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Your Chromebook is getting a new wallpaper feature from... Windows 10?
Custom wallpaper syncing is on the way
Hunting for that perfect family photo or stylish Unsplash pic to use for your PC and smartphone wallpaper can be time consuming, especially when you get around to applying it everywhere. That situation is mostly unchanged with Chromebooks — the exception being with its stock backgrounds, which can magically sync across all your Chrome devices when applied. Chrome OS started testing sync for custom wallpapers a few months back, but the ability got pulled shortly thereafter. There's been radio silence on whether the feature will come back — until our discovery made today.
Chromebooks will finally get usable native screen recording soon
But you'll need to wait until Chrome OS 93 to get it
Chromebooks have had a long history of lackluster screen recording software — most requiring an expensive subscription to unlock essential features. It was just a few updates ago that Google added a native solution for Chrome OS, sporting a fancy capture bar that's intuitive to use. While the upgraded screen capture experience is a welcomed change — especially tablet users — the screen recorder component is unusable for long recordings. You aren't able to seek through your captures unless you convert the WebM format into something else like for lectures. You won't have to wait much longer, as Google is finally making its screen recorder usable.
Chrome OS will work better with all monitor orientations soon
Because its existing window management made zero sense with one
Computer monitors have been growing up over the years. Once small-screened and bulky, the monitors of today are larger and wider — perfect for multi-window productivity. Some displays can even rotate to a vertical portrait orientation, allowing coders and photo editors to see more of their content. One drawback of going vertical is the lackluster multi-window experience — and Chrome OS does nothing to fix this (except in tablet mode). As it is, you can only dock windows to the left or right side of the screen, resulting in a squished mess. Your multitasking nightmares may soon be over, as Google's been working on some critical changes to how Chrome OS works with vertical monitors.
Hands-on: Acer's new Chromebook 514 is a humble and practical laptop for the masses
Sporting Intel's 11th generation CPU, a fingerprint scanner, and more
Chromebooks have come a long way since the CR-48 debuted 10 years ago. You have your choice of Chrome OS hardware ranging from ultra-budget to lavishly expensive — Acer’s new Chromebook 514 lands somewhere in the middle. Paired with Intel’s 11th generation Tiger Lake CPU and ultrafast storage, the Chromebook 514 is a solid laptop for the right buyer.
Summer is just right around the corner, and with people restless to ditch quarantine life, many are planning time with friends and family outdoors. Finding power can be tricky when you're not home — that's where Jackery's Explorer 500 battery pack comes in. It's normally priced $600, but today, you can pick this one up for just 0 on Amazon.The Jackery Explorer 500 is less mighty than the model we've reviewed a couple of months ago, but it still packs a punch. Its 518Wh battery capacity is good for powering your phone, laptop, and even a mini fridge for several hours. Its compact size and firm handle makes it easy to carry around — perfect for RV camping and road trips. For those intrepid outdoor adventurers who want to embrace the outdoor life for a longer time, the Explorer 500 is compatible with the company's SolarSaga 100W solar panel (sold separately), which can fully charge it in nine and a half hours under direct sunlight.
Jackery's battery pack has a slew of ports to keep your devices powered. It features one AC outlet (100V/500W; peak at 1000W), three USB-A ports, two DC ports, and one car port. The company notes that devices rated over 500W (like a kettle or coffee maker, for example) aren't supported. Reviews praised the all-around utility of the Jackery Explorer 500 and loved its combination of features it offers. It's $100 off on Amazon right now, and you can get a steeper $80 discount by clicking on the coupon button — dropping the cost down to $420 (Editor's note: Nice). It's a great companion for any camping adventurer — and one you should pull the trigger on.Buy: Amazon
Chrome has been rapidly evolving over the last decade, giving users peace of mind by delivering stability, security, and speed via frequent updates. Thanks to an improved internal testing and rollout process, it became clear to Google that it should kick Chrome's update frequency into high gear. Some people weren't sure if the new release strategy will also apply to Chrome OS — it looks like we got our answer today.
Google ends its attack on the URL bar, resumes showing full address in Chrome
You don't need to enable flags to get back the web address
Google has tried multiple times for years to dumb down the internet by simplifying Chrome's "scary" address bar. It first tried to erode the URL entirely by showing just search terms in the omnibox, but its impractical design forced Google to retire it. The developers recently tried to simplify the omibox again — this time hiding all parts of the web address except the domain name. While it received a fair amount of criticism from users, Google defended its decision to move forward, citing its intention to help people better identify malicious sites. But now it seems that Google has reconsidered things, as it recently decided to close the curtains on its experiment.
Update Chrome now before something awful happens to your devices
Keep yourself protected from a zero-day vulnerability
Your security online is paramount to a positive user experience, and the developers at Google are constantly working hard to keep you safe while browsing the web. But even as they endeavor to keep apps secure from the ground up, inevitably some security flaws fall through the cracks — including a recently discovered Chrome vulnerability that's being actively exploited today. Thankfully, Google rolled out an update to Chrome that patches it along with other exploits, and you'd be wise to install it as soon as possible.
Dark mode has been soaring in popularity as a design trend over the last several years, and for good reason — it minimizes eye strain when using computers over extended periods (Editor's note: It also looks slick AF). With major platforms like macOS, Windows, and Android offering darker shades, it became clear Chrome OS had to catch up with the pack. Dark mode is still in ongoing development despite work on it dating back almost a year now, and it looks unfinished — even today. But Google hasn't thrown in the towel here, and it's now adding another highly requested feature to make dark mode even better.
