For years, the WhatsApp web app has been a convenient way to manage messages on a desktop without installing a separate application. It's been my go-to way to use WhatsApp on a Chromebook. However, it always lacked one major component: the ability to actually place or receive a call. That is … [Read more...] about WhatsApp web is finally adding the one feature I missed most: Voice and video calls
News
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.
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YouTube TV is finally launching cheaper, genre-specific bundles starting at $55
After years of the price creep that has seen the base YouTube TV package climb to over $80 a month, Google is finally offering a way to pay less for the channels you actually watch. Starting this week, YouTube TV Plans are rolling out, introducing smaller, focused bundles that act as a more … [Read more...] about YouTube TV is finally launching cheaper, genre-specific bundles starting at $55
Another new Snapdragon Chromebook for ‘Aluminium OS’ emerges in development
Google's Aluminium project is picking up speed, and today we have another new development board to add to the mix. For the past few weeks, we’ve been tracking high-end hardware like Lenovo’s ‘Sapphire’ and ‘Ruby’, as well as Acer’s ‘Moonstone’ and the couple Snapdragon X Plus Chromebooks we know are … [Read more...] about Another new Snapdragon Chromebook for ‘Aluminium OS’ emerges in development
I just tried YouTube Music’s new AI Playlist feature and I’m impressed
YouTube Music is rolling out a new AI-powered feature that allows Premium subscribers to generate custom playlists using simple text prompts. And after testing it out this morning, I have to say: it’s pretty impressive. While we have seen Google toy with similar ideas before—like the "AI Radio" … [Read more...] about I just tried YouTube Music’s new AI Playlist feature and I’m impressed
Google Vids for everyone: three Pro features are now officially free
When Google Vids first launched, it was positioned as a high-end, AI-powered storytelling tool for corporate environments. For many users on personal accounts or starter Workspace tiers, some of the most powerful features were locked behind a Pro paywall or limited-time promotions. That is now … [Read more...] about Google Vids for everyone: three Pro features are now officially free
Professional proofreading with Gemini in Gmail comes to almost every Workspace tier
If it wasn't clear by now, Gmail has officially entered its Gemini era. Following the massive overhaul we saw in January that introduced AI Overviews for your inbox and the new AI Inbox, Google is now rolling out one of its most powerful "Pro" features to nearly everyone in the Workspace ecosystem: … [Read more...] about Professional proofreading with Gemini in Gmail comes to almost every Workspace tier
Google Classroom is finally cutting out the middleman for audio and video recording
For years, teachers and students who wanted to leave a voice note or a quick screen recording in Google Classroom had to rely on a patchwork of third-party extensions like Screencastify or Loom. However, those days are officially over. Google is rolling out a built-in recording studio directly … [Read more...] about Google Classroom is finally cutting out the middleman for audio and video recording
Gemini’s Super Bowl spot highlights home design and personalized AI
As the big game approaches this weekend in Santa Clara, Google is making a massive marketing push to humanize its AI. Marvin Chow, Google's VP of Consumer and AI Marketing, has debuted the company's national in-game advertisement, titled "New Home." The 60-second spot moves away from technical … [Read more...] about Gemini’s Super Bowl spot highlights home design and personalized AI
Google Research debuts Natively Adaptive Interfaces: AI that adapts to you
For decades, accessibility in tech has been a bit of a "bolt-on" feature: a set of menus or settings that users had to find and toggle after the product was already built. Google Research is looking to change that with a new framework called Natively Adaptive Interfaces (NAI). The goal is simple but … [Read more...] about Google Research debuts Natively Adaptive Interfaces: AI that adapts to you
Court documents reveal ChromeOS will be “phased out” in the next decade
The multiple surrounding Google's upcoming Project Aluminium - the ambitious move of ChromeOS to the Android kernel - have given us a clear look at the future of the what Chromebook hardware is set to become. We’ve seen glimpses of this new desktop UI running on existing Chromebooks and identified … [Read more...] about Court documents reveal ChromeOS will be “phased out” in the next decade
Two of our favorite Lenovo Chromebooks are on sale right now
Lenovo has discounted two of the Chromebooks we recommend the most: the premium Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and the ultra-portable Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11. These two devices serve two different types of users, but they share one thing in common: at these prices, they are fantastic values. The … [Read more...] about Two of our favorite Lenovo Chromebooks are on sale right now
Google DeepMind is using Werewolf and Poker to test AI’s “Soft Skills”
For decades, the benchmark for machine intelligence was the chessboard. But as AI models move into the real world to act as assistants and collaborators, being a "super-calculator" isn't enough. Decisions in the real world are messy, social, and based on incomplete information. To address this, … [Read more...] about Google DeepMind is using Werewolf and Poker to test AI’s “Soft Skills”
