The Chrome Cast

Amazon Prime Day effect Jul 16, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we talk through Amazon Prime Day, the cancellation of the LaCros browser, and if we think ChromeOS Flex is going away now that ChromeOS is moving to the Android kernel. The first part of the show is dedicated to Prime Day, Amazon's massive online sales event that, unfortunately, doesn't have any notable Chromebook deals but does, surprisingly, have a ton of fantastic deals on Pixel hardware. We also discuss how Prime Day affects other retailers, driving down prices on solid Chromebooks that are still great deals - even though they aren't part of Prime Day. Let us know in the comments below if you've scored a great Chromebook deal!

For the second part of the show, we catch up on the news that work on the ChromeOS detached browser, codenamed LaCros, is being canceled. And speaking of things getting canceled, the last part of the show is all about the rumors that ChromeOS Flex is going way. These speculations, which we've confirmed not to be true, started circulating after ChromeOS announced the move to the Android Linux kernel so we talk through what we've heard from Google and why we think ChromeOS Flex isn't going anywhere.

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ASUS may have built the new King of Chromebooks Jul 11, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we discuss some new hardware, including a monster new Chromebook, that just showed up at the office and some exciting new budget-friendly gadgets that should be arriving soon. In the first part of the show, we talk through our unboxing of the new Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 and why we wanted to do a video on this ultra-thin portable keyboard.

On the Chromebook side of things, we’re talking about none other than the ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus – a device that might be the new King of Chromebooks. If you’ve been following along with our videos on YouTube, you know this device is not the standard $699 version though, so listen in to hear all of Robby’s thoughts on this monster version of the CX54.

In the latter part of the show, we talk through some very interesting, extremely affordable new tech from CMF, a sub-brand from Nothing. As you’ll hear, Robby is fired up about the watch and earbuds that both have solid specs at a price that doesn’t even seem possible. And yes, Robby is already trying to convince CMF to make a Chromebook!

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Pixel 9 event comes two months early Jun 26, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast we chat about hosting our very first members-only AMA and then dive deep into Google’s surprise hardware event that was just announced. In our discussions about the new Pixel 9 lineup, we also talk through how phone processors are made and how the next TSMC-fabbed Tensor chip could be a game changer.

As for the AMA, this is something new we are doing for our Chrome Unboxed Plus community where we host folks from the ChromeOS team at Google (or from other interesting companies) to answer questions from our community in a private live stream on Discord. Since we recorded this show yesterday and did the AMA with Stella Shannon last night, you’ve unfortunately missed this first one but there will be more! We’re really happy with this revamped community and have expanded our existing benefits to now include AMAs, exclusive giveaways, and even an ad-free podcast feed. So, if you’re not a member already, you can easily check it out with our 7-day free trial and I hope that you stick around!

The remainder of the show is all about the Made By Google event RSVPs that went out to the press yesterday! Since there wasn’t any mention of hardware at Google I/O, we’re expecting a packed keynote this year with new Pixel phones, a new Pixel Fold, an updated Pixel Watch with two sizes, and a refresh to the Pixel Buds Pro. So yeah, there was a lot to talk through. I hope you enjoy the show, cheers!

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The intrigue of ChromeOS running on Android Jun 18, 2024

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast podcast, we give an update on the Chrome Unboxed studio and then dive deep into the “Ferrochrome” project which allows ChromeOS to run in a VM on Android. The bulk of the discussion revolves around the Ferrochrome project but we did want to take some time to give a studio update since we will be filming a video and shooting more content in the newly rearranged space. Keep an eye out in the next video, things might look a little different.

As for the Ferrochrome project, news of its existence first popped up about a month ago and after getting quite excited, we were told by Google that this was just a test and that there were no real plans to pursue ChromeOS on Android. But that doesn’t seem to be the case since we now have reports that Google is developing a one-click “Ferrochrome Launcher” that will download, configure, and fully launch ChrommiumOS using the Android VM app launcher.

While this development is still very early, it’s exciting to see some work still being done on this project. So, as you can imagine, we have lots of ideas and speculation about what this could look like down the road if it were to become a real thing. Maybe ChromeOS on your phone with a set of XR glasses? We’ll just have to wait and see!

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ChromeOS is moving to the Android kernel Jun 14, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into a big announcement from Google regarding the backend framework of ChromeOS and all of the new software features for Chromebook Plus that were announced at the Chromebook Showcase a few weeks ago in NYC.

We had planned for the latter to be the main discussion this week, but an emergency press conference was in order after Google announced on Wednesday that the foundation of ChromeOS is moving to the Android Linux kernel. We talk through what this might mean for ChromeOS moving forward, how it will affect users and the timeline for this change. This is a big move so it was nice to talk through the details and I hope it provides some clarity. If you are well-versed in the world of kernels and have additional insight, please leave us a comment below.

As promised, the remainder of the show is dedicated to all the new features now available on Chromebook Plus. We talk through a few of our favorites, how they are currently working, and some tweaks we would like to see in the future. We’ve been waiting for these features to roll out since they were first teased back in October at the first Chromebook event so it’s great to see them finally available! What’s your favorite new feature? Let us know!

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Thoughts on new Chromebook Plus hardware Jun 05, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into our thoughts on the new Chromebook Plus model and Chromebooks that were recently announced at the event in NYC. Following the event, we had a great chat with Stella Shannon, ChromeOS Consumer Hardware Product Lead, about the event and we did a hands-on video from the event but outside of that, we hadn’t shared many thoughts on these devices. So that’s exactly what we did in this show!

We talk through all the releases from each manufacturer and the iterations that we’re seeing this go around. We wrap things up with some speculation about how these releases and this event might shape up moving forward, with perhaps a tik-tok of iteration in the Spring and then big refreshes in the Fall.

We did run a little long talking through the hardware – surprise, surprise – so next weeks episode will be all about the flood of new software features that were announced alongside these new Chromebooks. Make sure to follow The Chrome Cast on whatever podcast platform you use to listen so you don’t miss that episode!

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Event recap with Stella Shannon from the ChromeOS team May 28, 2024

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we have a very special guest joining us for a bit of post-game discussion on the heels of Google’s latest Chromebook-focused event up in New York. Stella Shannon – ChromeOS Consumer Product Lead – was gracious enough to sit down and talk through most of what we experienced at the event while digging a bit deeper into the way the ChromeOS team goes about deciding on new devices, new features, and the general path forward with all they are doing in the consumer space right now.

It was an awesome interview, and we absolutely loved getting to spend a bit more time with the person who is truly behind all the new Chromebooks we get to talk about on a daily basis around here. We hope you get time to listen through this one very soon!

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In anticipation of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE Apr 30, 2024

We’re back with another episode of The Chrome Cast podcast and this week we dive into upcoming hardware, our thoughts on the Chromebook market, and how new ARM processors might impact things moving forward. But the bulk of our discussion revolves around Robby’s discovery of a Chromebook Plus branded version of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you’ve probably heard Robby talk about the 516 GE and his love for this device, so we take some time in this episode to talk through the small tweaks that he’d like to see in an upgraded, Chromebook Plus branded version.

For the remainder of the show, we talk through developments in the ARM space, including new benchmarks of MediaTek MT8188 and how Qualcomm’s focus on their Snapdragon X Elite compute platform has us excited for that processor to maybe make it to Chromebooks down the road. We’ve been talking about ARM processors for many years and look forward to seeing how these new chips will push Chromebook innovation.

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New Chromebooks, new features, new Chromecast Apr 23, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we have a little hardware and a little software. For the first half of the show, we focus on a few new Chromebook releases: the kind of different but kind of the same Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and the Lenovo Chromebook Slim 3i that you should not buy. We wrap up our hardware segment with a discussion of a 4K Chromecast with Google TV that is rumored to be on the way and what we hope Google brings to their next-gen streaming dongle.

In the second half of the show, we dive into a new feature coming soon in Google Photos that will help you de-clutter your library by getting rid of all those random screenshots, GIFs, and memes that have been building up. And then we finish up the show with a phone call feature that Robby thinks should head to Chromebooks soon. We even have a throwback to Andromeda, for some of you OG Chrome Unboxed readers who might remember all of those rumors back in 2016 and 2017. I hope you enjoy it, cheers!

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The mounting problem of the Google Graveyard Apr 18, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into a big update on the website, publishing our last YouTube video for a bit, and a mounting problem that has us frustrated with Google.

The first half of the show is all about the return of the comments section on the website. After working through what turned into a complicated issue with Disqus, we are thrilled to have comments back on the site! It’s taken some time to get everything set up correctly, but we hope our improved comments section is a place for engaging conversations. So, head to the bottom of this article and leave us a comment!

For the remainder of the show, we share our thoughts on Google’s expanding graveyard of canceled services and why we think Google needs to shift away from its “move fast, break things” startup mentality. With many great services shutting down over the last few years (many of which users relied on for personal and business use), it’s easy to understand the frustration that some users might be feeling and how it could lead to a distrust in Google services.

We make sure to end the show on a high note, though, with some exciting news on upcoming hardware so stick around for that. I hope you enjoy the show and, again, leave us a comment below with your thoughts on the topics we covered. Cheers!

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Exclusive first look at Chromebook Plus AI Apr 10, 2024

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast podcast, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with a discussion about wrapping up our Chromebook Plus reviews and an exciting exclusive demo of the upcoming Chromebook Plus AI features. We appreciate everyone tuning in last week as we explained why we’re taking a quick break from YouTube, but it was fun to get back to news coverage this week.

For the first half of the show, we dive into our Chromebook Plus review process and the collective relief we’re feeling after wrapping up our 8th Chromebook Plus review. We hope that these reviews have been helpful as you all have tried to wade through these new devices that were all launched at the Chromebook Plus event last October. We have several exciting things in the works that we can’t wait to work on after our hiatus, so stay tuned.

The remainder of the show is all about our exclusive demo of the upcoming Chromebook Plus features. Given the nature of Chromebook news, we don’t get many exclusives (other than finding things in the repositories) so it was very nice of the ChromeOS team to reach out and give us a sneak peek of the Chromebook Plus AI features that are coming soon. We’ve shared some frustration around the delivery of these features, so it was great to also get clarification on why it’s taking a little longer and why it will be worth the wait. If you’re as excited as we are about these new features, you don’t want to miss this one. Enjoy!

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The real reason we're taking a break from YouTube Apr 05, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we took a break from our normal news roundup and decided to explain some of how we got here, where we're heading, and why we've decided to take a few weeks off from publishing on YouTube. And no, Chrome Unboxed isn't going anywhere and we aren't quitting YouTube. We do talk through why this is probably happening on YouTube, but we are as focused and clear-headed about Chrome Unboxed as ever. We just need some time to focus on the launch of something exciting!

The official announcement of what we've been working on is coming soon so this episode is kind of a long-form explanation and teaser of what's coming. We will publish a more buttoned-up version of all this on YouTube next week, so keep an eye out for that. We have some exciting videos planned and some things in the works that we can't wait to tell you all about, but for right now, we want to take some time to focus on the launch of Proof Golf.

I promise we will get back to our regularly scheduled programming soon, but this was a fun conversation that gives you all a behind-the-scenes look at what we've been working on and how we operate. We dive deep into how our content strategy has evolved and how we've responded to changes in the digital publishing world. So, if you are a fan of Chrome Unboxed and want a look behind the curtain, this one is for you. As always, we greatly appreciate you all listening and supporting Chrome Unboxed. Enjoy!

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We have Lenovo's pocket-sized Chromebox Micro in the office Mar 28, 2024

We're back with another episode of The Chrome Cast podcast and on this week's show, we discuss some new, interesting hardware we've been testing. If you've been listening to the show or reading the site lately, you know that we have been working hard to get through our reviews of the Chromebook Plus models announced in October. So it was a nice change of pace when the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk and Lenovo Chromebox Micro arrived at our office this week.

We've been anxiously waiting for the Logitech Casa to arrive for a few reasons. First and foremost, we wanted to ensure that the keyboard and trackpad work with ChromeOS as seamlessly as we hoped, since Logitech went above and beyond to make this a Works With Chromebook-certified product. And secondly, we wanted to see if the hardware was good enough to justify the $180 price tag. Listen in to see what Robby thinks and check out our recent unboxing video to see the Casa in action.

The second half of the show is all about Lenovo's interesting new take on a Chromebox: the Chromebox Micro. We've been excited to see this Chromebox is truly pocket-sized so as soon as it arrived, we opened the box and I popped it straight into my pocket. No problem! Oh, and we've already discovered that it is the first Chromebox we've ever tested that can be run off of a portable power bank.

Outside of many standard Enterprise or home-desktop setups, the Lenovo Chromebox Micro opens the door for some unique use cases that we are excited to try out. Maybe a portable setup with AR glasses? Stay tuned as we test and experiment with this new Chromebox. If you are excited about this Chromebox, send us a message or hit us up on X and explain why - we're curious why it seems like so many of you are interested in this Chromebox.

We also made sure to squeeze in a "Hot Take" at the end of the show so make sure to stick around for that to hear Robby's ode to the original Google WiFi. I hope you enjoy the show! Cheers!

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Useful updates coming soon to Chromebooks Mar 21, 2024

We’re back with another episode of The Chrome Cast podcast and this week we tackle a few software updates that are coming soon to your Chromebook, the 2024 Google I/O announcement, and why we can’t wait for an exciting new accessory to show up. The first part of the show is dedicated to – you guessed it – Lacros. We’ve been talking about this de-coupled Chrome browser on Chromebooks for a while now but it looks like we could be nearing the finish line soon – maybe in ChromeOS 124! And although it will likely be an update that you might not even notice, we explain why it’s a massive shift for ChromeOS.

For the second half of the show, we split the conversation between Google I/O and the Logitech Casa. The official date for I/O 2024 has been released and so we talk through what we’re expecting from Google’s developer conference this year and why we’re hopeful for a new Chromecast. As for the Logitech Casa, you might have heard us talk about this “desk in a box” product in last week’s show but since then we have made a few discoveries that make us even more excited to get it in the office and test it out (if FedEx ever decides to stop by.) Oh, and brace yourself for the AI discussion that gets brought up near the end of the show; this stuff is terrifying and so interesting at the same time. Enjoy!

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We’ve reviewed all but one of the Chromebook Plus models Mar 14, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we focus most of our discussion around two main topics: the full review of the HP 15.6" Chromebook Plus and the new Casa Pop-Up Desk that includes a wireless trackpad that works with ChromeOS. The HP 15.6" review is the second to last review of Chromebook Plus models that were launched back in October, so we also talked through that process and why the Lenovo Slim 3i is still Robby's favorite.

The second half of the conversation is all about the new Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk that we recently stumbled upon. This interesting multi-device "desk in a box" setup looks great all on its own but through some investigation, we've discovered that the Casa is a Works With Chromebook certified device, making it the only wireless trackpad option for ChromeOS right now. So, as you might imagine, we are pretty excited about the Casa and can't wait to test it out soon.

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What it's like to use the Pixelbook in 2024 Mar 06, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast, we generally stick to a single topic: using the venerable Pixelbook in 2024. Originally released in the fall of 2017, the Pixelbook still largely stands alone in the world of laptops and Chromebooks when we talk about sheer ingenuity, aesthetics, and build quality. There’s simply never been anything like it before or since.

But the larger conversation around this Chromebook circles back to the reasons Google is no longer actively developing any in-house Chromebooks. As halo devices, Chromebooks like the Pixelbook, Pixel Slate, and Pixelbook Go were largely used to shine the light on general Chromebook deficits. With manufacturers truly picking up the slack, there’s just no need for Google to light the way any longer. But we still really wish they would.

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The importance of a potential Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus Feb 29, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we’re diving deep into the potential of a new device from Samsung and why we think it’s the perfect time for a Galaxy Chromebook Plus. In case you’ve missed it, we’ve been reporting on the development of a new board in the repositories called “Xol” that we think could be a new Galaxy Chromebook Plus and so this took up much of our discussion this week but for good reason, it’s super exciting! We believe it’s time for Google and Samsung to work closely together to finally deliver the Galaxy Chromebook we all want!

As part of the discussion around Samsung and Xol, we also chatted about a crazy discount on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 that has dropped the price of that device to $299 and how wild Chromebook deals like this affect the market. As always, we get a little off the rails talking about EV chargers and Gemini, too, but we tried our best to keep things focused. Hope you enjoy listening, cheers!

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A new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus could be on the way Feb 22, 2024

This week on the The Chrome Cast podcast, it's all about hardware! We are working our way through the Chromebook Plus reviews and have two new videos that we discuss. The first is our favorite of the bunch, the Lenovo Slim 3i Chromebook Plus. We dive into why Robby absolutely loves this Chromebook, from the excellent build quality and rigidity to the punchy screen and great keyboard. There's a lot to like with this one and it highlights the best of Chromebook Plus in all the right ways.

In the second half of the show, we talk through the review of the ASUS Vibe CX34 review, the most flashy of the new Chromebook Plus models. And we wrap up the show with a discussion of a new device called "Xol" that Robby has been tracking and believes is a new Chromebook from Samsung, maybe a new Galaxy Chromebook Plus.

We made note of this in the introduction but this episode was recorded remotely and we had a few technical issues. If you notice a slight echo while Robby is talking or a little static feedback in parts, we apologize. We are working to figure out a setup that gives you all that crispy audio that you've all come to expect from The Chrome Cast!

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GeForce NOW turns 4, Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review Feb 02, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stick to two major themes: the evolution and growth of NVIDIA GeForce NOW as it turns 4 years old and our review of the Acer Chromebook Plus 515. With GeForce NOW, there’s so much that has changed in their four years of existence, and nearly all of it has been for the better.

For the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review, we chose to go a bit of a different route this time around, streamlining things to publish one of the shortest reviews we’ve ever made. And there’s a reason for it: Chromebook Plus is just that reliably good. When it comes down to it, as long as Chromebook Plus is on the lid, it’s going to be a solid overall experience.

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Some thoughts on CES 2024 Jan 12, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast, we take a look at CES 2024 and explain a bit about why we weren’t in attendance, why not many Chromebook announcements were made there, and what about the show stood out this week as coverage from other outlets flooded our news feeds. It’s a fun show that gives us a chance to spend a lot of our time talking about the new Chromebooks from ASUS and a bit about some fun tech that showed up in Las Vegas this year.

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A look back at 2023 Jan 05, 2024

This week on The Chrome Cast, we take a look back at the tentpole moments of 2023 and how things changed over the last 365 days not just for us here at Chrome Unboxed, but for ChromeOS, Chromebooks and Google, too. From Chromebook Plus to the Dragonfly Pro to AI and more, we spend a good bit of time unpacking all the stuff that made 2023 the year that it was.

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The wildly-encouraging state of affordable Chromebooks Dec 22, 2023

On this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin by talking about the amazing deals out there right now for Chromebooks under $300, and the conversation simply took off from that point. We’re in a stage in the Chromebook story where Chromebook Plus is a relevant player in the overall narrative that is driving prices for great Chromebooks down to pretty remarkable places.

Just a few years ago, I loathed talking too much about affordable Chromebooks because most of them were flat-out bad and not fun to use. At the end of 2023, however, that is less and less the case, and there are so many great Chromebooks under $300 at this point that I think the landscape for Chromebooks and ChromeOS will look quite different by this point in 2024.

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ASUS launches the new King of Chromebooks Dec 17, 2023

On this episode of The Chrome Cast, we really did attempt to continue with our one-subject-per-podcast format this week, but in talking about ASUS' newly-launched ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus, our conversation diverged to include not just ASUS' new, top-dog Chromebook, but Chromebook Plus, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, Intel Core i3 performance, and Intel's new Core Ultra-branded chips for laptops across the board.

Obviously, the main focus of our discussion is all about this wildly-over-the-top new Chromebook that came out of nowhere, however, and there's just a lot to talk about with this surprising new device that could be the Chromebook to beat in 2024.

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Let's create a "Best Chromebooks" list together Dec 01, 2023

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we're sticking with our new format of sticking to a single topic. And this time around, we've decided to work through our "Best Chromebooks" list for the end of the year live on the podcast. There was no planning for this and you can listen as we talk through and create the list that will likely become what we're thinking will be our first-ever "12 Chromebooks of Christmas". How's that for a bit of multitasking?

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ChromeOS 119 and Chromebook Plus issues Nov 25, 2023

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we’re trying something a bit different. Instead of trying to cover a week’s worth of stuff in a single, 90-minute show, we’re going to break our episodes into topic-specific segments and publish more often. This way, you don’t have to give over an hour to listen and we have the flexibility to jump in and produce a new episode with a bit more ease. It’s a win-win!

For this episode, our discussion topic circles around the issues with ChromeOS 119 and the missing Chromebook Plus features that could be happening because of it. On Friday, I realized my Chromebook Plus features were simply gone from the Flex 5i, and after a bit more digging, I also realized ChromeOS 119 has been pulled from the Omaha server responsible for pushing updates to all Chromebook devices. Something’s off for sure, and if you’ve been affected by it, this episode should provide a bit of insight.

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The Chromebook Plus naming conundrum Nov 11, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion is largely dominated by the naming mess that Chromebook Plus is facing right now. Sure, there are 8 “new” Chromebook Plus devices that were launched with the announcement, but as of mid-October, a bunch of other existing devices also got the full Chromebook Plus upgrade.

The issue? If you don’t know better and walk into a store or are browsing online, looking for Chromebook Plus (as the marketing is pushing consumers to do), you may pass on many fantastic devices that are Chromebook Plus through-and-through but don’t have anything in the listing to tell you that is the case.

Think of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, a device I’ve lauded for nearly a year at this point as one of my favorite devices. As I type this right now on that exact device, it kills me to think consumers may walk right by it simply because there’s no label that tells them this is a Chromebook Plus. The fix would be a simple name change and inclusion for devices like this in any and all Chromebook Plus marketing, but I don’t know if or when we’ll get there.

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Chromebook Plus deals, processors, and tablets Nov 03, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, loosely everything we discuss circles around one, large topic: Chromebook Plus. From the myriad of deals on Chromebook Plus devices to discussing the prowess of Chromebook Plus processors and the possibility of new Chromebook Plus tablets, this week’s show largely stays focused on Chromebook Plus.

We also discuss the curious case of the Pixel Tablet as well: a device still stuck in limbo, trying to figure out what its purpose truly is. With the Google Assistant set to start gaining Bard’s capabilities and new Nest Hub-like features on the way to the Pixel Tablet, perhaps there’s a future where owning this odd tablet from Google really starts to make a lot of sense.

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A big giveaway and the final Chromebook Plus unboxing Oct 27, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by talking about our latest giveaway: 3 Lenovo Chromebook Slim 3i Chromebooks! While these devices don’t have Chromebook Plus on the lid, they are Chromebook Plus through-and-through. As my favorite Chromebook Plus model thus far (and the first I plan to review), I’m beyond excited to be able to give away three of these excellent Chromebooks courtesy of Lenovo.

From there, we move on to talk about the fact that there are no real differences in devices like the Slim 3i and the Chromebook Plus Slim 3i: it’s just a new branding on the lid. And after we get through some discussion on the state of Chromebook Plus right now and the situation with the ChromeOS 118 update, we move on to examining the latest Chromebook Plus model to arrive at the office – the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 – and the fact that we now have all of the new Chromebook Plus devices in the office to begin weeks worth of reviews.

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A new Samsung Chromebook Plus may be on the way Oct 20, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss the potential for a new Chromebook Plus model that could be on the way from Samsung. From the heights of the Samsung Chromebook Plus/Pro and Galaxy Chromebook to the oddly-named and poorly-executed devices like the Galaxy Chromebook Go and Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, Samsung has been on a rough path in the ChromeOS space for years at this point.

But their comeback could be solidified with a well-thought-out Chromebook Plus model that looks to be in the works with a new device codenamed ‘Pirrha’ that has been in development since July. Could this device signal a return to form from Samsung? And if so, when will we see it? This topic dominates our discussion this week, but we also hit on some other Chromebook Plus stuff and a bit about the wild deals we’re currently seeing in the market on an ongoing basis.

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New Chromebook Plus models, software features, and AI tools Oct 09, 2023

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we get into all of the hardware and software details from the Chromebook Plus announcement that we didn’t have time to cover in our episode last week. If you listened to that episode, you know that the Chromebook Plus certification represents the biggest change to Chromebooks we’ve seen since we started our coverage in 2015 and so there was a lot to talk about from a big picture perspective. But from a consumer standpoint, the hardware requirements and software features are what will impact your overall experience of using a new Chromebook Plus-certified device.

So for this episode, we take a deep dive into each of the new 8 Chromebook Plus models that were a part of this announcement and the improved software experiences that will accompany all Chromebook Plus models. We wrap things up with some discussion of generative AI on Chromebook Plus models and on the new Pixel 8. We hope you enjoy and make sure to follow The Chrome Cast on Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts so that you don’t miss more Chromebook Plus discussions coming soon.

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Google's Pixel 8 event recap Oct 05, 2023

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we dive into all the announcements from Google’s 10/4 hardware event. From a keynote that announced everything from the Pixel 8 Pro to the Pixel Watch 2 and generative AI everywhere, there’s clearly a lot to talk about.

