Tag: Chrome OS

The Chromium team has released a sizable update to Chrome OS this morning, bringing with it several enhancements and improvements to the platform.  The updated build is version 52.0.2743.85 (Platform version: 8350.60.0) for those keeping score at home and it is available for all devices running the Operating System.  The update is already rolling out (I have received it on my HP Chromebook 11 G4 already) and you can check for it by going to Settings>About Chrome OS>Check for Update.

Today’s Deal over at Amazon is a great one for those of you who are looking for a solid performing 11″ Chromebook.  The HP Chromebook 11 G4 is down to $174.89 at Amazon and that is for the 4GB of RAM model with 16GB of storage.  I reviewed this Chromebook back in February and it remains my day-to-day Chromebook.  I have to say it is one of the best 11″ Chromebooks I have had the privileged to test and review. It’s performance is solid, the keyboard is smooth and responsive, as is the trackpad. I found the display to be very good for an 11″ device while the battery life, for some, will be lacking. All that said though, with a price of $200 for the 4GB, 16GB of storage model on Amazon, it is hard to beat. I have no hesitation in recommending it for the vast majority of readers.

Google has rolled out a behind-the-scenes update that enabled comment notifications in Chrome and on Android for Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides.  Previously, when someone made a comment on a shared file, you would receive an email notification that the comment had been made on the document.  Now you will get a standard notification on your Android devices or in Chrome when these comments have been made on the file.

HP, like many other traditional PC manufactures, is getting serious about Chrome OS.  The company has announced the new Chromebook 11 G5, an 11.6″ Chromebook that will start at just $189 when it is released to partners this month and retailers in October.  The new Chromebook 11 will be available with an optional touch screen display which, given that upcoming release of Android apps on Chrome OS, is something those of you in the market for a Chromebook should seriously consider.  It will be powered by the Intel Celeron N3060 and likely will have configurable memory and storage options once it does hit the HP store.  Equally, it was have an impressive 12.5 hours of battery life.

Google has just released an updated build of Chrome OS for all devices running on the platform.  The update build is version 51.0.2704.79 (Platform version: 8172.47.0) for those keeping score at home.  On some devices the platform version will end in .1 or .2 so keep that in mind but the main thing you want to look for is the 51.0.2704 build.  As usual, there are a significant number of updates and security improvements made to the OS but there is also a significant improvement when it comes to the handling of external monitors connected to your Chrome-based devices.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, Google announced this morning at I/O that the Google Play Store, and subsequently millions of Android apps, are coming to Chrome OS.  The announcement means that later this year, all Chrome OS users will be able to download, install and use their favorite Android apps on their Chromebooks without compromising performance or security.  This, folks, is a big deal.  It means that the OS will have honest-to-goodness apps, not web apps, which means you can get the same user experience on your Chromebook as you do your tablet or phone.