Having covered Chromebook, Chromebook Plus and Google hardware announcements for over a decade, I’ve watched plenty of speculation swirl as major launch windows approach. With Google’s August 12 Made by Google event coming up this week and IFA Berlin opening in early September, I’ve seen a lot of … [Read more...] about Why Google Will Almost Certainly Host a Dedicated Event for the Googlebook Launch
Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
It’s official: Gemini will completely replace the Google Assistant on phones next month
The Google Assistant has been slowly replaced by Gemini across all services, but the official end is now near. Google is now sending out emails to users confirming that Google Assistant on mobile devices is being discontinued, with the mandatory transition to Gemini kicking off on September 4, … [Read more...] about It’s official: Gemini will completely replace the Google Assistant on phones next month
I’m loving the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Samsung adding 1 million units proves I’m not alone
A few days ago, I wrote a post about my initial hesitancy with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. After waiting months for it to arrive, my first 24 hours were filled with unexpected friction: my thumb kept blocking the shorter outer screen when scrolling feeds, the inner display felt weirdly oriented for … [Read more...] about I’m loving the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Samsung adding 1 million units proves I’m not alone
Acer Googlebook 14 leaks confirm Intel Panther Lake, OLED, and more
Following the leak of Dell’s XPS 13 Googlebook, the 2.2-pound ASUS Googlebook, and the Lenovo's multi-Googlebook lineup, another major launch partner’s flagship has come into focus. As one of the foundational hardware partners of the Chromebook era over the past 15 years, Acer is preparing its own … [Read more...] about Acer Googlebook 14 leaks confirm Intel Panther Lake, OLED, and more
High-res ASUS Googlebook renders have leaked, and this thing looks gorgeous
Earlier this week, we covered the initial leaks surrounding the ASUS Googlebook CX9406 - a 2.2-pound ceramic-alloy beast packing Intel's next-gen Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series) silicon, up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and Google's now-signature lid-mounted Glowbar. Now, Digital Citizen has published … [Read more...] about High-res ASUS Googlebook renders have leaked, and this thing looks gorgeous
It looks like Dell’s initial Googlebook will be the XPS 13
As we continue to track the Googlebook devices currently in development ahead of Google’s expected fall launch window, watching the hardware picture come into focus has been pretty fascinating. While Lenovo stepped into the spotlight first with leaked marketing renders for its 13-inch 'Sapphire' … [Read more...] about It looks like Dell’s initial Googlebook will be the XPS 13
Google is officially bringing Gemini in Classroom to students of all ages
Google is rolling out an update to its education ecosystem, officially expanding Gemini in Google Classroom to students of all ages. Starting August 10, K-12 and higher education students who have been granted access by their administrators will be able to tap into Gemini AI directly within their … [Read more...] about Google is officially bringing Gemini in Classroom to students of all ages
I almost returned my new Galaxy Z Fold 8 today and instead learned a valuable lesson about the Googlebook launch
That's a strange title, I know. But it absolutely happened and the resulting recalibration provided some serious insight about how I view the relationships between functionality, potential, and creature comforts when it comes to personal tech and computing. Switching to a brand-new piece of … [Read more...] about I almost returned my new Galaxy Z Fold 8 today and instead learned a valuable lesson about the Googlebook launch
Netflix finally unlocks 4K streaming in Chrome on Windows 11
For anyone who pays for Netflix’s top-tier Premium plan and relies on a laptop as a primary screen (we see you air travel warriors), browser playback limits have been an annoying thorn in the side for years. While displays, processors, and internet speeds have continued advancing, watching Netflix … [Read more...] about Netflix finally unlocks 4K streaming in Chrome on Windows 11
Unboxing the super-affordable 15-inch ASUS Chromebook CX15
When you see a laptop sporting a price tag under $200 (it has temporarily gone up to $219 as we're publishing this), healthy skepticism is usually the safest reaction. Historically, sub-$200 entry-level Chromebooks have meant suffering through washed-out displays, mushy plastic decks, and processors … [Read more...] about Unboxing the super-affordable 15-inch ASUS Chromebook CX15
The ASUS Googlebook CX9406 leaks with an ultra-light chassis and monster specs
The floodgates for Googlebook hardware are officially opening. Just days after the initial leak of Lenovo's Googlebook lineup that was followed up by detailed press renders of Lenovo's Googlebook 15, images and marketing details for the first ASUS Googlebook have surfaced as well; and this machine … [Read more...] about The ASUS Googlebook CX9406 leaks with an ultra-light chassis and monster specs
We called it: leaked details confirm ‘Calypso’ is indeed the 12-core Snapdragon X2 for Googlebook
With over a decade of digging through code commits in the Chromium Gerrit under my belt, I have to say that there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of watching a long-shot hardware deduction get proven right. Back in June, when I was combing through early firmware commits and memory allocation … [Read more...] about We called it: leaked details confirm ‘Calypso’ is indeed the 12-core Snapdragon X2 for Googlebook
