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)
This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show discussing the major outage that struck Facebook this week, bringing down all their services along with it. For most of the work day Monday, users were unable to send messages via Messenger or WhatsApp, post on Facebook or Instagram, or access Oculus VR services. It was a big deal that affected a ton of people and raises some interesting questions about the pervasiveness of mega companies in our daily lives: both at work and play.
In a much lighter second half, we delve into Pixel 6 leaks that have come about and talk through the interesting situation that Google is in where even a treasure trove of leaked photos and info don’t really seem to cause much of a stir. With their marketing strategy for Pixel 6, it really does feel like Google has stemmed the leaker tide and taken full control of the narrative surrounding their new phones.
Finally, we take a bit of time to discuss some important movement in the Chrome OS gaming scene. Anti-cheat is a big hurdle for Linux gaming (what ‘Borealis’ – A.K.A. Steam for Chromebooks will leverage) and it looks like all the major players are on board to get their anti-cheat protocols up and running for Steam on Linux in the near future.
NOTABLE LINKS
- Why I’m excited to be returning to #teamPixel with Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro [VIDEO]
- Online games with Anti-Cheat will soon be playable on Chromebooks
- New Pixel 6 leaks show new Pixel Stand, prove Google won the leaker wars this time around
- We need to talk about the sheer awesomeness that is Google’s Pixel 6 event launch page
- Save the Date: Pixel Fall Launch is officially Oct. 19
- It’s not your Chromebook: Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are all completely down
SUBSCRIBE TO UPSTREAM
Get Chrome Unboxed delivered straight to your inbox
Upstream is our flagship, curated newsletter with the top stories, most click-worthy deals, giveaways, and trending articles from Chrome Unboxed sent directly to your inbox a few times a week. Join 31,000+ subscribers.
This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. Get a VPN that takes your privacy seriously. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and will secure your browsing on your Chromebook or on any device. Use NordVPN to keep your private data to yourself whether you are at home or on the go! CLICK HERE to try it out and get a 3-year deal for $3.49/month.