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New Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones are here: what you need to know
Google unveils the Pixel Watch 2, complete with a stress detector, temperature sensor, and more
Why the Fitbit Charge 6 is on my wrist instead of the Pixel Watch 2
Just as I predicted, Google just injected Assistant with Bard AI and it’s going to change everything
Pre-order the new Google Pixel 8 Pro and receive Pixel Watch 2 free on Best Buy. Plus, save up to $800 with qualified trade-in.
Pre-Order the new Google Pixel 8 and receive Pixel Buds Pro free on Best Buy. Plus, save up to $800 with qualified trade-in.
Pre-order the new Google Pixel Watch 2 on Best Buy
Buy the Fitbit Charge 6 on Best Buy

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Chromebook Plus sets the new standard for Chromebooks Oct 02, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we are clearly talking about the biggest news to hit our corner of the internet in a very long time – perhaps ever. Google has unveiled Chromebook Plus, and it marks a very specific move towards a more cohesive, more-enjoyable Chromebook experience for consumers across the board. With a new standard for hardware and improved software experiences, Chromebook Plus is a change the ecosystem needs.

For this episode, we focused more on the event itself that happened in NYC last week and as we ran quite a bit long on that portion, we’ll return for more specifics on the hardware and software side of Chromebook Plus in our next episode. It’s an exciting time, for certain, and there is a monsoon of new Chromebook Plus content on the way.

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ChromeOS 117 rolls out with sweet new features Sep 22, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing the fresh, new roll-out of ChromeOS 117 to a handful of devices. This update comes with some sweet, new features like Material You design throughout and a new ability to select wallpapers from shared Google Photos albums. It’s a nice upgrade, for sure, but the devices it has already arrived on share something in common.

Not long ago, we talked about Chromebook Plus and what this new effort from Google could mean for the Chromebook ecosystem as a whole. As it turns out, all the devices getting this latest ChromeOS 117 update all fall into the category of devices that have been identified as likely Chromebook Plus devices that are already available. And in that vein, the Chromebook I got the update on – the Lenovo Chromebook Slim 3i – feels like it delivers on what we’re hoping will be the promise of Chromebook Plus: solid specs paired with a stellar overall user experience.

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Google extends Chromebook end of life by 2 years Sep 15, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we obviously talk at length about the biggest news of the week in the Chromebook and ChromeOS sphere: Google extending the AUE on Chromebooks by 2 full years. With this move, we now get two extra years of support on all current Chromebooks and a full 10 years of support on new devices as well. It’s a big move that comes with a lot of work on Google’s end, but it’s a big moment in the ChromeOS ecosystem for certain.

We round out the show by talking through the fantastic start for NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV and take a few moments to discuss the new Chromebooks that have shown up that could become part of the ‘Chromebook Plus’ ecosystem not too long from now.

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Google's new hardware revealed and Lacros on ChromeOS Flex Sep 09, 2023

This week, we begin the conversation around Google’s upcoming hardware event slated for October 4th. We’re just a few weeks away, and now that Google has made all the new stuff we already expected official, we can begin looking forward to the event and seeing how the new Pixel phones and the new Pixel Watch 2 fit into Google’s larger vision for what they’d like to do on mobile for the next year.

For the second half, we begin by talking about a recent experiment where we tested out the decoupled Lacros Chrome browser on a Windows laptop running ChromeOS Flex, but we quickly diverge into a longer chat about the need for Google to address the rising e-waste problem coming from education-focused Chromebooks. While ChromeOS Flex would seem to offer the clearest path forward there, it doesn’t look to be on Google’s roadmap, and I’m beyond confused as to why that is.

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Chromebook Plus (X) models and Google's 10/4 hardware event Sep 01, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing the leaks of upcoming Chromebook Plus (formerly known as Chromebook X) models that appeared for a short time in the Chromium Repositories. With a handful of existing devices making the cut and at least 4 brand-new Chromebooks on the way for the Chromebook Plus program, we’re interested to see when Google rolls this out and what sort of early impact it will have when they do.

From there, we derail a bit into generative AI as we get around to our second, main topic for the week: Google’s October 4th hardware event becoming official. With the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 all looking to make an appearance, we’re left wondering if Google could have anything else up their sleeves.

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Lacros is better than ever with ChromeOS 116 Aug 28, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing the recent announcement by Google and Cameyo that the two will be partnering up moving forward to deliver a seamless virtual app delivery service to ChromeOS enterprise customers. Cameyo is a fantastic service that has been great for years at this point, so Google rolling this type of legacy (Windows) app delivery into ChromeOS at a core level is a huge benefit for both businesses and employees alike.

We then move into the trendiest news of the week surrounding Lacros – the new, decoupled browser for Chromebooks. Via some trials with it in ChromeOS 115 and then an updated approach in ChromeOS 116, things are looking very good for this years-long effort from Google to detach the Chrome browser from its intricate ties to the underlying parts of ChromeOS.

We finish the show by discussing the latest efforts by Google to bring Ultra Wideband to Chromebooks and what that sort of tech could mean for end users over the next couple of years while also covering some early thoughts on the upcoming review for the iterative Acer Chromebook Spin 714.

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Discontinued development Chromebooks left and right Aug 18, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we attempt to begin the show by talking through the two groups of Chromebooks in development that recently got the axe – those powered by the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 and a couple Chromebooks that were set to have NVIDIA GPUs inside. We divert into some discussion about video editing and my son’s new YouTube channel, but we eventually get to the meat of what could be going on with these development Chromebook cancellations.

But the show ends on a high note as we counteract all the talk of cancellations with news of new devices waiting in the wings. From 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake-N Chromebooks to some new tablets with the MediaTek MT8188 inside, there are plenty of new devices to be looking forward to in the coming months that are exciting enough to perhaps forget about what could have been with the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 devices and NVIDIA GPU-toting Chromebooks that will never see the light of day.

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Google will soon begin the split of Chrome from ChromeOS Aug 11, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing the new revelation that the small fleet of upcoming Chromebooks with the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 will no longer continue in development. Why the ‘Herobrine’ project was scrapped and whether or not Qualcomm has another path forward with Chromebooks in the near future is currently unknown; but the reality that no new Snapdragon Chromebooks are on the horizon is a reality we simply have to accept for now.

We continue the show by discussing the impending arrival of Lacros that will begin the transition of Chrome the browser being separated from Chrome the OS. It’s a long, difficult process that Google says could take upwards of a year to finish, but it looks likely that ChromeOS 116 will lay the foundations for the beginning of the transition. And as a lead up to that big change, we also talk through the features that were included in the last ChromeOS 115 update.

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Pixel Fold thoughts after a few weeks of use Jul 28, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss our collective, weeks-long experience with Google's Pixel Fold. From the things that make it unique and seriously great to those that create a good deal of user frustration, we cover what it was like to use the Pixel Fold and why - in the end - I ended up taking my SIM card back over to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. But there are more foldables on the way, and with some tweaks and fixes, this form factor could end up being truly special in the end.

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Dropping the Pixel Fold, Lenovo Slim 3, and goofy Chromebook names Jul 17, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking through our thoughts on the newly-released Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Slim 3 and as we wrap up that section, move directly into talking about the oft-goofy nature of Chromebook naming conventions. The hope is that whatever ‘Chromebook X’ or ‘Chromebook Plus’ becomes, it addresses not only build quality and specifications in Chromebooks, but also device names as well. It’s time for word salad to go away in the consumer Chromebook space.

We also touch on our thoughts on the Pixel Fold as we lead up to getting our review together. I’ve used the phone for a few weeks now, and it definitely took that amount of time to get my head wrapped around the form factor in both good and bad ways. The Pixel Fold is unique: that much is for sure. But it is a nuanced device that isn’t going to be a good fit for everyone. It has most definitely proven far more resilient than expected, and we talk a bit about that big drop to the asphalt on the show this week, too.

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All we know about Google's 'Chromebook X' initiative so far Jun 23, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stick to one subject, and one subject only: ‘Chromebook X’. This leaked, upcoming initiative from Google surrounding a new category of Chromebooks could be a very interesting play coming by the end of the year. ‘Chromebook X’ devices should represent the best end user experiences available from Chromebook partners and hopefully will go beyond a simple spec requirement to deliver great ChromeOS hardware experiences for potential buyers.

It’s a big move by Google, for sure, and one that we won’t fully comprehend until it is here and actually available. But if it gets marketing and manufacturer support, there’s a good chance this new Google stamp of approval for Chromebooks that meet the standard could really shake up the consumer market for the better.

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Pixel Watch 2, Apple Vision Pro, and ASUS Vibe CX34 Jun 09, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we diverged into a bit of slightly-foreign territory. While the show starts with some new leaks that have surfaced surrounding the Pixel Watch 2, we switched gears on a bit of a whim to the new Apple Vision Pro and stayed on that topic for longer than we would have expected. Apple came out swinging in very Apple fashion and after considering their new AR/VR headset, we have some opinions on this device and others potentially entering the space over the next couple years.

Finally, we move back to our lane and talk through the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip and how ASUS has not only righted the ship in the gaming Chromebook category, but at the same time built a fantastic overall Chromebook with their latest.

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Why the Pixel Fold's long development may make it special Jun 02, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin our discussion by talking through the upcoming Google-made hardware that is set to release this month. The Pixel Tablet and the Pixel Fold are set to be unleashed on the world in the next few weeks, and both devices bring unanswered questions that won’t be addressed until they actually hit the market.

We also discuss a tablet that we have in the office currently and why it is we all feel that ChromeOS is so much better suited for desktop, productivity-focused activities. And with the ever-improving tablet mode on Chromebooks, there’s a case to be made that ChromeOS should be the go-to OS for any tablet with Google software on it.

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Why mid-range Chromebooks will become the sweet spot May 26, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by discussing a recent video we publish that highlights all the ways ChromeOS is hiding in plain sight all around you. From call centers to trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings to medical establishments, ChromeOS is moving in all sorts of professional directions and as time goes on, we only expect to see it show up in more of those areas.

We then shift to discussing the need for better, lower-priced Chromebooks if Google is to gain a foothold in the consumer laptop space. While Chromebooks have great sales numbers, much of that success relies on education and enterprise purchases, leaving the consumer space as a still-untapped market in the larger sense. $300-$600 Chromebooks will be the place Google can win big, and the arrival of some new AMD-powered device could greatly help that cause.

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Some thoughts on the new Pixel 7a and Chromebook hardware May 19, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the majority of the episode talking through some new hardware that has been floating around the office for a bit now. First, we begin with the Pixel 7a and some pre-review thoughts around Google’s latest phone. While it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Pixel 7, there are definitely some differences and some things you’ll want to know about this mid-range device.

For the second half, we delve into our review thoughts surrounding the affordable and solid Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Flex 3i. With a $349 starting price and a lot of great stuff going on both on the screen and under the hood, this Chromebook looks set to shake up the affordable ChromeOS market.

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Google I/O 2023, AI, and new Pixel Hardware May 12, 2023

It’s no surprise what dominates the discussion this week. As Google I/O 2023 is now in the rear-view mirror, we have a lot of new discussion surrounding Google’s moves in AI and new Pixel-branded hardware. From new tricks for Bard to other interesting ways Google is leveraging AI in their products, there much to be said for what is going on in that space.

But we are obviously more interested near-term in the new hardware, and it is pretty sweet to be able to finally talk about the star of the show – the Pixel Fold – without having to refer to rumors or leaks in order to do so. It’s an expensive piece of kit, sure, but there are some undeniably cool things about the Fold that are worth talking about: so we did.

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Everything we're excited to see at Google I/O 2023 May 05, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the vast majority of the show discussing what we're expecting to see from Google at I/O 2023. With the Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Fold leaking entirely in the past couple weeks, it will be a packed event full of all sorts of software updates and many hardware devices we've been waiting quite some time for.

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The Pixel Tablet may have already missed its launch window Apr 21, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend much of our time discussing Google’s upcoming hardware. Where the latest leaks of the Pixel Fold tell us to expect Google’s first folding phone at Google I/O 2023, the story feels a bit less celebrative for the upcoming Pixel Tablet.

With a fun, innovative feature that largely relies on Google’s smart display efforts and the Google Assistant (it has a speaker dock that turns it into a Nest Hub, effectively), the Pixel Tablet looked to show up with a bit of an ace up its sleeve. But with the current state of the Google Assistant and Google’s smart display initiative at the moment, that fun feature doesn’t look that great these days. With the abrupt rise of Generative AI and Google’s own shift to that technology for both Bard and their own search product, has the Pixel Slate simply missed its window for release?

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An open discussion about Generative AI Apr 18, 2023

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we decided to try something a bit different (and there’s a bit of a twist ending to it, too). Instead of taking on the week’s news and discussing it, we wanted to tackle a particular content area, and there’s none more interesting and groundbreaking than the field of Generative AI right now.

While tech hardware (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) has lost a bit of the “wow” factor year over year, Generative AI is new, shiny, exciting, scary, and mostly mysterious at this point. So, we thought it would be a good time to sit down and discuss what this new phenomenon is, why it is great, why it is a little scary, and what we can do to handle it properly.

We’re not experts, and that’s why the title says this is an open, honest discussion about Generative AI. We clearly don’t have the answers to all these questions, and even the smartest folks in the world are left wondering a bit at this point. But we need to discuss it and we need to keep discussing it as it would seem Pandora’s Box has already been opened. Now it’s more about what we do with what’s come out of it.

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Android app streaming on ChromeOS, The Masters, and new Chromebooks Apr 07, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we get started by talking through The Masters website and how this yearly tournament shows off the power and capability of the open web unlike just about anything else out there in the sports world. With player profiles, live streaming, and all sort of ways to watch the sprawling golf tournament, The Masters website is a digital engineering feat that keeps us excited for what the open web continues to be capable of.

For the rest of the show, we delve into a few other topics including the upcoming iMessage solution for Android (Sunbird), Android App Streaming finally showing up for Chromebooks (sort of), and some new Chromebook hardware that is now in the office and ready for unboxing and review. It’s a packed show that covers all sorts of topics and we hope you enjoy it this week.

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Framework Laptop and making sense of $1000 Chromebooks Mar 31, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend our time talking through two main topics. The first is our thoughts on the new, high-end, modular Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition. Our review dropped this week and, as always, we have some thoughts. For a device built to be deconstructed and upgraded, this one is pretty sleek and fun to use.

The second half of the podcast ended up being taken up by an editorial idea that was published this week as well here at Chrome Unboxed. The premise is simple: why are $1000+ Android tablets accepted while $999 Chromebooks are considered by many to be ridiculous? It’s a strange duality for sure, and it leads to some intersecting discussion.

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This episode is brought to you by ⁠Cameyo,⁠ the Chrome Enterprise Recommended virtualization solution that enables you to deliver all of your apps – including Windows, Linux, SaaS, and internal apps – to Chromebooks so that your people have seamless access to everything they need to be productive. Cameyo is deeply integrated with ChromeOS and Google Admin console, providing the simplest, most secure, most cost-effective way to push apps to your users as PWAs without the complexity of legacy virtual desktops. And now, Chrome Unboxed listeners get access to a special ChromeOS + Cameyo bundle that makes it easier than ever to test for yourself. Get started at ⁠cameyo.com/unboxed.⁠

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New Pixel Fold leaks, reality-altering AI, and Minecraft on Chromebooks Mar 24, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing all the new leaks surrounding Google’s upcoming Pixel lineup. Between the release date of the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold leaking to the newly-rumored, lower price tag for the Pixel Fold and interesting price point on the Pixel 7a, there are quite a few interesting things to discuss as we inch closer to a deeper understanding at Google I/O 2023 in just under 7 weeks from now.

For the second half of the show, we delve a bit into the shake-up that is happening with AI – both ChatGPT and Google’s Bard – and then shift into a discussion around the importance of a game as big as Minecraft being tailor-made for Chromebooks. It’s a fun show this week!

Links

This episode is brought to you by Cameyo, the Chrome Enterprise Recommended virtualization solution that enables you to deliver all of your apps – including Windows, Linux, SaaS, and internal apps – to Chromebooks so that your people have seamless access to everything they need to be productive. Cameyo is deeply integrated with ChromeOS and Google Admin console, providing the simplest, most secure, most cost-effective way to push apps to your users as PWAs without the complexity of legacy virtual desktops. And now, Chrome Unboxed listeners get access to a special ChromeOS + Cameyo bundle that makes it easier than ever to test for yourself. Get started at cameyo.com/unboxed.

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We can finally talk about the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook Mar 17, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, the star of the show is – without doubt – the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. And though some odd news about abysmal battery has made waves on the web, the overwhelming response to this device for everyone we’ve shown it to is massively positive, and we feel that it is the flagship Chromebook we’ve all been waiting for from Google – just from HP, instead. There’s so much good going on with this device that it takes up the entire first half of the show.

For the second half, we keep it in new ChromeOS hardware mode as we discuss the many new clues we’ve found for the upcoming detachable tablet Chromebooks that should branch off of the ‘Geralt’ baseboard. One of those looks to be a successor to the pretty-awesome Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, and if that device gets a follow-up with a handful of improvements, we’re all in for a treat.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - SPECIAL OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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Pixel Fold leaks, Google I/O 2023, and a black Dragonfly Pro Chromebook Mar 10, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about the new HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook we have in the office in the Sparkling Black colorway. Though we’re still limited in what we can say about this Chromebook for now, this black color is pretty awesome looking and gives us yet another reason to talk about this very special Chromebook.

The rest of the show largely focuses on some new leaks around the upcoming Pixel Fold, some software choices Google has made lately regarding Google Photos sharing what were previously Pixel-only features, and the latest news surrounding Google I/O 2023, set to be held on May 10th. After taking a week off last week, there’s a lot to cover, so hop in!

Links

This episode is brought to you by Cameyo, the Chrome Enterprise Recommended virtualization solution that enables you to deliver all of your apps - including Windows, Linux, SaaS, and internal apps - to Chromebooks. CLICK HERE to get started today.

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5 questions with Google's Jenn Chen about ChromeOS Design and UX Mar 02, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we're back with another interview episode, and this time around, we had the privilege of chatting with Jenn Chen, Product Designer and Head of UX Design & Research for ChromeOS at Google. Jenn has been working on ChromeOS for over a decade and has a vast understanding of the OS so needless to say, it was an honor to have her on the show.

For this episode, we decided to go with our "5 Questions" format that you might recall us using in our interview with Alex Kuscher back in March 2022. We dug into how ChromeOS design philosophies have changed over time, building for multiple form factors, cross-pollination with other Google teams, how they are thinking about pre-installed apps vs. those built by third-party developers, and how Jenn is thinking about the future of ChromeOS design. Jenn is so knowledgeable about the OS and how it has evolved so even if you aren't into UX or interested in OS design, I think you will still find this episode very fascinating.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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HP's Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is in the office and new tablets are inbound Feb 24, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re talking about the new HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook – as much as we can at this point, at least – and why this new device is very important in the consumer Chromebook market. Sure, there’s an impressive spec sheet, but a fantastic Chromebook needs more than just stats, and the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has it. While we’re a bit limited in what we can say right now, I can at least say this: the Dragonfly Pro is special, and we’ll be able to tell you more about why that is in the near future.

For the rest of the show, we discuss my recent move to Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro as my daily carry items. With so many of our audience likely carrying Samsung gadgets and the increased cohesion between Samsung and Google of late, I thought it a good time to test out the waters. We also get into the newly-found evidence for some upcoming MediaTek-powered ChromeOS tablets as well, signaling the first hope we’ve had in quite some time for some new detachable action in the Chromebook market.

LINKS

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The Future Of ChromeOS With Google's John Maletis Feb 17, 2023

This week, we have a very special episode of The Chrome Cast Podcast as we welcome John Maletis - VP of Product, Engineering, and UX for ChromeOS - on the show. John was in-person at HP's reviewer workshop for the upcoming Dragonfly Pro Chromebook and was kind enough to sit down and have a chat with us about where the consumer Chromebook market is headed. In light of the imminent release of the stellar Hp Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, the consumer portion of the Chromebook market is about to get very interesting, and John has some interesting perspectives on that future.

LINKS

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ASUS Vibe CX34 impressions and why Acer needs a high-end Chromebook Feb 10, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the episode by discussing our recent move from YouTube Music over to Spotify and why that transition has been so interesting. As a music streaming service, Spotify is the best there is, and it took us all quite a while to finally move over to it. With some updates to the way casting is handled, Spotify is now the unparalleled champ in the music streaming space, and definitely worth a look if you've been holding out.

The second half of the episode focuses on the Chromebooks we saw at CES 2023 - the ASUS Vibe CX34 Flip and the HP Dragonfly Pro - and why we think its time for Acer to get in the game at the higher end of the consumer Chromebook market. Though we're still waiting on the release of the Dragonfly Pro, the ASUS Vibe CX34 is in the office, and it is an impressive device. With all this recent movement at the upper-end of the Chromebook space, Acer's Swift lineup would make a great addition.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Cameyo, the Chrome Enterprise Recommended virtualization solution that enables you to deliver all of your apps - including Windows, Linux, SaaS, and internal apps - to Chromebooks. CLICK HERE to get started today.

Shop Penoval USI 2.0 pen here (promo code 05Unboxed).

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Will Samsung Ever Make A Galaxy Chromebook Ultra? Feb 03, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend quite a bit of time talking through the latest Unpacked event from Samsung. On February 1st, Samsung took the wraps off their new phones – the Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra – and a few other interesting new products as well.

In the midst of those other products was a new Windows laptop called the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, and that impressive device caused a bit of a stir here in the Chrome Unboxed offices. While it had little to do with any of us wanting to buy this new laptop, the introduction and attention to detail in the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra absolutely had us all wishing Samsung would get back in the high-end Chromebook game.

LINKS

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Is the consumer world ready for HP's premium Dragonfly Pro Chromebook? Jan 28, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the episode by getting the elephant out of the room right off the bat: Robby bought a Tesla. The stars aligned and with a great trade-in, reduced price, and the new federal tax credit, the timing was right. The excitement is obvious, but it gives way to some new content that could come from the Chrome Unboxed crew down the road if things work out.

The rest of our show focuses on two Chromebooks: one full of potential and one that’s a bit of a letdown. Our review of the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5601 reveals a bit of a disappointment while our hopes for the upcoming HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook couldn’t be higher right now. We are still waiting for official word on the latter, but it feels like it should be soon, and this new Chromebook begs the question: is the consumer market ready for another big swing at a premium Chromebook? We sure hope so!

VIEW SHOW LINKS - (https://chromeunboxed.com/the-chrome-cast-212-hp-dragonfly-pro-chromebook/)

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Stadia’s death gives way to new life in cloud gaming Jan 20, 2023

This week, we felt it was only fitting to not only discuss Stadia’s final death, but also the cloud gaming revolution it looks to have started. While many of the main players in the cloud gaming space have been around for quite some time, Google’s efforts with Stadia brought the idea of streaming games to the forefront and regardless of whether or not it ever rises again from the ashes, the entire industry has them to thank for stoking those fires.

Moving forward, services like GeForce NOW are looking to pick up the slack, and with recent improvements and advancements, we’re all a bit shocked by just how good cloud gaming has become in the past year or so. Though Stadia as a platform is gone, its legacy surely lives on and the Chromebook gaming scene is better for it.

LINKS

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Evolution of Steam gaming on Chromebooks with Google's Zach Alcorn Jan 16, 2023

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we're back with another interview episode and this time around we are chatting with Zach Alcorn who is a Product Manager at Google working on Gaming for ChromeOS. More specifically, Zach has been working tirelessly on a project that allows you to play Steam games on your Chromebook and has been heavily involved in the recent announcement of the beta version of Steam on ChromeOS entering the Beta channel.

In our chat, we talk through all of the details regarding the Beta announcement, expanded availability, the game library, how they are improving the user experience, what it's like to work with Valve, and so much more. If you are a gamer or game developer, this is one that you will want to check out.

LINKS

Steam on Chromebooks is now in Beta
The Chromium Projects – Steam on ChromeOS
The Chrome Cast 199: ChromeOS 107 and Steam on Chromebooks hits the Beta Channel
Supported Device List
Game List
Proton DB

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All about our time at CES 2023 Jan 14, 2023

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discussed all the things we saw and tried at CES 2023 in Las Vegas last week. It goes without saying that there were a ton of new ChromeOS devices from Chromeboxes to Chromebooks and it was our busiest CES yet. We've published videos for all of it and for this week's podcast, we talk through all of that hardware to get you caught up on all the fun stuff we experienced while out there. It was a fun trip and we're really excited to have CES back in person again this time around.

LINKS

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Chrome Unboxed 2022 year in review Dec 30, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, in light of the fact that this week is the strange, low-key week at the end of the year between Christmas and New Year's Day, we thought it appropriate to take a look back over the last 12 months and talk through our best performing posts on the website and most-viewed videos over on YouTube. It's a fun episode and it made for a great way to close out 2022. Hope you enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

LINKS

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2022 Gear of the Year and a new need for Google's Pixelbook Dec 16, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the discussion by talking through some of the entries on our yearly Gear of the Year Gift Guide. There are items on the list from Chromebooks to phones to earbuds to coffee makers, so if you are scrambling for a last-minute gift idea, there could be something there to spark the imagination.

For the rest of our time, we discuss the real need that exists for Google to put out a cost-effective Pixelbook to address the general malaise that has overtaken the low-end of the Chromebook market. With Pixelbooks launched in the past to light the way for Chromebook manufacturers in all sorts of ways, it is perhaps time for Google to do the same with a Surface Laptop SE-like, affordable, considered Pixelbook to showcase what is possible in an enjoyable, affordable Chromebook.

