Tag: Chrome OS

The expansion of Android app support on Chromebooks continues with the addition of three more devices supported in the latest Chrome OS update.  The Lenovo Thinkpad 13, the HP Chromebook 13 G1 and the Samsung Chromebook 3 are the latest to gain Android app support in the Stable channel.  This came with the latest Chrome 62 build that rolled out to these devices earlier this month.

If you have one of these Chromebooks, once you have received the update (you can force the issue by typing chrome://help in the browser), you should see the Google Play Store in your App Drawer.  Click on it and get things configured and you can then install Android apps on these devices.

In addition to these in the Stable channel, the Dell Chromebook 13 and the Acer C740 also have Android app support but only in the Beta Channel.

Late yesterday, the Chrome team within Google announced that a new minor update was being released.  The new version is build 62.0.3202.82 (Platform version: 9901.66.0) and follows in the wake of a similar release for Chrome for Android yesterday.

The release notes indicate that it is rolling out now but that devices that are able to run Android apps, of which there are now plenty, will see the update later next week.

This update doesn’t bring any new features to the platform.  Rather, it is a security and bug fix update.

It has been a while since the Chromium team has updated the Chromebook and Chromebox list of devices that support Android apps.  In fact, the last significant update happened back in August.  Now the team has made a big update to the list, updating it with the current status of Android apps on Chrome OS.

The list can be found here and as I’ve suggested before, I recommend readers who use Chrome OS to bookmark the page.  This is the official list of devices that do or will support Android apps.  Yes, it is often slow in getting updated but it is the official list nevertheless.

A quick heads-up for readers who use Chrome OS.  You have a new update rolling out.  The new build is version 61.0.3163.123 (Platform version: 9765.85.0) and according to the release notes, will be rolling out to a majority of devices starting today.  As always, you can check for the update manually by typing chrome://help in the browser omnibar and tapping the “check for updates” button.

The update does not specifically call out any new features or fixes.  Rather, it is a bug fix and security update for the platform.  Over the past few months it has become common practice for Google to release a major update at the beginning of the month then one of these smaller, fix oriented updates around mid-month.

The Chrome team has released a major update to Chrome OS into the stable channel.  The update is build 61.0.3163.113 (Platform version: 9765.76.0) and it rolling out to devices today.  Normally on Chrome OS releases, there are a few devices that are left off the update for various reasons – device specific features, already on a different train, etc. – but this release has a pretty extensive list and it contains a lot of popular Chromebooks and Chromeboxes.

If you have one of the devices listed below, the update to the Chrome 61 build will not be available for your device:

For you Amazon shoppers who are looking to get your hands on the new Google Pixelbook, you can now pre-order it on the site.  During the presentation on the new Chromebook, Google mentioned that it would be available at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy so it isn’t surprising.  In fact, the listing for the Pixelbook clearly states it is being sold by Google through their Amazon storefront.

Don’t look for any special pricing either.  The i5 equipped Google Pixelbook with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is $999, the same price as it is directly from Google.  And while pre-orders are now available, shipping won’t happen until October 31st, just like the Google Store.