Latest news with #ChromeOS
Gizmodo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Lenovo 14″ IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Is Going for Peanuts Just in Time for Back-to-School
In the market for a new laptop? You may not need the most powerful device in the world here. For a small budget, you can get a robust Chromebook that can take care of all of your basic needs like accessing your email, browsing the web, preparing documents, and chatting with friends. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a compact option that starts at an affordable price. Though right now, it's even more affordable as it's dropped from $319 down to just $169 for a limited time. That's a savings of $150 you get to keep in your wallet. As far as specs go, what we have here is a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor with an Integrated Arm Mali-G52 2EE MC2 GPU. It's working with 4GB of memory and 64GB eMMC storage. The Chrombook can handle some light photo or video-editing as well as run multiple programs and browser tabs at once. See at Best Buy The LCD screen is capable or a resolution of 1920 by 1080 Full HD with good color and clarity. It measures in at just 14 inches, making it ideal to slip into any bag and take with you anywhere without waying you down. This Chromebook is perfect if portability is your main concern. Running on ChromeOS, the IdeaPad Slim 3 operates smoothly and is easy to use. It has a variety of Google apps built-in like Gmail, Gemini, Docs, Photos, YouTube, and more. It boots up super fast in just under 10 second. First-time setup is easy too. Just sign into you Gmail account and then all your Google Drive files and photos along with your bookmarks and preferences will populate. It's long battery life will let you take it out with you places without necessarily needing to worry about packing your charger. It will last you up to 10 hours on a single charge. That's the whole work day and then some. Collaborate with colleagues or chat up Mom in the afternoon on a video call. The built-in HD webcam records in a crisp 720p resolution and the microphone ensures you are heard crystal clear on the other end of your chats. Sound on your end is powerful too, allowing for waves-tuned audio through the two forward-facing Maxx Audio speakers. For a limited time, pick up the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 in the sleek Abyss Blue colorway for a substantial discount. You'll save $150 as the price at Best Buy has dropped from $319 to just $169. That's nearly half the original price. See at Best Buy
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Forbes
Android & ChromeOS: Google's Plan To Reinvent Your Laptop And Your Phone
Google's plans to merge elements of Android and ChromeOS bring significant opportunities to both ... More laptops and smartphones. Despite initial reports, ChromeOS isn't turning into Android, but it is evolving into an upgraded operating system with Android fundamentals at its core, promising improved performance and, as you might expect, more advanced AI features. Google ignited speculation last week when Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat told Tech Radar the company will be 'combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform.' The announcement immediately prompted questions about the future of both Chromebooks and Android devices. Could this move spell the end for ChromeOS as we know it? How would the Education sector, which relies on the simplicity, multi-user capabilities, and inherent security of ChromeOS, adjust to running full-blown Android with its slower update cycles and touch-first app ecosystem? Android and ChromeOS Won't Merge Completely However, the truth is that we can expect rather less dramatic changes to either OS, at least in the near future. Samat quickly clarified his statement in a recent tweet, stating: 'Great to see so much interest in this topic! To reiterate what we announced in our 2024 blog post: we're building the ChromeOS experience on top of Android underlying technology to unlock new levels of performance, iterate faster, & make your laptop + phone work better together. I'm excited about it!' — Sameer Samat, President, Android Ecosystem. The blog post in question explains how Google's ChromeOS development will continue unabated, but will become increasingly reliant on Android underpinnings. This should result in a more unified code base that reduces the workload for developers and streamlines access to AI features, such as Gemini. More importantly, the company has stated its intention to continue delivering the 'unmatched security, consistent look and feel, and extensive management capabilities that ChromeOS users, enterprises, and schools love.' If Samat intended merely to reiterate these claims, rather than announce a full-scale merger of the two operating systems, then we can be confident that ChromeOS isn't going away any time soon, but there will be a lot more Android under the hood from now on. What Does Android Code Mean For Budget Chromebooks? However, this change still raises important questions about how Chromebooks might handle a greater reliance on Android in the future. Google claims the new code base will usher in 'new levels of performance,' but entry-level Chromebooks, costing $250 or less, currently offer much lower hardware specifications than would typically be required for a smooth Android experience. It's not unusual to see ChromeOS devices with just 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, a specification which seems woefully underpowered compared to budget Android devices. It will be interesting to see what effect Google's plans will have on hardware requirements and pricing in the future. Android Joins ChromeOS: Significant Benefits For Both It would, of course, be great to see some benefits coming in the other direction, from ChromeOS to Android. For example, Android's emerging desktop mode promises a powerful, large-screen experience for smartphones connected to external displays, but it's a far cry from the mature, polished desktop experience offered by ChromeOS. A shared underlying codebase could accelerate development in this area and significantly improve interactions between laptops and smartphones. Google adds Linux support to Android with an experimental Terminal app. The unified codebase could also unlock new features for both platforms: Android apps could run directly on ChromeOS, eliminating the current need for a complex virtual machine layer and providing better performance and greater compatibility. A key benefit of ChromeOS is its ability to support multiple users per device. Adding proper multi-user support to the Android stack would make it easier for Google to bring this capability to Android smartphones and tablets. ChromeOS can run Steam games, thanks to built-in Linux support. ChromeOS also offers established support for running Linux apps, and even games on the Steam platform. We've already seen early signs of Linux support in Android via the new Terminal app. Since Linux support is a vital component of ChromeOS, we can now feel confident that this feature will continue to be developed, bringing exciting new opportunities to Android devices. Imminent changes to Android and ChromeOS may not be as dramatic as we thought, but significant changes are coming that should benefit everyone. Would you want an Android-powered Chromebook?