LINKS

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More Pixel Fold renders, ChromeOS 108, and Fortnite on Chromebooks Dec 09, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show with discussion around the latest renders that have leaked for the upcoming Pixel Fold. Though this foldable phone from Google isn’t due until May (according to the rumors), the substantial leaks have truly begun. With these latest renders, we get a video and some specific measurements for the chassis and screen.

From there we move on to the new features that snuck into ChromeOS 108. On the surface this seemed like a tiny update, but there were some nice little features sprinkled here and there that are worth noting for sure. We close things up by talking about Fortnite’s new Season 4 graphics overhaul and how you can experience it in its full fidelity on a Chromebook.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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Picking our favorite Chromebooks of 2022 Dec 03, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion revolves almost completely around our picks for Best Chromebooks of 2022. We just recently published a video and post rounding all these devices up, so you should definitely hit the show notes and watch that. For the podcast, we list those devices, but each of us choose two of our most favorite Chromebooks of the year and explain why they made the list. It’s a fun episode and is a great reminder that at this point in 2022, there are a ton of great devices to choose from if you are looking for a new Chromebook.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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How VIZOR helps school districts manage thousands of Chromebooks Dec 02, 2022

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we are back with another interview episode with Dean Bates and Jeff LaLonde from VIZOR, a Chromebook and IT asset management solution designed specifically for school districts. These folks have been a great partner of Chrome Unboxed for a while now – including a sponsorship of the video where we dropped a Chromebook off a two-story building – and we love working with them because we genuinely believe they have a software solution that is valuable to school districts and those working in EdTech.

So, if VIZOR sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard about them in a previous podcast episode or in a YouTube video, but we thought it was time to have them on the podcast to chat about what they do and the solutions that they offer.

In our conversation, we really dig into some of the problems that school IT administrators face when trying to manage Chromebooks and how so many schools struggle to keep track of devices. We talk through the solutions that VIZOR provides, but Jeff and Dean also offer up some general advice for schools who are trying to manage Chromebooks. If you are an IT Admin or technologist at a school or school district, you’re going to want to listen to this one.

LINKS

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MediaTek Kompanio 528 Chromebooks, Framework, and Lenovo’s Gaming Chromebook Nov 25, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first part of the show talking about the crazy deals happening all over the place this week, how you can score some of those (hint: get subscribed to our deals newsletter), and why affordable Chromebooks are getting so interesting. With the Kompanio 520/528 SoCs set to hit the market, MediaTek clearly sees the writing on the wall that the mid-range/affordable Chromebook segments are the ones on the rise, and we don’t think that will change anytime soon.

For the second half of the show, we discuss my early thoughts on the new Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition as we finally have it in the office and just recently published our unboxing and first impressions. We’ve also recently received the new Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook in the office that competes toe-to-toe with the excellent Acer Chromebook 516 GE, and now that it is fully available and on sale already, there’s an interesting battle that will begin in the ‘gaming’ Chromebook space.

LINKS

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Chatting new Kompanio SoCs for entry-level Chromebooks with MediaTek's Victor Tyan Nov 23, 2022

Today on The Chrome Cast Podcast, we have a special in-person interview episode with Victor Tyan from MediaTek. I was recently out in Sonoma California for the MediaTek Executive Summit and Victor was kind enough to sit down with me to chat about their announcement of their next-gen Kompanio SoCs for entry-level Chromebooks: the Kompanio 520 and 528.

In our conversation, we dig into the details of the new processors but Victor also shared some thoughts on the entire Kompanio lineup, the company's focus on sustainability, the education market, and how MediaTek came up with the name Kompanio. It was so much fun to do an in-person interview and I hope that you enjoy it!

Links

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Framework Laptop Chromebook arrives and the Pixel Fold leaks emerge Nov 18, 2022

For this week's episode of The Chrome Cast, we stick to three pretty big topics of the week: the emergence of the Pixel Fold, the arrival of the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition, and some additional details about the Pixel 7a that make it very interesting as a mid-range contender to the flagship Pixel 7. It's a packed show and there's great excitement surrounding all these upcoming and freshly-arriving devices, so we hope you enjoy the conversation!

LINKS

This episode is also brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code UNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Surface Laptop SE makes a great Chromebook as LumaFusion finally arrives Nov 11, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we talk in-depth about one of our latest videos that sees us take the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and turn the “Chromebook Killer” into a pretty sweet Chromebook. Using ChromeOS Flex, we now have a Surface Laptop SE in the office that is quite nice to work with and we’ve proven how good Google’s ChromeOS Flex certification really is.

For the second half of the show, we discuss the arrival of LumaFusion on Chromebooks and the new era this app brings about. We’re only a couple of days into it at this point, but LumaFusion has the potential to really shake up the creative abilities of ChromeOS and you can absolutely bet we’ll be putting it through the paces in the coming weeks.

LINKS

This episode is also brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code UNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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ChromeOS 107 and Steam on Chromebooks hits the Beta Channel Nov 04, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by talking through the handful of fun updates that came along with ChromeOS 107. In a new era where we get updates to our Chromebooks every 4 weeks, it's always a nice surprise when new user-facing features show up. ChromeOS 107 had quite a few, and we talk through all of them.

One of the other big changes to ChromeOS is the fact that Steam for Chromebooks has come to the Beta Channel with version 108. With an expanded list of supported devices, a bunch of performance improvements, and a simpler setup process, the entire Steam on Chromebooks effort is really beginning to take shape.

Links

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Understanding the Kompanio Roadmap with MediaTek's Adam King Nov 01, 2022

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview episode with Adam King, who is the General Manager of the Client Computing Business Unit at MediaTek. In our chat, we cover the latest HP Chromebook 13b announcement that includes the Kompanio 1200 processor, trends in the Chromebook space, detachable Chromebooks, and the Roadmap for the Kompanio series in Chromebooks moving forward.

And as part of this episode, we've partnered with MediaTek to give away one of those HP Chromebook 13b's! This device is a convertible Chromebook with a 13.3" display and is powered by the MediaTek 1200 SoC which MediaTek compares to an Intel Core i3 CPU.

LINKS

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Pixel Watch accessories, ChromeOS Flex BTS, and Acer 516 GE review Oct 28, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by talking through a bunch of new accessories that have hit the market for the Pixel Watch. Though this is the tip of the iceberg and many more are likely on the way, it is great to see some truly useful additions for Google's new wearable from 3rd party companies already hitting virtual store shelves.

After that, we move on to discuss some interesting things we learned while up in NYC earlier this month. During our time at Google's offices, we were able to have a lengthy discussion about ChromeOS Flex and the methods that are used to determine what devices get the green check in Google's database of certified devices. Not only does every certified device get run through a massive battery of tests, they are also all there in Google's testing lab, and we got to look around in there a bit.

Finally, we cover some notes from the soon-to-released Acer Chromebook 514 GE review that will be out early next week. What Acer has built with this device is nothing short of awesome, and though they set out to create a great cloud gaming Chromebook, they ended up building a fantastic overall device, too.

LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code UNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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120Hz gaming on GeForce NOW and loving the Pixel Watch Oct 23, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion mainly revolved around some real-world reactions to services and hardware that have shown up in the past couple of weeks. Between the new gaming Chromebooks, GeForce NOW providing 120Hz gaming for Chromebooks, a Pixel Buds Pro firmware update, and actually spending some time using the Pixel Watch as a daily-wear device, we all obviously have some thoughts.

For the first time ever, I’m gaming with regularity on my Chromebook, and the Acer Chromebook 514 GE has been a perfect companion for it. On that same note, the latest Pixel Buds Pro update finally fixed the horrid latency these earbuds shipped with earlier in the year, and after a solid week of actually putting the Pixel Watch on all our wrists on a daily basis, it’s clear that though this watch may have a few issues here and there, it is currently an office favorite here at Chrome Unboxed.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - OFFER 20% DISCOUNT! VIZOR is a Chromebook and IT Asset management solution designed specifically for Schools and School Districts. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin console and with your Student Information System. Know who has what Chromebook, manage 1:1 programs, and track repairs. CLICK HERE to lock in a 20% DISCOUNT and to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code UNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel Watch and a new gaming Chromebook Oct 14, 2022

A lot has happened since the last episode of The Chrome Cast, and with us taking last week off due to the Google hardware event, there’s a ton of stuff to discuss. For this week, we stuck to Google’s latest hardware – the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and the Pixel Watch – for the majority of our time. Between new hardware, fun software, and this exciting new Pixel Watch, the Google event delivered plenty of content for a full podcast.

But we had to talk about Acer’s new Chromebook 516 GE and the gaming news that came along with it this week. There are now 3 new Chromebooks built for cloud gaming, and we already have one in the office. With its gorgeous 120Hz screen and crazy-fast internals, it has been a joy to use and early impressions are very, very favorable of these new Chromebooks and their cloud gaming chops.

Links

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Stadia's dead as gaming Chromebooks come to life Oct 01, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion is largely dominated by the official announcement by Google that Stadia as we know it will no longer continue to exist. In the next few months, the service that truly introduced cloud gaming to the world will host its last games, and as sad as it is to see, at least Google is doing right by its users and refunding both hardware and software purchases for everyone.

We also take a bit of time to discuss the recent speculation that the Pixel Watch will show up on the scene with rather large bezels. The early renders sure make it look that way, but in an updated version of the video that caused the conversation in the first place, Google seems to have trimmed down their appearance, making us all wonder what this watch will truly look like when it does arrive next week.

Links

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Pixel 7 pricing, Chromecast HD, and a Framework Chromebook Sep 23, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the show talking about some new leaks that came from a Target store regarding Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro pricing. With a simple photo of the internal inventory system, we now know that the new phones from Google will not bump the prices up from last year, keeping the Pixel 7 at $599 and the Pixel 7 Pro at $899.

Right before we recorded, the new Chromecast with Google TV HD was also released, making for some interesting conversation around Google’s new, affordable streaming dongle. We’ve not yet tested it out, but we have one in the office and will be putting it through the paces for sure.

Finally, we also discussed a new Chromebook announced this week as Framework and Google teamed up to create the first truly modular ChromeOS device: the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition. There’s so much fun stuff coming with this laptop and we discuss all of it in the show.

Links

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What's next after Pixelbook for Chromebooks Sep 16, 2022

In what is a bit of a sad episode, we spend most of our time this week discussing the recent news that Google has chosen to shut down the team responsible for the Pixelbook. It seems there was one on the way, but Google has done what Google does and changed trajectory a bit in the midst of labor cuts and reassignments all around.

There's hope, however, that strategic partnerships and new life can come from this move as Google's first-party Chromebooks have never been constant staples in the ChromeOS market over the years. Generally, the Pixelbooks have existed to urge the market in a particular direction, and with OEMs finding their Chromebook-building stride in 2022, there's just no need for a Pixelbook right now. Even if we all really want one.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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What we're expecting from the now-official Google fall hardware event Sep 09, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss the upcoming Google hardware event slated for Thursday, October 6th 2022. While we all expect the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel Watch, there are other hardware questions that could get answered there as well. With the Pixel Tablet having quite a few new pieces to the puzzle revealed recently and the Pixel Notepad continuing to see development action, perhaps the event will shed some light on those devices, too.

We also discuss the recent iPhone event from Apple that saw the unveiling of the entire new line of iPhone 14s, a few new Apple Watches, and the new Airpods Pro 2. Though we like to poke fun at Apple any time we have the chance, there’s also a few things in their keynotes that are pretty awesome, too.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Pixel Watch prices, Pixel Notepad patents, and the Acer Spin 714 Sep 03, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing the recent news that the Pixel Watch should retail for $399 with LTE on board. Without knowing how good the build quality will be or how intuitive and useful the software experience will be, it’s tough to decide whether or not $399 is a good price for the new watch from Google, but we all feel like there’s a good chance it will be.

We also discuss the recent patent published for the Pixel Notepad – Google’s long-rumored folding phone. While the patent doesn’t really tell us anything new, it solidifies the fact that the Pixel Notepad is on the way and gives us a bit of assurance in the earlier leaks and rumors regarding it’s size and form factor.

Finally, we discuss the excellent Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and how this Chromebook took the beloved Spin 713 formula and boldly changed things like the screen size and aspect ratio while at the same time adding more-premium pieces to craft a really fantastic Chromebook.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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T-Mobile, SpaceX, Pixel 7 and a recycled Acer Chromebook Aug 26, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we open the show by discussing the latest effort from T-Mobile and Elon Musk’s SpaceX that plans to use satellite-driven communications to fully flesh out T-Mobile’s wireless network. The early stages won’t happen until later next year, but the application could be a massive step towards getting basic communications like text messages into the most remote areas in the United States without the need of additional equipment on the user’s end.

From there, we chat a bit about the new Acer Chromebook Vero 514 and how this mostly-recycled Chromebook isn’t just a one-trick pony: it is a pleasure to use and comes equipped with most of the stuff you want in a higher-end Chromebook. We all love the look, feel, and sustainability that comes with the Vero 514 and can’t wait to see it hit the market in the coming weeks for $499 at Best Buy.

Finally, we talk through the recent leak of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro that showed up in the hands of Lew over at Unbox Therapy. Though we don’t know too much more about the phones even after this chance run-in, it is cool to see both devices in real hands and from viewpoints that aren’t simply press or marketing renders.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Pixel Watch excitement and a Chromebook-powered golf simulator Aug 19, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show talking a bit about the coming Pixel Watch and how the features, look and feel of that watch could be a huge uptick for Wear OS as a whole. With Fitbit integration, a great look, and a focus on glanceable information, we all are excited to see this wearable show up at Google's annual fall hardware event.

For the second half of the show, we focus in on a recent video we published this week: using a Chromebook to power a golf simulator bay. As you likely know by this point, we all love golf and getting to run the simulator software right from a Chromebook is an unexpected treat, proving that our favorite OS is continually becoming more capable by the day.

LINKS

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Pixel 7 Ultra rumors and HP Dragonfly Chromebook Review Aug 12, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing the newest rumors swirling ahead of Google’s rapidly-approaching fall hardware event. With the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro already announced at Google I/O 2022, we thought we knew all there was to know about the fall’s phone lineup, but there could be more lurking behind the scenes that may not be revealed until October.

For the second half of the show, we go deep into our review of the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, discussing all the reasons why this Chromebook is the best there is on the market and why we all feel that, despite its steep asking price, the Dragonfly is worth it in the end. Is it for everyone? Of course not, but there are many of you out there that should really give it a look if you are in the market for a Chromebook with no compromises.

Links

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Talking web-based collaborative design with Figma's Noah Levin Aug 11, 2022

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we are back with another interview episode, chatting with Noah Levin, the Director of Design at Figma. If you aren’t familiar with Figma, it’s a powerful design and prototyping tool that was built from the ground up to be run in the browser. Because of that fact, you can leverage powerful collaborative tools so you don’t have to worry about local files or coordinating whether or not your team is working from the most updated version of a project. It’s like the Google Docs of design and prototyping.

LINKS

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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ChromeOS tablets, Google's fall hardware event, and the Pixel Notepad Aug 05, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we were a bit all over the place. Our primary discussion in the first half revolves around the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, ChromeOS tablets, and whether the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 or Duet 5 is the better tablet experience.

In the second half of the show, we delve into the recent news surrounding Google's upcoming fall hardware event and the fact that it looks very likely that we'll see it happen in the first week of October this time around. At that event, we know the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will make an appearance alongside the Pixel Watch, but what about the Pixel Notepad? With new Pixel Camera features coming just for the Pixel Notepad, maybe its arrival is sooner than we expect.

LINKS

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Pixel Buds Pro thoughts, ChromeOS 104 UI updates Jul 29, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stay pretty focused on two things: the arrival of the Pixel Buds Pro and the big updates on the way for ChromeOS. For the Pixel Buds Pro, we have a full video with initial impressions and thoughts on Google’s new earbuds, and the early reactions are very positive. With an absolute slew of great features and the correction of previous Pixel Buds mistakes, these new earbuds are a fantastic addition to the Pixel Portfolio.

For the second half of the show, we focus in on the upcoming changes to ChromeOS that Google highlighted on The Keyword, including better customizations, dark/light themes (finally) and a new video editor for Google Photos slated to hit Chromebooks first. The new features are sweet looking and the small tweaks to things like the app launcher and notifications area are starting to make ChromeOS feel more cohesive and polished all around.

LINKS

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Pixel 6a is here and there's still life in the Pixelbook line Jul 23, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by chatting about the arrival of the Pixel 6a and the Pixel Buds Pro on the scene. We’ve known the launch would be on July 21st since the initial announcement, but the arrival of the pre-order date means our impressions video and countless others are now out in the wild. We stack up the Pixel 6a against its bigger, more-expensive siblings and talk about why this is such an important device for the Google hardware team.

We also chat about the Pixel Buds Pro, the expectations we have of them, and the reasons they could be an absolute home run for Google if things align properly. From there, we transition to talking about the resurgence of hope in the Pixelbook lineup stemming from a missed admission by Google’s Rick Osterloh during Google I/O 2022 that future Pixelbooks were on the roadmap. It’s a packed episode and we hope you enjoy all of it!

Links

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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How to enhance the Chromebook learning experience with Amy Mayer Jul 19, 2022

Today on The Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview episode with Amy Mayer, CEO and Founder of FriED Technology, an organization that offers EdTech-focused professional development and training services. FriEd Tech is a Google for Education Partner that offers a wide range of services for educators around Workspace for Education, Google Certifications, Blended Learning, and more, so Amy clearly knows her stuff and was the perfect guest to wrap up our EdTech series that we are doing in partnership Logitech.

This episode is presented by Logitech, who we’ve partnered with for this 3-part podcast series and for our biggest giveaway yet! Educators & Schools, we're giving away 30 ChromePacks to outfit an entire classroom! CLICK HERE to learn more and enter to win!

This giveaway is open to all currently employed K-12 school or district-level faculty, IT staff, and leadership. Ends July 31, 2022.

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Next-generation Snapdragon Chromebooks are on the way Jul 15, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by discussing multiple new commits that have shown up in the Snapdragon-powered Chromebook space. We now have eyes on development boards with the Snapdragon 8cx, 8cx Gen 2, and 7c+ Gen 3 inside, meaning there’s a lot of interesting ARM-powered Chromebook news in the works over the next few months.

For the second part of the show, we explore the recent developments with ChromeOS Flex coming out of the early stages and becoming generally available for all users. With this move, we now have 400 certified laptops that work with ChromeOS Flex and the list keeps growing. Along with this, we also discuss the fact that Steam games are now working (in Alpha, still) on 12th-gen Intel Chromebooks.

Links

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Logitech's 'Works With Chromebook' Lineup, EDU strategy, and Logi Pen with Gaurav Bradoo Jul 14, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview with Gaurav Bradoo, Product Lead for Education at Logitech. More specifically, Gaurav is responsible for the product management and portfolio strategy for the team at Logitech, looking at education and how they can help learners and educators ignite their full potential through technology.

This episode is presented by Logitech, who we’ve partnered with for this 3-part podcast series and for our biggest giveaway yet! Educators & Schools, we're giving away 30 ChromePacks to outfit an entire classroom! CLICK HERE to learn more and enter to win!

This giveaway is open to all currently employed K-12 school or district-level faculty, IT staff, and leadership. Ends July 31, 2022.

LINKS

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Exploring Chrome Enterprise solutions with Google's Naveen Viswanatha Jul 12, 2022

Today on the Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview with Naveen Viswanatha, Chrome OS Product Lead for the Commercial Team at Google. Naveen started with the Chrome OS education team but has been focused on enterprise solutions for a few years now, so he had some great insights on how Chrome OS can be leveraged in areas outside of the consumer market.

We had a great chat about digital signage, kiosks, virtualization, and how the enterprise team is creating end-to-end solutions for businesses that want to move to Chrome OS. We wrap up the conversation by talking about Google's move into contact centers and how Chrome OS can provide a streamlined and secure solution for these operations.

Links

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

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New Chromebooks hitting store shelves left and right Jul 08, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, it’s an episode all about hardware. From the review of the excellent, new Acer Chromebook Spin 513 to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5601, and Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook all showing up for sale this week, there’s a lot going on in the mid-high-end ChromeOS space right now. While the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 has absolutely impressed everyone in the office, it faces stiff competition from these other devices that have shown up on store shelves in the past few days.

Additionally, we discuss the new arrival of AMD’s Mendocino APUs in the Chromium Repositories. These new chips were officially announced back at Computex in May and bring a combo of decent performance, fanless designs, and great battery life with more than 10 hours on a charge.

Links

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Ins-and-Outs of 'Works with Chromebook' with Google's Kevin Ngo Jul 06, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview with Kevin Ngo – Product Lead for the Works with Chromebook certification program at Google. Kevin was kind enough to chat with us on short notice and, of course, we are always happy to chat with anyone from Google. We had a great conversation about the ins-and-outs of Google’s Works with Chromebook certification and why schools should choose Works with Chromebook-certified solutions. We dig deep into the certification, discussing how they test products, the mission of the certification, and what users should expect when they choose a Works with Chromebook-certified solution.

This episode is presented by Logitech, who we’ve partnered with for this 3-part podcast series and for our biggest giveaway yet! Educators & Schools, we're giving away 30 ChromePacks to outfit an entire classroom! CLICK HERE to learn more and enter to win!

This giveaway is open to all currently employed K-12 school or district-level faculty, IT staff, and leadership. Ends July 31, 2022.

LINKS

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Snapdragon 8cx Chromebooks and new Pixel hardware gets closer Jul 01, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by first announcing our latest - and largest ever - giveaway: 30 Logitech ChromePacks that are full of great accessories for the Chromebook-equipped classroom. These backpacks come loaded with a keyboard, mouse, Blue microphone, headset, and webcam - and one winner will be lucky enough to get them all in order to outfit an entire classroom of students. We're so excited to partner with Logitech for this giveway that runs throughout the month of July. More details can be found in the link in the show notes.

Conversations for this week revolved around new features on the way for Snapdragon 8cx Chromebooks in development, new leaks about the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, and how much we're all looking forward to the imminent release and arrival of the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro. With the Pixel Buds Pro specifically, we all think Google has the chance to deliver a truly fantastic experience if all the features they highlighted all work as expected. With only a few weeks left to wait, we'll know soon enough.

LINKS

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Screencast and New Tools for the Classroom with Google’s Andy Russell Jun 28, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we have an interview episode with Andy Russell. Andy is a Group Product Manager for Education and Family on Chrome OS at Google and has been working on some fun projects that we have been tracking for a while - mainly the new Screencast app that will be available starting with Chrome OS version 103. We also about Cast Moderator and Google's partnership with Figma for Education.

Links

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to find out how VIZOR can help your School manage Chromebooks.

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on our site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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ChromeOS 103 features, gaming Chromebooks, and an HP Dragonfly Jun 24, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about gaming performance on the Steam Deck and how that can inform us a bit on what we should expect in the future from gaming-focused Chromebooks and Steam. On that note, we also found evidence of an Nvidia GPU-powered Chromebook in development, officially moving us into the era of expecting the first, true gaming Chromebook.

The second half of the show is dominated by the new features arriving with the latest ChromeOS 103 update. With recent photos from your Android phone in Phone Hub, Fast Pair for accessories, Nearby Share for Wi-Fi access, and the new Screencast feature, there’s a lot to unpack as we discuss the biggest update to ChromeOS in the past few months.

Links

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Cursive, USI 2.0, and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 Jun 20, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first part of the show discussing Google’s Cursive handwriting PWA and the improvements that have come along with ChromeOS 102. With the full introduction of Cursive to the wider Chromebook audience, we’re seeing some solid usability for the first time with Cursive on quite a few Chromebooks.

In that same vein, we discuss the updates to USI 2.0 and how some of those more-subtle changes have caused a few issues with devices like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and its in-cell display. While the USI 2.0 spec brings about many upgrades and is mostly backward-compatible, there are some wrinkles that make the move less simple than we’d hoped.

Links

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Apple’s new hardware, Lenovo Duet 3 impressions, and a Pixel Watch app Jun 13, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about Apple’s latest announcements from WWDC 2022. With a new ARM-based M2 chip, a new Macbook Air, a confusing Macbook Pro with the M2 chip, and an interesting new multitasking tool in Stage Manager, there was a fair bit to discuss on the Apple front this week. While we generally stick to Chromebooks around here, there’s no denying that many of the things Apple chooses to do set the precedents in tech as we move forward, so it’s worth getting into their new announcements when they happen.

Additionally this week, we touch on the new Pixel Watch app that was discovered and the fact that this will not only serve as a connection point to Google’s new wearable, but should also pave the way for Android Smart Unlock as well. Finally, we get into some of our thoughts on the recently-launched Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 as we now have a production-level model in the office for review.

LINKS

Join our Patreon community and get extras, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on site, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Robby loves the Pixel 6 Pro and MSI joins the Chromebox "game" Jun 03, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we dive into why Robby has come full circle and fallen in love with the Pixel 6 Pro. Despite the many high-end options on the market, the Pixel line has an intangible appeal and the 6 Pro is simply the best overall phone that Google has ever made.

