A new feature on the way to ChromeOS – Focus Mode – arrived in the Canary Channel a full 4 months ago at this point. As you couldn’t access it in any other channel at the time, I took a look at it, fiddled around with it for a bit, and headed back to the […]
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Chromebooks just got way better at handling Microsoft Office files
There’s an update rolling out to ChromeOS that will address one of the more common frustrations that we hear from Chromebook users, especially those thow are switching from Windows; and that is the cumbersome process of working with Microsoft Office files. The update introduces a streamlined solution, allowing users to open and edit Office files […]
Continue ReadingChrome on Windows is finally getting a PDF inking tool Chromebooks have had for years
It only took 5 short years for a feature to migrate over to Windows that we ChromeOS folks have been used to using in the PDF Viewer: pen annotation. When I was made aware of this change, I at first thought the article in question was misinformed. Surely there was no way after all this […]
Continue ReadingFor some reason, my Chrome browser just went back in time
With the arrival of ChromeOS 119 in late 2023, the updated, Material You makeover for Chrome arrived for Chromebooks. Well, sort of. It was there for some, not there for others, and it’s been a bit hit-or-miss in the updates ever since. There has been a related set of flags (found by searching “Chrome Refresh […]
Continue ReadingChrome 123’s cleaned up Side Panel is rolling out
If you are a user of the Chrome Side Panel on your Chromebook or other laptop, get ready for a change in how you manage that section of your browser. Rolling out now (I have it on a few devices and not yet on others), Google has removed the specific side panel button and opted […]
Continue ReadingChromeOS 123 is here with some nice customization tricks
According to a quick peek over at cros.tech, it looks like the vast majority of Chromebook users should now have the ability to update to the latest version of Chrome OS 123 on their devices. The only notable device I see that is still on 122 is the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34. Whatever small hiccup […]
Continue ReadingChrome 124 is prepping a feature that easily turns any site into a free-standing web app
It was only a few years ago that Google opted to end support for Chrome Apps in favor of the far more universal PWAs – progressive web apps. Since that point, the web by and large has moved in this direction, seeing standard websites acting far more like native applications across the board. With the […]
Continue ReadingYou can now use the new Lacros Chrome browser on Chromebooks again
It feels like a long time has passed since the simple ability to enable Lacros (Google’s new, decoupled Chrome browser for Chromebooks) via a feature flag left us. Looking back, it was only a little over a month ago in ChromeOS 120 that this change happened, however. For the swarms of users who had been […]
Continue ReadingChromeOS 120 arrives with great new features we’ve been waiting on [VIDEO]
ChromeOS 120 is official and rolling out to the vast majority of Chromebooks and other ChromeOS devices right now. Apart from only a couple devices on the list over at cros.tech, it seems everyone should be getting this latest version of the OS right on time. And there are a few fun, useful new features […]
Continue ReadingCheck out the Material You overhaul in the ChromeOS settings app
ChromeOS still has a few holdout areas where the latest Material You look and feel hasn’t quite made its mark. While the Files app was upgraded to the latest UI when Material You made it to ChromeOS, one other, primary system app still maintained the older look from non-Material ChromeOS: the Settings App. Sure, the […]
Continue ReadingThe new Chromebook window snapping overview feature is here in ChromeOS 120
Just before Christmas, a new feature that’s been in the works for a little while made its way down to the ChromeOS 120 Beta Channel. I had moved to Beta to try a few other things and was curious about this new productivity feature. After flipping on the flag and giving it a go, I […]
Continue ReadingHow to customize your mouse buttons on a Chromebook [VIDEO]
For years at this point, peripherals and accessories have “just worked” on Chromebooks. And while that’s not changing anytime soon, Google is close to releasing a new feature that takes this “just works” mentality to the next level, specifically for your 3rd-party mouse. Whether its a gaming mouse, a Bluetooth mouse or one that connects […]
Continue ReadingThe new Chromebook Global Media Controls look great and change how you Cast
Hiding in ChromeOS 119 (just behind a feature flag or two) are the new Global Media Controls that don’t just have a new look and feel, but actually change the way you go about casting your video or audio to nearby devices. It’s a pretty big change that I noticed out of the box in […]
Continue ReadingHow to force your Chromebook into the tablet mode UI
In preparation for a post I’m working on, I really needed a device that meets a few, specific parameters. First, I needed it to at least be a convertible, and second, I needed it to have the new 12th-gen Intel Core i3-N305. Unfortunately, I don’t think that Chromebook exists just yet, and even if it […]
Continue ReadingHow to try out the new window-snapping overview feature on your Chromebook
Two of my favorite productivity tools built right into ChromeOS and into the Chromebook you may own are the wildly-useful overview mode and window-snapping feature. On their own, these abilities give Chromebook users a way to see all their open windows in a quick glance and help them arrange those windows in a multitude of […]
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