Hang on tightly to that smartphone: theft is on the rise! We chat about that in our weekly wrapup show, while our other GigaOM podcasts discuss the included costs for connected devices and Chromebook buying advice. Read more »
The current $249 Samsung Chromebook appears due for a refresh: A new model using Samsung’s octo-core chip is reportedly in the works, which will boost performance without hurting battery life. Read more »
Can you play a game with a Chromebook and iPhone without installing a thing? Yes, you can and we explain how on this week’s podcast. Also some tips for Pixel owners and our extension of the week: Turn off the lights. Read more »
The LTE radio in the Chromebook Pixel is great, provided you’re in an LTE coverage area on Verizon’s network: There’s no 3G fall back. Turns out the modem actually supports various 3G technologies that perhaps could be enabled in the future. Read more »
Google has a lineup of Chromebook laptops but no sleeves or cases for them, including the new Chromebook Pixel. It turns out the Apple Store is a great place for Pixels since the laptop is similar in size to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Read more »
Got browser tabs that don’t seem to retain their data in Chrome OS? The problem is annoying, particularly if you open and close numerous tabs during a session. This one command line is a big help to reduce the issue. Read more »
Could any other cloud storage services get integrated into Google’s Chrome OS or will Google Drive be it? Others could be added if this feature enhancement request is approved and coded. Read more »
Got 20 minutes to spare on your commute or at work? Why not tune in to this week’s call in podcast where we answer your tech questions. Plenty of Chromebook tips on this week’s show as well as thoughts on the Facebook phone. Read more »
On this week’s mobile call in podcast, we recap all of the T-Mobile news: no contracts, the iPhone 5 and a new LTE network. Then we hit your questions about running Linux on a Chromebook and which is the best keyboard for Android. Read more »
Chromebooks are now on sale in Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands, while in the U.S. the devices can now be bought in 1,000 more Best Buy stores. Read more »
How could Acer improve its $199 C7 Chromebook? More battery life please! That’s what the new C7 model gets you: 6 hours versus 3.5 hours. You’ll pay $279.99 for the new model, but it also comes with twice as much memory. Read more »
Nearly five months after it launched, Samsung’s $249 Chromebook gets Netflix. We knew this was coming but the surprising thing is that Microsoft helped out. Read more »
Google’s Chromebook Pixel is quite versatile after all. Here’s a video look of it running Chrome OS and Linux at the same time, allowing me to use Skype and other third-party apps. Read more »
I’ve been using a Chromebook Pixel for the past two days and a single phrase comes to mind: blown away. Is it worth $1,299 or more? Take a look to see and then stack it up against your mobile computing needs. Read more »
Google touts the new Chromebook Pixel for “what’s next” or the touchable web, but the fact is we already have that experience on tablets and such. Maybe this is what’s really next for the Pixel. Read more »
In an attempt to take on Microsoft and Apple, Google today announced a cloud computer that costs upwards of $1,299. The device designed in-house is part of Google’s transformation into a quasi-hardware company. Read more »
Could Nvidia’s Tegra 4 chip power an upcoming Chromebook? It looks that way, based on some Chrome OS code snippets adding support for the company’s latest chip. Read more »
The notion of a privately-held Dell, partly owned by Microsoft, is getting closer to reality, according to published reports. A deal in which Microsoft owns a big stake in a PC company shows just how drastically times have changed. Read more »
Following Samsung and Acer, HP has thrown its hat into the Google Chromebook ring. The new $329 Pavilion may appeal to those wanting more screen and less Microsoft. Read more »
I was enamored with Samsung’s newest Chromebook except for one key aspect: It couldn’t run some of the same apps as my older Chrome OS device. Google just fixed this with new support for ARM chips. Read more »
It makes sense that Google Drive is the only cloud service on my Chromebook’s File Manager. That doesn’t mean I have to keep that limitation though. Here’s how to get Dropbox integration through a sync service. Read more »
Goodbye Eee PC and all other netbooks from Asus; the company is no longer producing the small laptops. Acer followed Asus into the netbook market and is following it out as well. What happened to this once quickly growing market? Tablets disrupted the space. Read more »
