Chrome OS Archives - Gizmochina

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 2023 launched with 2K webcam, 13th Gen Intel processors, and more

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:01:14 +0000

At the Next@Acer 2023 event, the Taiwanese PC maker announced its latest premium convertible ChromeOS-powered laptop. Officially called the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 2023 arrives with multiple upgrades over the 2022 model.

First and foremost, the notebook is powered by 13th Gen Intel U series processors. It can be availed in either Core i3, i5, or i7 variants.

The processors are paired with either 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR4X RAM. Whereas, on the storage front, it uses a 128GB PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSD or 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD.

Further, the laptop comes with a QHD (2K) webcam, which is a first for an Acer Chromebook, The device also offers a fingerprint sensor that was not available on its predecessor.

The notebook sports a 14-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels (WUXGA) and 340 nits peak brightness level. The 360° touch screen panel has a 16:10 aspect ratio and covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut. It also supports USI stylus input.

The product is MIL-STD 810H-certified for durability. It houses dual upward-firing stereo speakers and dual microphones. Its connectivity options include WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB Type-A, an HMDI, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Last but not least, the device weighs about 1.37kg and it is backed by a 56 Wh battery, which is rated to last for up to 10 hours.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 2023 will be available in North America from May starting at $699. On the other hand, it will cost €999 in EMEA and will go on sale in this region in July.

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Windows Rapidly Losing Market Share in the US, Market Share Drops to Historic Low of 57 Percent

Leo Wong De Quan — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 21:54:03 +0000

Microsoft’s Windows has always dominated the desktop OS space globally, as the operating system is widely available with many PC manufacturing partners such as Dell, HP and Lenovo. However, a recent trend shows that Windows, the operating system by Microsoft, is rapidly losing popularity in the US, due to the rise of macOS and ChromeOS in the country.

Top 3 Desktop Operating Systems

The data comes from Statcounter by GlobalStats, which shows that Windows has dropped to a historic low desktop OS market share of 57.37% in the United States of America in February 2023, a far cry from its all-time high of 92.37% in January 2009. And the trend line does not show signs of slowing down, as Windows is expected to lose more market share in the country throughout 2023.

The rapid drop in market share can be attributed to stiff competition from its competitors, which are macOS from Apple, and Chrome OS from Google. As of February 2023, Windows holds 57.37% of the desktop OS market in the US, macOS holds 29.62% and Chrome OS holds 7.47%. Linux holds 2.55%, whereas other miscellaneous desktop operating systems hold 2.97%.

Source: Statcounter by GlobalStats

The rising popularity of macOS and ChromeOS is definitely one cause of Windows’ current downtrend. macOS is routinely found in Apple’s Macbooks and Mac Desktop lineup, such as the Mac Mini, Mac Studio, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. And with the introduction of Apple SIlicon in 2020, the general public was very shocked by the improved performance and staggering battery life that Apple Macbooks offered over their Intel CPU-powered predecessors.

In turn, many previously Windows laptop users jumped ship over to Apple for superior battery life and faster CPU performance for their workload. However, the wave of Windows users jumping over to Apple seems gradual as it took until 2023 to see a significant change in the market.

As for the rise in Chrome OS, Chromebooks are normally offered in pre-K, primary and secondary educational institutions in the US in the 2010s. Students studying in those institutions have grown up into adults today, and they are more familiar with Chromebooks compared to Windows devices, and would suggestively buy something that they are more accustomed to than one that they are a stranger to.

In addition, Chromebooks are generally cheaper in the laptop market than Windows laptops, leading to many schools buying Chromebooks in bulk for cheap, or either a typical family buying a Chromebook for their child as a first laptop experience because it is more affordable.

Thus, it is clearly seen that Microsoft’s monopoly on the desktop market with Windows is starting to lose its momentum as competition heats up. And recent announcements such as adding Bing to Windows 11, and leaked documents suggesting Windows 12 show that Microsoft is currently developing something in-house to compete with Apple and Google soon.

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(Source)

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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Unveiled: Kompanio 520 Chip, 13.5-Hour Battery Life, and More

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:40:59 +0000

Ahead of MWC 2023, Lenovo announced a bunch of laptops. However, only one of them is a ChromeOS device. This device officially goes by Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook.

The latest Chromebook from the company is a 14-incher. It is powered by an ARM-based MediaTek chipset, and thus, it offers a longer battery life.

Let’s check out its entire specs along with pricing and availability.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Specifications

The latest ChromeOS-powered laptop from Lenovo is built around a 14-inch display with a 170° hinge. The screen comes in three variants: HD (1366 x 768 pixels) TN, FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) TN, and FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen.

The notebook is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 520 chipset. The silicon is paired with 4GB/8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB/128GB eMMC storage. It is rated to last for up to 13.5 hours on a full charge.

The device arrives with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It also comes with 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 2 x 2W speakers.

Last but not least, it weighs 1.3 kg and arrives with a webcam shutter and a dedicated mute key.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Price and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 will start at €349 in Europe. It will be available for purchase starting in May. Customers will be able to pick it up in either Cloud Grey or Abyss Blue color options.

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AMD Launches New Ryzen 5000C Processors, Biggest Upgrade Yet For Chromebooks

Leo Wong De Quan — Sat, 07 May 2022 09:26:02 +0000

Chromebooks have mostly been sidelined in the laptop market as a third choice if you couldn’t get yourself a Windows and macOS laptop. However, with Google adding Android app support to Chromebooks, and with popular PC gaming storefront, Steam coming to Chrome OS, Chromebooks could soon be a fierce competitor in the laptop market.

Source: Google

To add fuel to the rise of Chromebooks, AMD themselves are looking to expand their market share in the Chromebook market share as well, because the company today has just announced its new Ryzen 5000C series of processors, designed specifically for Chromebooks.

The Ryzen 5000C processors are based on AMD’s popular Zen 3 core architecture which run on the x86 platform. The processors are quite power-efficient as they are built on a 7nm process and run at a low 15W. The Ryzen 5000C also feature upgraded connectivity as well, as all Ryzen 5000C are equipped with WiFi 6E support and support for faster charging.

AMD Ryzen 5000C Processors List

Going from top to bottom, the highlight here is the Ryzen 7 5825C, where AMD claims that the Ryzen 7 CPU is the world’s first 8-core high-performance x86 processor for Chromebooks. Compared to its predecessor the Ryzen 7 3700C, the Ryzen 7 5825C offers performance of up to 107% higher in multitasking(Geekbench 5), and up to 85% higher in graphics in Motion Mark 1.2.

However, performance is not the only highlight of the Ryzen 5000C as Ryzen processors are also known for their industry-leading power efficiency. In benchmarks, AMD claims that the 15W Ryzen 5 5625C can offer up to 94%(almost double) the battery life performance of its nearest competitor, the 28W Intel Core i5-1135G7.

In turn, with the improved efficiency engineering, AMD’s Ryzen 5000C processors have also managed to implement the instant “wake from sleep” feature into Chromebooks, like what you would see on Apple’s M1 Macbooks where you can raise and wake the laptop instantaneously.

If you are looking forward to getting yourself a Ryzen 5000C Chromebook, AMD has announced that the company has collaborated with its partners, HP and Acer to bring these notebooks to market by Q2 and Q3 of 2022.

HP Elite C645 G2 Chromebook

The first Chromebook coming to market is the HP Elite C645 G2 Chromebook. The HP Elite C645 G2 can be configured with an up to Ryzen 7 5825C processor, up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 512GB of PCIe SSD storage. The device features 14-inch 1080p screen with touchscreen support, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and optional LTE support for those business users who are always on the go.

Speaking of business users, the HP Elite C645 will also have a 5 MP integrated webcam, a SmartCard terminal for a CAD-capable keyboard, and an SEC fingerprint sensor for added security, to keep your confidentials safe at all times. The device will be available for sale from June onwards starting from only 559 USD.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514

Meanwhile, Acer will be introducing its latest Chromebook Spin 514, the 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook with a 14-inch touchscreen. The device can be configured with an up to Ryzen 7 5825C processor and supports up to 256 GB of PCIe Gen 3 storage.

Connectivity-wise, the convertible has support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Durability-wise, the touchscreen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass and supports 100% of the sRGB colour gamut. And the device is rated MIL-STD 810 for military-grade durability against drops, dust and shock protection.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 will be available from Q3 2022 onwards starting from only 579.99 USD for the consumer variant and 899.99 USD for the enterprise variant.

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(Via 1, Via 2)

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Two new Redmi Note 11s, OnePlus 10 Pro global launch, Chrome v100, and more stories from Last Week

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 11:59:16 +0000

Last week was not the busiest in the consumer technology world. However, we did witness multiple product launches in different markets though some of them had already gone official earlier.

The most notable events were hosted by OnePlus and Black Shark for the OnePlus 10 series and the Black Shark 5 series respectively. Then, there was also a Xiaomi conference at which the company introduced two more Redmi Note 11s.

Finally, as far as non-launches are concerned, we have selected two articles to complete our list. These are regarding Samsung’s self-repair program and Chrome v100.

