We’ve been watching the latest news from Apple during the WWDC 2022 Keynote, and though much of what I’ve seen hasn’t been too exciting, there’s a new trick that works with Macbooks and iPhones that I think Google should immediately begin working on for Chromebooks and Android phones. Say what you want about Apple’s continuing […]
Continue ReadingToday’s Google Doodle honors the invention of one of my favorite things: the espresso machine
It’s no secret that Chrome Unboxed runs on coffee. Specifically, from the beginning of our time as a fully-formed company, we’ve been running on espresso-based drinks like the stalwart Americano. As I sip on my espresso+water beverage right now, I’m reminded how great our coffee is here in the office. On Mondays specifically, I recall […]
Continue ReadingPSA: Please don’t buy a Pixel 6a from a random online Facebook or Ebay listing
For most people, this goes without saying, but given the events of the last week concerning Google’s two upcoming phones, I feel like we need to state it anyway: don’t buy unreleased phones from Ebay or Facebook if you actually intend to use the device for anything. After the random Pixel 7 being sold on […]
Continue ReadingI was wrong: the Pixel 6 Pro is by far the superior Pixel experience [VIDEO]
Sometimes you just need time to lend you a bit of perspective. That’s 100% the case for me and the Pixel 6 Pro, a phone I personally dismissed in the early days as I decided which Pixel I’d pick up in late 2021. The story I told myself made a lot of sense at the […]
Continue ReadingIt looks like MSI may be joining the ChromeOS fray, starting with a Chromebox
Over the last couple days, there has been some fun news surrounding Chromebases and Chromeboxes on the way in the future. Notably, we have a family of ARM-powered Chromebases (with the MediaTek Kompanio 1380) beginning development and a few new Chromeboxes added to the already-established ‘Brask’ family of 12th-gen Intel-powered devices. The former could bring […]
Continue ReadingTwo more 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake Chromeboxes are in development
Just yesterday we broke the news that a new family of MediaTek Kompanio 1380-powered Chromebases are in the works. In a similar vein, we are also waiting for the desktop counterpoint to the Chromebase in next-gen Chromeboxes with the latest Intel 12th-gen Alder Lake processors inside. Based on the reference board ‘Brask’, these new Chromeboxes […]
Continue ReadingNew ARM-powered Chromebases are in the works with the MediaTek Kompanio 1380 inside
Until HP released its popular Chromebase 22 last year, there wasn’t much buzz around ChromeOS AIO (all in one) devices. While Apple has made the iMac for years and there are quite a few options for Windows-based AIO devices (even Microsoft took a swing at the form factor with their first Surface Studio), the ChromeOS […]
Continue ReadingThe new Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is now available for purchase
As Chromebooks continue to grow in popularity, more manufacturers make more models and get their announcements out months in advance more often these days than they ever used to. At CES 2022, for instance, we were introduced to a few new Chromebooks in the HP Dragonfly Chromebook and the MediaTek Kompanio 1380-powered Acer Chromebook Spin […]
Continue ReadingAn additional high-end Pixel may be coming to join the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
Google hasn’t been shy about their upcoming Pixel-branded hardware. At Google I/O 2022 – the company’s yearly developer conference – the wraps were taken off of a slew of new devices, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel Watch, Pixel Tablet and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. For a company still relatively […]
Continue ReadingThe Chrome Cast 170: Pixel Notepad postponed and Acer’s new ARM Chromebook wows
This week on The Chrome Cast, there’s a lot to cover. Starting with news of the Pixel Notepad’s postponement to an updated co-processor for the Pixel Watch, there’s a lot of news swirling around Google’s hardware right now. Right in that conversation is the fact that Google grew Pixel shipments 400% year-over-year and that’s obviously […]
Continue ReadingUnboxing the most powerful ARM Chromebook yet: The Acer Spin 513
You’ll likely recall that we had hands-on time with the new Acer Chromebook Spin 513 back in January for CES 2022. At the time, we couldn’t benchmark it, we couldn’t show you too much of it and we knew that the hardware was unfinished and pre-production. The Spin 513 we have here today is anything […]
Continue ReadingThis upcoming change to Gboard would have made my time with the Galaxy Fold much better
A few months back, I tested the foldable phone waters a bit more extensively by spending some time with the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3. I’d considered it quite a few times over the years, testing the original Galaxy Fold and the original Surface Duo for only a few days each before deciding both of those […]
Continue ReadingIt looks like we might be waiting a while on Google’s first Pixel foldable
Go ahead and mark me down as not surprised on this one. While I’ve been pretty vocal about wanting a Pixel-branded folding device, the fact that nothing was mentioned about the so-called Pixel Notepad at Google I/O 2022 amidst a wave of new hardware told me all I needed to know. If Google was ready […]
Continue ReadingThe Chromebook virtual keyboard is getting a Material You makeover
It’s been quite some time since the look of the built-in ChromeOS virtual keyboard got a new look. Back in 2020, Google gave it an overhaul and made it decidedly more Gboard-esque, but little has changed since then. Two years later, it seems they are ready to try out a fresher, more Material You look […]
Continue ReadingApex Legends Mobile would be a perfect fit on Chromebooks, but it won’t install
There’s no reason to hide it: I’ve been loving Apex Legends Mobile since the day it came out. While I only tinkered with the desktop version from time to time using GeForce NOW, I am fully invested in this game on mobile. The character system, modes of play, and general feel of the game are […]
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