From there, we dive into some interesting new hardware from the ChromeOS front. ARM appears to be making a move to break free from the budget-minded segment of Chromebooks and soon, we may see ARM-powered Chromebases that rival the current devices like the HP Chromebase 22 All-In-One. Last but not least, it looks like a PC gaming giant may have just joined the ChromeOS playground. Little details are available but MSI appears to be working on a 12th Gen Intel Chromebox and that's exciting news for ChromeOS power users and gamers alike.

LINKS

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Pixel Notepad postponed and Acer’s new ARM Chromebook wows May 27, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, there’s a lot to cover. Starting with news of the Pixel Notepad’s postponement to an updated co-processor for the Pixel Watch, there’s a lot of news swirling around Google’s hardware right now. Right in that conversation is the fact that Google grew Pixel shipments 400% year-over-year and that’s obviously without the help of what should be a very popular release in the Pixel 6a. We also get into our initial thoughts on the newly-arrived Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and all the greatness this technically-mid-range Chromebook brings to the table.

Links

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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New Chromebooks announced from Acer and Lenovo May 20, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're diving into all the new ChromeOS hardware that was debuted this week. With a new, high-end competitor from Acer in the Spin 714, it is starting to feel like the race for best Chromebook of 2022 is just getting started. Acer additionally launched an education-focused 10-inch tablet with the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, while Lenovo debuted the latest in a long line of ThinkPad Chromebooks with the new ThinkPad C14.

We also take a few moments to talk about a handful of updates for the Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel 6a that have surfaced since Google I/O. With a decent launch availability across 13 countries and the news that the Pixel 6a will have a different fingerprint scanner than the Pixel 6, there are some interesting tidbits that have come to light since the announcement, making us that much more excited for both of their arrivals in July.

LINKS

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Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to schedule a no-obligation demo of VIZOR for up to 20% off your first year.

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Let's talk about all that hardware from Google I/O 2022 May 14, 2022

Show Links

Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to schedule a no-obligation demo of VIZOR for up to 20% off your first year.

Fueled by Fresh Roasted Coffee. CLICK HERE to check it out and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Pixel Buds Pro and new AMD-powered Chromebooks May 06, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we spend the first half of the show discussing the rumors swirling around the potential Pixel Buds Pro. Google has been snapping up talent and patents over the past couple years in an effort to build a better wireless earbud, and according to a new leak, that release looks to be happening soon.

For the second half of the show, we focus on AMD’s latest Chromebook chips – the Ryzen 5000 C-series – and the new Chromebooks that were announced this week that are powered by those processors. With a slightly-disappointing history between AMD’s older Chromebook processors, this latest set of Ryzen 5000 C chips could finally show up and rival Intel in the performance department.

Links

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Steam Deck arrives as the Pixel Watch looms large Apr 29, 2022

In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing a brand-new piece of hardware that is now in the office: the Steam Deck. This portable gaming device is Linux through and through, and that means things that run smoothly on it should eventually run well on Chromebooks via the 'Borealis' container, too. While we may not be wildly excited about carrying around this large handheld (seriously, it looks like it ate a Nintendo Switch), the ramifications for what it is capable of give us great hope for the future of games on ChromeOS.

Unsurprisingly, we had to talk about the Pixel Watch as well. This yet-to-be-announced wearable has been all over the internet of late, and we had to review all that has gone down in just the last week with it. We've had a hands-on, an AMA, and some pricing leaks as well, so there's a lot to discuss as we await Google I/O in just a couple weeks. My money is on a definite announcement at the annual developer conference, even if we don't get the watch in-hand for a few months.

Links

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Our Steam Deck is inbound & some thoughts on the Acer Chromebook 514 Apr 22, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin our show by discussing the very-recent revelation that we have a Steam Deck on the way to the office! I registered for one back when the announcement first happened and got my invite email right before we began the show. Of course, I immediately purchased the device and now we wait for it to show up at the office to begin experimenting on it. Because it is Linux-based and because the Steam implementation on it is so similar to what we are getting on ChromeOS, the Steam Deck represents a very interesting bridge between games and Chromebooks that we just have to explore.

We also spend some time talking through the main points of our upcoming review of the Acer Chromebook 514. With the new MediaTek Kompanio 828 inside and a few standout hardware features, this lower-priced Chromebook impresses in-person where it may look a little boring on a spec sheet. As they always say, don't judge a book by its cover.

Notable Links

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The Pixel 6a approaches as Google I/O 2022 nears Apr 15, 2022

On this episode of The Chrome Cast, much of our conversation is dominated by more news surrounding the upcoming Pixel 6a. With a stout spec sheet and a likely low price, this new phone from Google looks to hit a sweet spot we don’t see too often in the Android ecosystem. With the same Tensor SoC as the other two Pixel 6 phones, a bigger battery than the Pixel 6 and the same aesthetic appeal, we really feel Google could have a massive win on their hands with the 6a.

Additionally, we talked through the crazy pricing on HP’s upcoming Elite Dragonfly Chromebook and delved just a bit into Google’s propensity for software magic. With the new AFib algorithms getting the FDA go-ahead on Fitbit and Google’s iPhone reactions now appearing in messages, it’s fun to see how Google solves real world issues with software.

Notable Links

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MediaTek's Victor Tyan on the new Kompanio Chromebook processors Apr 13, 2022

For this special interview episode of The Chrome Cast, we sit down with Victor Tyan from MediaTek to discuss the new lineup of Kompanio processors coming to the Chromebook market. From entry level Kompanio 500 devices to the flagship-caliber Kompanio 1000 series, MediaTek now has an SoC for all levels of the Chrome OS ecosystem, and with solid performance and battery life, devices with MediaTek chips inside will soon be available in a wide variety of price ranges and configurations.

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Upgrading our website with Kinsta, new Nest Wi-Fi, and the brilliant Masters website Apr 09, 2022

This episode of The Chrome Cast was a tad bit different than most, but it was a great conversation. We begin the show discussing our recent web hosting woes and the direction we've finally taken to escape them. While many of our listeners may not be looking for quality web hosting at the moment, it doesn't mean you all won't be on the receiving end of a much faster, much more optimized Chrome Unboxed website moving forward. We're excited about where we've landed and only expect the user experience to get better and better with our new hosting partner: Kinsta.

For the second part of the show, we discuss the emergence of a possible new Nest Wi-Fi with a much needed upgrade on board: Wi-Fi 6. With this tech, routers are much better at overall bandwidth throughput and dispersal, so in crowded environments your connection is faster and more stable than it was with Wi-Fi 5. As our homes and places of work continue adding layers of connected devices, this is a necessary move, and combining Wi-Fi 6 with Google's already-stellar, solid and stead router, I think this new Nest will be a huge hit.

Finally, we discuss the new 2022 Masters website from a technical perspective. You don't have to enjoy golf to be absolutely blown away by the masters.com website and we take a quick dive into all the functionality that is on offer via web-driven technology right in your browser.

Notable Links

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Kinsta Managed WordPress hosting: https://chromeunboxed.com/kinsta

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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Making better apps for Chromebooks with Google's Iein Valdez Apr 07, 2022

For this interview episode of The Chrome Cast, we had a chat with Iein Valdez who leads the Chrome OS Developer Relations team at Google. We talked about how he and the Chrome OS are making things easier for developers on the platform, what developers are asking for/doing, and what improvements are being made for PWAs, Android Apps, Linux and more. It was a fantastic conversation and we hope you enjoy hearing about the ways Google is pushing development of applications in all segments from one of Google's own.

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100 versions and counting of ChromeOS Apr 01, 2022

In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we are talking all things ChromeOS 100. The ride from "just a browser" to full-blown OS has been long and over 100 version at this point, so it's nice to stop and look back at all the ChromeOS team has accomplished over the years.

We also chat a bit about our conversation with Google's Alex Kuscher and what that discussion revealed about some of the inner workings of Chrome OS over the years. Chromebooks aren't just browsers any longer, and web technology is more prevalent and useful than it's ever been. Here's to the next 100 versions!

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5 questions with Google’s Alex Kuscher about Chrome OS 100 Mar 30, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we have a very special guest from Google to chat through the Chrome OS 100 milestone: Alex Kuscher. We’ve spoken with Alex one other time here on The Chrome Cast, and we’re delighted to have him back to answer 5 questions concerning the maturation of Chrome OS over the years on the way to version 100. It’s a great conversation with one of the few people who have been around since the early days.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qc1ZVU6gUZ0

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Steam on Chromebooks feels a little like magic Mar 25, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, there's no escaping the gravitational pull surrounding the arrival of Steam for Chromebooks. Sure, there are only a few Chromebooks that can currently participate in the open Alpha and yes there are bugs, but the overall experience of loading up Steam on a Chromebook is one of the coolest new arrivals we've seen for Chrome OS.

Even if you aren't much of a gamer, there's so much to discuss around this topic as a fan of Chrome OS. From an operating system that was 'just a browser' to the do-just-about-anything OS, Chrome OS continues evolving in its abilities. Not only will the Steam on Chromebooks be great for games, it will also help other virtualizations on Chrome OS - like the Android, Linux and Parallels containers - to get faster over time as well. There's a lot to discuss, here, so let's dive in.

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Steam on Chromebooks, Stadia white labeled, and Google Play Games on PC Mar 18, 2022

This week on the Chrome Cast, we get into all the news that came from the Google For Games Developer Summit. From a bit of a surprise announcement around Steam games on Chromebooks to Stadia officially being white labeled as a Google Cloud service to Google Play Games finally arriving on Windows PCs, there was a lot to discuss in the gaming world from a Google fan’s point of view.

We also spend a bit of time discussing some fun, new features available on Chrome OS 99 and the fact that I have once again pivoted in my smartphone ownership. That’s right, folks: it’s back to the Pixel 6 for me!

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Technology in the Classroom with Google's Taryn Sullivan Mar 16, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we have an interview with Tayrn Sullivan, Product Manager on the Google For Education Team. We had a really fun chat discussing an upcoming feature in Google Classroom called Practice Sets. While this is a little different than our normal content, this new feature is using some "Google Magic" and leveraging some awesome technology to help teachers better support their students and help them learn more effectively.

And at the end of the day, a lot of our listeners and readers are parents, so we thought it would be fun to hear directly from a spokesperson at Google how they are using technology to help children in the classroom. We really hope you enjoy the conversation!

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Pixel 6a benchmarks, Pixel Watch/Pixel Buds with skin gestures Mar 11, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we cover quite a bit of ground. Off the top, we begin by talking about the Samsung Galaxy S22+, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds 2 as a cohesive ecosystem we really wish Google would cultivate. With the Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds and Pixel Phones it is possible, but still definitely not there just yet.

From there we talk through some news surrounding the Pixel 6a and the Tensor chip it seems will be powering it when it does release. In addition, we chat through Google's latest, strangest patent that could allow for skin-based gestures for their watches and earbuds in the future. Could this apply to the Pixel Watch we're expecting in the next few months? Hard to tell, but perhaps.

Finally, we discuss the new Android 12 Quarterly Platform Release program and dive a bit into an upcoming video we have where we attempted a full install of Chrome OS Flex on a non-supported 2010 Macbook Pro.

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Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools! Special Offer: CLICK HERE to schedule a no-obligation demo of VIZOR for up to 20% off your first year.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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Lenovo announces new Chromebooks at MWC 2022 Mar 04, 2022

On this latest episode of The Chrome Cast, we spend the bulk of the show discussing Lenovo's new Chromebook lineup that was announced at MWC 2022. With meaningful updates to beloved Chromebooks like the Duet and Flex 5, Lenovo has put together a strong showing as we move into the second quarter of 2022 and the new Chromebook Duet 3 and Flex 5i are both big upgrades on already-great devices.

We also discussed Google's upcoming hardware in the Pixel 6a and Pixel Watch that have now shown up at a US wireless provider in their inventory system. With 3 colors of each device now outed and storage numbers also revealed, we're just waiting on the leak of the actual release date.

Notable Links

This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Pixel 7 leaks, Pixel 6 bugs and Galaxy S22 launch day Feb 25, 2022

On this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about the release of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series and the fact that Samsung is really outdoing itself lately when it comes to making the best Android phone you can buy right now. As much as we want that title to go to Google's own in-house Pixel devices, Samsung is delivering solid hardware with software perks we'd expect to see from Google. On top of that, they're offering far more update support than the Pixel phones get, giving users a full 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates.

We then put that into the context of the Pixel 6's woes across the board and at this point, the picture isn't overwhelmingly pretty for Pixel phones in 2022. We're all fans of Pixel and want to see these phones do well, but there's no denying the fact that Samsung is putting themselves into the position of not only the most dominant Android phone option in the US, but also quite possibly delivering the best experience, too.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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An interview with OWC's Chris Kooistra Feb 21, 2022

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we have a special guest: Chris Kooistra, Director of Marketing for OWC. If you aren't familiar with the company, OWC builds docking and storage solutions primarily for Macbooks that are tested to work with Chromebooks as well. Their products range from SSDs to multi-port docking solutions to full-blown RAID arrays for creators that need more storage and workspace to get the job done.

For us, however, we wanted to know a bit more about some of the products that were announced at CES 2022 and how those and OWC's other, existing peripherals work with Chromebooks. Though many of OWC's products aren't labeled as official 'Works with Chromebooks' accessories, the company spends quite a bit of time making sure things just work with Chrome OS and the we're excited to get our hands on some of these new docks and drives to see just how well things work.

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Chrome OS Flex arrives to save aging laptops Feb 19, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show with a bit of an unplanned dive into the new website, highlighting all the changes and reasons we felt it was time to roll out a new version - V4 - of Chrome Unboxed. There are so many new things to explore on the site and we're genuinely hopeful that all our readers find the new site more helpful and more engaging as an overall experience.

The rest of the podcast is spent talking about the biggest news of the past week in the Chrome OS universe: Chrome OS Flex. This new version of Chrome OS aims to bring the same Chrome OS experience we know and love to aging PCs and Macbooks in just about the simplest way possible. And it is legit, full-blown Chrome OS, too. It's wild how well it works and there's a lot to talk about with Google's latest move, here.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Chrome OS 98 arrives with some great new features Feb 12, 2022

This week, we begin the podcast by debuting our latest giveaway: 6 Lenovo Smart Clocks with the wireless charging dock. You can check out more details on that device here, but don’t forget to get entered for your chance to win down further in this post. This time, the giveaway will run until the end of the month and we’ll draw 6 lucky winners on February 28th at 10am.

Oh, and this is our first podcast with a video component available, too! We’ll be tweaking and honing this element as we go, but the core pieces are now in place for you to watch/listen to the podcast from this point forward. We really hope you enjoy it! Now, let’s talk about the actual podcast content a bit, shall we?

The first large segment of the show is spent talking about Chrome and Chrome OS 98 and all the new, small, useful features that have come along with them. We actually have a video that just went live highlighting a few of these things, and with the new 4-week update schedule in place, it seems that these simple feature additions could be the way of things for the foreseeable future.

Additionally, we discuss the Samsung Unpacked event and some of the noteworthy things that came from it. Of particular interest was the fact that Samsung is including 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates, surpassing Google’s own Pixel phones by a full 2 years in that regard. Samsung also made it clear that their full camera functionality for the Galaxy S22 will be available in popular apps like Instagram, Snapchat and more. In some ways, Samsung is simply besting Google at making Android an OS for the masses.

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Chromebook sales numbers are down, Pixel sales soar in Q4 of 2021 Feb 06, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show talking through our recent review of the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5400. It has become a favorite around the office and there are a lot of reasons why, so we cover those and talk about a few other hardware-related things we’re looking forward to form some other Chromebooks on the way.

Next up, we walk through the slightly-misleading headlines swirling around the internet concerning some pretty big drop-offs in sales numbers for Chromebooks in Q4 of 2021 versus the previous Q4 of 2020. As you can imagine, comparing numbers in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 to what was going on in Q4 of 2021 skews things a bit, and we get into all the reasons why we should all expect Chromebook sales to be quite a bit lower than they were in 2020.

We also discuss the very positive numbers Google shared for their Pixel 6 sales while also pumping the brakes a bit about what those numbers actually translate to. While it is great to see the Pixel 6 selling well, we have to look at the smartphone market as a whole and remember Google still has a large hill to climb, there.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR, Chromebook and IT Asset Management Software for K-12 CLICK HERE to schedule a demo and get 20% off!

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New details emerge on the Pixel Notepad and Pixel Watch Jan 29, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin things by introducing our newest, soon-to-be employee: Andrew Johnson. After letting all of you get to know him a bit better, we move on to talking through the newest leaks surrounding the Pixel Notepad and Pixel Watch. For the Notepad, that means we’re talking about the possible $1399 price tag and with the Pixel Watch, it means we’re discussing the rumored May 26th launch date.

Next, we talk through the recent findings that show RGB keyboards in the works for Chromebooks. This means Google and Chromebook manufacturers are really serious about gaming on Chrome OS and as we await the release of ‘Borealis’ – a.k.a. Steam on Chrome OS – it looks like Chromebook makers are getting things in line to take full advantage.

Finally, we discuss MediaTek’s new Kompanio chips for Chromebooks and the latest news that reveals the new ‘Boreal’ device – one we hoped was a high-end Chromecast with Google TV – will likely be a standard HD version at an even lower price. While its a bit of a bummer, it is probably a good move as we look at the current state of the market for streaming dongles.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR, Chromebook and IT Asset Management Software for K-12 CLICK HERE to schedule a demo and get 20% off!

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The Pixel Notepad, Pixel 6 updates, and fast MediaTek Chromebooks Jan 21, 2022

On this week's episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro update that arrived just hours after we wrapped up our podcast last week. Though all our thoughts about the massively-delayed update still hold, it was really great to finally see this one arrive for Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners late last week.

For the next portion of the show, we discuss the newly-named (and rumored) Pixel Notepad and why this name feels so out of place for a folding phone that most likely won't include a stylus. Or will it? Maybe Google has more surprises up its sleeve than we expect, including a rumored price that should undercut the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 at launch.

Finally, we discuss our latest video a bit as we delve into the speed on offer by the new MediaTek Kompanio 1380 inside the upcoming Acer Chromebook Spin 513. This processor is the first real step forward we've seen in the ARM space and though we can't share any benchmarks, we can tell you how quick it runs and how well it handles every Chromebook task we could muster.

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Pixel Fold hopes ignite as Pixel 6 frustrations mount Jan 14, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend almost all of our time in Pixel world. With the new leaks out there showing off the Pixel Fold in the latest Android 12L Beta (via the SIM card insertion help page), we’ve gone from just hoping that Google is building a foldable Pixel to feeling quite confident that not only is that still happening, but could be on the way with a key differentiator from the existing Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

For the second half of the show, we chat about the growing discontent surrounding the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. With the new flagship phones and their brand-new Tensor SoC and Samsung modem, we’re getting quite a few bugs. Part of that is the hardware, and part of it is Android 12, but the combination is proving to be a bit of a mess of late. With no update in sight until the end of January, you basically have a swath of users on the latest, greatest Pixel with over 3 months of waiting for an update to fix the launch day bugs. It’s not good.

As a wrap up on a much lighter note, we talk through our hands-on time with the new Acer Chromebook Spin 513 with the new MediaTek Kompanio 1380 on the inside. With high end components like a high-res, 3:2 QHD screen, this device is impressive even in this pre-production state. This one has us very excited about the potential of ARM in Chromebooks in 2022.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR, Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for K-12. CLICK HERE to schedule a demo and get 20% off!

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CES 2022 recap Jan 09, 2022

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're looking back at all the fun stuff we covered from CES 2022. While we couldn't be at the show this year due to increased COVID activity and the omicron variant, all our meetings were able to be conducted in a virtual space and HP was even kind enough to send over a prototype of the new, amazing HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook that we were able to actually get a video produced for.

Additinoally, Acer announced the world's first MediaTek Kompanio 1380-powered Chromebook in the new Spin 513 and we are very much looking forward to getting our hands on it early next week. Along with that announcement, ASUS also surprised everyone by including a new Flip CX5 in a 16-inch, 16:10 variant that we'll gather details on as time goes on. Add those Chromebook announcements to the slew of other fun, non-Google, non-Chromebook tech that was announced and there's plenty to talk this week.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR, Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for K-12. CLICK HERE to schedule a demo and get 20% off!

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Folding phones and a look back at Chrome Unboxed in 2021 Jan 01, 2022

After talking a bit about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and how excited it makes me for the possibility of the Pixel Fold in 2022, we transition the show to a more retrospective time as we look back on the 10 most-viewed articles of 2021 on Chrome Unboxed. That list takes us through quite a few memories and gives us a bit of a chance to look back on the year that was as we move into 2022.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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The Pixel Watch nears as Google Play Games comes to Windows Dec 18, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin things on a somber note as we reflect a bit about the recent tornadoes that ravaged our home state of Kentucky. It's been a rough time for many in our Commonwealth and we've put together a way for our audience - readers, YouTube viewers, and podcast listeners - to band together to try and help out a group in need that is near and dear to our hearts.

The rest of the show is on a much lighter note, however, as we discuss the most recent Pixel Watch leaks, the failed merger of Duo and Google Meet (and what that could end up meaning for Duo long-term), some new camera-related tricks coming to Chromebooks. We wrap up by discussing the huge news that Google Play Games is on the way for Windows on PC and the far-reaching effect this new Android games conduit could have on Chromebooks in the future.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN.CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, and more. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Wrapping up our biggest giveaway ever and our favorite tech of 2021 Dec 10, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the episode talking through our latest, largest giveaway wrapping up just minutes before we hit record. This morning, we announced the 5 winners of our 5 brand-new Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5's and we're still a bit blown away at the energy around this latest giveaway. Tons of people were entered and we love interacting with so many of you! We're looking very forward to doing this again very soon.

Other topics covered in the podcast this week include our full thoughts on the Lenovo Duet 5 (our review dropped this week) and a bit of musing about where ARM processors and Chromebooks are headed. Simply put, it's a very bright future ahead. We wrap up by discussing our latest Gear of the Year post and video, highlighting a bunch of cool tech that we've enjoyed or wished for over the past year.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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A new Snapdragon for Chromebooks, Chrome OS 96, and Pixel Watch hopes Dec 03, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first half of the show discussing our sweet Lenovo Duet 5 giveaway and, because it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, we transition right into talking about the company's Snapdragon Summit. At this event, a new Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 was announced that could really heat up the ARM-powered Chromebook war in the coming months. With MediaTek slated to release their new chips in a handful of Chromebooks soon, it's an exciting time for ARM and Chrome OS.

In the second half, we discuss some new software features in Chrome OS 96 and talk through some hopes for the future as Chrome OS hits milestone number 97 in early January. With LaCrOS and Borealis both on the way soon, the future of Chromebooks looks brighter than ever, and there's a lot to talk about as we round out the year.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

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MediaTek Kompanio Chromebooks are coming, and so is the Pixel 6a Nov 26, 2021

This week on the Chrome Cast, we spend a good bit of time talking through MediaTek’s Executive Summit, the things that were announced there, and our thoughts on what the landscape of MediaTek ARM-powered Chromebooks will look like in the coming weeks and months. Joe was lucky enough to get to go out to California for the event and we made some fantastic new connections with MediaTek folks and other media creators, too. Don’t worry, we talk about all of it.

We also cover the new leaks of the Pixel 6a and discuss a bit about where this phone could fit into Google’s new lineup. With an aesthetic that matches the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and the same Tensor SoC, it will be interesting to see where Google chooses to cut corners for the Pixel 6a. With the Pixel 6 already being relatively low-priced, we expect a similar $349-$399 price tag for the Pixel 6a, so this phone could get very, very interesting.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to get 69% off and 3 months for free.

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Pixel 6 bugs, fixes, and our picks for best Chromebooks of 2021 Nov 20, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show talking about all things Pixel 6. With a few launch-related bugs, we've been really impressed with Google's continual ownership of the issues and their quickness in fixing things they've admitted are actually problems. For past phones, the company has been a bit more hesitant to admit clear failures both with software and hardware on Pixel phones. With Pixel 6, it seems this isn't the case, and that should mean we'll have better phone experiences across the board as time goes on with these new devices.

The second half of the show is dedicated to our Best Chromebooks of 2021 list and we break down some of the reasoning behind our decisions on that list. If you've not already checked out the post/video on that, you'll be able to see it via the links below.

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to get 69% off and 3 months for free.

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Pixel 6 GPU, PUBG New State on Chromebooks, and no Pixelbooks anytime soon Nov 12, 2021

This week on the podcast, we begin things by chatting about the recent GPU benchmarks that have surfaced for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. With the two phones being out in the wild for a few weeks at this point, it is nice to see where some of the speedy performance comes from and knowing the GPU is insanely powerful in the Pixel 6 give us hope that games and other graphic-intensive tasks will continue getting better on these phones as developers learn to take more advantage of that power. It is during this time that we also talk a bit about PUBG New State on both Chromebooks and lower-end Android phones. It is pretty awesome!

For the second half, we jump into the recent revelations that Google won't be building a new Pixelbook anytime soon. We now know that we shouldn't expect a new Google-made Chromebook at any point this year or next, and that's a bummer. Sure, we know Tensor for Chromebooks is coming, but still see no reason Google shouldn't have planned one more Intel-powered Pixelbook to bridge the gap.

