Category: Chrome OS

While Chrome OS is very efficient at managing memory and processes, it, like everyone Operating System, needs to be restarted from time-to-time.  For Chromebook users that has meant that you have to power down your device completely then fire things back up.  Doing so empties cached items in memory and kills off PIDs (Process Identifiers) so things run smoothly again.

But there are times when you are in the middle of working on things where a quick restart button would be handy.  Natively, there is not such a button in Chrome OS but in this How To, I’ll show you how you can quickly create one and have it in your browser favorites bar for quick access.

The Chromium team has released a fourth developmental build of Chrome 66 to the Chrome OS Dev Channel.  This marks the fourth consecutive week that a new build has been released to the platforms Dev channel, which essentially serves as its alpha build channel.  The new update is build 66.0.3359.10 (Platform version: 10452.1.0) and is rolling out to devices in that channel today.

As always, those who have devices in the Dev Channel can type chrome://help in the omnibar of the browser to force their devices to download the update.  As a gentle reminder, the Dev Channel is not recommended to be run on production Chromebooks as it is unstable and you will likely run into bugs or issues.

After the latest Chrome 64-based build of Chrome OS rolled out last week to the majority of Chromebooks, several of them picked up Android app support in the Stable Channel.  This means that owners of these Chromebooks no longer have to live in the Beta or Dev channels to have Android apps run, providing a more stable and robust experience.

Here are the Chromebooks that added Android support in the Stable Channel:

• Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571 / C910)
• CTL J5 Convertible Chromebook
• eduGear CMT Chromebook
• Haier Chromebook 11 C
• PCMerge Chromebook PCM-116T-432B
• Prowise Chromebook Proline
• Viglen Chromebook 360

In the case of all of these Chromebooks, Android app support worked on them in the Beta channel previously.

The third Chrome 65 based beta build for Chrome OS has landed in the platforms Beta Channel today.  Build 65.0.3325.107 (Platform version: 10323.46.0) is in the process of rolling out now but those who have a Chromebook in the beta channel can always force the update by typing chrome://help in the omnibar and checking for the update.

For those new to Chrome OS, the beta channel is the last channel a new build comes to prior to being released in the Stable channel.  Generally there are anywhere from 2-4 updates to the Beta channel before it makes it out to the general public.

A friendly reminder to readers who may still be thinking about picking up a Google Pixelbook.  The $100 discount on all models at Amazon and the Google Store will be ending tomorrow.

At Amazon, you can pick up the entry level Google Pixelbook for $899, a savings of $100 off the regular price.  In fact, you can pick up the Pixelbook and the Pixelbook Pen together for $997, which is less than the normal price of the Chromebook itself.

For the third consecutive week, a new Chrome 66 build is now available in the Chrome OS Dev Channel.  The new update is build 66.0.3356.0 (Platform version: 10443.0.0) and for those with devices in what is essentially the Alpha testing channel for the platform, should have the update soon if not already.

As always, those who have devices in the Dev Channel can type chrome://help in the omnibar of the browser to force their devices to download the update.  As a gentle reminder, the Dev Channel is not recommended to be run on production Chromebooks as it is unstable and you will likely run into bugs or issues.