With that out of the day, let’s take a look at the aforementioned stories one by one.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook unveiled with 11-inch 2K display, Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 SoC, and more

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 13:48:35 +0000

Lenovo announced multiple computers at MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2022. Three of them are Chromebooks, namely IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook, IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook, and IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook. We have already covered the first two convertible laptops. Hence, in this article, we take a look at the latter, which is a detachable tablet.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook Specifications and Features

The newly announced IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook by Lenovo is a toned-down version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook from late last year. The latest model arrives with a smaller LCD screen as opposed to an OLED panel, dual stereo speakers instead of quad, and lower battery life despite sporting the same chipset.

Lenovo says that the IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook is the successor of the original IdeaPad Duet Chromebook. It features the iconic dual-tone finish, which is found on almost all Lenovo tablets. It measures only 7.90mm in thickness and comes in two colors, such as Storm Grey and Misty Blue.

Just like its predecessor, the new tablet will also ship with a folio case and a detachable keyboard. In some markets, it will be also bundled with a stylus, while in others customers will have to purchase it separately.

The product flaunts an 11-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2K pixels and a 5:3 aspect ratio. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 SoC coupled with 4GB/8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB eMMC storage.

Unsurprisingly, it boots Chrome OS. But interestingly, it comes pre-loaded with Android Studio for Android app development For the unaware, this is a resource-hungry application and we are not sure how well the ARM-based chip will be able to handle it.

The detachable offers multiple connectivity options like dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, 2 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 (Type-C), and a pogo pin connector for the official keyboard accessory. Other features include dual stereo speakers, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, up to 12-hour battery life, and 45W fast charging.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook Price and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 will start at €349 (including VAT) in EMEA. It will be available starting May. We expect the device to reach other markets as well.

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Redmi K50G, REDMAGIC 7, realme 9 Pro+, Nothing smartphone teaser, Android apps on Windows 11, and more from Last Week

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:51:10 +0000

A lot of things happened last week in the world of technology. For instance, the first gaming smartphones of 2022 made their debut, Microsoft finally brought Android apps to Windows, Google announced Chrome OS Flex, and many more.

We have compiled all these and other important stories from last week in this article as part of our weekly roundup series. Let’s go through them only by one.

As always, we would like to inform you that the stories featured here are based on our opinion and they are listed in no particular order. As your stance may vary, we would like to know your top picks in the comment section at the end of this post.

Google launches Chrome OS Flex to turn older PCs and Macs into Chromebooks

Jeet — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 03:52:55 +0000

Google has announced a new version of its Chrome OS, dubbed Chrome OS Flex which is now available for early access. This new operating system from the search engine giant is designed to run on old PCs and Macs.

The company is targeting businesses and schools for this new operating system and claims that it can be installed “within minutes.” Google says Chrome OS Flex can run efficiently on devices that are up to 13 years old.

The announcement of this new operating system from Google comes a few years after it acquired Neverware, a company that made Cloudready, a lightweight operating system for schools and businesses with fleets of old PCs or Macs.

Talking about the use case, Google says that the old systems could be revitalized by replacing Windows or macOS with Chrome OS Flex, a lightweight operating system that can run on weaker hardware and remain stable for years.

Interestingly, the company says that the Chrome OS Flex will get the same attention from Google as Chrome OS. It will look and feel the same as the Chrome OS available on the Chromebook as it is built from the same codebase.

However, the availability of some features may be dependent on the hardware. This means that some of the features like always-on Google Assistant and Android smartphone syncing may not be available for everyone.

The Chrome OS Flex is available for early access but the company says that it has not done any large-scale testing. Google is just giving users a chance to play around with the OS and provide feedback before it pushes it in the market.

Nearby Share on Chrome OS to get even more useful

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 10:33:15 +0000

Google introduced Nearby Share for the public in 2020. Initially, it was only limited to Android devices. Within a year, Chrome OS also added support for it. Now, according to a new finding, the search giant is working on a feature for Chrome OS based on Nearby Share.

A finding by ChromeStory (via Android Police) reveals that Google is developing a new feature for Chrome OS called ‘Nearby Sharing Self Share’. This feature will rely on Nearby Share.

When this feature goes live, users will see an option dubbed as ‘Send to your devices’ in the Nearby Share screen. As the name suggests, by selecting this option, users will be able to share files to all their devices.

This is a nifty feature, especially for those who use multiple devices at a time. Unfortunately, it’s not known when it will be introduced in the ‘Canary’ channel, let alone stable.

Though Nearby Share (stable) is only one and a half years old, it is already proving to be one of the best and most useful features from Google to date. The company has even announced plans to bring it to Windows in the near future.

The AirDrop competitor works across more devices, however, it is not as stable as Apple’s offering. Hopefully, it gets better in the long run.

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Samsung Bugzzy could be a Chrome OS detachable tablet

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:54:42 +0000

Samsung is not a big name in the PC industry. But the company is known for its laptops in certain parts of the world. Apart from Windows, it also sells computers with Chrome OS pre-installed. According to new findings, the company is working on a mysterious Chrome OS product.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go

A report by Chrome Unboxed (via SamMobile) reveals that Samsung is readying a Chrome OS device codenamed Bugzzy. Unfortunately, only a few details are known about this product.

First and foremost, it will be powered by an Intel Jasper Laker processor. Based on this, we can expect it to be a budget model like the already available Galaxy Chromebook Go, which is codenamed Sasuke.

Secondly, the device might sport a display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. This particular screen resolution is clearly high for a Chromebook with the aforementioned chipset. Hence, it probably won’t have this display resolution.

Last and most importantly, the upcoming Samsung Bugzzy could be a detachable tablet. If this happens to be true, then it will compete against the likes of Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3. Also, it will be the only one among the competition with X86 silicon instead of ARM.

Having said that, we expect to learn more about this Chrome OS product from Samsung before its official launch in the near future.

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Google PixelBook 2 laptop is not getting launched anytime soon

Jeet — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:55:49 +0000

Google PixelBook Go laptop from the technology giant was launched around two years ago and everyone was expecting the company to launch its successor given that the original PixelBook was also launched two years prior to the PixelBook Go.

However, if you are among those who have been waiting for the PixelBook 2 or whatever the next-generation PixelBook laptop ends up being called, then you are in for a disappointment as the company has confirmed it isn’t coming until 2023.

At Qualcomm‘s press event in London, Chrys Tsolaki, Retail Partner Manager for Chromebooks at Google, was asked about the company working on a new Pixelbook laptop and she replied that there won’t be anything coming from Google in the next year and added that she doesn’t know about the future. This was reported by Trusted Reviews.

This means that the next Google-branded laptop is not getting launched this year or the next year (i.e. 2022). There’s a possibility of it getting launched in 2023 but it’s just speculation as there’s no concrete information available about it.

Google is the creator of the Chrome OS and thus a Google-branded Chromebook has its own appeal, but other manufacturers are also launching some impressive Chromebooks in the market and you can still get your hands on the PixelBook Go.

LG Chromebook gets certified by Bluetooth SIG

Habeeb Onawole — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 17:18:15 +0000

Chromebooks have become increasingly popular lately. While there are lots of options available from various manufacturers, there has actually not been a new player in the space. That should change soon as LG has its first Chromebook coming.

LG is not new to making computers. Its LG Gram line of slim and light Windows PCs are sold in various markets and have received generally positive reviews. Now, it is ready to bring its hardware to the Chromebook market.

The LG Chromebook will be its first Chromebook laptop and it has been spotted on the website of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group where it has received its certification. The listing was first reported by Chrome Unboxed, however, it doesn’t reveal much save that the computer has the model number “11TC50Q” and has Bluetooth 5.1.

There are so many unknown details at the moment but what is most exciting to know is what the LG Chromebook will look like. Of course, the specs are important too and so also is the price but we most likely won’t get to know these details until the device launches.

There is a chance the LG Chromebook may arrive this year but the possibility of a CES launch can’t be ruled out, which in all honesty, is a better avenue for announcing its first Chromebook.

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More Google chips are coming, this time for Chromebooks and tablets

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:49:08 +0000

Google’s journey into making its own chipsets started a few years ago when it announced the Pixel 2 smartphone. The 2017 flagship had a custom-made image processor called the Pixel Visual Core, an 8-core image processing unit. The chip was then replaced with the Pixel Neural Core in the Pixel 4 series. For the upcoming Pixel 6 series, Google will ship the two phones with its own custom-built System on a Chip (SoC) called Tensor. A new report has revealed this is the first of more chips to come.

It has been reported that Google plans to announce its own CPUs which will power Chromebooks and Chrome OS-powered tablets. The news comes from Nikkei Asia and they cite three sources with knowledge of the matter. These CPUs are expected to begin rolling out in 2023 though Google has declined to comment on the matter.

Google’s processors will be based on the Arm architecture just like that of other chip companies such as MediaTek and Qualcomm. The advantage of using its own chip includes being able to more easily customize features for the devices they power.

A chief analyst at Isaiah Research, Eric Tsang, who spoke to Nikkei Asia, said that while the use of one’s own chip will result in better software and hardware integration, the business of making your own chip requires a lot of investment and long-term commitments. Peter Hanbury, a partner at Bain & Co., a consulting firm, also shares similar sentiments. He cited the cost associated with developing a chipset which is about $500 million for a 5nm processor and $50 million for a 28nm processor. Mr. Tsang also stated that new players will have to compete with older and more established players for production capacities. Delays in production can result in products arriving later than planned.

