It's that time of year where things slip by a bit unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. This is exactly what has happened for me with the latest ChromeOS 131 release. I had a hunch this morning that it was about that time for a new version, so I headed over to Chromium Dash to see … [Read more...] about ChromeOS 131 is already a full week late
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New benchmarks show the true power of MediaTek’s upcoming MT8196 SoC
Since June, we've been keeping tabs on a new development board that houses what will be the most powerful MediaTek ARM SoC ever in a Chromebook: the MT8196. There's no marketing name for this one yet (i.e. - Kompanio 1500), but my initial thoughts are that it will be the fastest ARM chip in a … [Read more...] about New benchmarks show the true power of MediaTek’s upcoming MT8196 SoC
MediaTek quietly confirmed they’ll soon power a Chromebook Plus model
Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with MediaTek's Senior Director Victor Tyan to discuss all things ARM and Chromebooks. As you likely already know by this point, the latest Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11" is powered by MediaTek's newest Chromebook-specific ARM processor (the Kompanio 838) … [Read more...] about MediaTek quietly confirmed they’ll soon power a Chromebook Plus model
Google TV Advisors: like Pixel Superfans, but for streaming devices
Google TV has clearly become a powerhouse in the streaming world. With a staggering 270 million monthly active devices utilizing Google TV (or its underpinning Android TV), it's clear that Google has a successful streaming platform on its hands. But with greater reach comes greater possibility of … [Read more...] about Google TV Advisors: like Pixel Superfans, but for streaming devices
Once again, Google extends the ability to convert your Stadia controller another year
Many of us fondly remember Google's Stadia platform; a cloud gaming service that Google unceremoniously shut down, leaving many with a perfectly good controller that was basically useless. Seeing this as wildly wasteful, Google did give us a tool to unlock the Stadia Controller's Bluetooth … [Read more...] about Once again, Google extends the ability to convert your Stadia controller another year
You can now try X’s Grok AI chatbot for free, but there are limits
Elon Musk's xAI has made its quirky chatbot, Grok, more accessible than ever. Grok, known for its humor and willingness to tackle "spicy" questions, was initially exclusive to X Premium subscribers but now X has opened it up to all users with a free tier, with some limitations. Anyone can experience … [Read more...] about You can now try X’s Grok AI chatbot for free, but there are limits
Here’s what Google’s Pixel Tablet Pen was going to be
The Pixel Tablet launched with a curious omission: while it supported USI 2.0 stylus input, there was no first-party pen to accompany it. This sparked a wave of speculation that was eventually confirmed by leaks that Google was indeed working on a stylus for its tablet. However, despite the … [Read more...] about Here’s what Google’s Pixel Tablet Pen was going to be
Pixel’s Now Playing feature looks set to get a default playback option
Pixel's Now Playing feature that identifies songs playing around you for at-a-glance reference is about to get even better. This handy tool which first appeared on the Pixel 2 and 2 XL back in 2017 acts like a built-in Shazam, automatically displaying the song title on your lock screen and in your … [Read more...] about Pixel’s Now Playing feature looks set to get a default playback option
Blackmagic Camera App for Android gets a massive time-saving new feature
The Blackmagic Camera app for Android just received another update that continues to add to its professional capabilities. Following its release in June, Blackmagic has diligently improved the app, and this latest version has introduced a killer new feature: live syncing of media to Blackmagic … [Read more...] about Blackmagic Camera App for Android gets a massive time-saving new feature
Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold get 2 extra years of Android OS updates
Google has just quietly updated it's Pixel support page, extending Android OS updates for the Pixel Fold, Pixel 6, Pixel 7 series, by 2 full years. These devices will now receive a full five years of OS updates, matching the support window of the newer Pixel 8 and 9 lineups. Pretty sweet, … [Read more...] about Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold get 2 extra years of Android OS updates
Get this excellent Chromebook with 512GB of storage for $325
While not the overall best Chromebook of the year, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 definitely goes down as one of the most surprising to me. If you recall, we had a prior Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with AMD processors inside at the end of 2023, so when another Chromebook Plus 514 arrived with some small … [Read more...] about Get this excellent Chromebook with 512GB of storage for $325
The December Pixel Drop is here with a host of updates
Google's December Pixel Feature Drop is upon us, and it's brimming with enhancements designed to make your Pixel experience even more intelligent and intuitive. This update goes beyond simple tweaks, offering substantial upgrades to Gemini AI, camera capabilities, and security measures. Let's break … [Read more...] about The December Pixel Drop is here with a host of updates