Google continues its assault on the Chromebook Alt key
You may need to relearn a few shortcuts after updating to Chrome OS 93
It's been several months since Google announced its new name for the Launcher — or Search key — on Chromebooks, rebranding it to the Everything Button. For those unfamiliar, this button replaces the Caps lock key found on traditional keyboards — tapping it will open the app drawer instead. A Googler writes that the key enables you to search for apps, find files, search online, and more, all in one place. It looks like the company is doubling down on the "Everything" moniker, as it's about to remap a handful of system shortcuts to it.
Google is finally fixing the awful notifications on Chrome OS
A revamped UI and notification grouping are in the works
It's no secret that notifications have been a usability nightmare for Chromebooks. The touch-centric cards are cumbersome and unintuitive to manage with a mouse — the lack of proper grouping and polish further hurts usability. Even worse, developers have done nothing to fix the awkward notification center on Chrome OS, leaving it in an unpolished state for years. But now it seems like Google is finally realizing that notifications on Chromebooks are a hot mess, and it's finally getting ready to fix its lackluster implementation.
Three hidden Chrome OS 91 features you should enable right now
Quality of life improvements to your Chromebook
It's been a few days since Chrome OS 91 landed on Chromebooks, which introduced helpful features like Nearby Share and a competent media player. Following its release, we've been digging into the new update and uncovering even more that could improve your Chromebook experience. Here are three experimental but helpful features we've found that you can try right now.
Asus Chromebox 4 long-term review: A powerhouse for power users
The Chromebox 4 has the brains and brawn for heavy desktop use.
Read update
It’s no secret that Chrome OS has been improving over the last several months. With skyrocketing sales contributing to increased polish in Google’s operating system, 2021 is shaping to be a good year for Chromebooks — and Chromeboxes, too. CTL’s CBx2 impressed us when we reviewed it, nailing the basics down at a reasonable price. That’s not the only new Chromebox in town. Asus has an updated Chromebox 4 hitting the market, offering a wicked-fast processor, ample storage, and killer networking performance. It’s a great follow-up to the popular Chromebox 3 for anyone who needs a powerful Chrome OS desktop for business and personal use.
It's been several years since Google overhauled the app drawer for Chromebooks. It replaced the aging "card" launcher with a touch-focused one, bearing a striking resemblance to Apple's Launchpad for macOS. While it brought usability improvements to touchscreen Chromebooks, the experience is largely unintuitive with a mouse. Worse, the launcher feels slippery and unpolished, even on a tablet — Google is testing some improvements to fix this. Your mouse woes may soon be over, though, as Google is testing a completely redesigned launcher that's much more mouse friendly.
Chromebooks get a step closer to Apple's AirDrop with Chrome OS 91
Nearby Share, revamped media viewing experience, and more
Following Chrome 91's release for mobile and desktop platforms, Chrome OS 91 is launching on eligible Chromebooks. The major update introduces a sprinkle of new features that'll sweeten the user experience — here are all the important bits Google announced today.
Using a VPN on Chrome OS with multiple users is about to get a lot easier
Get peace of mind logging in to your Chromebook
Digital privacy has long been a major concern for many, and one brought to the forefront when a global pandemic forced millions to shift their lives online. With ISPs and advertisers taking advantage of the work-from-home lifestyle, protecting yourself with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a great solution for keeping prying eyes off your data. It may be easy to set up a VPN on your Chromebook, but it can be a hassle to turn it on again after a reboot. You may not have to wait long, though, as an upcoming change will keep your VPN engaged all the time.
Chromebooks are getting one of Android's best Bluetooth features
Effortless Bluetooth pairing for your Chromebook
It's no secret that Chromebooks have had a rough history with Bluetooth. From middling stability to audio cut-outs, using wireless devices on Chrome OS has long been subpar. Fast forward to today, and the Bluetooth situation has improved — albeit still with some minor hiccups. One of the most annoying issues with Bluetooth is its tedious pairing process, which Google took it upon itself to fix with Fast Pair in 2017. While that brought seamless pairing to Android devices, support for Chromebooks is nonexistent. After a long hiatus, it seems Google will finally add the long-overdue Fast Pair to Chrome OS.
Chrome for Android is getting a Material You tweak — here's how to enable it
Subtle UI tweaks that make the experience more consistent
Google unveiled a brand new design language for Android 12 last week at this year's I/O conference. It's dubbed Material You, and it employs humanistic principles like pastel color palettes and creative shapes. Google intends to apply its playful design everywhere by next year, and we hope that the transition won't be rough. It looks like the company wants to start off strong, as evidence suggests that Chrome for Android may be in line to get a Material You makeover.
Copying and pasting on Chromebook tablets is about to get a lot easier
Launch the native clipboard directly from the virtual keyboard
The virtual keyboard on Chrome OS has been a sore point for many Chromebook tablet owners. Ranging from unreliable autocorrect to buggy input, the typing experience on it is still pretty lackluster to this day. Last year, it did at least receive improved handwriting recognition, a major UI facelift, and an option to change its size. Now, Google is getting ready to integrate one of our favorite Chrome OS 89 features.
Latest data proves that Chromebook sales have exploded during the pandemic
An insane 275% growth in the first quarter of 2021
It's no secret that Chromebook sales have been soaring as much of the world still reels from the pandemic. Google's PC platform has proven to be dependable at a budget price — a winning formula for adoption in education. That story hasn't changed in 2021, as Chromebook sales continue to shatter shipment volume records.