The publication also reports that Google has asked its suppliers to prepare 50% more production capacity for the Pixel 6 series compared to that of 2019. It is said that it shipped a total of 7 million Pixel phones in 2019 but that figure fell to 3.7 million last year. Sales have picked up this year, so Google is optimistic sales of the Pixel 6 series should be better.

ASUS Chromebook Detachable CZ1 is a rugged Chrome OS tablet for students

Habeeb Onawole — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 22:00:24 +0000

ASUS has announced yet another Chrome OS tablet. The new tablet comes just a few months after the launch of the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3. However, unlike the CM3, the CZ1 has a rugged design.

The ASUS Chromebook Detachable CZ1 was spotted on the ASUS website by About Chromebooks (via Chrome Unboxed). Though the YouTube video below was uploaded more than two weeks ago which means it was announced at the beginning of the month.

The product page says the tablet is “built to military-grade standards”. Each corner and edge of the tablet has a rubber trim that can absorb shocks such as ”drops from a classroom desk or the dining-room table.”. The back also has a 3D-textured finish that hides fingerprints and doesn’t show scratches. Last but not least is a shockproof cover that adds an extra layer of protection when it drops from heights of up to 150 centimeters. It can also survive up to 15-kilogram force on the lid and bottom without damage to the panel.

Coming to the specs, the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CZ1 is practically identical to the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3. It has the same 10.1-inch FHD multitouch display with TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue-light emissions.

There is a MediaTek Kompanio 500 processor a.k.a. MT8183 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage. It has an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. Users also get stereo speakers, an audio jack, a USB-C port, a garaged stylus, and a detachable full-size keyboard with a 1.5mm key travel, a touchpad, and an ErgoLift design. The rugged case also has a free-angle stand.

There is a 27Wh battery inside the device which should last up to 11 hours on a single charge. That should be enough for a day’s use at school. Charging is via a 45W Type-C adapter.

The price and availability details for the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CZ1 are yet to be disclosed by the manufacturer.

HP Chromebase is a Chrome OS AiO with a rotating display

Habeeb Onawole — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:59:38 +0000

There are not a lot of All-in-Ones (AiO) powered by Chrome OS but if you are on the lookout for one, especially for your home, then the new HP Chromebase should be on your radar.

The specifications of the HP Chromebase are not bad but the highlight of the computer is its 21.5-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen that can rotate 90º clockwise into a portrait position. The mechanism is so smooth that it can be flipped with just a finger and a little push from the top right corner as seen in a hands-on video by Chrome Unboxed.

You might be wondering why you need your screen in portrait mode, but it turns out that this mode is best for Android apps running on Chrome OS. It is also a more efficient use of the screen when scrolling through a web page or viewing a document as a lot more content fits on the screen compared to when in landscape mode.

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The display of the HP Chromebase is attached to a cone-shaped fabric-covered aluminum base that is home to the internals as well as two B&O 5W speakers, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an audio jack. The computer has a starting price of $599 and comes with a Pentium Gold processor for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The pricier models have a 10th Gen Core i3 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.

There is a 5MP webcam and a shutter at the top allows you to not only cover the camera but also mute the microphone. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. HP ships the Chromebase with a matching white keyboard and mouse and a 90W power adapter.

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OEMs are prioritizing Windows laptops over Chromebooks due to component shortage: IDC

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:09:21 +0000

As per a report by IDC, shipments of Chromebooks and tablets continued to grow in Q2 2021. Although the demand for these two product categories continues to exist, their growth might get impacted in the next quarter.

ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5

IDC says that the shipments of Chromebooks grew 68.6% YoY in the second quarter of 2021. On the other hand, tablet shipments increased only 4.2% YoY. Their numbers stood at 12.3 million units and 40.5 million units respectively.

Although the last quarter did not set any record like the previous quarters, the numbers are strong enough. So why could the shipments get affected? The answer is “shortage of components”.

According to IDC, Chromebooks are still in high demand. In fact, many education deals are still in the backlog. But despite that, OEMs have started prioritizing higher-margin Windows laptops due to the ongoing global component shortage.

Further, the report also states that the consumer demand for tablets might slow much faster than the Chromebooks. This should be a bigger concern for OEMs like Xiaomi, realme, OPPO, OnePlus, and vivo that are expected to release tablets in the second half of 2021.

Anyway, as per IDC senior research analyst Anuroopa Nataraj, there are still ample opportunities for tablets and Chromebooks in the education sector. Emerging markets continue to use Android tablets, whereas developed markets like the USA and Canada prefer Chromebooks. Some Asian and European regions have also started leaning towards Chromebooks lately.

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Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go advert shows LTE version will have a touchscreen

Habeeb Onawole — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:22:02 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is now available for purchase for $299. That price gets you the base model with Wi-Fi 6 and 32GB of storage. Samsung confirmed that an LTE version will be available soon but it appears LTE connectivity won’t be the only major difference.

Samsung has released a video advert for the Galaxy Chromebook Go, and while the title of the video doesn’t say, it is specifically for the LTE version. We noticed that the ad reveals one important detail, actually a feature the standard WI-Fi model doesn’t have.

At the 0:40 second mark of the video, we see the boy interact with the display via touch input which means the device has a touchscreen. This feature is not available on the Wi-Fi version and comes as a surprise as the official spec page doesn’t mention a touchscreen is available on select models.

With the addition of a touchscreen, the LTE version of the Galaxy Chromebook Go may cost significantly more. The notebook is also expected to be available with 8GB of RAM and in 64GB and 128GB storage options. With these specs, the highest-specced variant of the Galaxy Chromebook Go will definitely cross the $400 mark. If you decide to pick up a USI stylus, then you may be spending as much as $450.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go has a 14-inch 1366 x 768 TFT display. It is powered by an Intel Celeron N4500 processor and packs a 42.3Wh battery that should provide up to 12 hours of usage on a single charge. It has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and a nano-SIM slot for the LTE version. There are two USB-C ports, a single USB A (3.2) port, and a mic/headphone combo jack. Samsung ships it with a 45W USB-C power brick.

We still don’t know when the LTE version will be available but once it is available for purchase, we will be sure to let you know.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is now available for $299

Habeeb Onawole — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:02:19 +0000

Last month, the Galaxy Chromebook Go appeared on Samsung’s website as a new affordable Chromebook from the manufacturer. However, save for a few specs and images, there were still a lot of unknown details about the 14-inch device. Now, the notebook is official and available for purchase.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go has a 14” LED screen with a 1366 x 768 resolution. The display brightness is on the low side at 220 nits and it doesn’t have a touchscreen, so don’t expect to use a USI stylus on this. However, it does have a 180° hinge allowing you to lay it flat.

Powering the Chromebook is an Intel Celeron N4500 and it is paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. While 32GB is really small, there is a MicroSD card slot for additional storage.

For ports, the Galaxy Chromebook Go has two USB Type-C ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a headphone-out/microphone-in combo port. Samsung says the Chromebook has a military-grade design while being its lightest Chromebook yet at 3.2lbs (1.45kg). It can survive the occasional drops and the island-type keyboard is spillproof. There are two 1.5W speakers and you also get the much faster Wi-Fi 6.

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While not as long as the 18 hours of battery life the Galaxy Book Go boasts, the Galaxy Chromebook Go still offers an impressive 12 hours of battery life on a single charge. It also charges faster at 45W and you get a charger in the box.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go is priced at $299 and is already available for purchase on Samsung’s website. If you have a device that can be traded in, you can pick it up for as low as $129.99. Samsung has revealed that an LTE version will be available soon.

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Lenovo’s IdeaPad 5i has a light bar, convertible IdeaPad Flex 5i tags along too

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 17:53:43 +0000

Lenovo has announced two new Chromebooks ahead of Mobile World Congress next week. The new IdeaPad 5i and IdeaPad Flex 5i are powered by Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors.

IdeaPad 5i

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i is a 14-inch Chromebook with a FHD display and optional touchscreen. Depending on the configuration, the Chromebook comes with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, Intel Core i3-1115G4, or Pentium 7505 processor. It has 4GB or 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage.

For connectivity, there are two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, one USB 3.1 Type-A port, a MicroSD card slot, and a microphone/headphone combo jack. The device also has Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6.

Lenovo is offering the IdeaPad 5i in Sand and Storm Grey, and both models have a light bar below the trackpad. This light bar will switch between colors to show the amount of battery life remaining.

The IdeaPad 5i will be available next month with a starting price of $439.99

IdeaPad Flex 5i

If you want a 2-in-1, then the IdeaPad Flex 5i is for you. It has a 13.3-inch touch display with an option for an OLED panel. The same processor options as the IdeaPad 5i are available for it alongside a Celeron 6305 model. There is also 4GB or 8GB of RAM while storage is 32GB or 64GB eMMC or 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of SSD.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i also has the same connectivity parts as the IdeaPad 5i. It will be available in Abyss Blue and Iron Grey with a starting price of $439.99 too.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go is not a Galaxy Book Go running Chrome OS

Habeeb Onawole — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 21:34:32 +0000

When the Galaxy Book Go was announced, I hoped (maybe even prayed) for Samsung to launch a Chrome OS version – the same specs but just a different operating system. Now, Samsung has listed the Galaxy Chromebook Go on its website but it’s not what I want or rather, expected.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go hasn’t yet been officially announced yet but its specs have been published.

