Weekly Digest From Chrome Unboxed

View this email in your browser Chrome continues its work on the Tab Groups Save feature, but it's still busted and useless Chrome introduced the idea of saving tab groups for later a long time ago. In fact, we first reported on it over two years ago! Since then, Google has done little to develop the feature. Worse still, it’s done little to even make it usable. From creating the feature to showing saved tab groups on […] Read More Google Assistant is finally going to get a bit of generative AI Google Assistant looks to finally be on the receiving end of some generative AI and will soon be able to condense long passages of website text into manageable, clear-cut summaries. An update is being worked on in the Google app beta version 14.29 and a new “Summarize” feature has been spotted by 9to5 Google that […] Read More Pokémon Sleep is now available and it could be a game changer for your kids' bedtime routine Pokémon trainers (and masters alike) have been eagerly awaiting the release of Pokémon Sleep for the past four years, and the day has finally arrived. The app, now available for download on both Android and iOS, aims not only to promote more sleep, but also to enhance the quality of your sleep. More interestingly, it […] Read More Google's Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 will be more powerful, but here's what it needs to be truly great Google’s Tensor G3, the newest version of the company’s silicon set to power the upcoming Pixel 8 series, and from the looks of it, Tensor G3 will be an upgrade over G2 in some key ways. Detailed by Android Authority, the new chip’s spec sheet certainly promises better overall performance, a more-modern core layout, advanced […] Read More Chrome's tab strip on Android tablets is ridiculous and it needs to borrow from ChromeOS Tablets – as a general tech item – are here to stay. While the iPad still rules the day, Android tablets have carved out a niche thanks primarily to their versatility and usually lower prices. With the release of the Pixel Tablet, I really tried to give Android tablets a real try again, but I […] Read More Google Messages is taking a big step towards interoperable messaging with MLS standard There’s no way around it: messaging has become an integral part of daily life for most of us. From personal conversations to business communications, we need messaging platforms to connect with others on a daily basis. And while many services offer end-to-end encryption, they often limit that security to conversations happening only inside their own […] Read More See how apps look and feel on each of your devices with this upcoming Play Store update If you’ve ever questioned how an app might appear or operate on your specific device before downloading it, this upcoming Google Play Store update is going to be your new best friend. Google has been consistently working hard over the past several years to enhance both device compatibility for apps and the delivery of pertinent […] Read More YouTube Premium gets a two dollar price hike, now costs $13.99 every month Google is once again raising the price of YouTube Premium. This time, the service will go up by an additional two dollars, peaking at $13.99 instead of the previous $11.99 USD. That’s an increase that, although seemingly small in the monthly scheme of things, leads to an additional $20 per year out of your pocket […] Read More Nearby Share by Google exits beta on Windows, letting anyone transfer files seamlessly Back in April, Google gave us a glimpse of something really cool – its Chromebook and Android Nearby Share feature but built as an app for Windows. It was a promising look into an easy way to transfer files across devices. The good news? It’s now out of beta and ready for a much wider […] Read More Google is introducing AI-generated backgrounds for Meet calls Thanks to the power of AI, Google is ready to radically change the way we think about adding virtual backgrounds to our video calls. First noticed via Google Workspace Labs (where Google tests new Workspace features before rolling them out to a wider user base) by Artem Russakovskii, Google is clearly hard at work to […] Read More Is the Pixel 8's upgraded fingerprint sensor worth a $50 price hike? As we get closer to the launch of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, expected leaks have already provided a pretty good look at what Google’s next set of phones will look like and what sort of specs will come along for the ride both inside and out. Now, in addition to those […] Read More Google's new Home Panel is rolling out to more Pixel devices This year at I/O 2023, Google unveiled the all-new, revamped Google Home app. With a fresh design and some cool new features, the updated app brings a bit more convenience and customization to smart home controls. Maybe the best part of the update is the new Home Panel that was initially available on the Pixel […] Read More YouTube Premium subscribers can now test a new 2x speed gesture In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no surprise that people are constantly seeking ways to consume content more efficiently. Whether it’s long-form podcasts, tutorials, or educational videos (like the Dead Internet Theory video that I just watched at 2x speed), there are a lot of people who prefer to boost the playback speed to save time […] Read More Add emoji to Calendar events, YouTube Playlists, Collections and more to make them glanceable The Bullet Journal is a system developed by Ryder Carroll and blends tasks, notes or thoughts, events, and more into one single notebook. It’s an “analog productivity system for the digital age”. It’s basically a mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system and the goal is to help you find the sweet spot between what […] Read More I moved from the Pixel Fold back to a regular smartphone, and I feel relieved As I’ve noted in the past, smartphones are largely getting boring. They are utilities that we absolutely rely on and the stuff that was once mind-blowingly innovative has now become commonplace. Folding phones are a bit of a panacea to that stagnation, promising a new era of versatility, convenience and increased consumption abilities. However, after […] Read More