NOTABLE LINKS

PUBG New State is here and runs like butter on the new Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
The only potential Pixelbook board in development just got the axe
Busted: Samsung sued over shattered Chromebook Plus displays
PUBG New State launches in 3 days and there's only one Chromeboook you can play it on
After update to Geekbench, Pixel 6 Tensor SoC gets crazy-high GPU compute scores

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 tablet and a folding Pixel Nov 05, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by discussing the latest piece of Chrome OS hardware to show up in the office: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. This large, thin tablet was one that wasn't the most intriguing when it was announced, but has quickly won us all over thanks to a combo of a fantastic 1080p OLED screen, sleek build quality, and an overall usability that was a bit unexpected.

We then spend a bit of time talking through the recent reports of Chromebook sales declining, why that was an inevitable outcome, and why those numbers aren't worth getting worried about. We also let ourselves indulge on the recent findings about the folding Pixel phone that is now slated for a 2022 release.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixel 6 benchmarks, video editing on Chromebooks with LumaFusion Oct 29, 2021

This week, we open the show with some review-type thoughts on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. With our video recently going out that highlights our collective conflict over which Pixel to buy, there's a lot to talk about now that we've had these phones in our hands for well over a week. With some of the recent GPU benchmarks and real-world tests run on these Pixels, there's also some discussion to be had about the true power of the Tensor SoC under the hood.

With a longer-than-expected sidebar about the upcoming PUBG New State game, we then transition to talking about LumaFusion's recent announcement that they are now working on not only an Android version of their excellent video editing software, but also building it with Chromebooks in mind. This could mean professional level video editing on faster Chromebooks down the road as LumaFusion on iPad is completely capable of pumping out pro-level videos.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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The one with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro Oct 22, 2021

I don’t think we need to think too much about what this week’s podcast is centered on. Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are launched, in our office, and we definitely have some thoughts. This year, it’s not about “to Pixel, or not to Pixel?” Instead, the question really is all about which Pixel is the right one for each users. While I really thought I was all in on the Pixel 6 Pro, after some time using both phones, I might be leaning towards the Pixel 6.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to get 69% off and 3 months for free.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the eve of the Pixel Fall Launch Oct 15, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re still stuck in Pixel 6 land. We warned you that it would be a Pixel party until the 19th and here we sit, just days out from the final unveiling. In the last week, more leaks came up, more specs were verified, and more hype was generated on the way. There were new landing pages discovered and Google has put their live event on YouTube for you to bookmark and get notified of, too.

As much as Pixel fever dominates the podcast, there were other things to talk about as well. Most notably, our coverage of Acer’s latest press conference along with an exclusive interview with Acer COO Jerry Kao. There are some interesting things brewing at Acer and with 4 new Chromebooks on the way, the Chrome OS train is still running strong.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to get 69% off and 3 months for free.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Pixel 6 leaks as Facebook goes dark Oct 09, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show discussing the major outage that struck Facebook this week, bringing down all their services along with it. For most of the work day Monday, users were unable to send messages via Messenger or WhatsApp, post on Facebook or Instagram, or access Oculus VR services. It was a big deal that affected a ton of people and raises some interesting questions about the pervasiveness of mega companies in our daily lives: both at work and play.

In a much lighter second half, we delve into Pixel 6 leaks that have come about and talk through the interesting situation that Google is in where even a treasure trove of leaked photos and info don’t really seem to cause much of a stir. With their marketing strategy for Pixel 6, it really does feel like Google has stemmed the leaker tide and taken full control of the narrative surrounding their new phones.

Finally, we take a bit of time to discuss some important movement in the Chrome OS gaming scene. Anti-cheat is a big hurdle for Linux gaming (what ‘Borealis’ – A.K.A. Steam for Chromebooks will leverage) and it looks like all the major players are on board to get their anti-cheat protocols up and running for Steam on Linux in the near future.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About that Pixel 6 Pro case Oct 02, 2021

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Notable Links:

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Leaks affirm Pixel 6 launch date and new ARM Chromebooks are coming Sep 24, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by once again delving into the week's news surrounding the highly-anticipated Pixel 6 launch. With the new rumors swirling, it seems clear that we'll be seeing these new phones up for order on October 19th - less than four weeks from now. We also take some time to further discuss the Pixel fold and the fact that even in being completely overshadowed by the Pixel 6 right now, there's still hope that it may launch later in 2021.

For the second half of the show, we talk about Acer's upcoming global press conference and the hopes we have that we might at least get a glimpse of a new MediaTek-powered device or two. We have strong suspicions that Acer is behind both a MediaTek MT8192 and MT8195 device, so our hopes are high that we get to at least get a sneak peek at these new Chromebooks at their event on October 13th. Just like with the Pixel 6 news, we'll know very soon as October is nearly upon us.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple's misleading Chromebook jab and more Pixel 6 Tensor hype Sep 17, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend some time unpacking the recent – and frankly surprising – jab Apple chose to take at Chromebooks during their latest keynote presentation. In very non-Apple fashion, the company chose to quickly mention Chromebooks when talking about their latest, entry-level iPad and though it was a bit of a misdirection, the fact that they brought up Chromebooks at all is very interesting to say the least.

For the second half of the show, we spend more time on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Specifically, we unpack some rumors that have circulated this week surrounding the core makeup of the Tensor SoC we’ll know much more about in just a few weeks. While we were all happy enough that Google looks to be delivering a new, custom Tensor chip that should deliver some on-device processing chops we’ve never had in a Pixel before, we weren’t expecting mind-blowing speed. It turns out we may be getting that, too.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and save 69% on a 2-year plan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google teases Pixel 6 even more as Lenovo unveils a new Duet Sep 10, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss the new way that Google teased the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with little warning in a new sizzle video on YouTube. The ad-like, 30-second video doesn’t give too much away that we didn’t already know, but it did give us the first official looks at the new Pixel phones in the hands of actual humans. Sure, the renders were shown off a bit as well, but it was cool to see the phones in real-world settings and in the possession of real people. We also discuss the new Material You treatment Google announced for many of its own in-house apps that will all culminate in the release of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro later in October, presumably.

The second half of the podcast is for all of you interested in Chrome OS tablets. With Lenovo’s recently-announced Duet 5, we’re seeing more detachable Chromebooks finally show up and we’re as curious as ever just what users actually do with these devices. From iPads in keyboard cases to mid-range Chromebook tablets to low end models, there’s still a desire for tablets, but what role do they ultimately play in a world with large-screen smartphones and thin/light laptops. If you are into tablets and detachables, this one’s for you!

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Is your school district going 1:1? Do you manage thousands of Chromebooks and other IT assets like projectors and Smartboards? VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your student information system, now including PowerSchool. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and save 69% on a 2-year plan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixel 6 release rumors and Google's Tensor for Chromebooks Sep 03, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we dive into all the news surrounding the release date of the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Though there were murmurs of a possible unveiling on September 13th, it looks like that won’t be the case and there’s a new rumor swirling from noted leaker Jon Prosser that places the launch of Google’s new phones on October 19th with a shipping date of October 28th.

For the second half of the show, we talk about the recent rumor from Nikkei Asia that further confirms Google’s upcoming investments in their own silicon in Chromebooks. Though we had a good feeling that this was the direction Google would head with these Tensor processors, it’s nice to see a notable news outlet confirm that they have multiple inside sources that can confirm Google is in fact working on this as we speak.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The HP Chromebook X2 11 hype is real Aug 27, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we had a handful of things to talk through, but the first half of the show was dominated by discussion of the HP Chromebook X2 11. This device is now available at Best Buy and as we wait during the next few days for it to arrive, we’re getting more hyped about it with every passing moment. From the 11-inch 3:2 QHD display that measures a whopping 400 nits to the sleek-looking tablet form factor to the wirelessly chargin USI pen, the new Chromebook tablet from HP has a lot going for it and we can’t wait to show it to you on video next week.

For the second half of the show, we dive into a cryptic tweet by Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer and what it could mean for the timing of Google’s fall hardware releases. After that we wrap up the show by discussing even more upcoming Chromebook hardware on the way with the new AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake processors, and even more Intel Jasper Lake processors. It’s a full show, so we hope you enjoy this week!

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vulkan working on Chromebooks and making sense of the Pixel 5a Aug 20, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re welcoming our contributing writer Luke Short on the show to discuss a bit more in-depth about the discoveries he’s made getting Vulkan API support working on Chromebooks. For gaming on Chrome OS to finally arrive, Vulkan is a necessary piece of the overall puzzle. Though Luke’s work hasn’t unlocked the full Borealis (Steam gaming on Chromebooks) experience, it gets us a lot closer to testing that reality.

After the break, we dive into the great-yet-confounding Pixel 5a and discuss the good parts of the phone along with how it could find its place as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro loom in the future. With the Pixel 5a, it feels like Google has put the train back on the tracks a bit and if the new Tensor-powered phones from Google deliver as we’d expect, the future for Pixel has never looked brighter.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks- Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. If you manage Chromebooks for a School or School district you’ll want to listen to this, especially you have a 1:1 program. VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your Student information system. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which Student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samsung's folding phones & HP's new twisting desktop Aug 13, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we dive into Samsung's latest announcements, including the two new foldables (Galaxy Fold 3 and Flip 3), the new Samsung Watch, and the latest Galaxy Buds. Sometimes new tech comes out and we just have to discuss the long-term ramifications of new advancements whether it surrounds Chromebooks or not. This is one of those weeks.

For the second half of the show, we delve into the new hardware from HP and discuss the quirky, fun new HP Chromebase 22 along with the highly anticipated detachable HP Chromebook x2 11. With a ton of interesting features and bold form factors, HP is clearly looking to diversify its Chrome OS portfolio, and so far, we're loving it.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks- Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. If you manage Chromebooks for a School or School district you’ll want to listen to this, especially you have a 1:1 program. VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your Student information system. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which Student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. CLICK HERE to learn more about VIZOR.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixel 6, Tensor chips and all the ASUS Chromebooks Aug 06, 2021

This week’s episode of The Chrome Cast should probably be renamed “The Pixel Show”. In case you missed the news, Google officially unveiled its upcoming flagship phone earlier this week. Needless to say, we are excited and there’s a lot to talk about. While we spend quite a bit of the podcast talking specifically about the new hardware, the Tensor SoC that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is arguably the bigger news as Google sets its sights on future hardware.

After a lengthy discussion, we touch on Google’s other new hardware that comes in the form of a new lineup of cameras and a new doorbell from the Nest family. This includes a rechargeable Nest cam that touts up to seven months of use on a single charge. Rounding off the chat, we talk about all of ASUS’ new Chrome OS hardware and how the company has set a new bar for the premium Chromebook segment.

Notable links

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get 3 months free.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making sense of MediaTek's Chromebook processor lineup Jul 30, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first half of the show sorting out what is going on in the confusion surrounding MediaTek's latest Kompanio 1300T SoC announcement. While Kompanio chips have been included in low-end Chromebooks and will ship in two additional variations in other Chromebooks by the end of the year, this latest chip is being touted in the media as yet another Chromebook option. Is that it or is there a tad bit of misunderstanding?

In the second half of the show, we look at Google/Alphabet's Q2 2021 Earnings Call and talk a bit more about the importance of the "deep investments in hardware" that Google is ready to show off this fall. Between a new phone, a new watch, and perhaps a little tease of a Google silicon-powered Chromebook in the mix, we're likely in for a very interesting event this fall.

NOTABLE LINKS

Upcoming MediaTek ARM Chromebooks are faster than a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
ARM and NVIDIA Gaming Chromebooks are in the works
Alphabet Q2 2021 Earnings Call
MediaTek Kompanio 1300T press release

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ASUS is back in the premium Chromebook game Jul 23, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss Google's latest Chrome OS update bugs, how to fix them, and why in the end these bugs aren't nearly as big of a deal on Chrome OS as they are on competing operating systems. For the second half of the show, we dig into all the new hardware on the way from ASUS, including the new CX9 and surprise Flip CX5400. Both of these devices add high-end, premium options from ASUS that are quite reasonably priced for all the hardware they possess and fill out ASUS' portfolio for 2021 Chromebook to include a little of something for everyone.

NOTABLE LINKS

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A deeper look at the coming Chromebook gaming revolution Jul 16, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re excited to welcome our contributing writer – Luke Short – who is well versed in the development that is ongoing with the gaming changes coming to Chrome OS in the coming months. Between ‘Mushu’ and a dedicated GPU in the works for a Chromebook, the Borealis project (which is bringing Steam games to Chrome OS), Proton (which brings Windows games to Linux for Steam), and the all new Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, we stick to gaming and gaming alone in this episode.

All of these things are working together towards a gaming revolution that is on the way for Chromebook users. Better GPUs add to the custom Steam container (Borealis) and the combo will make Steam games possible in the near future. Proton opens the door for Windows games in this setting and the new Steam Deck only propels the impending availability of the 50,000+ Steam games with Valve hoping to have 100% compatibility for their library by December when the Steam Deck actually launches. It all works together to create a very compelling case for local gaming on Chromebooks by the end of 2021.

NOTABLE LINKS

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Pixel 6 leaks and Jasper Lake Chromebook speed boosts Jul 09, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show off by discussing the most recent leaks surrounding the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro that give us more details on what to expect this fall along with a promise for 5 years of regular security updates from Google.

In the second half of the show, we start by discussing Chrome OS 91's update issues and the current pause from the update server. After that, we expand on the new Jasper Lake benchmark scores we're seeing and the impact this line of Chromebooks could have on the ecosystem as a whole. That leads to talk about tablets, ARM processors, and Google's custom silicon eventually coming to Chromebooks. It's a full show this week!

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This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Zoom's PWA, Opera for Chromebooks, and Stadia nails it on Android TV Jul 02, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss the new apps that have arrived for Chromebooks and why they are so important to the ecosystem. It isn’t just that Zoom has an official PWA or that Opera has optimized the Android-based browser just for Chromebooks, it’s the fact that larger entities are beginning to really take note of Chrome OS and are building experiences just for the platform.

For the second half of the show, we discuss Stadia’s arrival on Android/Google TV and what it is actually like to use the service. With a great app on very affordable devices like Google’s new Chromecast and the ridiculously inexpensive Onn. streaming kit from Walmart, it feels like Stadia may get a big shot in the arm from the larger user base that could be inbound from this new platform. Oh, and we talked about this, too…

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This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Stadia on Google TV, Steam on Chromebooks, and no new Pixelbooks Jun 25, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing all the gaming news that is swirling in the Google/Chromebook world this week. From Stadia finally launching on Chromecast with Google TV (and Android TV) to more news on 'Borealis' and Steam games coming to Chrome OS, there was a lot of great news in the gaming sphere this week.

From there we move on to talking about my lost hope in seeing an updated Pixelbook anytime soon. With the two boards 'Halvor' and 'Lindar' both being outed as decidedly not Google hardware, we really don't have anywhere else to look for a new Pixelbook in the near future. That being said, there's hope on the horizon in the form of Google's custom 'Whitechapel' silicon that gives us hope that we may see another Pixelbook down the road.

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This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Google enters the retail space in New York City Jun 18, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we open the show by explaining a bit about our new, upcoming series simply called Upstream. With audience-submitted questions and expert-driven answers, we hope Upstream will turn into a place for all our readers to get interesting, insightful answers to things that aren't always a Google search away. We follow this up with in-depth discussion about Google's freshly-opened retail store in New York City and what that move could mean for the mostly-online search giant.

For the second half of the show, we talk through the new Material You design language and what it could look like on Chromebooks in the future. With mock-ups from our own Michael Perrigo, it is a lot of fun to consider what Chrome OS will look like after the next paint job. As it tends to do, this discussion derails into talk of yet another Google-made Chromebook and what that could look like later this year.

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This episode is brought to you by VIZOR for Chromebooks! Are you a School or District with a Chromebook 1:1 program? If so, get ready for your summer intake today with VIZOR for Chromebooks. VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your Student information system. With VIZOR you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. Listeners to this podcast get 2 months free, so be sure to tell them you heard about VIZOR on The Chrome Cast podcast to qualify. Click here to learn more about VIZOR for Chromebooks and qualify for 2 months free!

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! Click here to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

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More Pixel Fold leaks and thoughts on the new Pixel Buds Jun 11, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stay in a pretty #madebyGoogle sort of mood. Starting with some early thoughts on the new Pixel Buds A-Series, we talk through all that Google is doing right in this space and - perhaps more importantly - all the things they are still basically missing on. Yes, the new earbuds are pretty nice, but they are on the pricey side for a device that lacks many of the features seen in far cheaper headphones. On sale and closer to $79, these new Pixel Buds could be just the right price, though.

For the second half of the podcast, we delve into the recent reports on Google's foldable OLED screens beginning manufacture in October. Samsung has been tapped for sourcing and The Elec says along with screens for VIVO and Xiomi, Samsung will be manufacturing screens for Google as well. If this is the case, we're likely tracking an unveiling of the Pixel Fold in October at Google's hardware event and perhaps a release of this still-mysterious phone sometime in late 2021.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Chrome OS 91 arrives and a foldable Pixel is coming Jun 03, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by covering down on all the new features available in Chrome and Chrome OS 91. Between updates to the V8 JavaScript engine - dubbed Sparkplug - and the arrival of Nearby Share, version 91 of Chrome OS is a nice, incremental update that should improve performance across the board and provide a new, useful way for files to be shared across Google's growing line of Android and Chrome OS hardware.

For the second half of the show, we focus in on reports surrounding the upcoming - and mysterious - Pixel Fold. As it turns out, Samsung is now supplying Google with not only foldable OLED screens, but also the ultra-thin glass it uses in the manufacturing of devices like the Galaxy Flip and Galaxy Fold phones. There are no additional details for now on what Google is planning or when we could see a folding Pixel, but this new news is definitely great fodder for discussion.

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This episode is brought to you by VIZOR for Chromebooks! Are you a School or District with a Chromebook 1:1 program? If so, get ready for your summer intake today with VIZOR for Chromebooks. VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your Student information system. With VIZOR you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. Listeners to this podcast get 2 months free, so be sure to tell them you heard about VIZOR on The Chrome Cast podcast to qualify. Click here to learn more about VIZOR for Chromebooks and qualify for 2 months free!

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! Click here to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

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More Pixel 6 leaks and tons of new Chromebook hardware May 28, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re discussing further leaks regarding the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, including new renders that showed up and more details about what we can expect from the new Google-made processor inside. After discussing our excitement over what the Pixel 6 could mean for Android phones and for Google, we pivot to a discussion surrounding some new hardware that arrived this week. From Acer’s 4 new Chromebooks to new devices on the way from HP and ASUS alike, there’s a lot to discuss this week from a Chromebook hardware perspective.

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This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Google I/O 2021 in review May 21, 2021

Was there any question what would dominate our discussion this week? Google I/O 2021 came and went and in its wake, we’re left with all sorts of things to discuss. From new language AI like LaMDA to WearOS updates to Material You, there was a ton of new stuff that came from Google I/O that sparks the imagination and ensuing conversations. We try our best to stay on track and get through all the stuff that really interested us from I/O, and even in our 90 minutes of talking it feels like we only scratched the surface. It was fun to really dig in, so grab a snack and come along for our Google I/O 2021 recap.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Pixel 6 leaks and Q&A with EDU specialist John Sowash May 14, 2021

This week's episode of The Chrome Cast is about as straightforward as they come. Just last night, very convincing renders of the Pixel 6 showed up and as we tend to do, we prognosticated quite a bit about the legitimacy of those leaks, what they could mean, and when we might actually here something official from Google about the whole thing. In the second half of the podcast, we're joined by John Sowash, an expert on all things EDU and Chromebook. He's written a few articles here at Chrome Unboxed and this is his second time on the podcast. We had some user-submitted questions he is kind enough to weigh in on and our conversations was both fun and informative: hope you enjoy it!

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This episode is brought to you by VIZOR for Chromebooks! Are you a School or District with a Chromebook 1:1 program? If so, get ready for your summer intake today with VIZOR for Chromebooks. VIZOR is a Chromebook management solution that seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and your Student information system. With VIZOR you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, manage repairs, and even automate disabling lost or stolen devices while notifying parents, all in one click. Listeners to this podcast get 2 months free, so be sure to tell them you heard about VIZOR on The Chrome Cast podcast to qualify. Click here to learn more about VIZOR for Chromebooks and qualify for 2 months free!

This episode is brought to you by CTL. Based here in the USA, CTL builds Chrome devices that are sturdy, well-made, and above all, affordable. Whether it be for the classroom or enterprise deployment, CTL offers a wide variety of Chromebooks and Chromeboxes to meet any need. Click here if you’d like to learn more about them.

This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! Click here to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

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Tiger Lake speed, Google I/O sessions, and Q1 Chromebook sales skyrocket May 07, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking a bit in depth about the new ASUS Chromebook CX5 and, more importantly, about the difference Tiger Lake Intel processors are poised to make in the Chromebook market. This device is not only attractive and well-made, it is by far the fastest Chromebook we’ve ever had in the office and demolishes even the 10th-gen Core i7 in every benchmark across the board. What this means for the future of mid/high-range Chromebooks this year is incredibly promising.

In the second half of the show, we talk through the updated Google I/O 2021 website and how simple Google is making it this year for those who want to take in some sessions. The site is easy to distill and navigate and it makes finding just the right content very intuitive. What we’ll see at I/O still remains a bit of a mystery, but with this session layout, we at least have a bit of a look at what’s coming. With one of those sessions again being centered on Android apps on Chromebooks, we’re hopeful the consistent messaging from Google on this paired with the huge Q1 sales numbers for Chromebooks combine to get more developers on board to make Android apps run well on larger screens.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Google teases new hardware for I/O 2021 Apr 30, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first part of the show discussing the new Chromebook hardware that is in the office and on the way. From ASUS, there is the new pre-order of the CM5, the impending CM3 Detachable, and the CX5 we have in the office and unboxed earlier this week. On the Acer front, we talk quite a bit about our upcoming review of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and what the first Snapdragon Chromebook brings to the table.

In the second half, we're in Google I/O 2021 mode, talking through all the teases that have us believing there will be some new hardware shown off at Google's return to their annual developer conference. Though there aren't many leaks aside from the new Pixel 5a and Pixel Buds A, it seems Google may have other new hardware lined up to announce that hasn't leaked out prior. It will be a fun few days in mid-May either way, and we're even more excited for it now.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Chrome OS 90 arrives and new Chromebooks are on the horizon Apr 23, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're delving into all the features that came along with the recent update to Chrome OS 90. While not everyone has it just yet, you can rest assured the update is on the way and when it arrives, some cool new tricks are on the way along with it. In the second half of the show, we get into some of the new hardware that is right around the corner and already arriving in stores as we speak.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Nest Hub 2 review, Snapdragon Chromebooks and OLED screens Apr 16, 2021

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Get ready for summer intake with VIZOR, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond Google Admin functionality. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin Console and with your Student Information System. Track who has what, manage 1:1 check-out programs, and track repairs. Click here to learn more and qualify for 2 months free!

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing our recent review of the 2nd-gen Google Nest Hub and all the things that are great and not so great about it. From the sleep tracking to the updated speaker, we talk quite a bit about our experiences and why this version is definitely worth the current $10 uptick in pricing over the original.

In the second half of the show, we dive into quite a few things going on in the Snapdragon Chromebook space. With the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 beginning to show up at retailers, ‘Homestar’ getting an OLED screen and a quad speaker setup and Sharp getting into the Chromebook game with its own Snapdragon-powered device, there’s a lot going on with Qualcomm and Chrome OS right now.

Finally, we discuss NVIDIA’s pronouncement of intent to begin shipping their RTX GPUs alongside MediaTek ARM chips. This could be a big deal for Chromebooks down the road and will likely play a big part in the continuing move to a broader processor ecosystem for Chrome OS.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

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Pixel Watch, Pixel Phone and Google I/O returns Apr 09, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, our entire show revolves around Google hardware. From the leaks of the Pixel Watch to the interesting saga of the Pixel 5a to the Pixel 6 and it's Google-made silicon, this week we're all-in on upcoming stuff that is made by Google. In addition to talking through solid leaks from this week, we also spend a bit of time recapping the importance of ARM and custom silicon when it comes to Chromebooks, too. Oh, and we can't forget: Google I/O is back this year, all virtual, and coming at us quick on May 18th.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a new coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Google Pixel lightbars, Pixel Buds and an ultimate desk setup Apr 02, 2021

This week on the Chrome Cast, we open the show with a more in-depth discussion over the recently-released Ultimate Desk Setup video. We go into a bit more detail about all the items in the video, why we chose them, and why this desk setup took so long to finally pull off. All told, the desk is now in its permanent home in the Chrome Cast studio where we’ll hopefully be creating podcast-centered video content in the coming weeks.

The second half of the show is all about upcoming hardware and all the questions we have around these items. With new Pixel Buds hitting the FCC lately and the mysterious appearance of a Chromebook with the signature Google lightbar up top, things are really starting to heat up a bit in the Google hardware space as we move into the middle parts of 2021.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a new coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Android 11 makes its way to Chromebooks Mar 26, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by digging into Android 11 and its limited arrival on Chromebooks with 10th-gen Intel processors in the Beta Channel. With this update, Android now finds itself inside a new container - moving from ARC++ to ARCVM - and your Play Store apps now scale to match the Chromebook's display. While the move to an updated container for Android apps is realistically the bigger deal here, users will likely find more immediate value in the fact that their apps now look more native on-screen.

