Cue the grumpy, old tech writer: “Back in my day, you did get to use Microsoft products on a Chromebook. As a matter of fact, we went out of our way to NOT use MS anything!” Yeah, that really was the mindset in the early days of ChromeOS because frankly, there was a distinct line […]
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We talk about a ton of stuff here at Chrome Unboxed. From Chromebooks to Chromecast to Google Assistant, the world of Chrome OS is pretty far-reaching. We save our News section for the things that are breaking news to our readers.
Google follows the big tech trend of our time, laying off 12,000 to battle inflation
In a letter to Google employees last Friday, Google/Alphabet CEO Sudar Pichai relayed a sobering and difficult message to the entire Google team that 12,000 Google employees would be released from their jobs moving forward. The news comes on the heels of massive layoffs from Microsoft (10,000), Amazon (18,000), and Meta (11,000) as the economic […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Classroom users are being inundated with inappropriate and unstoppable spam
Over the past year, Google’s services have been hit with some pretty coordinated spamming efforts by unknown third parties. Both Google Drive and Calendar have experienced overwhelming problems with unwanted file and event sharing occurrences, and due to the nature of how sharing works, it’s nearly impossible to squash this. Google has attempted to implement […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Podcast results vanish from Search as the service continues preparing YouTube merger
Last October, we discovered that Google had appointed a new lead to clean up its Podcasts initiative. Since then, Kai Chuk, a YouTube veteran with more than 10 years of experience at the company has decided that Podcasts itself should be merged with the larger, more popular platform. We already have a new Podcasts category […]
Continue ReadingThe Google Arts and Culture app has a new icon, and it’s anything but classy
One of the very last Google apps that I ever expected to receive a logo refresh just got one, and it’s just…bad. I’m not a pessimist by any stretch of the imagination (the glass is always also half-full of air too, right?) and when it comes to the company’s new unified branding logos, I’ve largely […]
Continue ReadingA bleak future: Netflix decides that charging users to show them ads is still worth doing
This past October when I wrote about how Netflix has asked users to trade their dignity to save a few bucks with its new ‘Basic with Ads’ plan, I got a few comments that shed light on the fact that such an offer wasn’t all bad for all people. I get that now. If you’re […]
Continue ReadingThe January Pixel update screwed up Bluetooth connections to users vehicles for some reason
With the official release of the new Android Auto user interface, features, and improvements, you’d think there would be a few bugs to iron out, but oddly enough, for many users this week, the issue is not Auto’s fault. For some odd reason, Pixel users are unable to connect to their vehicle’s Bluetooth to stream […]
Continue Reading[U] Nvidia GeForce NOW just added an ‘Ultimate’ tier with better features and no additional cost
Update January 4, 2023, at 2:12 PM EST – Clearly, I forgot that the Ultimate tier was already available, and the update bumps its specs significantly instead of introducing it as a new option. Sorry about that! I’ll endeavor to use Nvidia more in the future. Again, since I came from Stadia, I haven’t invested […]
Continue ReadingSome Pixel 7 users’ rear camera glass is shattering after regular use and Google is aware
According to a slew of users on Reddit and Twitter (sources: 1,2,3,4,5), Pixel 7 rear phone cameras are mysteriously experiencing their external glass breaking. These individuals have stated firmly that they have not dropped their devices, and that no force has been applied. They are also not using their new phones in extreme temperatures. One […]
Continue ReadingThe Chrome Unboxed top 5 most-viewed videos on YouTube for 2022
As we come to the close of 2022, it’s nice to look back at the year and see what things were most popular with our readers, viewers and listeners. Each year as we reflect, I’m taken aback by at least one item on our most popular list that I would have never expected to make […]
Continue ReadingResearcher hacks Google smart speaker and turns it into a wiretap and worse
Earlier this week, a researcher/programmer/ethical hacker Matt Kunze released a blog post detailing a serious vulnerability in Google smart home speakers that could give hackers remote control over the devices. In his blog post, Matt details how the vulnerability was discovered and then explains in frightening details exactly how this backdoor could be used to […]
Continue ReadingGo home Google, you’re drunk: Calendar events being bulk created from users’ promotional emails
It would seem that Google Calendar has had just a bit too much spiced eggnog today in preparation for Christmas. Instead of showing you just and only events that you’ve created for your account – you know, what it’s supposed to do – it’s also creating events for promotional emails in your Gmail inbox! This […]
Continue ReadingPopular password manager LastPass has been hacked, but your passwords are safe
Many of you likely use a password manager in order to store and recall your account logins across the internet. For me and perhaps even you, Google Passwords is sufficient and simple enough to do this. For others who prefer to feel more protected and separate their data from Google as a tech giant, Dashlane […]
Continue ReadingBecome the DJ with YouTube Music’s new Create a Radio feature
Since its acquisition of Sonza back in 2014, Google Play Music – erm…, I mean YouTube Music, has been able to play music tailored to your mood, activity, and so on. At the time, it was a revolutionary feature that until that point was only seen in Pandora music. Now, it’s a staple of any […]
Continue ReadingAfter decades of influence, Google is worried that ChatGPT will upend its core search business
Ever since you were young – that is, if you’re at least a millennial or younger – you’ve relied on Google Search to give you all of the world’s knowledge at your fingertips. It’s become a way of life, and as a society, we’ve collectively become smarter because of it. I can scarcely remember the […]
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