Following in the footsteps of Apple, Google has announced today that starting July 1st, 2021, fees for leveraging paid apps or IAPs (in-app purchases) will essentially be cut in half for 99% of developers in the Play Store. As it stands right now, all developers making money via the Play Store pay … [Read more...] about Google follows Apple’s lead, letting developers keep more of their Play Store earnings
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)
Chrome OS 91 will add notification badges for web apps
Many would agree, yours truly included, that Google is very close to perfecting the Android notification system. It has been the envy of many on a different mobile OS (ahem, a fruit-themed one perhaps) and yet, Google has not ported it to its other major project, Chrome OS. Well, it's looking like … [Read more...] about Chrome OS 91 will add notification badges for web apps
Google unveils the sleep-sensing, bass-boosting Nest Hub Gen 2
The cat got out of the bag a little early this morning when B&H Photo accidentally published a listing for Google's new smart display. It came as no surprise because now, the Nest Hub 2nd generation is officially official. At first glance, you may be thinking that this new smart display looks … [Read more...] about Google unveils the sleep-sensing, bass-boosting Nest Hub Gen 2
The Google Next Hub 2 just leaked on a retailer’s website and we have details
The successor to Google's Nest Hub just leaked on B&H Photo Video's website, and we have a few details! Listed at $99 - that's fifty bucks cheaper than the original at its launch - the new Hub seems fairly unchanged from its predecessor with a few small exceptions. For starters, the listing … [Read more...] about The Google Next Hub 2 just leaked on a retailer’s website and we have details
Goodbye Toby: You may soon be able to add full tab groups to your Chrome Reading List for later
I will gush about Google Chrome's Tab Groups feature at every turn if I have the opportunity. I've fallen in love with them and as someone who prefers to turn all of my favorite websites into an icon and use them as separate windows instead of tabs, this came as a surprise to me. Now that I can do … [Read more...] about Goodbye Toby: You may soon be able to add full tab groups to your Chrome Reading List for later
Google Chat will suggest conversations based on your Calendar with ‘Quick Sync’
With the old Google Hangouts out the window, the company is officially able to start showing us how Google Chat will be more beneficial to consumers and Enterprise alike. It hasn't been but a week since it began migrating users, and it's already showing signs of intelligence - no, really. Google … [Read more...] about Google Chat will suggest conversations based on your Calendar with ‘Quick Sync’
Chromebooks to get a more useful active download/install notification
Of all the UI changes that have occurred in Chrome OS, one of the things I still don't love is the way it handles notifications. It is getting better over time and the removal of the media player from this area in Chrome OS 89 is a bit help, but there are still some oddities that are just … [Read more...] about Chromebooks to get a more useful active download/install notification
Chromebooks may get a solution for Android apps that don’t play well on big screens
We don't have to beat around the bush about Android apps on Chromebooks: they are still generally rough around the edges from a UI and UX point of view. Text can be too small, window resizing doesn't always work, and some of the aspects of these sorts of apps still feel locked inside the Android … [Read more...] about Chromebooks may get a solution for Android apps that don’t play well on big screens
Three things the Chromebook Phone Hub should have fixed before releasing
As of Chrome OS 89, Google released its Phone Hub feature to the world. It allows you to connect your phone to your Chromebook in order to perform several important tasks. Enabling your phone's hotspot, silencing it, and even locating it if you lose it are all just a click away from your laptop's … [Read more...] about Three things the Chromebook Phone Hub should have fixed before releasing
Use your Chromebook’s tab groups with windowed web apps to take your productivity to the next level
It's no secret that I've fallen in love with Google Chrome's tab groups feature. In fact, I wrote a whole article gushing about them in hopes that everyone would give them a try. I believe that they add a new layer of organization to your browsing experience, and since the day they released, I've … [Read more...] about Use your Chromebook’s tab groups with windowed web apps to take your productivity to the next level
Netflix kinda sorta integrates its directory into your Chromecast with Google TV again
For a while now, any time Netflix is an option for streaming a movie or a TV show via your Chromecast with Google TV's built-in directory, it has failed to appear in the list of choices. This is due to Netflix itself previously deciding that none of its content will be accessible any way except by … [Read more...] about Netflix kinda sorta integrates its directory into your Chromecast with Google TV again
Chrome OS 89 features: hands-on and walkthrough [VIDEO]
Chrome OS 89 is here and available to most Chromebook users, so we wanted to take a few minutes and walk through all the notable additions to the OS this time around. In the history of Chrome OS versions, I can think of few that launched with so many new tricks and updates. There is so much on … [Read more...] about Chrome OS 89 features: hands-on and walkthrough [VIDEO]