From there we move on to 'Borealis' and the coming Game Mode that will be on Chomebooks likely later this year. As another container on your Chromebooks - this time made specifically for Steam - we're very interested in how all this will play out later in the year on Chromebooks that have far better GPUs on board with Intel's Tiger Lake processors. We wrap up by discussing Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook 2, our review process, and what we feel is the consensus opinion about Samsung's 'sequel' to the original Galaxy Chromebook.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Unpacking all the goodness of Chrome OS 89 Mar 19, 2021

Last week on The Chrome Cast, we sat down (virtually) with Alexander Kuscher, Chrome OS Director of Product, and talked about the last 10 years of Chrome OS and what the future holds. With Chrome OS 89 so chock-full of new features, we realized this week that we’d not taken the time to talk through all of them with our podcast audience, so that’s what we’re doing this week. There’s a lot going on in M89, and we’re digging into all of it after having the update on all our devices for over a week at this point. Enjoy!

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a new coffee website that we have been using for a while now. We made the switch to FRC from the hand-roasting coffee method we had been doing for years and couldn't be happier. They offer great prices and they roast the coffee right before it is shipped to your doorstep! To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase of coffee and/or tea!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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A special interview with Chrome OS Director of Product Alexander Kuscher Mar 12, 2021

We are continuing our celebration of Chrome OS' 10th Birthday with a special guest! Alexander Kuscher leads the software product team for Chrome OS, overseeing product management, program management, and developer relations teams. Since joining Google in 2010, Alexander has built products & features across multiple products including Mobile Advertisement, Chrome, and Chrome OS. Alexander holds numerous patents in the areas of user interfaces, computer hardware, as well as advertising technologies. Alexander earned a Master’s degree in Advanced Computer Science with an emphasis on Human-Computer Interaction at Cambridge as well as a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Germany.

Find Alex on Twitter: @afkuscher

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Are you a school with Chromebooks? VIZOR for Chromebooks is a Chromebook management solution. It seamlessly integrates with the Google Admin Console and student information systems. With VIZOR for Chromebooks, you can easily see which student has which Chromebook, you can manage repairs, and you can automate processes for lost or stolen devices. Get 2 FREE MONTHS here: vizor.cloud/cast

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Early Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 thoughts and 4-week Chrome updates Mar 05, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start our conversation around the beautiful and slightly-confounding Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. As I thought when entering my review period with this device, this is a tough Chromebook to review. With such a striking similarity to its predecessor, it is impossible not to draw comparisons between the two, and that leaves the new Galaxy Chromebook 2 in a bit of an awkward position. Our review is coming, but tune in to hear my thoughts at this point in the process.

For the second half, our conversation is dominated by Google's new 4-week update approach to Chrome. While not clear what will happen with Chrome OS amidst this update, we have some thoughts on how things will progress once Chrome 94 hits in Q4 of 2021. It has a bit to do with the maturation of Chrome OS and the continued work being done on the standalone version of Chrome that is being built for Chromebooks, currently code named 'Lacros'.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Google SVP's tweet stokes the Chromebook hardware flame Feb 27, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start our conversation out by highlighting the very-excellent Simplify Gmail Chrome extension that just hit version 2.0. We reported on this earlier in the week and many, many people seemed very interested in the service and we get into a few of the reasons why this take on Gmail isn't just a good-looking change to the messy Gmail inbox, but a real productivity booster with tons of extra features for end users, too.

In the second half, we delve into the tweet from Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer that teased upcoming hardware and software for Chrome OS fans in the 2021 calendar year. As Hiroshi doesn't tend to tweet without quite a bit of thought going into what he has to say, I think we're safe to assume the things he mentioned in the tweet will likely come to pass. Devices and software that are "fire" are on the way and we expect to see them soon. There's obviously good reason to think this already with all the hardware we're currently keeping track on on the horizon, but this tweet just re-lit the flame.

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Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is upon us Feb 19, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're celebrating 100 episodes with a little giveaway. You can find details below on how to get entered beneatht he embed where we're talking quite a bit about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2, the reservations, the pre-orders, the release dates, and the expectations that come along with this unreleased Chromebook. With a March 1st launch date now set, we're ready to finally find out if Samsung's choices to pull things back from the bombastic Galaxy Chromebook are worth it.

In the second half of the podcast, we spend some time talking about the upcoming ARM-powered Chromebooks like 'Coachz' with its Snapdragon 7c chipset and what MediaTek's new MT8192 and MT8195 processors could be like in real world use. With the MT8195 finally starting Chromebook development in the past few weeks, we know these ARM-powered Chroembooks are closer than they've ever been.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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'Works With Chromebook' & USI pens that copy colors from the world Feb 12, 2021

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Are you using PowerSchool’s SIS? Introducing VIZOR for Chromebooks, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond your Google Admin functionality. It integrates with the Google Admin Console and PowerSchool. Track who has what, track check-out programs, and manage repairs. Schedule a product demo to see if VIZOR for Chromebooks can help your school.

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This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin our discussion around the growing 'Works With Chromebook' initiative from Google. Though it seems nearly everything you plug into a Chromebook works these days, Google is going the extra step to ease consumers' minds about peripherals that they may come across in a store like Best Buy or Walmart. If it is marked 'Works With Chromebook', then it just works.

We also get into the crazy new USI pen tech that we're now seeing being tested on Chromebooks with Ufro's color-picking pens that simply work with Chromebooks. No additional steps are needed to touch an object in the real world and replicate it almost instantly on your Chromebook.

Finally, we tackle the long-standing issues we've had with YouTube Music, app confusion, lacking cast support, and the fact that Google understands where it has failed here and has officially stated that they are on the road to fixing not just the casting woes with YouTube Music, but the offline access as well.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

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New Chromebook hardware on the way & Stadia's uncertain future Feb 05, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re diving into the tough news of the week regarding the shut down of Stadia’s in-house game studio. The move definitely comes with some indications about the future of Stadia and what the service could morph into over time, so it’s worth quite a bit of discussion on our part this week.

For the second half, we get into a few new devices that are on the horizon in the upcoming ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3000 and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. Both devices are intriguing in their own ways and we’re hopeful that both become available by the end of the month.

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Chrome OS 88 arrives and the Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga impresses Jan 29, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we dig into many of the new features that have arrived in the Chrome OS world with version 88 of the operating system. With the new screen saver, WebAuthn, and the updated screen capture tool, there's a lot to love about the latest update for your Chromebook.

Additionally, we spend some time talking about the recent arrival in the office: the Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook. That's a big title and it's affixed to a Chromebook that brings a whole lot to the table. Sure, it's aimed at the enterprise market, but that doesn't mean it's not a fantastic device that brings some seriously unique features along with it and could potentially be a great fit for many users.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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New Chromebooks at BETT 2021, a Stadia Hailstorm, and Manifest v3 Jan 22, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we were excited to dig in a bit on the 9 new Chromebooks announced at BETT 2021 that range from the latest small-core Jasper Lake Intel devices to ARM-powered Chromebooks with MediaTek and Snapdragon internals. The yearly education-focused show always follows closely behind CES and, like it always does, comes replete with a slew of new classroom-ready Chromebooks.

The second half of the podcast features commentary from our very own Michael Perrigo as we dive a bit deeper into Stadia, what the mysterious ‘Project Hailstorm’ could end up being, and further explain what Google is up to with the long-awaited Manifest v3 that is arriving in Chrome and Chrome OS 88. There’s a lot to unpack here, so we hope you can give it a listen!

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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CES 2021 came and went with more Chromebooks than we expected Jan 15, 2021

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Introducing VIZOR for Chromebooks, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond your Google Admin functionality. It integrates with G Suite and with your Student Information System. Track who has what, track check-out programs, and manage repairs. Schedule a product demo to see if VIZOR for Chromebooks can help your school.

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Just like that, another CES is in the books and though we weren’t in Vegas this year for the annual tech show, things were still getting announced left and right. That includes quite a few Chromebooks this year, totaling 5 new official announcements and one teaser. We sincerely feel like this is just the tip of the iceberg for Chromebooks in 2021, but it was a great start to a year we’re convinced will be chock-full of new Chrome OS hardware.

Specifically today, we spend quite a bit of time talking through the big ASUS Chromebooks that were unveiled and how after a year of not much from ASUS in 2020, it feels like they are back in the game and offering up a wide range of Chromebooks that should find a place in just about any budget. There was a lot to cover and we’re excited about CES, but it’s just the beginning. Trust us: there’s much more coming.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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It's CES 2021, we're not in Vegas, and there are new Chromebooks Jan 08, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re talking CES 2021 and about a couple Chromebooks that were released via the yearly tech show. Sure, we’re not in Vegas this year and yes, we’d love to actually be there with our hands on new hardware amongst the energy of CES, but that’s just not in the cards with the pandemic continuing to do its damage.

In fact, we’re completely quarantined ourselves as a person in our shared co-working space at the office tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. Don’t worry, we all tested negative today at 5 days out from our exposure, but we’ve not been in the studio or office all week and it has been a bit inopportune with CES getting ramped up.

Either way, we’ll be back next week and sharing some video content about what we’ve seen from the show so far and we got to spend the entirety of the podcast this week talking through our thoughts on the new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 and Acer Chromebook Spin 514 that have already both been announced as part of CES 2021. For now, we hope you enjoy our reactions via this fully-remote podcast and do forgive the compromised audio this week as we’re all working from our homes for now.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Looking back at 2020 and ahead to 2021 Jan 02, 2021

This week on The Chrome Cast, we are taking a bit to discuss some of our favorite things from 2020 and taking a look towards what we're most looking forward to in 2021. For the past year, the mid-range Chromebook emergence takes up the bulk of our discussion time and looking forward, devices like the Snapdragon Chromebook tablet 'Coachz', Chromebooks with GPUs and ARM processors dominate the things we are most anticipating in the new year.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Stadia PWA on iOS impresses and Google buys up Neverware Dec 18, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first portion of the show discussing the incredible job the Stadia team has done in bringing the Stadia experience over to iPhone and iPad via an impressive PWA. With so much happening in Stadia from game streaming to messaging to chat and Wi-Fi controller pairing, it is amazing to see a PWA do so much completely contained in a browser tab.

In the second half, we discuss Google’s recent acquisition of Neverware, makers of CloudReady OS. If you are not familiar, this company has be repurposing old Windows and MacOS laptops with a custom version of Chromium OS for years, and now they are officially part of the Google team. The ramifications could be wide, here, and we’re not entirely sure what Google is up to with this move, but we have some thoughts.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Chrome OS 87 arrives with some nice upgrades & Google Cloud Print is going away Dec 11, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend much of our time talking through a ton of the new features on board in Chrome OS 87. From new wallpapers to Bluetooth battery reporting to ALT+TAB keyboard navigation, there’s quite a bit in this update to digest.

From there we move on to talking about some of the features that are nested behind feature flags in Chrome OS 87 like holding space, the new global media controls and more. Finally, we wrap things up by talking a bit about printers, the death of Google Cloud Print, and how Chromebooks are actually quite adept at printing these days.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Chrome OS tablet and high-end Chromebook conundrums Dec 04, 2020

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Introducing VIZOR for Chromebooks, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond your Google Admin functionality. It integrates with G Suite and with your Student Information System. Track who has what, track check-out programs, and manage repairs. Schedule a product demo to see if VIZOR for Chromebooks can help your school.

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend our time talking through two confusing segments of the current Chromebook market: tablets and high-end Chromebooks. Both of these categories have great current and upcoming options, but both are likely confusing for consumers on the outside looking in. For tablets, the issue is the lack of options with only one notable upcoming device worth getting hyped about. For high-end Chromebooks, the problem comes down to the fact that great Chromebooks are coming down in price and justifying the extra expense is simply getting tough to do these days.

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This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

Join our Patreon community and get access to things like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, private Discord server access, an ad-free experience on the mobile and desktop versions of the website, your name listed on all our YouTube videos, and monthly live stream Q&A. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.

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Big deals, great gear, & all the Chromebooks we expect in 2021 Nov 27, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend a bit of time talking through our latest, favorite deals as well as our picks for 2020 Gear of the Year. From $200 Lenovo Duet's to big sales on AirPods Pro, there are so many deals going on it is a bit dizzying. Between those deals and discussing some of our favorite tech from 2020, it makes for a fun first half of the show.

After the break, our discussion shifts to the future as we explore all the Chromebooks we are expecting in 2021, and let me tell you: it's an absolute avalanche. While we expect a few more devices could debut before the end of 2020, 2021 looks like a more likely target for nearly every Chromebook we're keeping tabs on right now. With 7 distinct groups/families of Chromebook on the way, increased interest in Chrome OS, and more manufacturers getting in on Chromebooks than ever before, 2021 is looking like it will be a crazy ride for Chrome OS fans.

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As Chromebook deals abound, Apple's M1 silicon delivers Nov 20, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start things off by covering our current giveaways (both a Lenovo Chromebook Duet and Acer Chromebook Spin 713), tons of other great deals out there on Chromebooks for the holiday season, and we follow it all up with an overview of the Best Chromebooks of 2020 video that we published just this week. Simply put, whether you're in it to get a Chromebook for free or just looking for a great deal on one, the first half of this week's show is for you.

In the latter section, we shift gears to Apple's new M1-powered Macbooks and Mac Mini. These devices have been reviewed and the resulting reactions to Apple's new silicon is very, very good. What we see as a result is a shift in mainstream computing that could end up producing better quality Chromebooks in the long run that are powered by more-custom ARM chips built and bread for use on Chromebooks. Perhaps we'll even see Google's own silicon sometime in 2021.

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ARM, MediaTek, Apple M1, and Chromebooks Nov 13, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're talking about ARM yet again. There's a reason we find ourselves in this lane week in and week out, and it is because ARM is finally emerging in the market as a viable counterpart to Intel's desktop dominance. We see this more clearly than ever with both the announcement of Apple's first line of M1 ARM-powered devices and MediaTek's new Chromebook-specific ARM chips. While there's a long way to go yet in the ARM vs. x86 (a.k.a Intel and AMD) conversation, ARM is coming into its own on desktop like never before.

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New MediaTek Chromebook chips and the open web wins for video calls Nov 06, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're getting prepped and excited for a few reasons as we approach the MediaTek Summit next week. For one, we know there is going to be some Chromebook-specific news in regard to the upcoming MT8195 chips we expect to see in Chromebooks beginning in 2021. More exciting is the swag box MediaTek sent over that had some fun stuff inside, but most notably contained a brand-new Lenovo Chromebook Duet that we're ready to give away in the next couple weeks.

The second half of the podcast this week focuses in on the open web, why it is important, and how video calling has been distilled in the last 6 months to the point where our knee-jerk reaction to starting or joining a video call is looking for that sweet, simple URL. When pushed to choose the most effective, most productive way to get work done via video, humanity looks to have chosen services like Zoom and Google Meet that function and exist via the open web. That's a pretty significant thing.

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The strange arrival of Chrome OS 86 and the return of Chromebook inventory Oct 30, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our conversation is as varied as the week's content has been. From a new version of Chrome OS arriving, rolling out slowly, being not-really-delayed, and finally landing for nearly everyone, it has been an odd release cycle to be sure. Additionally, we've seen the confident return of Chromebook inventory in stores, leading to pre-Black Friday sales on all sorts of devices that we've simply not seen for quite some time.

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Hosts: Joe Humphrey, Gabriel Brangers and Robby Payne

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Acer's new Snapdragon Chromebook and better Android app support Oct 23, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re diving into the new ARM-powered Chromebook that Acer just unveiled this week (the Chromebook Spin 513) that just so happens to be running on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute platform. Though this device is still clearly a work in progress, the inclusion of Snapdragon chips in the Chrome OS story is notable as more high-end ARM chips are slated for 2021 from MediaTek as well. It should make for a very interesting fight.

Beyond the Acer Chromebook Spin 513, we spend a bit of time talking through the recent upgrades to the experience of PUBG Mobile on the humble Lenovo Chromebook Duet and why it matters that a huge game developer has clearly taken a shine to Chromebooks for once. As more developers realize the nascent potential of the Chrome OS user base, we really feel like Android apps on Chromebooks have only scratched the surface thus far.

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ARM is coming for your laptop Oct 16, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re peeling back the onion a bit to take a deeper look at why the laptop industry’s transitions over the ARM-based chips is so important for Chrome OS. While Chromebooks have run fine on both ARM and x86 processors alike for years, it’s never quite felt like Google has been all-in on the idea.

As Apple readies itself to fully unveil the new Macbooks with ARM processors inside, it is beginning to feel like the entire industry is at the edge of a pretty big shift from a general reliance on Intel to an ARM-focused future. The next few years will be very interesting as it develops, but Chromebooks stand to benefit the most from this shift and we’re ready to see the fruits of change.

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There's new Google hardware in the office and we have thoughts Oct 09, 2020

Google’s new hardware has dominated our site, YouTube channel and podcast for a few weeks now. We had preliminary leaks of the new gadgets followed by a virtual event and now we have the actual hardware in our hands here at the Chrome Unboxed office. If you missed them, we have unboxing videos of both the new Chromecast with Google TV and the new Nest Audio speaker and both items have impressed thus far.

Our podcast this week ends up being an at-length look at these two new pieces of affordable, effective hardware. At $49, the new Chromecast is a no-brainer in the media streaming game and the $99 Nest Audio becomes an easy-to-recommend, full-bodied speaker that won’t hurt your bank account too badly. After having both around and using them for a bit already, we obviously have some thoughts and are excited to share them with our listeners.

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Unboxing Google's 'Launch Night In' hardware event Oct 02, 2020

There’s no real reason to fight it, right? This week has been totally dominated by Google’s latest hardware unveiling and we’re here for it. From new phones to a Chromecast with a remote to a beautiful new smart speaker, there was a lot to take in and react to.

We spend the entire podcast unpacking each piece and our reactions go from excited to dubious: pumped for the new Chromecast, anxiously anticipating the sound quality of the Nest Audio speaker, and questioning the legitimacy of the Pixel 5’s price tag in light of the Galaxy S20 FE and upcoming OnePlus 8T. It’s a packed show and we hope you enjoy every bit of it this week.

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Google's hardware has all leaked out Sep 25, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stay in one lane: Google's. Specifically, Google's upcoming hardware. Over the past few days, leak after leak has happened and pretty much everything is out in the open about new phones, a new Chromecast, a new smart speaker, and a new Wi-Fi router. Between this week's podcast and last week's episode, we've learned a whole lot.

There's a ton to be excited for and a bit to be bummed by, too. While the Chromecast looks absolutely stellar, the new Wi-Fi is a head-scratcher and the possible $699 price tag of the Pixel 5 feels like a complete miss for a compromised Pixel phone for 2020. We're talking about it all in our lead up to Google's hardware event, so sit back and enjoy the conversation.

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Google's upcoming hardware event and decoupling Chrome from Chromebooks Sep 18, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend quite a bit of our time talking through all the things we’re excited to see at Google’s event in just under two weeks from today. Between a new Nest speaker, a couple new phones, and the all new Chromecast with Google TV, there’s a lot of solid hardware getting ready to become available. While I’m happy to see the phones in the flesh and think the speaker will be a nice addition, I’m most excited by the price and functionality of the new Chromecast. We’re also equally sad that there’s no apparent Chromebook for this year’s event.

On the Chromebook front, our discussion about Lacros and what it could mean for Google to decouple Chrome from Chrome OS rounds out the podcast this week. There are some parts of the whole thing that have us all a bit dubious about what the end game is, but it's a fun discussion to have either way.

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Dual screen Chromebook dreams with the Surface Duo Sep 11, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we fully expected to talk about quite a few things, but we started in on the Surface Duo and just couldn't stop chatting. While we did end up talking a bit about the news that MediaTek has announced a new ARM chip just for 2021 Chromebooks, the bulk of our time was spent dreaming a bit about what Chrome OS on a dual-screen folding device would look like. While the Duo is full of first-gen issues and bugs, the premise is crazy-interesting and the more we consider it, the more we all agree that Chrome OS would be an amazing fit on such a device.

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MediaTek is bringing the first 6nm ARM chips to Chromebooks in 2021

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An exclusive interview with USI Chairman Peter Mueller Sep 04, 2020

Whether you know all about USI (universal stylus initiative), have never heard about it, or are itching to know more, you really need to tune in for this episode of The Chrome Cast. We were fortunate enough to have a fantastic and detailed conversation about the history, current status, and future of USI with none other than the Chairman of the Board for USI, Peter Mueller. Through a series of questions and discussion, Peter talks in depth about the technology that drives this new stylus standard and why it is the folks behind USI hope it can become the single, standardized stylus protocol for nearly all tech gadgets.

We had a preliminary call with Pete before setting up the podcast recording and even though I knew quite a bit about USI going into today's episode, I still left our discussion even more excited by the potential of USI pens across all aspects of the tech community. We sincerely hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did making it.

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Our Pixebook 2 hopes have been revived Aug 28, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we talk about a handful of things in the lead up to our main topic of conversation: a renewed hope in a Google-made Chromebook for 2020. Presumably the successor to the Pixelbook, 'Halvor' is in possession of a Google-only feature that we've only seen in the Pixelbook, Pixelbook Go and Pixel Slate up to this point in the #madebyGoogle era of Chromebooks. Obviously there's a lot to unpack on this subject and its a fun discussion to have as we consider Google moving from a position of setting the bar for the ecosystem to simply being an active participant in it.

We also spend a bit of time in this podcast talking about USI pens and the duo of test pens we now have in the office that confirm how good USI compatibility will be once these accessories finally start shipping in the coming months. We're hoping to have Pete Mueller - USI Chariman - on the show next week to discuss more about USI and the potential of this universal standard.

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GeForce NOW is just impressive on Chromebooks Aug 21, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our conversation is quite a bit more nuanced than the title says, but the number of things we discussed simply can’t be conveyed in a few words. The first half centers around Google’s changes to Meet, their cooperation with Zoom, and the improved focus across the board for messaging and home-related goods. It feels like Google is proactively trimming the fat in many areas of their software and hardware both, and those types of moves are encouraging.

The second half of the podcast centers around GeForce NOW for Chromebooks. As a completely web-based solution to game streaming for Chromebooks, it is not just a rival to Stadia, but a champion in most respects. With a buttery-smooth performance right from the browser-based player, GeForce NOW has tons of games and tons of players to go along with its fantastic playback experience, and its arrival for Chromebooks this week is well worth talking about.

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Coffee habits, Surface Duo vibes, and Fortnite's app store battle royale Aug 14, 2020

If you took a second to read that title up there, you can probably guess: this is an odd-ball episode and we talk through some very interesting news from the past few days. Sometimes this just happens, right? The week is going along like you expect and then out of nowhere, a few things happen that you can’t seem to escape no matter what you do.

For us this week, two very monumental things occurred: the release of the Surface Duo and Epic’s big battle with Google and Apple over app store fees. For the Surface Duo, the angle Microsoft is taking by making a pocketable computer that happens to make phone calls is something that is not only interesting as a new device type, but also intriguing as a potential form factor for a Chrome OS device, too. With the Fortnite drama, our conversation leans towards PWAs and web apps in general as the way forward for many app makers as a potential path that keeps them from being tied down to semi-monopolistic app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

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Google's Pixel 4a reality and Chrome OS phone dreams Aug 07, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we reflect a bit on the early success of Google’s new Pixel 4a and what may come with the announced Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. With Google now firmly planted in the mid-range phone space with no clear indication that a flagship device is coming anytime soon, I suppose it is time to get used to the idea of Pixel phones that have far more mass appeal and far less attraction for high-end phone lovers like myself.

That being said, there was a leak this week that outlined the possibility of a foldable Pixel phone that may come into reality next year. Armed with that news and the recent unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, we spend the second half of the podcast letting our minds wonder a bit about what that Google-made foldable could be and how a device like the Galaxy Fold could make for a very awesome Chrome OS device if and when the day ever comes that a foldable tablet/phone running Chrome OS does ever emerge.

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Back to School and Google's Pixel 4a announcement Jul 31, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we were honestly all over the place. This week’s news cycle was a veritable mixed bag, but we tried to stick to the most relevant bits and pieces. Probably top of everyone’s mind is the impending back to school season we’re about to enter. With the pandemic looming, this will be a return to education unlike any we’ve seen before. With some tips on Chromebook buying and a Lenovo Chromebook Duet to give away, we’re hoping to help in that transition a bit.

After that, though, the discussion goes in a ton of directions as we talk about Google’s long-anticipated official announcement of the Pixel 4a reveal date (August 3rd), a bit about the upcoming Phone Hub feature for Chromebooks that will further unite Chrome OS and Android, and the current state of USI pens that are just now showing signs of real market arrival. It’s a packed show, for sure, so we hope you enjoy this week’s episode.

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Chrome OS 84 arrives and Chromebooks are getting better screens Jul 23, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re talking through all the goodies that came along with the surprisingly-full Chrome OS 84 update. Right on schedule and overflowing with new features, Chrome OS 84 feels like the most well-thought-out update in a long time from the Chrome OS team and has us very excited for what is changing in the OS and all the things we think are on the way.