With respect to its design, the Chromebook has a dull white exterior, although Samsung calls it silver. However, the inside is entirely black, down to its keyboard. While more attractive colors would have been appreciated, this does not look bad. Considering this is an entry-level model, the body is definitely made of polycarbonate.

Coming to its specs, the Galaxy Chromebook’s display is a 14.0-inch TFT HD screen with a 1366 x 768 resolution. It has a 180º hinge but it isn’t a touch display.

Samsung has opted for the Celeron N4500, one of Intel’s new Jasper Lake processors announced earlier this year. It has a 6W TDP which should translate to low power consumption and incredible battery life.

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Samsung will offer the Galaxy Chromebook Go in 4GB and 8GB LPDDR4X RAM versions with 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of eMMC storage. Thankfully, there is a MicroSD card slot if you need more storage. There are also two USB-C ports, a USB 3.2 port, a Nano security slot, and a headphone plus microphone combo jack. The LTE version will have a Nano-SIM slot.

The Galaxy Chromebook Go also Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, a 720p webcam, and stereo speakers. It packs a 42.3Wh battery that charges via a 45W Type-C charger.

We expect a proper announcement along with details of pricing and availability will be made soon. However, if we were to take a guess, this should start at under $350 for the base model, maybe even $299 considering the display is an HD panel and the base model has 32GB of storage. The LTE version, most likely limited to the model with more RAM and storage will definitely be close to $400 or higher.

Google Chrome OS stable update releases will shift to a 4-week cycle in Q4

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:49:25 +0000

Earlier this year, Google announced that it will be shifting to a 4-week stable update release cycle for Chrome browser starting in Q3. Now, months later, the company announces a similar change for Chrome OS.

Right now, Google releases a new Chome OS stable update every 6 weeks. According to a new announcement post (via 9to5Google) by Chrome OS release TPM lead Marina Kazatcker, the duration will be reduced to 4 weeks, starting with M96 in Q4.

With this move, the company aims to rapidly deliver new features to customers. Also, the search giant will continue to prioritize the key pillars of Chrome OS – security, stability, speed, and simplicity.

Further, Google will be also introducing a new 6-month stable update channel for enterprise and education users after the release of M96 in Q4. This will be really helpful for administrators who manage a vast number of devices.

As mentioned in the beginning, the Chrome browser will be moving to the 4-week release in Q3 with M94. As a result, to bridge the gap between this and the Chrome OS 4-week release from Q4 with M96, Google will be skipping M95 for Chrome OS.

What are your thoughts on Google shortening the stable update release cycle for Chrome browser and Chrome OS? Do let us know in the comment section.

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ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 is a Chrome OS tablet with a built-in USI Pen

Habeeb Onawole — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:46:57 +0000

ASUS has announced a new Chrome OS tablet, increasing the options of those who are interested in this form factor by one. The new ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 arrives as a competitor to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, but is it a better choice?

The ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 has an aluminum unibody with a matte finish. It is 7.9mm thick and comes with a stain-repellent cover that gives it a classy look. There is only one color variant available called Mineral Gray.

ASUS’s Chrome OS tablet has a 10.5-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1920 x 1200 resolution. There are thick bezels around the display which is not uncommon for a lot of tablets.

Powering the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 is MediaTek’s MT8183 processor which is practically the Helio P60T but specially designed for entry-level Chromebooks. It is an octa-core chipset with four Cortex-A73 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.0GHz. It also has an Arm Mali-G72 MP3 GPU clocked at 800MHz.

The processor is paired with 4GB of RAM, and buyers will be able to pick between a 64GB version or a 128GB version. Just like Lenovo’s own tablet, this too is missing a MicroSD card slot, so you can’t expand the storage.

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What it does have that the Duet doesn’t is an audio jack and a USI stylus with a silo for storing it. When inserted in the slot, the stylus automatically charges and ASUS says that a 15-second charge will provide 45 minutes of use. Lenovo’s USI Pen has to be purchased separately and it costs $39, though it is much thicker and feels like a regular pen. It also uses a replaceable battery.

The ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 has a keyboard that connects via four pogo pins at the bottom of the tablet. The keyboard has an ErgoLift design, a 1.5m key travel, and a trackpad. The stand cover, which can also be removed can be adjusted to up to 90° when in landscape mode. It can also be used to prop up the tablet in portrait mode.

There is an 8MP camera on the back of the tablet while the front camera is a 2MP sensor. ASUS has packed a 27Whr battery into the tablet which it says should last up to 12 hours on a single charge. A 45W charger is included in the box for charging. The tablet has dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a USB-C port.

The ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 is priced at $350 for the 64GB version and $370 for the 128GB version. Both are currently listed as Coming Soon on the official ASUS store. ASUS states that there is a 1-year Free 100GB Google One trial which expires from Google by the 31st of January 2022.

Two new MediaTek-powered Lenovo Chromebooks are coming

Habeeb Onawole — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 17:10:17 +0000

Lenovo has two new Chromebooks coming and they will be powered by a MediaTek processor. For those expecting a successor to the Lenovo Duet Chromebook tablet, sorry to disappoint but these are not tablets.

The devices, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 CB and the IdeaPad Flex 2 CB were discovered on Lenovo’s product reference website by AboutChromebook and Chromeunboxed respectively, and they are expected to be announced anytime soon.

IdeaPad 3 CB 14M836

This is an upgraded version of the model that was announced last year. It has a 14” 1080p 60Hz screen with the option for a touch screen model with higher brightness. There is 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of eMMC storage. It has a MicroSD card slot, so you can add extra storage. The chipset is a MediaTek MT8183, the same inside the Lenovo Chromebook Duet tablet.

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For ports, the IdeaPad 3 CB 14M836 has a USB-C port for charging (supports Power Delivery 2.0) and it also doubles as a display port to connect it to a monitor. There is also a full-sized USB-A port and an audio jack. There are speakers flanking the keyboard on each side and you get a 720p webcam with a privacy shutter. It has a 42Whr battery that is expected to last up to 16 hours on a single charge and it comes with a 45W USB-C charger.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 CB 14M836 will come in Abyss Blue and Arctic Grey and both have a pretty nice two-tone finish.

IdeaPad Flex 3 CB 11M836

This is an 11-inch version with the same processor as the one above. The display also supports touch input but the resolution is HD and the maximum brightness is 250 nits. It has a 360° hinge, so you can fold it back to use it as a tablet.

There is 4GB of RAM and 34GB or 64GB of storage with support for expansion via a MicroSD card slot. The port selection is the same as that of the IdeaPad 3 CB. It has 2 x 2W user-facing stereo speakers, a 720p webcam, Bluetooth 4.2, and 2 x 2 Wi-Fi 802.11 ac

The IdeaPad Flex 3 will also be available in Abyss Blue and Arctic Gray with a two-tone finish.

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Here is the list of Chromebooks getting Android 11 update with Chrome OS 90

Balaji S — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:54:06 +0000

Chrome OS ecosystem has been growing lately and as of Q4 2020, it beat Apple’s macOS with a 16.4% market share. Recently, it got features like a dark theme in the Chrome OS 89 version. Now, a list of devices finally getting an update to Android 11 with Chrome OS 90 version is out.

Representative image: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

As reported by Android Police, a page on Chromium’s Gerrit review repository reveals codenames of Chromebook devices that are going to get the Android 11 update. These correspond to various models of Acer, ASUS, Samsung, Dell, Google, HP, and more.

That said, we can expect future devices that are launching to come with Android 11 out of the box. Anyway, the list of devices whose build of Android on Chrome OS will be updated to Android 11, are as follows:

Acer

Acer Chromebook 11 C670
Acer Chromebook 11 C732
Acer Chromebook 11 C732L
Acer Chromebook 11 C732LT
Acer Chromebook 11 C732T
Acer Chromebook 11 CB311-8H
Acer Chromebook 11 CB311-8HT
Acer Chromebook 13
Acer Chromebook 14 CB3-431
Acer Chromebook 14 CP5-471
Acer Chromebook 15 C910
Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-532
Acer Chromebook 15 CB515-1H
Acer Chromebook 15 CB515-1HT
Acer Chromebook 311
Acer Chromebook 314 (C933L)
Acer Chromebook 314 (C933LT)
Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-1H)
Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-1HT)
Acer Chromebook 315
Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-3H)
Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-3HT)
Acer Chromebook 512 C851
Acer Chromebook 512 C851T
Acer Chromebook 712 (C871)
Acer Chromebook CXI3
Acer Chromebook R11
Acer Chromebook R13
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 CP311-1H
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 CP311-1HN
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 R751T
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (CB311-2H)
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H
Acer Chromebook Spin 511
Acer Chromebook Spin 512 R851TN
Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Acer Chromebook Spin 712
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Acer Chromebox CXI4

AOpen

AOpen Chromebase Mini
AOpen Chromebox Mini

Asus

Asus Chromebook C202SA
Asus Chromebook C300SA
Asus Chromebook C425
Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA
Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA
Asus Chromebook Flip C204
Asus Chromebook Flip C214
Asus Chromebook Flip C302
Asus Chromebook Flip C434
Asus Chromebook Flip C436FA
Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100
Asus Chromebox 3
Asus Chromebox 4
Asus Fanless Chromebox

CTL

CTL Chromebook Tab Tx1
CTL Chromebox CBx1
CTL Chromebox CBx2

Dell

Dell Chromebook 11 3380
Dell Chromebook 13 3380
Dell Chromebook 13 7310
Dell Chromebook Enterprise Latitude 7410

