This week on The Chrome Cast, we open the show by discussing the latest effort from T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX that plans to use satellite-driven communications to fully flesh out T-Mobile's wireless network. The early stages won't happen until later next year, but the application could be a … [Read more...] about The Chrome Cast 189: T-Mobile, SpaceX, Pixel 7 and a recycled Acer Chromebook
Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
Non-Google users can now upload or create files in a shared Google Drive
In 2020, Google introduced a new "Visitor Sharing" feature to Workspace," allowing for sharing of Google Drive files with non-Google users outside of their organization. This sharing is secure and pincode-based, but to date, it could only be used by non-Google users for viewing, commenting, or … [Read more...] about Non-Google users can now upload or create files in a shared Google Drive
T-Mobile and SpaceX bring us one step closer to an always-connected world
Always Connected The term "always connected" has been kicked around the tech industry for a few years now. In its current state, it simply means that a device always has some form of connection to the web wherever you go. Whether it's a phone, laptop, wearable, or even a car, always connected is … [Read more...] about T-Mobile and SpaceX bring us one step closer to an always-connected world
Chrome may soon introduce Snooze tabs and Battery saver mode
Last month we began to see some of the work Google is doing to improve battery and performance on Chrome and ChromeOS. This came in the form of an experimental flag, which enables a feature called "Quick intensive throttling after loading." The feature would reportedly activate intensive throttling … [Read more...] about Chrome may soon introduce Snooze tabs and Battery saver mode
Grab a Pixel 6 Pro for as little as $549
While we were all initially on the fence about which Pixel 6 smartphone we preferred, I think we all now agree that the Pixel 6 Pro is the superior device across the board. With a better display, markedly better haptics, and the additional telephoto camera lens, the larger of the two Tensor-powered … [Read more...] about Grab a Pixel 6 Pro for as little as $549
Your Nest Hub Max should now officially be running Google Fuchsia
Google's new operating system, "Fuchsia" remains mostly a mystery today. However, one thing is clear and that's the fact that the company hopes to make it the driving force behind its smart display hardware. Back in June, the Nest Hub Max followed suit in offering a Preview Program for Fuchsia after … [Read more...] about Your Nest Hub Max should now officially be running Google Fuchsia
How to add gift cards to the new Google Wallet app
Google has prepared a blast from the past in the form of its efforts to revive the Google Wallet app and branding. The idea is to offer users a more card-centric, user-friendly experience that's not centered on peer-to-peer payments and transaction management like Google Pay. Wallet allows you to … [Read more...] about How to add gift cards to the new Google Wallet app
Google Sheets introduces Named Functions that can be reused in other Sheets
The Google Workspace blog announced a new Sheets feature that allows you to create custom functions that can be reused across files. The functionality, called "Named Functions," is similar to Named Ranges in which you can select a specific range of cells and give them a unique name to reference them … [Read more...] about Google Sheets introduces Named Functions that can be reused in other Sheets
Chrome will add optional setting to require biometric authentication to fill in form data
Last month an experimental flag was spotted in the Chromium Gerrit repository, which pointed at biometric authentication coming to desktops. This flag was described as being another option for authenticating when viewing saved passwords, not as a replacement. Currently, you are prompted to … [Read more...] about Chrome will add optional setting to require biometric authentication to fill in form data
It’s official: Movies & TV shows have been purged from the Google Play Store
Back in May, we received word that Google had plans to give movies and TV shows found on the Play Store a similar treatment that music had undergone years prior. Instead of being featured or even housed in the store itself, songs, albums, and artists were removed in favor of being stored in the … [Read more...] about It’s official: Movies & TV shows have been purged from the Google Play Store
Alder Lake-N Chromebooks may seriously leapfrog performance for affordable devices
For years at this point, Chromebooks with Intel silicon inside have fallen on one of two sides of the coin: large core or small core. That's a simplistic way to put it, but in general, this is how we've seen Intel approach Chromebooks over the past 6 or 7 years. As an example, as 4th-gen (Haswell) … [Read more...] about Alder Lake-N Chromebooks may seriously leapfrog performance for affordable devices
Finding Google Chat Spaces content is now easier thanks to direct Gmail Search integration
Google has been hard at work turning Workspace and more specifically Google Chat into the next social network. Actually, it's becoming more of an intranet with copious amounts of discoverability within your organization's efforts and communications, but that's neither here nor there. Chat Spaces … [Read more...] about Finding Google Chat Spaces content is now easier thanks to direct Gmail Search integration