Speaking of those new features on the way, we spend a lot of time discussing screens in this podcast as well. From Samsung’s QLED screens coming to a Chromebook in the near future to HDR content handling for current and upcoming Chrome OS hardware, there’s a ton to be excited about with Chromebooks down the line. Add to that the development of dual-screened Chromebooks in the testing phase and you have a podcast that is packed to the gills with new software and hardware updates across the board.

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Pixelbook 2 dreams and custom Google silicon Jul 17, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our conversation is a tad more focused than usual, and the central focus is Google hardware. No, we aren’t talking about the upcoming Pixel 4a, 4a 5G or 5. Instead, we're focusing on why the current crop of Pixel phones is such a mess and why we don’t think there’s any Google-made flagship Chromebooks on the horizon.

With a move to make and utilize their own custom processors likely happening, Google’s shifts could be occurring just under the surface and we’d likely not see the fruits of that labor until sometime in 2021 at best. While we don’t know exactly how all this will look, it is fun to put the pieces together and speculate a bit about what Google may have up their sleeves from a hardware perspective in both the Android and Chrome OS spaces.

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An interview with Chrome OS Head of Product Management John Maletis Jul 09, 2020

This week, we had the opportunity to do something very special during our podcast. We were able to get an exclusive interview with John Maletis – Chrome OS Head of Product Management, Engineering & UX. As you can tell from his title, John heads up much of the engineering and user experience parts of the general Chromebook experience.

We got to enjoy a 5-question interview with John, asking him about the current state of Chrome OS development, the trajectory moving forward, and how Chrome OS has grown and helped millions of users amidst the ever-changing landscape of our current pandemic. We loved getting to chat with John and feel his insights were very interesting not only for us, but hopefully for you as well. Enjoy this very special episode of The Chrome Cast and make sure you are subscribed: there’s definitely more of this coming!

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Q&A leads our discussion through Google's current hardware mess Jul 03, 2020

This week we’ve tried out a Q&A format where we let the questions guide our discussion. From additional colors for the Pixel Buds to odd, questionable decisions Google is making in the phone space, we spend quite a bit of time talking about all the ways Google is fumbling through hardware right now. The Pixel line of phones is on life support and now the Pixel 3a has been discontinued without a public roadmap to explain what the next move will be with both the Pixel 4a and the rumored Pixel 5.

After getting past some of those frustrations, we get to our ‘Best of 2020’ video/post/landing page and talk through some of the fantastic shifts we’re seeing in Chromebook hardware right now towards the mid-range. Additionally we get into ARM-powered Chromebook tablets and how they work with Android apps better than other tablets with Intel chips inside. It’s all based on listener questions, and we loved using this format this week to discuss. Enjoy!

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Google's upcoming hardware and the importance of the Acer Spin 713 Jun 26, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we kept things relatively tight from a discussion perspective. The show really stays in two main sections: Google’s upcoming hardware releases and Acer’s excellent new Chromebook Spin 713. First up, for Google’s hardware, we get into some of the upcoming features like group calls on the Nest Home Max, FCC approvals of the Pixel 4a, Google’s hard-to-discern hardware release plans, and why the cancellation of Google I/O seems to have disrupted more than just the event itself.

For the second half of the show, we spend a lot of time talking about the fantastic Acer Chromebook Spin 713. With a high-end build, top-notch internals, and a very excellent user experience, this Chromebook is hitting all the right notes and sits at a far more reasonable asking price when compared to comparable Chromebooks released this year. This device is one to watch for sure.

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Windows apps are coming to Chromebooks Jun 19, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion is mainly dominated with the news of Windows applications finally becoming available on Chrome OS via a partnership with Parallels. This move, aimed squarely at the enterprise sector of Chrome OS for the time being, is sending pretty big ripples through the Chromebook ecosystem. While we think it is a big step and an important move for Chrome OS, it still is best to see the arrival of Windows apps in Chrome OS as a stop gap or bridge as we continually move towards a more modern, web-based reality.

We also spend some time talking through the upcoming addition of the updated, locally-stored Google Assistant for Chromebooks and the rumored/leaked new Google Home that we now expect to see in the near future.

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Pixelbook 2 speculations, affordable Chromebooks, and a new Chromecast Jun 11, 2020

As always, this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast is simply jam-packed with fun stuff. It has been a busy week around the Chrome Unboxed office, but a few stories were worth some more in-depth discussion. First up, we talk about a couple upcoming Chromebooks: one that was falsely rumored and one that is highly-speculative at this point. With the Pixelbook 2, there’s simply no facts behind the rumors and we go into depth on why this keeps happening with Google-made Chromebooks. The other device – a possible XPS Chromebook from Dell – is being speculated with much more factual basis, but still positioned alongside some heavy guess work and assumption.

From there, we talk a good bit about how good affordable Chromebooks are getting now that Intel’s mobile chipsets are actually quite decent performers in Chromebooks. With more of these Gemini Lake devices hitting the market, the lower-end of the Chrome OS spectrum is becoming a very interesting place, indeed.

Finally, we chat through the highly-rumored new Chromecast we expect Google to launch soon. What will it be called? How much will it cost? How will Google market it to users? These are all the things we weigh in on during our time on the show this week, so come along for a fun ride this week on The Chrome Cast.

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Lenovo is on another level in the Chromebook space right now Jun 05, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend a bit of time talking through the current streak Lenovo is on, delivering great device after great device all at prices that are lower than expected. With the Flex 5, Duet, and the Chromebook 3, Lenovo seems to be making the clear decision to offer better hardware at lower price points than other manufacturers have managed prior. If it seem like our site has been covered in Lenovo Chromebook coverage, that’s for good reason: Lenovo is simply crushing it right now.

We also spend some time talking about gaming in a few different forms. For one, the release of Doom and Doom II for free to Chromebook users is a big deal because these are two examples of Android apps working on Chromebooks in the way you would expect. Android games on Chromebooks have been notoriously bad, so seeing Doom and Doom II work just as you’d expect on a Chromebook is an encouraging change. On the Stadia front, we cover the new games available to Pro subscribers for June and there are some great ones including SUPER HOT, our current favorite.

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Chrome OS 83, Desktop-class apps, and tons of Chromebooks in the works May 29, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast we have so much to talk about that we actually had to bump a few things over to next week’s episode. We’ll obviously be discussing those things and more next week, but for this week we talked about the impact Krita could have on desktop-class applications on Chrome OS moving forward. With the beta arrival of the popular painting application making its way from Windows, MacOS, and Linux over to Chrome OS via Android, there’s room to dream about more productivity apps taking the same route to Chrome OS in the near future.

We also spend some time talking through the new Chrome OS devices we see on the horizon, and there are tons of them. We’ve put up a post we’ll keep updated over time that holds all the boards and devices we’re tracking along the way. At this time last year, we began tracking both ‘Hatch’ and ‘Kukui’ that have brought us most of the new, interesting devices in the early parts of 2020. We’d expect that to continue into 2021 in much the same way, only with more devices this time around based on some different boards.

Additionally, we are talking through all the great updates that showed up this week in Chrome OS 83. There are tons of nuggets in this update, so we’ll surely be posting more in-depth looks at some of them over the next couple weeks.

Lastly, we spend some time talking about Gaming Unboxed, a new site that we’ve launched that focuses primarily on the mobile gaming experience. With more and more gamers utilizing phones, tablets, and streaming services like Stadia, this is a category we felt deserved its own space. So, if you haven’t already, head over to Gaming Unboxed and check it out.

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Affordable Chrome OS hardware for the win May 22, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend a bit of time discussing an upcoming project from Chrome Unboxed (coming very soon) and then shift to talking through both the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and the upcoming, newly-shipping Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook. With Lenovo’s approach in the Chromebook space right now, we’re seeing great effort being put forth to build great devices while keeping prices low and it feels like this will be a winning formula. We have a Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook on the way already and we can’t wait to get started on the review.

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Pixel 4a's arrival, lower price and some Lenovo Chromebook Duet thoughts May 15, 2020

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we set out to cover quite a few items that were pretty disconnected at the outset. Instead, we talked for quite some time about gaming on phones and then a particular, upcoming phone in a more detailed and specific way. The Pixel 4a has been rumored and leaked as much as we can expect, so it’s time for it to just get here already. There’s now an arrival date suspected and additionally, a bit of fresh rumor that it will be cheaper than initially expected and doubled-up on the storage, too.

The second half of the show revolves around the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and its interesting storyline surrounding the inability to extend the display in the way you would expect from a Chromebook. This current deficiency leads to all sorts of thoughts about this device that delivers in so many other key ways.

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Thoughts on the Pixel Buds and new Chromebooks announced May 08, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we delve into what its been like using the Pixel Buds for a week. From the sound quality to the fit and finish, the Pixel Buds deliver a top-notch experience that is unmatched in the Android space in many ways. But there are some down sides as well, and we talk in detail about our collective time with the new earbuds.

We also take some time to talk about Chromebooks new and old, discussing the latest announcements from HP, the upcoming mid-range Lenovo Flex 5, and some fixes possibly on the way for the terrible battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. It’s a packed show as always, so enjoy!

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Lenovo Chromebook Duet and Pixel Buds can be ordered and the Chromecast gets a remote May 01, 2020

This week has been pretty insane around the Chrome Unboxed office. From the arrival of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet at Best Buy to the Pixel Buds official launch to PUBG on Stadia, there has been something new every day for us to try, talk about, and digest. We expect this type of action in the fourth quarter of each year, but in late spring and early summer, we’re usually on the hunt for things to talk about. That is just not the case at all right now.

In a nutshell, we’re talking through the release of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet on May 6th from Best Buy, the arrival of the Pixel Buds and our first impressions with them, the rumored Chromecast Ultra 2 with a remote, PUBG showing up for Stadia, and a new way Chromebooks might get a much longer lease on life. All that and we only covered half of all the stuff that went down this week. Check the show notes below, but also browse the main feed on the website to catch up on everything that has happened in the Google world this week.

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Chromebooks deals are scarce, Lenovo 10e impresses, and the open web is awesome Apr 24, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we have a pretty packed show from this week’s news. As the weeks begin to pile up in our new-normal pandemic lives, one of the results is a massive dip in available Chromebooks for purchase. From supply chain halts to international commerce stalls, it isn’t surprising that huge discounts on rapidly-depleting Chromebook inventory are basically gone. It may be MSRP for a while on most Chromebooks, but there are new devices on the horizon that will help alleviate the lack.

One of those new devices we are all awaiting is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. In its stead, as a bit of an appetizer, we have the Chromebook 10e in the office since Thursday afternoon and are starting to get a feel of how life with a solid 10-inch Chrome OS tablet will be. In a word, it’s pretty awesome. We’ll share more on it soon, but as a precursor to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, this thing has me quite excited for this form factor.

Finally, we spend a good bit of time talking about the new tricks PWAs have that come directly from the Play Store on Chromebooks. Their abilities have impressed me more than they even did initially, and this leads us to talk about the ever-growing potential of web-based tech and all the possibilities that come with it.

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Lenovo's new Chromebook Duet is going to be a big deal Apr 17, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion largely circles around the imminent arrival of everyone’s favorite Chrome OS tablet: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. With signs pointing towards a release in the next few weeks, we’re increasingly excited by what seems more and more likely to be a game-changing device. From the sheer portability factor to it’s on-the-go productivity, we really think this tablet will introduce many new usability scenarios to the Chrome OS scene that we’ve simply not had before.

We also talk a bit about Google’s messy messaging situation and the recent un-branding of the G Suite Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat. With the removal of Hangouts from the equation, it seems likely the consumer-facing version of the aging messenger is on its final legs.

Finally, we also discuss the arrival of PWA installs on Chromebooks via the Google Play Store and what makes this new app type both highly unique and extremely flexible.

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The new wave of Chromebooks is here and we have thoughts Apr 10, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our conversation largely revolves around the new generation of Chromebooks that arrived in the past couple weeks in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook and the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436. Between the review of the ASUS and the unboxing on the Samsung, there’s a lot to talk about as this new wave of devices has finally started arriving. While there are clearly more of these Chromebooks coming, the first two to arrive are worth a ton of our time.

We also talk a bit about the timely release, pause, and re-release of Chrome OS 81 for all Chromebooks and the big news that the Chrome Unboxed YouTube channel finally hit 100,000 subscribers this week as well. It’s been a pretty exciting, crazy and busy week across the board, so we hope you enjoy the episode.

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The highs and lows of Chromebook launches Apr 03, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re taking some time to talk through the upcoming launch windows for two very exciting, very anticipated Chromebooks in the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 and Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. Both devices are top-tier flagships and both have had rocky arrivals on the scene from a communication/availability standpoint, but their time to shine is coming and we’re excited about that. In these troubling times, it’s nice to have little things to still get excited about, isn’t it?

In the second half of the show, we talk at length about the rise of video conferencing apps; most notably Zoom, which has had a meteoric rise and an equally-large amount of criticism and attacks as well. While Zoom looks to right the ship, other players are equally viable if not as popular right now, so its worth talking about what those options are and which is best for you.

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Google I/O cancelled, Chrome OS development resumes, and more ARM-powered Chromebooks are coming Mar 27, 2020

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we’re talking about a wide range of news in the Chrome and Google worlds. From Google I/O 2020 being completely cancelled for both in-person and virtual versions to the pause and resumption of Chrome and Chrome OS development, COVID-19 continues to play a large roll in the way we all handle business as usual.

We also take some time to talk about the imminent release of the Google Pixel Buds and the developments around ARM Chromebooks both from MediaTek and Qualcomm alike. Despite the quarantine and general craziness that we’re living in presently, there’s still much to talk about in the Google and Chrome worlds.

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Working from home to 'Works with Chromebook' Mar 20, 2020

On this week's episode of The Chrome Cast, we talk briefly about our collective experiences of working from home and how that has changed not only the way we get work done, but also our perpsectives on how well-positioned Chrome, Chrome OS, and the web are to handle the present crisis.

We go on after that to discuss the new 'Works with Chromebook' initiative, the new Logitech mouse/keyboard combo, updates on AUE policies for Chromebooks, a pause in Chrome OS Stable Channel devlopment and a few new devices making their way onto the scene.

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The Chrome Cast 52: Chrome OS 82, AUE updates, and Chromecast remotes Mar 13, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re all over the place. From a slew of new features coming in Chrome OS 82 (there are many) to the extension of the Google Chromebook Auto Update Policy possibly on the way for many more devices to a possible Chromecast Ultra with controller support, there was a ton to talk about this week.

With everyone’s anxiety on the rise, we chose to focus on the future and new developments as a change to the news narrative we all seem to find ourselves in presently. It’s been an odd week for everyone, so we hope this week’s episode can be a bit of a detachment as we dream about future things together.

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Android App overhaul on Chrome OS and Google Assistant reads the internet Mar 06, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast we discuss the state of Android Apps on Chrome OS and what ARCVM means for the future of the platform. Before we dig into that, we cover Google's cancellation of the annual I/O conference and the effect that the Coronavirus is having on the tech industry in general.

After the break, we go into some great detail on a new Google Assistant feature that could drastically change the way we consume web content. The quietly announced update gives users the ability to have the Assistant read web pages from their mobile devices. We wrap up by discussing the imminent release of the highly-anticipated Pixel Buds and how upset Robby will be if they have lag issues. We hope you enjoy this week's episode and don't forget, you can still enter to win a Pixel 4 bundle or an ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 in our Run to 100K giveaway.

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Linux on Chromebooks and the future of Chrome OS tablets Feb 28, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re exploring a couple seemingly-unconnected ideas that actually tie into one another quite well. First up is the heightened interest in Linux apps on Chrome OS. While we’ve been tracking along with the development of Crostini since before it was actually a thing, it’s been a while since we’ve really dug into what Chromebooks are capable of with Linux. As part of that renewed effort, we’ve launched Command Line, where we are focusing more on what users can do and get done with Linux apps on their Chromebook.

In the second part of the show, we get into the upcoming tablet renaissance that looks to be on the horizon for Chrome OS. Sure, there have been attempts at Chrome OS tablets and detachables before, but they never quite worked out. What Lenovo (and likely many others after them) is offering up in the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook could fundamentally change the conversation around productive tablets when paired up with all the tweaks Google is making to the OS in terms of tablet-focused features.

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New devices around the corner & Chrome OS phones Feb 21, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re discussing all the latest devices that have shown up in various places around the internet, including the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436, and the Pixel Buds. We have a release date for the Galaxy Chromebook, updated release info for the ASUS Flip C436, info about a pen attachment, and the appearance of the Pixel Buds over at B&H Photo to talk about this week.

The second half of the show, we talk about ‘Bubs’ and why this baseboard being tested with a phone screen is odd, intriguing, and gives us a reason to dream again about the idea of a Chrome OS phone. Finally, we talk a bit about our upcoming giveaway that will be launching in the coming days!

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Google, Microsoft, Apple and the benefits of cloud computing Feb 14, 2020

This week on The Chromecast, we talk quite a bit about why we feel like Chromebooks are great tools for tons of people. From their ability to leverage cloud services with aplomb to their rock-solid security, its easy to become a fan of Chrome OS once you understand its limits and learn to really leverage its benefits.

We also spend a bit of time talking about Stadia’s recent fumbles and where the game streaming industry could be headed as Microsoft’s xCloud eventually exits all its beta trials. Though Stadia is a beautiful platform, the lacking game library and player base are starting to hurt in light of the recent launch of NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

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NVIDIA GeForce Now arrives and to challenge Stadia Feb 07, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, our sights are set on NVIDIA’s suprisingly-good game streaming service – GeForce NOW – that came out of beta status and took the tech world by storm. In the Face of Stadia’s current doldrums of waning player engagement and lacking new game announcements, it seems that NVIDIA has launched at just the right time. With apps for Android, Windows, and MacOS, GeForce NOW is widely accessible and quite good at doing what matters the most: delivering cloud-based gaming without lag.

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Google's new attempt at messaging for G Suite could be great Jan 31, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the vast majority of the episode talking more in depth about Google’s possible collaborative messaging platform we’re now all expecting to see for G Suite customers. Less of a new platform and more of a melding of existing things, this new collaborative tool could be Google’s real Slack competitor and may just be what Google Wave wanted to be so many years ago.

We also spend a bit of time towards the end of the podcast discussing Dieter Bohn’s latest video about the Surface Pro X and his success using it as a web-centric tool. Though it runs Windows and he was leveraging Microsoft’s latest version of Edge (running on the Chromium engine), the parallels to a cloud-centric OS like Chrome OS are quite clear. Chromebooks aren’t a new version of old ways of thinking. They are a new computing paradigm altogether.

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2020 Chromebooks get an extended lease on life Jan 24, 2020

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend quite a bit talking through some of the potential impact the new 2020 Chromebook lineup will have on the ecosystem. Apart from the beautiful and powerful and rugged devices we’ve already had hands-on time with, the entire group of new Chromebooks released in this calendar year will be the first devices to ship with Google’s new expanded AUE (auto update expiration) policies in place. They will all get updates through June 2028, and that makes a big difference in the way these Chromebooks can be marketed to consumers, enterprise customers, and schools alike.

We also spend some time talking about the crazy journey the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 has taken over the past week. From showing up on Google’s Chromebook page with a price attached to actually going up for pre-order with two distinct models and a February 24th release date to completely disappearing from Amazon altogether, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster keeping up with the new ASUS flagship.

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Next-gen Chromebooks, Stadia and Steam on Chrome OS Jan 17, 2020

As always, it was a packed week on The Chrome Cast this week. Coming off a crazy, busy, and exciting time in Las Vegas last week for CES 2020, we’re still buzzing about all the new Chromebooks we saw. While you’ll need to listen to last week’s podcast to get all the info on those devices, we spend quite a bit of time this week talking more about the overall impact of these next-gen Chromebooks.

The second half of the show is focused a bit more on gaming, specifically covering all the new stuff coming from the Stadia camp and the breaking news that Google is actively working to bring proper support for Steam on Chromebooks. Let’s just say it was a fun show!

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Chromebooks invade CES 2020 Jan 11, 2020

This week, we're excited to bring you a very special episode of The Chrome Cast from CES 2020 in Las Vegas. We had the chance to check out some incredible new products and we'll be bringing you more CES news in the coming days but in this episode, it's all about the Chromebooks. This year's CES saw the debut of the first Galaxy-branded Chromebook, ASUS' latest premium model, the Chrome OS tablet we've been longing for and more.

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CES 2020, here we come! Jan 03, 2020

We’re excited to be back in the podcast chair again as we ring in the new year and we’ve spent the entire show this week talking through all the various things we expect to see at CES 2020 in just a few days from now. There are new Chromebooks from Samsung, ASUS and Lenovo that we expect and a few long shots we’re hoping for. Pack that on top of all the crazy other stuff that makes it to any given CES and we have a busy week ahead of us.

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A month with Stadia, Chrome OS hits 79, and smart home tech giants ally together Dec 20, 2019

In this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we spend a good bit of time rehashing all that has changed and been added to Stadia in the month since it launched. Though it feels like it has been here longer, Stadia has only been in our hands for just over 30 days, and Google has done a good job of continuing to add features that were promised and addressing issues that have come up along the way.

We also spend a bit of time talking though the new developments in Chrome OS 79 along with the recent development that sees smart home tech giants Google, Amazon, and Apple joining forces to create the first ever smart home standards.

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More new Chromebooks appear and our staff picks for best gift ideas Dec 13, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first half of the show discussing yet another group of new devices on the way. These new boards mostly fall in line with the things we discussed last week, so if you haven't already, catch up on episode 39 to get up to speed. These new Chromebooks mostly stay in the vein of the other 'Hatch' and 'Kukui' devices we've been tracking, but there's one real oddball in the group.

The second half of this rather-long podcast was a highlight of our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. We've put this together for our readers to highlight the things we use personally and around the office on a daily basis. These items range anywhere from an espresso machine to the Google Home Max, but they all do their job exceptionally well, have stood the test of time, and are well worth your consideration as a great gift idea for your loved ones.

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So many Chromebooks are coming in 2020 Dec 06, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re discussing the absolute tidal wave of Chromebooks coming our way in 2020. We fully expect to see a few of them at CES in January and a solid portion of the rest in the weeks to follow. With devices in the ‘Hatch’ and ‘Kukui’ families dominating the scene, we’re in for more new Chromebooks than we’ve ever seen prior.

We spend a bit of time discussing Qualcomm’s probable role in all this as well with the upcoming Snapdragon 7c looking quite likely for the future of Chrome OS. Though we’ve been tracking ‘Cheza’ as the first Snapdragon-powered Chromebook for almost 2 full years, it looks like that future will give way to the Snapdragon 7c and a baseboard only known right now as ‘Trogdor’.

Finally, we pay a bit of homage to Sundar Pichai’s promotion to CEO of Alphabet and how his presence at Google throughout the years is likely responsible for the growth and longevity of Chrome OS as a whole.

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Stadia smooths out as holiday Chromebook deals abound Nov 29, 2019

On this week’s episode of the podcast, we talk quite a bit about Stadia and how some of the early hiccups with the platform have now been smoothed out. From Buddy Passes rolling out to simple fixes in the input lag, we’ve all come around on the fledgling gaming service and can confidently see a bright future in store.

We also talk quite a bit about our ongoing promotion with online retial giant Rakuten, new Chromebook perks that include Disney+ free for three months, and the craziness surrounding the Pixel Slate’s latest price slash. Is Google just positioning it as a more competitive option or is it a full liquidation of the tablet? Hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

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Stadia's rocky arrival on the gaming scene Nov 22, 2019

In this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we are (not surprisingly) talking all about our first few days with Google Stadia. From the iffy shipping schedules to launching without getting invite codes into user’s hands, there were quite a few things that were less-than-stellar about Stadia’s grand entrance on the scene

It’s not all bad news, though, as there are some parts of the Stadia experience that are not only playable, but downright fun. Destiny 2 with a group of friends on a Chromebook simply wasn’t possible just last week, and yet that exact experience just this week sealed the deal on making us here at Chrome Unboxed firm believers in what Stadia is capable of.

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One week in November 2019 will reshape the way we stream media Nov 15, 2019

This week, right in the middle of a 7-day stretch between November 12th and November 19th, we sit down to discuss the way the streaming media landscape is poised to change in massive ways during this relatively nondescript week on the calendar. With Disney+ now officially launched and Google Stadia only days away, the way we approach streaming media will be fundamentally changed over the next year, and a lot of that impact will start with these two giants getting up and running in this 7-day window.

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A conversation with Chrome EDU Expert John Sowash Nov 08, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we are joined by John R. Sowash, a seasoned, experienced expert on the world of Chrome and Chrome OS in the education sector. John’s resume speaks for itself and when it comes to educators, there’s no better point of reference than John Sowash.

Our conversation goes from current education trends to upcoming expectations in the market. We also talk a bit about the humble and accidental beginnings of Chrome OS in education and how a misstep actually led to Chromebooks in the classroom dominating the ecosystem as we see it today.

We’re excited to get to share this conversation with you this week as a bit of a departure from the normal routine and really think you’ll enjoy our time with one of the leading voices in Chrome for EDU.

NOTABLE LINKS

The Chrome Classroom Website
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Google's new hardware is growing on us Nov 01, 2019

On this week’s episode, we’re talking though some deeper reactions to Google’s newer hardware. From the Pixelbook Go (review is coming soon, I promise) to the Pixel 4/4XL and the new Nest Home Mini, Google’s new hardware is the type of stuff you really start to appreciate more as you use it. We’ve all been using the Pixelbook Go, the Nest Home Mini, and the Pixel 4 off and on, and there’s a bunch to talk about.