Google

Google Chromebook Pixel
Google Pixel Slate
Google Pixelbook
Google Pixelbook Go

HP

HP Chromebook 11 G1 x360
HP Chromebook 11 G5
HP Chromebook 11 G7 EE
HP Chromebook 11 G8 EE
HP Chromebook 11A G6 EE
HP Chromebook 13 (db0000-db0999)
HP Chromebook 13 G1
HP Chromebook 14 G6
HP Chromebook 14a
HP Chromebook x2
HP Chromebook X360 11 G2 EE
HP Chromebook x360 11 G3 EE
HP Chromebook X360 14c
HP Chromebox G2
HP Chromebox G3
HP Elite C1030 Chromebook
HP Pro C640 Chromebook
HP Pro C645 Chromebook Enterprise

Lenovo

Lenovo Chromebook 100e
Lenovo Chromebook 100e (2nd Gen)
Lenovo Chromebook 11
Lenovo Chromebook 300e (2nd Gen)
Lenovo Chromebook 500e
Lenovo Chromebook 500e (2nd Gen)
Lenovo Chromebook C340-11
Lenovo Chromebook S340-14
Lenovo Chromebook Tablet 10e
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 51 Chromebook
Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 11e
Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 11e (3rd gen)
Lenovo ThinkPad Chromebook 13
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga Chromebook 11e
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga Chromebook C13
Lenovo Yoga Chromebook N23

Samsung

Samsung Chromebook 3
Samsung Chromebook 4
Samsung Chromebook Plus
Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
Samsung Chromebook Pro
Samsung Chromebook+
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Toshiba

Toshiba Chromebook 2 (2015)

Viewsonic

ViewSonic Chromebox NMP660

It’s worth noting that the few devices(with Hatch baseboard) have already had the access to the Android 11 features but are on the Beta version. The stable version of this should start rolling out to the above-mentioned list soon.

Also, you can look out for features like Dark Mode, uniform scaling of apps, and more. Lastly, the report says that the repository also has some weird names which could be of development tools, upcoming devices, or shelved products.

HP Chromebook 11a launched in India for ₹21,990 ($300)

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:24:26 +0000

As expected, HP has officially launched the HP Chromebook 11a in India. This laptop is currently the cheapest Chrome OS product in the country. Let us take a look at its specs, features, price, and availability in this article.

HP Chromebook 11a Specifications and Features

The HP Chromebook 11a sports an 11.6-inch LED-backlit LCD panel with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, 220 nits peak brightness, 45% NTSC color gamut, 73.8% screen-to-body ratio, and touch input.

It is powered by a MediaTek MT8183 SoC coupled with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC storage. If needed, the storage can be further expanded up to 256GB via the included 3-in-1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC) and 1-year Google One subscription (100GB).

On the connectivity front, the notebook supports WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. It comes with 1 x USB 2.0 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.1, USB Power Delivery), 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.

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Further, since the laptop runs Google Chrome OS, it also supports Android apps and Linux applications. Other features of this notebook include a full-size keyboard, 720p webcam, dual speakers, dual microphones. Google Assistant, and a 37 WHr battery.

Last but not least, the HP Chromebook 11a with model number 11A-NA0002MU comes in a single Indigo Blue color option, measures 285 x 192.8 x 16.8mm in dimensions, weighs 1.07Kg.

HP Chromebook 11a Price and Availability

The HP Chromebook 11a is priced at ₹21,990 ($300) in India. It is already up for sale on Flipkart. It should be also sold by HP online store and select offline retailers in the coming days.

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Google celebrates 10 years of Chrome OS with new features

Habeeb Onawole — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 20:39:11 +0000

Chrome OS is 10 years old and to celebrate, Google is rolling out some new features to the operating system. These new features include Phone Hub, Quick Answers, an improved clipboard, and more. Here are the key new features coming to Chrome OS:

Phone Hub

With Phone Hub, users will be able to control their connected phones from their Chromebooks. There will be a phone icon right next to the status information pill. When you click it, you will get information such as network signal, battery level, and Quick Settings shortcut for Hotspot, ring mode, and a way to easily locate your phone. It will also show the last two open Chrome tabs from your phone and also allow you to respond to texts from your device

Screen Capture and an Annotation mode

Users will be able to record what is on their screen. They will be able to access this feature from a tile in the Quick Settings menu. You will be able to quickly access recorded videos or screenshot items from a Tote space in the Chrome OS Shelf.

Wi-Fi Sync

The new update makes it easier to connect to Wi-Fi networks. If your phone or other Chrome OS device with the same Google account has been connected to a Wi-Fi network, you don’t have to enter the password for that network on your Chromebook again. With Wi-Fi Sync, your device connects automatically to the trusted network. The feature can be accessed by going to Settings > Connected devices. Click the arrow next to the phone and turn on Wi-Fi Sync.

Media Controls

Google has added media controls to the Quick Settings many, making it easy to control the playback of whatever you are listening to.

#Chromebook turns 10! We’re launching new features and looking back at the past decade of Chromebook → https://t.co/Bi2NDlYZdQ #Chromebook10 pic.twitter.com/i2i3y5cw07

— Google (@Google) March 9, 2021

Revamped Icons

Another new feature is redesigned icons. Icons on the shelf and in the app launcher are now circular or placed in a circle with a white background. There are also new icons for the calculator and canvas app.

Improved Clipboard

Chrome OS gets an improved clipboard that shows the last five things you copied including images. Copied items, as well as recent downloads, screenshots, and pinned files, will appear in a space called Tote which is a sort of holding space.

https://www.gizmochina.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/QuickAnswer-Chrome-OS.mp4

Quick Answers

When you right-click on a word, Chrome OS will provide a definition or translation of the said word. Depending on what is highlighted, it will also provide the unit conversion.

Nearby Share

When Google announced Nearby Share for Android devices last year, it said the feature will be available later for Chromebooks. The feature will allow you to share apps, photos, and links to nearby Chromebooks and Android devices. Unfortunately, this feature is still touted as coming soon.

These features and more are rolling out with the Chrome OS 89 update.

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Opinion: Xiaomi’s next Mi Pad tablet should run Chrome OS

Habeeb Onawole — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 15:05:02 +0000

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Xiaomi’s Mi Pad line of tablets will be getting a new model this year. For fans of Xiaomi and its tablet line at large, that is definitely good news considering the last model, the Mi Pad 4, was released in 2018.

Xiaomi’s last tablet, the Mi Pad 4, was released in 2018

A new Mi Pad tablet for a reviving segment

It is no surprise that Xiaomi has been missing from the tablet scene for a while considering the fact that the segment had shrunk in the past few years. However, the tablet market recorded growth last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced students to resort to online schooling. There is a possibility that this growth is what has prompted Xiaomi to want to revive its tablet line. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that if Xiaomi is going to release a new tablet, it should not run Android but Chrome OS, at least the variant that will be sold in international markets.

Before diving into the reasons behind this opinion, let us take a brief look at the history of the Mi Pad line.

Mi Pad – a poor update history

The first Xiaomi tablet was released in 2014 and it launched as the Mi Pad 7.9. It had a 7.9-inch screen, an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 64GB of storage, and a 6700mAh battery. The tablet ran MIUI 7 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box. It was updated to MIUI 8 but never had its Android version upgraded.

Xiaomi followed it with the Mi Pad 2 in November of 2015. It had a similar screen but swapped the NVIDIA processor for an Intel Atom X5-Z8500. It also had a smaller 6190mAH battery. The RAM and storage capacities were unchanged from that of the first-gen model. It also ran MIUI 7 based on Android 5 Lollipop.

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The Mi Pad 3 came two years later in 2017 with a 7.9-inch screen as the first two models, thankfully with more RAM at 4GB, and a single 64GB storage option. Xiaomi once again switched chipset brands by going with a MediaTek MT8176 processor. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a MicroSD card slot but it came with a bigger 6600mAh battery. This ran MIUI 9 based on Android 7 Nougat out of the box but never got updated to MIUI 10 and neither did it get an Android version upgrade.

The Mi Pad 4 and Mi Pad 4 Plus were announced in June and August of 2018 respectively. The standard version had an 8-inch screen while the plus model ad a 10.1-inch screen. Both came with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 chipset with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Xiaomi also brought back the MicroSD card slot and also added 4G. The smaller one had a 6000mAh battery while the larger model packed an 8620mAh battery. The Mi Pad 4 ran MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 Oreo while the Mi Pad 4 Plus ran MIUI 10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. Neither of the two tablets got updated to MIUI 11 nor did they get an Android upgrade.

As you can see, Xiaomi was pretty poor at updating the Mi Pad series. Now that it has a new tablet in development, what are the chances that this tradition won’t continue?

Why Chrome OS?

Why Chrome OS? There are several reasons as to why the next Mi Pad should run Chrome OS but the key advantage is software support. The average Chrome OS device gets software support for no less than five years. Last year, Google revealed that Chrome OS devices will now be supported for even longer as devices such as the Lenovo 10e Chromebook Tablet and Acer Chromebook 712 will receive updates until June 2028. That is 8 years of software support!!!