After six months of full-time Chromebook usage, I’m hooked. But working in a browser alone would be difficult if not for some key web extensions. Here are a half-dozen that I use daily and the reasons why they make life for Chromebook users easier. Read more »
Acer just joined the Chromebook market a month ago, but already has a follow up model that addresses some shortcomings. A new $299 Chromebook doubles RAM and battery life but strangely ups the hard drive storage to 500 GB as well. Does a Chromebook need that? Read more »
The “always new computer” is new yet again: Google is releasing Chrome OS updates for all Chromebooks and users should see the software hit in the next few days. User interface improvements are in there and some key apps are enabled for offline use by default. Read more »
With all three Google Chromebook models in house, it’s time to share some more performance insights and benchmarks. I like that device makers are pushing the prices down, but be forewarned: power users hoping to use this as a primary device may want to spend extra. Read more »
HTC’s Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless is here and both hosts on this week’s audio podcast have many likes a few a dislikes. Matt is trying a Chromebook and Jawbone UP again, while Kevin is watching HDTV on the iPad and Android phones for cheap. Read more »
Google surprised many with the launch of a $199 Chromebook this week. So what’s the Acer C7 like? Overall the quality and performance is better than I expected for the price and it even has a 320 GB hard drive for those who want local storage. Read more »
The new Acer C7 looks more like a tradtional laptop than any prior Google Chromebook because of the Intel Core processor and 320 GB magnetic hard drive. But it’s an aggressively priced Chromebook at $199, which could sway many to give Chrome OS a try. Read more »
Google surprised many last week by launching a new $249 Chromebook, which is $200 lower than the prior model. One part of the cost savings is replacing the Intel processor with a new Samsung chip designed for phones and tablets. So how’s the performance? Read more »
On this week’s audio podcast Matt and Kevin discuss the new Google Chromebook and some special deals you can get that effectively pay for the device. Lumia sales are down; could Windows 8 and Surface RT help jumpstart sales? And why Xbox Music sounds good. Read more »
If a web app works on Google’s old Chromebooks, it works on the new one just announced, right? Not exactly: Netflix doesn’t, nor does Bastion, a fun browser-based game. Native code in the browser may require web apps to be recompiled for the new chips. Read more »
Google’s new Chromebook debuted in a Wi-Fi only model, leaving many to wonder if there would eventually be a 3G model. Turns out, there already is. Verizon’s 3G network is supported on the $329.99 device and includes 100 MB of monthly data at no extra charge. Read more »
On this week’s show, we explain why cord cutters might be very interested in Boxee’s new product. Prior to next week’s Apple event we discuss the likely products. And which company has told a better story: Microsoft for Surface RT or Google for Chromebooks? Read more »
My two-month Chromebook experience has been so great, I use the Google laptop as a primary device. But one flaw I found last month bothered me: No Google Play video support. The latest ChromeOS update, available now, fixes the problem and I’m happy again. Read more »
Google’s Chromebook continues to improve. The latest software update for all Chromebooks — even the CR-48 laptops — upgrades the browser to version 21 of Chrome. Even better are some user interface enhancements, more offline support and the ability to use wireless gamepads with a Chromebook. Read more »
Taking two successful products and combining them has to make one even better product, right? Not necessarily. Case in point: The $234 GoNote available in the UK. It crams Android 4.0 into a very low-end laptop and suggests that it’s just right for students. Not likely. Read more »
How long has Apple been thinking about a smaller iPad? Since they read impressions about the Galaxy Tab 18 months ago. Matt shares experiences with Nexus 7 cases — and explains what pickleball is — while both hosts discuss the Chrome OS and T-Mobile’s new (old) Galaxy Note. Read more »
Could Google be preparing a Drive promotion for Chromebooks and Chromeboxes? Based on a review of Chromium OS code snippets, the answer appears to be yes; there are references to a free 100 GB of Google Drive space, which would make Chrome OS more appealing. Read more »
Google has improved its movie and TV show offerings in Google Play; great for the new Nexus 7 tablet and Nexus Q streaming device. But you’re out of luck for video playback — rentals or purchases — if you have a Google-powered Chromebook. What gives? Read more »
