Weekly Digest From Chrome Unboxed

View this email in your browser The Chrome Cast 227: Some thoughts on the new Pixel 7a and Chromebook hardware 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 […] Read More Google Chat gets "Quick reactions" so you can spend less time picking emoji for replies Google Chat, Google’s replacement for Hangouts, has added a lot of features that help it and its sub-feature, Spaces, replace things like Google+ or “Currents” for Enterprise. It’s a different philosophy and approach to social, and acts more as an intranet than an open social network. A year ago, the company added emoji reactions to […] Read More Yes, your Chromebook technically has a clock app, but Google still refuses to make it accessible You may not realize it until you open your Chromebook launcher and search for it, only to be disappointed, but unlike other operating systems such as Windows, ChromeOS has no clock app! Well, that’s not entirely true, but it’s just not native – let me explain. Since 2017, it’s technically been available on your laptop, […] Read More Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Flex 3i 2023 review: extraordinary value [VIDEO] With this new, affordable Chromebook from Lenovo – the 12-inch IdeaPad Flex 3i – I’ll just go ahead and say it: these new Intel Alder Lake-N Chromebooks are here to change the game in the low-cost Chromebook space. And if you are anything like me and love the feeling of getting a great deal on […] Read More Google Docs picks up some new tricks: Custom block creation, expanding and collapsing content Google announced a few new features for Docs this week over on its Workspace Updates blog. These tie directly into its Smart Canvas initiative, allowing you to make better use of the data you place in a body of text either for personal or collaborative reasons. While we’ve already gotten many things like the ability […] Read More Comment: Having pinned apps sync across Chromebooks and tablets makes no sense Tailored devices deserve tailored experiences There’s something that’s been bothering me for the past few years, and I feel that the fix should be rather simple. Currently, one set of applications and data are synchronized across all of your ChromeOS devices that have your Google Account logged into them. While this is great for experiencing […] Read More I don't understand Google's choice to not make a simple keyboard for the Pixel Tablet The Pixel Tablet is up for pre-order already and as much as it confuses me a bit, there seems to be some real interest in a Google-made Android tablet once again. And while the unique docking speaker makes the Pixel Tablet a bit of a different take on the Android tablet in general, I still […] Read More How to enable auto-correct for your Chromebook's physical keyboard I’ll have to admit, this one took me a bit by surprise. I have no idea how long this feature has actually been around, but in just a few minutes of using it, I’m already in love. Thanks to a quick how-to article by Chrome Story, I may have just enabled a feature that will […] Read More Top 5 Chromebook deals of the week With Google I/O behind us and the big Pixel reveals out of the way, it’s time to take a look at this week’s best Chromebook deals. Once again, I have a good mix of premium and budget-friendly devices ranging from the most portable ChromeOS tablet on the market to a large-screen productivity machine for the […] Read More Android App Streaming for Chromebooks is here and working in ChromeOS 114 Beta We’re continuing to find great, new features tucked away in the latest build of ChromeOS in the Beta Channel, and one of my favorite new ones to tinker with at this point is ChromeOS’ new Android App Streaming. We’ve talked about this upcoming feature for what feels like forever, and it looks like it is […] Read More The new Chromebook Virtual Keyboard redesign is a joy to use, and it's all thanks to psychology The new Chromebook virtual keyboard is a joy to use, and it’s all thanks to psychology. In the latest ChromeOS Canary 115 update, a redesigned virtual keyboard has made its appearance, and I must say, it has completely transformed my typing experience. Surprisingly, the changes are minimal at a glance, but they reflect a profound […] Read More Android TV is launching a 'Live' tab with over 800 free channels to match the Google TV experience Just a month ago, Google announced that it would be adding Plex, TubiTV, and Haystack to the ‘Live’ tab on Google TV (and Android TV) for a total of over 800 free channels. These would join PlutoTV, which was added a while back, and kicked off the integration into the company’s TV operating system. Just […] Read More Google Calendar now works better with Microsoft Outlook and vice versa Google is working to make Microsoft Outlook more compatible with its Calendar app, with several improvements already implemented for all Workspace users. This includes personal Google Accounts, and those with legacy G Suite licenses too. Essentially, it’s rolled out to everyone right now. These updates include the ability to receive Google Calendar invitations and RSVPs […] Read More Streamlining Chromebook management: How VIZOR Cloud transformed ACPA's process Even before the global pandemic hit in 2020, Chromebooks had become a staple in the American classroom. When schools began to shut down and remote learning became the new normal, the adoption of 1:1 devices for students skyrocketed as schools districts scramble to keep the educational stream flowing amidst the unprecedented adversity. Now that the […] Read More Android 11 is starting to arrive on ARM-powered Chromebooks that need it badly Though there aren’t a ton of them out there in the market, ARM-powered Chromebooks represent a growing segment of the ChromeOS family that come in a wide variety of form factors. Notably, we have some great tablets and convertibles that come with processors like the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and the