There are other advantages that Chrome OS brings:

Support for Android apps – Chrome OS has native support for Android apps, so there is no complaint of a limited app library.
Regularly updated with new features – Chrome OS is also regularly updated. Unlike Android that you have to wait nearly a whole year before you get significant changes, that is not the case with Chrome OS. Full OS updates arrive every 6 weeks with new features while minor updates such as security fixes are released every 2- 3 weeks.
Shallow learning curve – Chrome OS is easy to operate. A lot of keyboard shortcuts from Windows and macOS work the same way in Chrome OS. Also, there is Google Assistant available which you can call up to perform several tasks.

Chrome OS is a growing market Xiaomi can profit from

There are several Chrome OS devices available. That is not surprising considering this year makes it a decade since it was first released. However, the first Chrome OS tablet, the Acer Chromebook Tab 10, didn’t launch until 2018.

Now, there are more but still not enough options. Not only that, the few available Chrome OS tablets are sold in very few regions. By launching a Chrome OS tablet, Xiaomi can grab a share of a growing market. It already has its presence in several countries, a lot of which have very few or no Chrome OS tablets. Take India for example, which is a key market for Xiaomi. The Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is the only Chrome OS tablet sold in the country.

Last year, Chrome OS devices outsold devices running Apple macOS. The growth of Chrome OS is expected to continue as e-learning continues in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Xiaomi definitely doesn’t want to miss out on having a share of this cake.

A dual OS strategy

Fans of the Mi Pad 2 will notice I didn’t mention an important feature of the Mi pad 2. Actually, I didn’t forget as this is a better chance to talk about it.

The Mi Pad 2 actually launched with two different operating systems. You could pick up the tablet with either Android pre-installed or with Windows 10. The Windows 10 version launched a few months after and was available in only one storage variant – 64GB of course, for obvious reasons.

The Mi Pad 2 had a version that ran Windows 10

Xiaomi can go the same route with its next tablet by launching it in Chrome OS and Android versions. This way, folks who want a tablet running the Android-based MIUI are not left out while those who want Chrome OS can also pick it up. Sales of both variants should also help Xiaomi determine if it wants to continue with a dual OS strategy or stick to one.

Expected specifications and price for the upcoming Mi Pad

We don’t know how much the new tablet will cost neither do we know its specifications but here are the features and price range we will love to see:

10-inch/10-inch+ FHD display (of course with stylus support)
4GB RAM/6GB of RAM
128GB of built-in storage
MediaTek Dimensity 700/720 (Dimensity 1000+ for a pro model)
Support for expandable storage
8MP rear camera
5MP front-facing camera
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner and or Face Unlock
7000mAh battery capacity
30W/33W fast charging (though we won’t be surprised if Xiaomi goes with 18W fast charging)
Bluetooth 5.0
USB-C with support for display output
Stereo speakers
3.5mm audio jack
Optional 5G

Accessories

Chrome OS is a productivity device and this feature is enhanced with the right accessories. Chrome OS tablets like the Lenovo Ideapad Chromebook Duet come with a detachable keyboard in the box and also has support for USI styluses. Xiaomi has a number of companies under its ecosystem that manufactures keyboards and mice, so making an affordable detachable keyboard for the Mi Pad shouldn’t be difficult.

MIIIW, a company under Xiaomi’s ecological chain makes Bluetooth keyboards that cost as low as ¥149 (~$23)

However, the stylus is a device Xiaomi has no experience with. The good thing about Chrome OS devices with touch displays is that they have support for the USI (Universal Stylus Initiative) standard. This allows for devices that support the standard to be able to use supported active styluses from different brands. So if Xiaomi decides not to manufacture a stylus, buyers can pick one from any third-party manufacturer. You can also read my thoughts on why more manufacturers should add support for a stylus on a smartphone.

Price

For the above specifications, we can expect the 4GB + 128GB version to sell for $250 with a bundled keyboard and kickstand case while the 6GB + 128GB version can sell for $280. A 5G version with the same configuration as the top-end model can sell for $329. If Xiaomi does decide to make a USI stylus, we expect it to have a price tag of $39.

Of course, these are just our speculations and we’ll have to wait and see for some concrete information.

Conclusion

Xiaomi’s poor update history with respect to the Mi Pad line is going to be a major reason for some folks to avoid its next tablet. However, it can win back these customers and gain new ones by launching a Chrome OS tablet that is assured of longer software support than practically all Android devices, phones, and tablets. This is also Xiaomi’s chance to get into the Chrome OS tablet market, one that has very few players and even fewer products for consumers.

It is important to state that the chance of Xiaomi launching a Chrome OS tablet so soon is really slim, though we won’t rule out the possibility of it happening. Also, Xiaomi’s attitude to its mobile devices not running MIUI (its Android One and Android Go phones) shows that it will try to avoid launching a device it can’t put its customized version of Android on.

What do you think about Xiaomi launching a Chrome OS tablet? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.

Chrome OS to get a native screen recorder, new voices for its screen reader, and more

Habeeb Onawole — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:40:23 +0000

Chrome OS will be getting new features in the near future, most of which are centered around education. One of the key features is support for screen recording and it will be available in March.

Screen recording will come in handy for teachers and students who have to record lessons and reports. You don’t have to be a schoolteacher or student to find it useful. If you create tutorial videos, you will find it useful too.

ChromeVox, the Chrome OS screen reader, will also be getting new features such as the ability to search ChromeVox menus and a voice switching feature that automatically changes the screen reader’s voice based on the language of the text.

Google says it will also make it possible for parents to add a Google Workspace for Education account to their child’s Google account that is managed with Family Link. This feature allows parents to be able to monitor their kids with Family Link even though the kids are using a school account.

In the blog post by Google, the tech giant says it will be launching over 40 new Chromebooks this year. These Chromebooks will include models that are convertible, allowing them to double as a laptop and tablet. They will also come with a stylus for taking notes and editing, a touchscreen, dual cameras, and features to help them create podcasts, draw, and publish digital books.

All of them will have features that allow them to provide exceptional Google Meet and Zoom experiences right out of the box says Google. There will also be LTE versions for those who are in countries with limited access to the internet or countries with strong mobile broadband networks.

A list of Chromebooks will be made available to make it easy for schools to choose from.

Global Notebook PC Shipments clocked 54% YoY growth in Q4 2020, Chrome OS beats MacOS with 16.4% market share

Balaji S — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:37:47 +0000

Global PC shipments surged in the middle of 2020 owing to the increased demand on account of online learning during the Quarantine holidays. A report by Strategy Analytics now says that the trend continues for Notebook PCs in Q4 of 2020 as well.

According to the report(via Business Wire), demand for Notebook PCs reached the highest level in Q4 2020. Accordingly, it clocked about 54% YoY(Year-Over-Year) growth in Shipments. What is more surprising is that ChromeOS has beaten MacOS to slot in second place with 16.4% of the share.

Analysts feel that despite a strong demand for e-learning People also looked for devices with a focus on entertainment during the Q4 2020. This meant that lighter OS like Chrome OS and Gaming-focused Notebooks sold in huge numbers. Assessing the conditions, the Holiday season offered huge discounts aiding the sale numbers more.

As for brands, Lenovo led the market with 17.9 million unit shipments and a 25.6% of the total Notebook PC market share. It’s worth noting that in the last Quarter(Q3), HP beat Lenovo to take the top spot. Anyway, other brands like HP, Dell, Acer occupied 2,3, and 5th positions with 15.8, 11.5, and 5.6 million unit shipments with 22.6, 16.6, and 8.0% market share respectively.

Credit: Strategy Analytics

Speaking of growth, Although Lenovo made it to the top with a 24% YoY growth, HP grew the most with a 39% YoY over 2019. As for Apple, it shipped just 6.3 million units and as a result, captures only 9.1% of the market. Consequently, if you take the Notebook PC market in terms of OS, Windows leads the pack with a whopping 51.4 million units shipped in Q4.

Interestingly, as Analysts say, demand for Chromebooks rose in Q4 continuing the momentum from Q3. It occupied about 16.4% of the Total share shipping nearly 11.4 million units which is about 5.1 million more than MacOS. As a result, it beats the latter and grabs the second spot in the Top-5 list.

Credit: Strategy Analytics

Finally, going into 2021, companies are said to feel stress on the Supply chain owing to shortages of components and their rising costs.

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Chrome OS may soon allow you to cast your phone to your Chrome OS device

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:07:50 +0000

Screen mirroring allows you to cast your device to another. For example, if you own a Windows device, you can use the Your Phone app to cast your phone’s screen to your computer. A similar feature may soon be available for Chrome OS.

Back in September, a flag found on the Chromium Gerrit revealed that a feature called Phone Hub was in development. The feature will allow for better communication between Chrome OS and Android devices giving users the ability to receive notifications from their Android device on their Chrome OS device. But that is not all.

The feature will also allow users to sync Chrome tabs between the two devices, find their missing phone, turn on DND mode, and also reply to notifications on their Chromebooks.

It has now been discovered by 9to5Google that Phone Hub may get a feature that practically mirrors your phone’s screen on your Chromebook. However, this feature may be exclusive to Pixel phones. The new flag is listed as #eche-swa where “eche” is Spanish for “throw” or “cast” and SWA is System Web App.

A description for the flag says that the web app is related to a video feed being broadcast over WebRTC. XDA-Developers have said that the reason why it is exclusive to Google’s Pixel line of smartphones is that the Javascript for the Eche app is found in a Google source folder that is specific to Pixel phones. However, we hope it will be made available for other smartphones, so rather than it being Pixel-exclusive, it will be Pixel-first much like how Instant Tethering was.

