is Google’s digital assistant software that can typically be found on its Android smartphones, although in the past few years, we’ve seen it expanded to smart speakers. It even made its way to Chromebook devices made by Google, such as the Pixelbook and Pixel Slate, and the good news is that Google has expanded on its availability.
Google’s Chrome OS has typically been viewed as a less comprehensive operating system, at least when compared to the likes of Windows or macOS. However, over the years, Google has been making improvements and changes to Chrome OS to make it more functional than ever, and the latest update could be of interest to some.
As it stands, Chrome OS doesn’t have the capability of tethering to an Apple device for data sharing. While one would assume that people who use Chrome OS notebooks are likely to have an Android smartphone in the first place, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if this functionality was present as well. That’s set to change with Chrome OS picking up USB tethering support for iOS devices.
We have been hearing that Google is working on a new operating system called Fuchsia OS. Not much is known about the operating system, but the various reports have claimed that it could be how Google finally merges its Chrome OS and Android operating systems together, but to date the company has yet to officially comment, at least until now.
Chromebook devices have in the past been positioned as more affordable laptop alternatives to Windows. However, we have seen how some companies have been trying to create more premium-feeling Chromebooks, such as Samsung, who a couple of years ago introduced a higher-end Chromebook in the form of the Chromebook Pro.