MediaTek Kompanio series. While […] Read More YouTube TV passes 6 million subscribers, and I still can't understand why anyone would pay for this I’ve not been at all subtle about the fact that I don’t believe in traditional cable-style streaming in an age of on-demand services. However, I know that it’s still a viable option for many, and streaming itself has become the new cable, asking people to pay for something they used to pay to get rid […] Read More New split-screen layouts are here in ChromeOS 114 Beta, no flags necessary It’s been a little while since we last talked about the enhanced split-screen features coming to ChromeOS, but they are finally beginning to arrive in the Beta Channel of ChromeOS 114 with no need for any setup, flags, tweaks, or changes to start taking advantage of them. It’s a needed addition if you ask me, […] Read More Wear OS 4 is coming to help you track your golf game It is a rare occasion where two of my passions intersect but when it does, I absolutely geek out. In the mix of the mountain of news and updates from Google I/O, one such intersection popped up briefly in the “New in Health on Android” talk. There was a lot to digest and some very […] Read More With its silence, Google may have quietly announced the Assistant's demise As a joke during the Google I/O 2023 Keynote, I suggested to the guys here in the office that our entire watch party on Discord should do a shot every time Google said AI during the presentation. It’s a very good thing that we were only kidding, since Google used the term in every possible […] Read More As AI takes the world by storm, Google hopes to restore credibility and context to images In today’s digital age, where misinformation spreads like wildfire, it’s become increasingly vital to discern truth from fiction. As generative AI quickly takes the world by storm, the need for reliable information is more critical than ever (and will become increasingly so). Recognizing this, Google has unveiled a new feature during its I/O 2023 event […] Read More Score big and save $250 on Google's best Pixel phone Yes, we are insanely excited about the upcoming Pixel Fold. Yes, the Google Pixel 7a is a solid device and easily one of the best phones you can buy under $500. That said, the Pixel 7 Pro is still my absolute favorite flagship device and seven months later, the Phone by Google still stands up […] Read More The Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Flex 3i is now available for purchase At CES 2023 earlier this year, we got our hands on a new device from Lenovo that features the first of Intel’s new generation of small-core CPUs. The Alder Lake N-series from Intel represents more than a simple departure from the company’s historical naming scheme. New architecture, more cores and higher frequencies just to name […] Read More Everything you need to know about the new "Help me write" AI feature in Google Docs Google recently introduced the “Help me write” feature in Docs as part of its Duet AI for Google Workspace initiative. This new tool aims to enhance productivity and workflow by providing assistance with writing tasks (not replacing creativity or originality!). Many users who have gained access by applying to the Workspace Labs waitlist are already […] Read More Google Maps getting 'Immersive View for routes', lets you to visualize your trip before leaving During Google I/O 2023, Google announced a slew of artificial intelligence integrations across its products and services. So much so that many YouTubers have made funny compilations of all of the times “AI” was verbally spoken and as entertaining as that is, it’s true – AI is here to stay, and the tech giant is […] Read More 5 Reasons why I'm sold on the Google Pixel Fold [VIDEO] Google I/O 2023 is in the books and without doubt, the announcement that received the most claps, whoops, and cheers during the 2-hour keynote presentation was the new Pixel Fold. And while we’ve known all about Google’s new foldable for quite some time now – there was an absolute torrent of leaks leading up to […] Read More I'm shocked there was no mention of the rumored Pixel Watch 2 at Google I/O It wasn’t more than a week or so ago that we discussed the Pixel Watch on the podcast in the lead-up to Google I/O 2023. Specifically, the discussion circled around the fact that up to that point, we’d not heard a peep from anyone about a follow-up to the successful Pixel Watch. For most big […] Read More Chromebook launcher adding badge counts for folders with more than four apps in them ChromeOS is always getting new features, and while these start out in the Canary channel for early testing, they often find their way to the Stable release for everyone to use. The latest one is a small but helpful addition to the launcher. Now, in ChromeOS Canary 115, folders that contain more than four apps […] Read More How to clean up broken web app icons in your Chromebook launcher If you’re a Chromebook user who heavily relies on web apps, you may have encountered the frustrating issue of generic grey icons appearing in your launcher. These placeholders with only the first letter of the app’s name can clutter your workspace and make app identification a challenge. Oh, and they’re also incredibly annoying. This problem […] Read More The Chrome Cast 226: Google I/O 2023, AI, and new Pixel Hardware 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’s much to be […] Read More "Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube": Video platform cracks down on workarounds to Premium In order to avoid paying for YouTube Premium, many users employ an ad blocker in their browser in order to improve their experience and keep their wallet from being drained by Google. However, according to a user on Reddit (Kudos: 9to5Google), who provided the screenshot seen below, the tech giant has started to crack down […] Read More 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. 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