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Pixelbook Go impresses, Pixel 4 disenchants Oct 25, 2019

We’re now a week removed from the arrival of all the new Google Hardware for the Fall 2019 season. The show was great and now that we’ve had some time to reflect and decompress a bit, our feelings and reactions have become quite a bit more clear about all we saw at the event.

The main thoughts in this episode surround the Pixelbook Go and the Pixel 4/4XL. The Pixelbook Go has arrived in the office to pretty rave reviews by anyone who’s spent a few moments with it. We have a couple videos up already of the unboxing and the pre-review, but we can say it is easily one of the best Chromebooks of 2019 and we spend quite a bit of time explaining exactly why that is.

For the Pixel 4, however, the reception has not been good. As a matter of fact, we actually have a video coming out about this phone and why no one at Chrome Unboxed has actually ordered one yet. There’s a lot that goes into this, so stick around for the whole show and see why we’re so high on the Pixelbook Go and so ‘meh’ on the Pixel 4.

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Let's talk about our time at Google's hardware event Oct 18, 2019

We won’t beat around the bush on this one: this whole podcast is about the Google event and all the fun stuff we got to test and see while we were there. There’s just so much to talk about right now from the Pixelbook Go, Pixel 4 and 4 XL, Pixel Buds, new Nest Home Mini, and Nest Wifi that it simply took over the entire show this week.

This is the first time we’ve been dialed in for all the products on offer from Google, not just the Chrome OS stuff, so we have a ton to talk about from both a hardware and software perspective. Hope you enjoy it!

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Google's hardware event is still leaking Oct 11, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re talking about even more leaked items that have bubbled to the surface in the last week before Google’s big hardware event. Along with the Pixel 4, Pixelbook Go, Google Nest Home Mini, and Pixelbuds 2, we now have rumors floating around about a Pixel Watch and a 5G version of the newest Google-made phones.

Ultimately, its hard to know if those new leaks are actually factual at all, but we spend a bit of time talking through the ramifications of a new watch #madebyGoogle and whether or not a 5G phone even makes sense to buy at all at this particular stage in the game. We also chat about the recent info unveiled regarding the new Pixel Buds 2 and Hiroshi Lockheimer’s slightly-veiled tweet about some features we expect to see in them.

Finally, we talk about the beginnings of the hardware wave we’re expecting to see over the course of the next few months with Samsung and ASUS beginning to ship new Chromebooks while the ‘Hatch’ baseboard adds a few new entries to the Chromebook tracking list.

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More Pixel leaks and our slightly-scary AI future Oct 04, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're talking - unsurprisingly - about Pixel 4 leaks (hard to believe there is anything left to leak at this point) and the potential Pixel Buds 2. Between a new Pixel Phone, Pixelbook Go and these new Pixel Buds, there's a good chance Google may show off the Android Fast Pairing between your phone and Chromebook. Additionally, with all the wireless earbuds out there in the market, we discuss what Google needs to bring to the table with one of the few pieces of hardware that hasn't fully leaked all over the place.

We also talk a good deal about Microsoft's recent Surface event and all the things they announced there. Sure, those devices aren't really in our wheelhouse, but some of the things they are doing to bring split-screen tech into the mainstream and what we're seeing with the Surface Pro X and its ARM-based architecture cause us to dream a bit about what these changes could mean for Chrome OS in the future.

Additionally, we chat in-depth about Google's Duplex tech coming to Chrome on the web and how this type of development could both change our collective experience or pave the way for something way more sinister in the future.

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All about the Pixelbook Go Sep 27, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we are all about the Pixelbook Go and all the leaks, rumors, features and speculations surrounding Google’s new Chromebook. While we still have to technically wait until October 15th to have all our questions answered, the reveal of the name of this new Pixelbook and quite a few of its features is exciting to say the least. With some lingering questions around processors and prices, we have to wonder exactly how Google plans to leverage the Pixelbook Go.

We also talk a bit about the upcoming ASUS Chromebook C433 and its new landing page, specs, and US release date. This new device is just the tip of the iceberg of new Chromebooks that we expect to see this fall, but it is a very important part of that overall story.

Finally, we chat a bit about Google extending the Auto Update Policy for a handful of older, MediaTek-powered Chromebooks. This move, while great for folks using those particular devices, could be a turning point for Google in terms of the long term trajectory of Chrome OS, Chromebooks, and how long they will maintain support moving forward.

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Google's October 15 hardware event springs a few leaks Sep 20, 2019

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we are looking at Google’s now-confirmed hardware event that is to be held on October 15th in the great city of New York. From Pixel 4 leaks to Google Nest Minis to Pixelbook 2, there’s news left and right rolling out on an almost daily cadence. While some of the leaks are clear and bare all, others are still full of mystery and intrigue.

Additionally, we hit on some leaks of new devices coming out that aren’t made by Google and a handful of new software updates to Chrome OS that should continue to make using a Chromebook a better experience.

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Google's hardware event, Pixel 4 & ASUS Flip C433 leaks Sep 13, 2019

On this week’s episode, we talk through leaks and how the sheer amount of them around the Pixel 4 have made Google’s upcoming hardware event a bit of an interesting proposition. At this point, what are they even going to say when they get on stage? And, with all these Pixel 4 leaks, it almost feels like everyone is getting a bit bored of them now.

Right in the middle of that malaise, however, we have fresh leaks of a new device from ASUS in the Flip C433 that we hope to see very soon. In sharp contrast to the leak fatigue felt by followers of the Pixel 4, these leaks have reignited the desire for this type of thing in the Chromebook space. With both FCC listings and new retail photos showing up, we’re extremely excited by ASUS’ latest flagship Chromebook.

We also talk a bit about the other Google hardware available now in the Nest Hub Max and upcoming in the Nest Home Mini that just passed through the FCC. The Nest Home Mini leaked a bit over a week ago and just passed through the FCC, so we now know that it is not just a rumor, but a real device likely bound for Google’s upcoming hardware event.

Finally, we discuss Stadia getting full Chrome support for the XBOX One S controller and Sony’s DualShock 4 as well including vibration over both wired and wireless connections. It is a packed show and we’re excited for you to listen along!

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Another wave of new Chromebooks, Ambient Displays & Pixel 4 landing pages Sep 06, 2019

In this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we’re talking about yet another round of Chromebooks that have now been announced at IFA. In the past two weeks, we now have multiple different models with different screen sizes from both Acer and Lenovo for the upcoming holiday season. With the introduction of these devices, we’re hoping to see better entry-level devices across the board with lower prices and better performance at this price point than we’ve ever seen before.

Much of our episode this week is dominated by a discussion around the new Ambient Mode built into a select few, new tablets and coming to more devices soon. We talk quite a bit about why we think we’ll see this on Chromebooks soon and why we think it could end up being a pretty big deal in the end.

Finally, we had to talk about the Pixel 4 landing page Best Buy has created for customers to sign up to receive information about the phone closer to launch. Just another odd, quirky step in the Pixel 4 saga, but worth chatting about for sure.

Notable Links

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The new Chromebook wave has begun Aug 30, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we cover a ton of topics, but our main chatter revolves around new Chromebooks from Dell and Lenovo that attack the space very different angles. Dell is coming from an Enterprise-focused, high-dollar approach and Lenovo is bringing their new affordable to mid-range devices officially to market.

Additionally, we talk about rumors of a possible Pixel Watch, some additions and changes to trackpad UI on Chromebooks, the coming end of the first generation Chromecast, and Google's new way to search and find Podcasts on the web. It's a packed episode, but there's a lot to cover this week!

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The Chrome Cast 24: Latest Stadia Updates & Nest Home Mini Aug 23, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend quite a bit of time talking all things Stadia. From the latest Stadia Connect to sightings of UI elements at Gamescom to the probability of the 3rd-gen Chromecast gaining Stadia Support, the Stadia hype train is in full swing and there’s a lot to talk about surrounding Google’s upcoming gaming platform.

We also talk a bit about some of the rocky transitions happening with Google and Nest finally merging. While Google has tried to take most things into account, there are some factors that users need to know in order to make a smooth move from a Nest to a Google account.

Finally, we talk a bit about the excitement around the rumor of a Nest Home Mini that looks to be the proper successor to the wildly popular Google Home Mini. With better sound, a headphone jack, a similar size and a similar price as the first Mini, we are very excited to see where this next step in the Mini line takes us.

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Switch to Chromebook ads, Stadia Connect coming soon & Chrome OS 76 Aug 16, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we take a bit of time to talk through the new Chromebook ads Google has released in the past week. With great production value, concise points, and a clear message, these ads are being backed up by a whole new Chromebooks landing page as well as a special spot by Bill Nye.

We also chat about the upcoming Stadia Connect that is slated for this upcoming Monday and what we expect to see at that event. With Gamescom happening in the days following Stadia Connect, we’re equally excited about more press members getting hands-on time with Stadia from the Germany-based gaming conference.

Finally, we take a deep dive into Chrome OS 76 and talk through all the new features on offer from Chrome OS in one of the larger feature updates we’ve seen in quite some time. Enjoy!

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New Pixel 4 Leaks, Stadia Connect, and Wi-Fi 6 Aug 09, 2019

As always, there’s a ton to talk about in the Chrome and Google universe this week, but we’re focused in a few key things. First up, we’re talking about the latest leaks surrounding the Pixel 4 that include a 90hz display, 6GB of RAM, and a possible DSLR-like camera attachment for the king of camera phones.

We also spend some time talking about the next Stadia Connect coming soon and some of the ways that players will interact with the entire experience once it becomes available. Finally, we spend some time discussing Wi-Fi 6, why it matters and when you can expect to see the benefits of it in real life. Oh yeah, we also take a few minutes to talk through the addition of Virtual Desks in Chrome OS 77 Dev Channel and how it actually feels to use this new feature to get stuff done.

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Pixel 4, 'Atlas', Google's Upcoming Event, and more on Stadia Aug 02, 2019

So much has happened in the last week since our last podcast, so we’re only focusing in on the big stuff. With Google leaking out more details on the upcoming Pixel 4 and its new face unlock and Motion Sense tech, we’re talking about the implications for Chromebooks, starting with ‘Atlas’ at the upcoming Google hardware event.

We also spend quite a bit of time discussing new updates on Stadia, a probable Stadia Connect in the next few weeks, and a handful of questions around how the whole thing will work for users who only have a Chromecast Ultra, the Stadia controller and a TV. Thanks for listening!

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The Chrome Cast 20: Google's New 'Atlas' Chromebook & Fall Hardware Event Jul 26, 2019

Not surprisingly, this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast circled around Google’s upcoming hardware event, it’s timing, and the enigma known only as ‘Atlas’. Talking through the recent decision by Google to ‘leak’ the Pixel 4, an FCC filing for a new Chromebook by Google, and a leaked-retracted-confirmed date for the launch date of the Nest Home Hub all make for a pretty compelling case that Google might just surprise us all with an earlier hardware event this year.

We additionally spend some time talking through not just the addition of LTE coming in a broader sense to Chromebook, but the impact that move will have on the industry. Finally, we talk new, Chrome OS-specific keyboards from companies like Logitech and the importance of this new trend. Oh, and we had to at least mention 4-finger swipes coming for Virtual Desks!

Notable Links

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Chromebook Gaming From Stadia To Roblox And A Likely Samsung Chromebook Pro Candidate Jul 19, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend a good bit of time talking about the present and future of gaming on Chromebooks. As Stadia continues looming over the future, there are already a few games for Chromebooks that are taking full advantage of the Chromebook form factor and all it brings to the table. With keyboards, mice, and larger screens, Chromebooks are a great target for developers to attract new, untapped audiences if they decide to take the platform seriously.

Additionally, we’re talking about quite a few new features that are either here or on the way for Chromebooks from password management to dark mode in Chrome for Android. Finally, we discuss what for us at Chrome Unboxed is probably the most exciting thing: a new Samsung Chromebook Pro in the works currently going by the codename ‘Kohaku’. Thanks for listening!

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Last but certainly not least, this podcast is also brought to you by WordPress.com,our go-to platform for creating websites! This is not just another website builder, WordPress.com is a full-featured web platform with thousands and thousand of plugins and tons of scale. If you just need a personal site or want to create an online business, WordPress.com will have you covered. Go to ChromeUnboxed.com/WordPress to find the plan that is right for you and create your very own website.

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Ready For The Next #madebyGoogle Chromebook In The Pixelbook Family Jul 12, 2019

The Chrome Cast is back at it this week, and our discussion is dominated by Google’s upcoming ‘Atlas’ Chromebook that we feel sure will either be the Pixelbook 2 or at least in the Pixelbook family of devices. So many things about ‘Atlas’ are confusing and could point to various end games for Google, but we feel like we’ll get some real answers soon.

Additionally, we’re talking about yet another addition to the ‘Hatch’ family of devices that goes by the name of ‘Kled’, the release, pause, re-release, and eventual full release of Chrome OS 75, Amazon Prime Videos getting Chromecast support, and some killer deals on fantastic Chromebooks as we approach Amazon Prime Day. Enjoy!

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The New Chromebooks Are Coming! Jul 05, 2019

Based on that title, you can probably guess what we talked about this week. From all angles, the last part of 2019 looks primed to deliver a vast army of Chrome OS devices on every front. We have ‘Hatch’-based Chromebooks, Snapdragon 845 Chromebooks, MediaTek 8183 Chromebooks, and maybe even AMD flagships coming in the next 5 months. All these additions to the landscape will likely change the consumer Chromebook market for the better and there’s a ton to consider when thinking about all this new hardware showing up in the space.

Additionally, we talked about Chrome OS 75 sputtering out the gate and the ensuing halt on updates, what we’re expecting to see in the highly-anticipated Chrome OS 76 update, and a great deal available to YouTube TV subscribers.

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Last but certainly not least, this podcast is also brought to you by WordPress.com,our go-to platform for creating websites! This is not just another website builder, WordPress.com is a full-featured web platform with thousands and thousand of plugins and tons of scale. If you just need a personal site or want to create an online business, WordPress.com will have you covered. Go to ChromeUnboxed.com/WordPress to find the plan that is right for you and create your very own website.

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Google Possibly Making a More Affordable Pixelbook Jun 28, 2019

This week on The Chrome Cast, our discussion time circled mainly around Google, Pixelbook, and what a new commit in the repositories could mean for the future of the Pixelbook line from an affordability standpoint. With the removal of NVMe signaling a more affordable PIxelbook, could the Pixel 3a mindset end up permeating into Google's Chromebook efforts this year?

Additionally, we chat about the emergence of the baseboard 'Hatch' as this year's version of 'Nami', which gave us the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, HP Chromebook x360 14, Dell Inspiron Chromebook, Lenovo Yoga C630 in 2018. With 'Hatch', we have 'Helios', 'Kindred', and 'Kohaku' as boards all being derived from the same source and we're pretty confident we'll see these boards emerge from all the usual players in the fall of 2019.

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This episode is also brought to you by Blue Apron. Perfectly-Portioned, chef designed meals delivered to your doorstep. Ready in 20 Minutes. Step-By-Step Recipes. Freshness Guaranteed. CLICK HERE to get started.

Last but certainly not least, this podcast is also brought to you by WordPress.com,our go-to platform for creating websites! This is not just another website builder, WordPress.com is a full-featured web platform with thousands and thousand of plugins and tons of scale. If you just need a personal site or want to create an online business, WordPress.com will have you covered. Go to ChromeUnboxed.com/WordPress to find the plan that is right for you and create your very own website.

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Google Leaves The Tablet Game, Leaks The Pixel 4 Jun 21, 2019

It's been an eventful couple weeks with Google and as we return to our regularly-scheduled podcast, we're talking about some of the major shifts Google is making from a hardware perspective. From deciding to officially call it quits on making a Google-branded tablet to leaking an image of the Pixel 4, Google has grabbed a ton of media attention.

Add to that the impressive performance of Stadia at E3 2019 and we have a ton to talk about this week.

This episode is brought to to you by NordVPN. CLICK HERE to try it out and get 75% off a three-year plan for a limited time!

This episode is brought to to you by NordVPN. Secure your browsing on any device and keep your private data to yourself! CLICK HERE to try it out and get 75% off a three-year plan for a limited time!

This episode is also brought to you by Blue Apron. Perfectly-Portioned, chef designed meals delivered to your doorstep. Ready in 20 Minutes. Step-By-Step Recipes. Freshness Guaranteed. CLICK HERE to get started.

Last but certainly not least, this podcast is also brought to you by WordPress.com,our go-to platform for creating websites! This is not just another website builder, WordPress.com is a full-featured web platform with thousands and thousand of plugins and tons of scale. If you just need a personal site or want to create an online business, WordPress.com will have you covered. Go to ChromeUnboxed.com/WordPress to find the plan that is right for you and create your very own website.

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Stadia Is Coming, iPad OS Has Limits, and Linux Apps Improve Jun 07, 2019

In this week's episode, we are mainly dominated by the announcements surrounding Google's Stadia cloud gaming service. With availability, pricing, and an initial game lineup finally revealed, we take some time to react to all that could be coming in the near future.

We also talk quite a bit about iPad OS and the new announcements surrounding Apple's update to the iPad lineup. With rumors of mouse support and the announcement of a "desktop class" browser, there were rumblings that Chromebooks should be worried.

inally, we spend some time talking through some pretty great improvements coming in Chrome OS 76 for Linux apps. You can find links to all the things we discuss below. Enjoy!

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This episode is brought to to you by NordVPN. Secure your browsing on any device and keep your private data to yourself! CLICK HERE to try it out and get 75% off a three-year plan for a limited time!

This episode is also brought to you by Blue Apron. Perfectly-Portioned, chef designed meals delivered to your doorstep. Ready in 20 Minutes. Step-By-Step Recipes. Freshness Guaranteed. CLICK HERE to get started.

Last but certainly not least, this podcast is also brought to you by WordPress.com,our go-to platform for creating websites! This is not just another website builder, WordPress.com is a full-featured web platform with thousands and thousand of plugins and tons of scale. If you just need a personal site or want to create an online business, WordPress.com will have you covered. Go to ChromeUnboxed.com/WordPress to find the plan that is right for you and create your very own website.

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ARM Chips in Pixelbooks, Magic Trackpads, and Pixel Slate Price Slash May 31, 2019

In this week on The Chrome Cast we cover a lot of ground. From news of the Pixelbook being tested with ARM chips to gauging the worth of the Pixel Slate in light of the $200 price slash to finally welcoming the Apple Magic Trackpad 2 as a fully-supported Chrome OS accessory, this episode gets into a ton of news from the past week. We've put in the show notes below all the links to all the things we talked about, so check those out and enjoy this week's edition of The Chrome Cast!

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Chrome OS Bridging the App Gap & The Pixel Effect May 24, 2019

In this week's episode, we talk through quite a few things, but there is a clear theme that runs throughout the entire episode: the app gap. Chrome OS as an ecosystem is slowly overcoming these missing pieces in the form of a proper video editor in Adobe Premiere Rush and through an upcoming ability to run containered, legacy Windows apps with the help of Droplet Computing.

Those two things are worth a ton of discussion as they remove the barrier of entry for many users and make the adoption of Chromebooks a much easier transition for those people who "just need that one app."

In addition, we discuss the importance of the Pixel 3a as not just an affordable phone in Google's Pixel lineup, but as a possible harbinger of a future where Google sees the importance of high-quality, low cost hardware for Chromebooks from the #madebyGoogle brand as well. While discussing hardware, we also cover the latest smart device, the Lenovo Smart Clock which we have in the office for review.

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Chrome OS, Apps, and the Future of Computing May 17, 2019

This week we're in a post-Google I/O hangover, talking through a ton of news that has happened since the event and a few things that were pretty important that occurred after last week's podcast at I/O. The big conversation continued to swirl around Hiroshi Lockheimer's rather bullish outlook that Chrome OS is positioned as the future of computing in Google's eyes. With this in mind, we talked at length about what that means both from an app perspective and the user's perspective.

We also covered down on quite a few things that have shown up this past week including the death of Campfire (Windows dual-boot for Chrome OS), the new Intel Zombieload Attack, a somewhat-plausible Pixelbook 2 sighting, the impending arrival of two smaller Chrome OS tablets, and Sonos finally getting around to adding the Google Assistant to their already-fantastic speaker lineup.

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Let's Talk About Google I/O 2019 May 10, 2019

Google I/O 2019 has now come and gone and we are taking a bit of time talking though all the highlights from the event. There were new devices announced, tons of new services, and quite a bit of Chrome OS-specific news unveiled.

On the broader Google front, we discuss the affect the new Pixel 3a could have on Google's hardware efforts, Google's rebranding of Home devices to the Nest nomenclature, and a bit about some new skills that the Google Assistant will soon possess.

On the Chrome OS side of things, we chatted about a ton of smaller things that are in the works for Chromebooks like Virtual Desktops, Android Instant Apps, a new PWA install flow, one-click Linux install for Android Studio, and Android P coming to most devices.

Finally, we also talk about Chromebook market share growth and the affect that should have on app development for Chromebooks in the near future.

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Getting Ready For Google I/O 2019 May 03, 2019

Google I/O, though routinely a developer's conference, looks to be bringing us some new hardware along with all the new software we can expect for the future from Google. Though I/O is clearly aimed at developers, there's a ton of news that comes out of this event about all the things that we can expect from Google in the coming months for all us non-developer types, so it will be an exciting week.

On the hardware front, we're talking a bit about 'Atlas' and whether or not we think it could be the next Pixelbook or not and whether we'll possibly see it next week at Google I/O. With the Pixel 3a and 3a XL definitely coming along with the Google Nest Home Hub, who knows? We'll be dug in and tuned in for all the fun next week!

We also talk through a few new changes coming to Chrome OS, including VPN support being extended to Linux apps on Chrome OS, virtual desktops getting closer for Chromebook, Picture-in-Picture features, and Chrome OS 74 rolling out to many devices with tons of fun new features like PDF annotation and better file management.

On the current hardware front, we chat about the recent review of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 and the upcoming review for the insanely-affordable Poin2 Chromebook 14. Between the small bezels, small footprint, premium build and exceptional user experience, the review on the Flip C434 is full of a lot of positives and very few negatives.

SHOW NOTES:

What we're expecting and hoping for at Google I/O 2019
Some thoughts on 'Atlas' and whether or not we could see it at next week's event
Some thoughts on a few sessions expected at I/O aimed at Chrome OS
VPN support coming for Linux apps on Chromebooks
Virtual Desks getting closer than ever for Chrome OS
Picture-in-Picture is getting a mute button
Chrome OS 74 is here with a ton of new features
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Review

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 8 Apr 27, 2019

In this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast, we discuss upcoming devices, new Chrome tweaks, a bit about baseboards, the Chromium repositories, and open source development.

HIGHLIGHTS

New changes coming to the YouTube Channel
New Samsung flaship Chromebook in the works
A bit about baseboards and unibuilds
Discussion on Samsung’s folding phone and future tech in general
HP Chromebook x2 versus the Pixel Slate

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 7 Apr 20, 2019

We’re excited to be back! In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we discuss new services, new partnerships between Amazon and Google, upcoming devices, Google I/O 2019, a new #madebyGoogle device, and more!

HIGHLIGHTS

Exciting new changes at Chrome Unboxed
New AMD Chromebook board with flagship-level power
A new #madebyGoogle device is in the works
YouTube TV adds Discovery Channel lineup
Microsoft office document editing in Google Docs
Google and Amazon are friends again: Chromecast support coming to Prime Videos and YouTube comes back to Fire TV
Google I/O coming soon with tons of Chrome OS sessions

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 6 Feb 06, 2018

In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we discuss a ton of new Chrome devices both announced and rumored, the first Chrome OS tablet sighting, Google Assistant, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS

New Chromebooks announced
New rumored Chromebooks
Acer’s Chrome OS Tablet leaked at BETT
Neverware and Google together at BETT
Split Screen and Android Parellel apps
3D Gaming With WebGL
Fuchsia up and running on the Pixelbook
Google Assistant everywhere

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 5 Dec 24, 2017

In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we discuss some new Chromebook features, Progressive Web Apps, Santa and more.

Pixelbook vs. Samsung Pro/ASUS Flip C302
Dictation on Chrome OS
Free Netflix
AR Stickers on the Pixel 2 a.k.a. why’s Robby salty?
Santa on Google Home
Google Home Max
Progressive Web Apps
Much, much more.

Enjoy!

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 2 Oct 27, 2017

For our latest podcast, we recorded a YouTube Live session at our home office. In this episode, we talk the biggest news in the Chromebook and Assistant space, including:

Google Home Mini
Pixelbook
CES 2018
Upcoming high-powered hardware from Samsung & ASUS

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The Chrome Cast - Ep. 1 Oct 01, 2017

Hey everyone! We are super excited about Google’s hardware event coming up this Wednesday. We’ll be in attendance and ready to deliver all sorts of news and hands-on from the event, so be sure and subscribe to the website and YouTube Channel before then to keep up with all that happens.

Additionally, you should follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ are great ways to stay connected and informed about everything we report on here at Chrome Unboxed.

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