Since the introduction of YouTube apps on smart TVs, I’ve found myself using this method of consuming videos possibly more than any other way. I’m not what I would consider a YouTube addict, but the larger focus of YouTube on longer-form videos makes it a perfect fit for the bigger screen, and I spend a […]
Continue ReadingApps
There are multiple different channels that apps find themselves making their way onto your Chrome OS device. At one time it was via the Chrome Web Store. In that store, you can find dedicated Chrome OS apps alongside Extensions that expand the usability of Chrome. Now that Android has come on the scene, this section of the site will expand incredibly.
Android on desktop is a tough sell and Windows is dropping it
In a bit of a surprise announcement, Microsoft recently announced the shutdown of Windows 11’s Windows Subsystem for Android. The feature that has allowed you to run Android apps directly on your Windows PC for the past year is already being deprecated, but when you look at the reasoning behind this decision, it makes sense. […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Keep is getting an AI upgrade with Gemini
In 2024, AI is going to keep showing up in all sorts of places, and Google’s latest insertion of Gemini in one of its higher-profile products is landing in Google Keep. The upcoming “Help me create a list” will be a new feature leveraging the power of Gemini to streamline everyday tasks right within the […]
Continue ReadingNew ‘App Mall’ may finally bring all Chromebook apps together in one place
For a very, very long time, we’ve talked at length about the need for there to be a single, unified place for Chromebook users to find apps. As the options for ChromeOS grew, the need only became greater and there’s been nothing done about this to date. With Chromebooks now able to leverage PWAs from […]
Continue ReadingSoon, you’ll be able to download songs in the YouTube Music web app
In a pretty exciting turn, it seems YouTube Music has started rolling out offline downloads capability for its web app, marking a pretty significant change to web-based music streaming services. Across the board, music streaming services that offer a web-based, online player still require a Windows, Android or iOS app to leverage downloaded songs. Yet, […]
Continue ReadingSold on the Fold: editing a complex video with just the phone in my pocket
Over the weekend, I wanted to try something out that I knew would push my phone to its limits. As many of you all know, I made the switch to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 about 3 weeks ago and my love for this device continues to grow stronger by the day. I continually […]
Continue ReadingGoogle and Samsung join forces to simplify file sharing
Sharing content across devices hasn’t always been the most seamless experience. Back in 2020, Google introduced Nearby Share to make file sharing across devices easier but if you were a Samsung user, you had similar capabilities with a feature called Quick Share. It’s been convoluted since there isn’t a unified sharing solution. But that might […]
Continue ReadingFinally, Google adds a ‘select all’ toggle to Gmail for Android
In a move that is so overdue that most of us forgot all about it, Google has finally added a simple ‘select all’ toggle in the Gmail app for Android that is now widely rolling out. I know, you’re likely thinking to yourself, “This wasn’t a thing, yet?” And other than the fact that this […]
Continue ReadingChromebooks, PWAs and the Play Store: why we need a way to force Android app downloads
Back in 2020, Google began introducing the ability for app developers to push their PWA to Chromebooks from the Play Store instead of the Android app. And I 100% love this decision. In many cases, PWAs (progressive web apps) are a far better experience on the desktop and work much smoother with the overall way […]
Continue ReadingThe WhatsApp Android app has become fantastic on Chromebook
I’ve been using WhatsApp across the board since the demise of Allo (remember Google’s Allo?) in 2018. In that time, I’ve largely relied on the web version for messaging from my Chromebook and things have been relatively good from that standpoint. Sure, the web version is less capable than the actual app, but it really […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Messages account login is great, but it still requires a connected phone
Not long ago, Google began testing the waters with account-based logins for Google Messages. I even wrote an entire post about how important this change is and why it is a necessary step for Google to take with their primary messaging platform. And while I still absolutely stand by those thoughts, I’m a little bummed […]
Continue ReadingBest Chromebook Android Apps of 2023, according to Google Play
Although they aren’t required, Android apps on your Chromebook can certainly enhance the experience, giving you access to the same apps on your phone and allowing you to play some of your favorite games. And so with 2023 winding down, the team over at Google Play has posted a round-up of the best apps, games, […]
Continue ReadingWhy Beeper Mini’s iMessage-on-Android conquest is doomed
Too good to be true? Perhaps. After just having Beeper Mini installed, up and running on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, I saw news last night that things were going south quickly and woke up this morning to notifications on my phone that my phone number had be de-registered and that there was an “outage” […]
Continue ReadingGoogle highlights tools that make the web more powerful and capable than ever
On a new site Google has built to showcase the ever-growing power of the web – playfully titled “The Web Can Do What!?” – Google has assembled a wide variety of explainers and examples of the prowess of the modern web. Not only does the site do a great job explaining why the web has […]
Continue ReadingGoogle launches the new Chrome Web Store, and I have some high hopes
After testing it in a preview capacity for nearly 3 months, the new, redesigned Chrome Web Store is now officially rolling out across the web. And with it comes a new Material You facelift, new Chrome Extension categories, a simplified navigation and improved search. While the preview lived on a separate URL during testing, you […]
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