There is no info on when the feature will go live but it should arrive this year. The main Phone Hub feature is already for very few users but that too should get a wider roll-out in the coming weeks.

The latest Chrome OS update turns your device into a sort of smart display

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 02:01:08 +0000

Chrome OS devices are known to receive updates for way longer than an Android device. A typical Chrome OS device will get software support for about 6½ years. That sure is a pretty long time, right? Google is rolling out a new update out to Chrome OS devices that brings some interesting and useful features, one of which sort of turns your device into a smart display.

The update arrives as Chrome OS 88 and one of the features it brings is support for web sign-in using a PIN or fingerprint that you’ve set up to unlock your Chromebook. This is a useful feature that makes it easier and faster to sign in to a website, provided the site supports WebAuthn. Some of the supported sites are Dropbox, GitHub, and Okta.

Google says that you can also use your PIN or fingerprint as the second factor if you use 2-step verification.

The other major feature that comes with the update is a personalization feature that transforms your Chromebook into a personalized smart display. Just as you can choose to have your Google Nest Hub display photos from your photo album on the lockscreen, you will now be able to show off photos from your Google Photo album or from an art gallery on your Chromebook’s lockscreen too.

Your lockscreen will also show information such as the current weather and what is currently playing. You also would not need to unlock your device to control playback. This setting can be activated under Settings > Personalisation > Screen saver.

ASUS announces three Chromebooks for Enterprises, General Consumers, and Gamers respectively

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:15:52 +0000

ASUS has announced three Google Chrome OS-powered laptops at CES 2021. These three models are targeted at a different consumer group, namely enterprises, general consumers, and gamers. They are called Chromebook CX9, Chromebook Flip C536/CX5, and Chromebook Flip CM5 respectively. As you can notice from their names, the latter two are convertibles but the former notebook is not. That said, the company has revealed the key specs of these products, however, their price and availability are a mystery as of now.

ASUS Chromebook CX9

This ASUS Chromebook meant for enterprises is MIL-STD 810H-certified for durability, weighs around 1KG, measures 16mm in thickness. It is powered by up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics and features Titan C security for storing sensitive information such as passwords and encryption keys.

Other notable features include a 14-inch NanoEdge display, magnesium-alloy chassis, Thunderbolt 4, fingerprint sensor, webcam shield, WiFi 6, Harman Kardon speakers, and up to 4TB storage.

ASUS Chromebook CX9 Specs

CPU	Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i5-1145G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7
GPU	Intel Iris Xe
RAM	8GB, 16GB
Storage	128GB to 4TB
Display	14-inch IPS LCD FHD (1920 x 1080 Pixels) 400 Nits Brightness
Camera	720p with Shutter
Battery	50Wh, 66Wh
Connectivity	WiFi 6
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C 1 x USB Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1 x MicroSD Reader

ASUS Chromebook Flip C536/CX5

Unlike the former model, this 15.6-inch convertible Chromebook is targeted at general consumers. But just like the previous laptop, this one also features up to 11th Generation Intel Core processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics, WiFi 6, and Harman Kardon speakers.

Further, it comes with USI Stylus support, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), and up to 16GB LPDDR4X RAM a well as 512GB NVMe SSD.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C536/CX5 Specs

CPU	Intel Core i3-1115G4 Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1165G7
GPU	Intel UHD, Intel Iris Xe
RAM	8GB, 16GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB (NVMe SSD)
Display	15.6-inch IPS LCD FHD (1920x1080 pixels) Touchscreen 250 Nits Brightness USI Stylus Support
Camera	720p
Battery	57Wh
Connectivity	WiFi 6
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack 1 x MicroSD Card Reader

ASUS Chromebook Flip CM5

Lastly, this notebook is designed for gamers in mind with a stealthy black color paintjob and red-colored WASD keys. However, the specs are modest as the high-end model only features an AMD Ryzen 5 35000C processor but does come with WiFi 6.

Anyway, it is more than enough for Google Stadia gaming on its 15.6-inch FHD display with Harman Kardon speakers.

ASUS Chromebook Flip CM5 Specs

CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 3250C AMD Ryzen 5 3500C
GPU	AMD Radeon
RAM	4GB to 16GB
Storage	64GB (eMMC) to 512GB (NVMe SSD)
Display	15.6-inch IPS LCD FHD (1920x1080 Pixels) Touchscreen 250 Nits Brightness Stylus Support
Camera	720p
Battery	57Wh
Connectivity	WiFi 6
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 1 x HDMI 1 x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack 1 x MicroSD Card Reader

(Via)

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Acer Chromebook Spin 514 announced with metal build and AMD Ryzen 3000 C-Series processors

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 18:31:20 +0000

Ahead of CES 2021, Acer has announced a new Chrome OS laptop called Acer Chromebook Spin 514. The highlight of this notebook includes metal build, U.S. MIL-STD 810H certification, and AMD Ryzen 3000 C-Series processors. It will be available in multiple variants, in addition to Enterprise Edition models.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514 Specifications and Features

According to Acer, the new Chromebook Spin 514 models are powered by AMD Ryzen 7 3700C and Ryzen 5 3500C quad-core processors with respective built-in AMD Radeon Vega Graphics. It can be bought in up to 16GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage version.

It flaunts a 14-inch FHD IPS LCD panel with support for touch input and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The display features 6.1mm side bezels and a 78% screen-to-body ratio. Since the product is a convertible, it can be also used as a Chrome OS tablet as it can run Android apps, which can be installed from the Google Play Store. Also, buyers can opt for an optional backlit keyboard model.

As mentioned in the beginning, the laptop features a metal build and weighs about 1.55Kg and measures 17.35mm in thickness. As for ports, it comes with 2 x USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1) with support for DisplayPort and charging, 2 x USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1) with one of them supporting power-off charging, and a MicroSD reader. Some variants also feature an HDMI port.

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On the connectivity front, the notebook features dual-band WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. Further, it sports a dual-speaker, dual-microphone with support for Google Assistant, and HD webcam.

Last but not least, it can be purchased in either Pure Silver, Steel Gray, or Mist Green color version.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514 Pricing and Availability

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H) will be available in the US from February starting at $479.99. Whereas, it will hit the shelves in Europe in March for a starting price of €529.

Similarly, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 Enterprise Edition (CP514-1WH) will be available from March in both the US and Europe, starting at $749.99 and €799 respectively.

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Google’s new ‘Zork’ Chromebook hits Google Play Console with AMD Ryzen 3 CPU

Balaji S — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 20:14:43 +0000

Google might be working on a budget Chromebook with an AMD Ryzen processor. Today, it has been spotted on Google Play Console which reveals key specifications of the device.

Representative image: Google Pixelbook Go

This new tip comes from 91Mobiles, who have spotted the codename ‘Zork’ and specifications like CPU, RAM, and display specs. According to the listing, the Chromebook will be powered by AMD’s Ryzen 3 3250C CPU. Now, if you recall, this is not the first Chromebook with an AMD processor.

HP and Acer were the frontrunners of introducing Chromebooks powered by AMD CPUs back in early 2019. Their Chromebook 14, and 315 respectively were the first Chrome OS devices to be feature AMD’s A4 CPU. Later, a few Chromebooks have hit the market with the latest one being the HP Pro c645 Chromebook Enterprise. It powers the same AMD Ryzen 3 3250 CPU found on this listing.

Moving on, the listing shows the device has a FHD display with a 1920x1080p resolution and 160 DPI. For memory and GPU, there is a 4GB RAM and AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics. Previously, a similar device with the codename ‘Zork’ was spotted on Geekbench(via MSP). This including another listing with AMD Ryzen 7 3700C, 8GB RAM denotes that Google might price the Chromebook across segments.

Interestingly, the Google Chromebook in testing seems to run on Android 9 as shown by the listing. However, we feel that it might be due to the emulator testing and the final version will just run Chrome OS. Apart from this, there is no other info on the listing.

Will this debut under the Pixelbook series? Only time will tell. That said, this is not the only Chromebook Google has been working so far. Another Chromebook, likely to be a successor of Pixelbook Go, codenamed ‘Halvor’ with 11th gen Intel CPU, 16GB RAM, Touch screen, 3.5mm jack, and more is in the works.

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HP beats Lenovo to become the world’s largest notebook PC brand in Q3 2020

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:33:40 +0000

Last week, Canalys published a report on Global PC Market Q3 2020. Now, Strategy Analytics has released a report solely dedicated to Global Notebook PC Market Q3 2020. That means unlike the former’s, the latter’s report does not include tablets and desktops. However, the new report reiterates the success of Chromebooks and puts HP as the notebook market leader.

HP Spectre x360 – 13-aw0205tu

According to Strategy Analytics, the global notebook PC market shipped a total of 62.2 million units in Q3 2020 with a growth rate of 34% YoY. HP came first with 14.7 million shipments, closely followed by Lenovo with 14.6 million units who was the market leader in the previous quarter. Whereas, the third, fourth, and fifth places were occupied by Dell, Apple, and Acer with 8.5, 6.0, and 4.9 million units respectively.