Google and Taito Corp. team up to release Space Invaders: World Defense augmented reality game Ever since Google waved goodbye to Cardboard and Google Expeditions, it has been leaning on its ARCore initiative to deliver the future of interactive and augmented reality experiences to its users. If you’ve grown tired of the Pixel AR camera stickers, you’re in for a treat with the tech giant’s newest offering, Space Invaders: World […] Read More OnePlus V Fold will launch as the OnePlus Open in late August to take on the Pixel Fold The smartphone world – at least in the folding segment – is really heating up as we move into the second half of 2023. With Samsung formally announcing its next Unpacked event (where we’ll see the inevitable Galaxy Z Fold 5) and Google already delivering the Pixel Fold in recent weeks, OnePlus is now primed […] Read More AI isn't quite transforming standard Google searches just yet Generative AI like ChatGPT and Google’s own Bard have taken the world by storm since their introduction a mere 7 months ago, and the reach of AI has touched everything from art to music to customer service and search engine tech. Forced to react to what a force like ChatGPT could mean to its search […] Read More Google's Bard prepares to add extensions, giving you useful travel and shopping power ups Google’s Bard has often found itself relegated to being the last resort for AI chatbot aficionados. This could be due to a multitude of reasons, and many could argue that it comes down to a user’s preference or disdain for one of the major tech giant over another. However, there’s no denying that Bard has […] Read More Enhancing the Pixel Tablet experience with a USI 2.0 Pen Google’s Pixel Tablet offers a solid array of features and functionality, making it a versatile device for various use cases. However, for those seeking a tablet to use for educational or professional purposes, the absence of a stylus in the box might cause you to pause for a beat. No, the Pixel Tablet doesn’t come […] Read More Pixel 8 Pro specs revealed in comprehensive leak As the year progresses, the anticipation around Google’s upcoming smartphones – the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro – is only heating up. These phones will be the successors to the well-received Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, but Google has obviously been less than forthcoming about what we can expect. That being said, the last […] Read More How to personalize your Android phone's appearance with Emoji Kitchen wallpapers Google’s I/O conference this year brought with it exciting new developments, with one of the standout announcements being the roll-out of Emoji-based wallpaper styling options for Android. As per 9to5Google, this new feature is currently available for some users running Android 14 Beta 3, and while it’s still in the trial phase, we can expect […] Read More 3 fantastic Chromebook deals for those who missed last week's sales events Last week, we had two huge sales events that sort of captured the attention of many in the tech sphere. Between Amazon Prime Day and Best Buy’s Black Friday in July sales, there was a lot to take in. For us here at Chrome Unboxed, much more of the interest circled around the Chromebook deals […] Read More The Chrome Cast 232: Dropping the Pixel Fold, Lenovo Slim 3, and goofy Chromebook names 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 […] Read More Android is making it even easier to swipe away your work life when you get home Android has long since had the ability to add Work or managed profiles and let you compartmentalize your life. Turning off work when you get home so you can focus on your family and personal data, and vice versa when you get to the office or start performing office tasks. With what we believe is […] Read More Google Chat is finally giving you the ability to hyperlink text in your messages Google Chat may not have launched with many of the same standard features as its competitors, but it’s slowly started added them over time – a Google staple for the development pipeline. Now, over on the Google Workspace Updates blog, Google announced that it’s finally adding the ability to let you link text in your […] Read More Android 13 and higher to give you an 'Upgrade Invite' prominently showcasing its new features One persistent challenge Android users have faced over the years is the inability to understand precisely what updates Google is incorporating into its operating system. Often, they’d have had to rely on news outlets (like us!) to provide the specifics of each update, rather than receiving this vital information directly from the source. The lack […] Read More Google One VPN to improve location service accuracy by switching to local IP addresses Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs for short, are primarily designed to enhance user anonymity. They achieve this by giving you the freedom to choose the country from which your IP address is being broadcast from. The aim is to maximize privacy by limiting the extent to which you can be tracked online. However many apps […] Read More The Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Slim 3 is a marvel of affordability [VIDEO] Here in the office, we have the new Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Slim 3 – or what we tend to just call the Slim 3. This Chromebook showed up quietly, following the same design ethos that Lenovo employed for the Flex 3i we recently reviewed and really enjoyed a lot. The Slim 3 is a classic […] Read More Google adds more features and language to Bard AI, taking aim at ChatGPT When it comes to creativity, curiosity and imagination are really what bring everything to life. From a child’s imaginative game to an entrepreneur’s brand-new business idea, these qualities are intrinsically human and have found a new assistant here in 2023 with the rise of large language model AI. Unlike traditional informational tools, AI like ChatGPT […] 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. CLICK HERE to be a part of our community.  Copyright © 2023 Unboxed Media, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Unboxed Media 111 W Dixie Ave Ste 200 Elizabethtown, KY 42701-1410 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.