As for market share, HP and Lenovo both garnered a 23.6% share each, followed by Dell, Apple, and Acer with 13.7%, 9.7%, and 7.9% respectively. HP was the best-performing brand with a 43% YoY growth, whereas Apple came second with a 39% YoY growth.

Talking about operating systems, without any surprise, Windows captured first place with 45.3 million units in shipments and 72.8% market share. However, it grew the least at a rate of 23% YoY. On the other hand, the shipments of Chrome OS increased by a whopping 124% YoY with 10 million units. Also, it stood second in the overall notebook market with a 16.1% share.

Lastly, Apple managed to ship 6 million MacOS notebooks (Macbooks) garnering a 39% YoY growth. As a result, it came third with a 9.7% market share in terms of the operating system.

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As per Eric Smith, the Director of Connected Computing at Strategy Analytics, Chromebooks were popular in both consumer and commercial segments as it remained the favorite option for schools and students in developed nations. Further, gaming and ultramobile segments also performed well as consumers spent more money on notebooks for both entertainment and productivity purposes.

Last but not least, Chirag Upadhyay, a Senior Research Analyst at Strategy Analytics says that brands could have even performed better if they had the capacity to meet the demand. The last quarter of 2020 is also expected to have high demand with people continuing their work and education from home. The performance of the companies will depend on their supply chain management.

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Chromebooks performed exceptionally well in Q3 2020 by growing 122% YoY

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 09:25:31 +0000

Canalys has published a report on Global PC Market Q3 2020. This report not only consists of notebooks and desktops but also includes tablets. According to it, the entire market grew by 23% YoY with 124.5 million units in shipments. Chromebooks were the best-performing client PC product and the tablet market remained strong second quarter in a row.

HP Elite c1030 Chromebook

As per the report, Lenovo led the overall PC market by shipping 23.5 million units. Whereas, Apple, HP, Dell, and Samsung came second, third, fourth, and fifth respectively. Apple and Samsung made the top 5 list solely because of their tablets. This clearly explains the tablet market’s 43% YoY growth as the shipments reached 44.3 million units.

Talking about client PC products, Chromebooks performed exceptionally well by growing 122% YoY with shipments of 9.5 million units. Their success was mostly because of educational institutions and SMBs. HP was the market leader by shipping 3.2 million units, followed by Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus. However, Lenovo was the best-performing brand with a whopping 351.2% YoY growth.

Coming to tablets, unsurprisingly, Apple led the market with 15.2 million units in shipments. Whereas, Samsung in second place only shipped 9 million units. Further, Huawei, Amazon, and Lenovo captured third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively. Interestingly, Huawei continued to remain strong in Europe even with the lack of GMS (Google Mobile Services) on its tablets.

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Also, it is worth noting that Q3 2020 was the only quarter other than Q2 2020 in which the tablet market grew since 2015. So we can say that the pandemic resurrected tablets from the dead after five years.

Last but not least, the overall desktop market declined by 32% YoY, however, AIO (All-in-One) category grew by 7% YoY.

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Grab the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook for only ₹23,749 with this coupon

Sudarshan Ravichandran — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:15:21 +0000

Lenovo unveiled IdeaPad Duet Chromebook at CES 2020 earlier this year. It went on sale in the US starting May but like most Chrome OS devices, it has been mostly out of stock due to the demand caused by the pandemic. The product made its way to India in September but now a little over a month later, the tablet is already discounted ahead of Diwali festive season.

The IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the only Lenovo Chrome OS device available officially in India. Also, it can be only purchased from the company’s official website.

The tablet launched in the country for ₹27,999. But for a limited time, its price has been dropped by ₹3,000 ahead of Diwali. Hence, it is currently listed at ₹24,999. However, you can get it for only ₹23,749 with the coupon code – LENTAB.

I have been personally this device ever since it debuted in India. In fact, I am writing this deal article on it, thanks to the magnetic keyboard accessory and kickstand case that come bundled with it unlike any other tablet in the market.

It is powered by MediaTek helio P60T paired with 4GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB eMMC internal storage. But I would advise you to not go by the specs as this device is really fast. Above all, it is slated to receive Chrome OS updates until June 2028 and it can also run Android as well as Linux applications.

The tablet sports a 10.1-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and 400 nits peak brightness. It also supports USI Styluses but none of them are available in India.

On the connectivity front, it features dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and USB Type-C. Unfortunately, it does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack but comes with dual stereo speakers powered by Dolby Audio, however, they are not great. Anyway, you do get a USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack inside the box

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Further, it also has an 8MP rear camera if you are into clicking pictures on tablets and a 2MP front-facing camera for video calls and selfies. Lastly, it is backed by a 7,000mAh battery and offers up to 10 hours of battery life. Although it supports 15W USB PD charging, the company ships it with a 10W charger.

The only letdown of Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is its 450g weight. With the keyboard and the kickstand case, it weighs even more at 920g.

Buy Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

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Google is bringing Windows apps to Chromebooks with Parallels

Habeeb Onawole — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 23:33:44 +0000

You can run Android apps on Chromebooks and soon you will soon be able to run Windows apps. Support for the feature was announced earlier this year and now, more details on how it will work have surfaced.

In an interview with The Verge, the product manager for Chrome OS, Cyrus Mistry, revealed users will be able to boot a full version of Windows using Parallels Desktop, so they are running both Windows and Chrome OS side-by-side. To make things even easier, Windows file types will be redirected to Parallels Desktop.

Windows app running on Chrome OS using parallel Desktop. Image source- niad

However, this isn’t the final destination Google has in mind for running Windows apps on Chrome OS. What Google has planned is for users to run Windows apps without the need for the whole Windows desktop. Parallels already supports this on macOS and Linux, allowing users to run Windows apps as if they are the apps of the main operating system.

Parallels Desktop will be available later this year for businesses. Resellers will be able to add the feature to business Chromebooks. Also, you will need what is called “Power Usage” Chromebooks to get it to work which means the system requirement will be Intel Core i5 or Core i7 chipsets with at least 8 GB RAM according to XDA-Developers.

Google believes the addition of support for Windows apps will boost purchases but seeing as it will be available for businesses we don’t expect a big increase in sales.

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New Chromebooks will get Chrome OS updates and support for 8 years

Jeet — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 06:59:34 +0000

Chromebooks, which started off as devices to help students get more resources in a limited budget, are now getting popular. However, it is no longer limited to budget segment and manufacturers are launching new Chromebooks with premium features.

Google has now announced that it is extending the length of time it plans to support new Chrome OS education devices with security and platform updates. From this year, the company will now offer updates for eight years.

Lenovo 10e Chromebook Tablet

Prior to this, Google had guaranteed to support most devices with at least six years of automatic updates. With additional years of support, the company is also increasing the price of its Chrome Education Upgrade, a one-time license school boards can purchase, from $30 per device to $38 per device.

The company has also confirmed that from now-onwards, latest education devices from Lenovo and Acer — Lenovo 10e Chromebook Tablet and Acer Chromebook 712 will get automatic updates until June 2028. Other new devices could receive similar support as well, if the company opts for this.

So, not all the new Chrome OS devices will receive updates for eight years from manufacture date and the company has clarified that it is up to the manufacturer to detail exactly how long its devices will receive updates.

Alongside the new devices, Google is also introducing new search features to the Chromebook App Hub which is aimed at making it easier for teachers to find specific programs. It allows educators to narrow down an app search by school subject and availability of Google service integrations.

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Pixelbook Go is a stylish Chromebook that starts at $649

Habeeb Onawole — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 18:42:16 +0000

Google also announced a couple of other products today alongside the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. The Pixelbook Go is one of the new products and it is a cheaper and smaller version of the Pixelbook.

The Pixelbook Go is a stylish Chromebook with a design unlike any you have seen on any other Chromebook or even PC. The device has a magnesium body with a matte finish at the top while the underside has a ridge design that makes it easier to grip. It is also light and slim – weighing 1.06 kilograms and measuring just 13 millimeters.

The Pixelbook Go has a 13.3-inch touchscreen display with thick bezels surrounding it. Buyers will be able to choose between an FHD 1920 x 1080 LCD display or a 4K (3460 x 2160) UHD Molecular Display.

There are four configurations available:

Intel Core M3 (8th Gen) + 8GB RAM + 64GB = $649/£629
Intel Core i5 (8th Gen) + 8GB RAM + 128GB = $849/£829
Intel Core i5 (8th Gen) + 16GB RAM + 128GB = $999/£949
Intel Core i7 (8th Gen) + 16GB RAM + 256GB = $1399/£1,329

The Pixelbook Go features a backlit keyboard that Google boasts is super quiet. Just like the original Pixelbook, there is a dedicated Google Assistant button or you can just say “Hey Google”.

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Google says the Pixelbook Go will provide up to 12 hours of battery life and supports fast charging. Just 20 minutes of charging will provide up to 2 hours of usage. The computer will ship with a 45W USB Type-C wall adapter and 2m USB-C charging cable. There are two USB-C ports and you can use any to charge the device but there is no SD card slot, so no storage expansion. There is also an audio jack on the device and a 1080p Duo Cam.

The Pixelbook is available for pre-order starting today but the Core i5 (16GB version) has a waitlist while the Core i7 version is listed as coming soon. It is available in Just Black and Not Pink.

Google says there is also an Enterprise Edition that “includes the business capabilities of Chrome OS unlocked and does not require users to make an additional purchase of the chrome Enterprise Upgrade”.

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