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Is Chrome OS and Android's merger just hot air or a new era of personal computing?
🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. [/highlight] Google is set to merge two of its mobile computing platforms into one unified system. According to confirmation by Google's president of Android ecosystem, Sameer Samat, the company will combine Chrome OS and Android 'into a single platform.' No timeline was given, but this nod confirms a report we published in November 2024. This development could be a significant win for smartphone users looking for a more compact computing system, but this idea comes with awkward compromises. Want to use your smartphone as a laptop? You'll need a screen to plug into. A mouse and keyboard would be next on the list. At this point, you may as well still use a macOS or Windows laptop, right? That's something I'd love you to answer. Do you think this development will genuinely change your personal computing habits in the future? Here are some more questions: How do you think a combined Android and Chrome OS onslaught disrupts the computing industry? Would you be willing to ditch your existing Windows or macOS setup for Google's unified mobile OS future? Do you think smartphones will ever replace laptops or desktops? Would a unified OS bring tablets back into vogue and diminish the importance of smartphones? Do you actually use Android's current large-screen computing features? If you have a Samsung phone, do you use DeX? Be sure to vote in the polls below, too! What do you want most from Chrome OS built atop Android? 218 votes Fast, frequent system updates 28 % Support for extensions in Chrome 15 % Minimal bloatware 28 % Multiple profiles in Chrome 5 % Relaxed requirements/fast performance 17 % Other (leave a comment) 6 % Do you think Android 16's Desktop Mode is a good ChromeOS replacement? 850 votes Yes, Desktop Mode is already great. 65 % No, ChromeOS is and always will be better. 12 % I like Desktop Mode, but I wish ChromeOS could still be its own thing. 20 % Other (let us know in the comments). 3 % 👇Sound off in the comments section below with your views.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Why Google's ChromeOS merging with Android make sense
Google announced this week that it will merge ChromeOS with Android in an effort to streamline its operating systems. The confirmation came from Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who first made the announcement in an interview with TechRadar and later posted it on X. Android and ChromeOS were developed in parallel, but now both operating systems are merging. The merger was originally expected to happen in 2015, so it has been a long time coming. Google had been hinting at the merger for some time, including last year when it announced that ChromeOS would be built on the Android tech stack, including the Android kernel. For years, ChromeOS has been centered on laptops, while Android has dominated the mobile ecosystem. ChromeOS, for its part, has been a semi-successful operating system, but it has often been described as a 'barebones' OS. Essentially, it's built on Linux and stripped down to the bare essentials. One of ChromeOS's advantages is its ease of use. While it offers a desktop environment similar to what you would find on a Windows laptop or Mac, it mainly includes basic tools like a file browser, video/image viewer, Settings app, and the Chrome web browser. ChromeOS run web apps, Android apps and Linux apps, but not the best-in-class apps. One of the advantages of ChromeOS is that it can run smoothly on low-end hardware. Google has partnered with major OEMs to launch Chromebooks, and in fact, ChromeOS has received major updates in recent years. These include improved desktop management, Phone Hub integration, AI features, and the Chromebook Plus certification for high-end devices, among others. Google merging ChromeOS and Android makes a lot of sense. While Chromebooks have been a popular choice for students, these devices have struggled to compete with Apple's iPad and Windows computers, despite improvements in Chromebook hardware in recent years. At the same time, Google has faced an uphill battle in making its Android tablets as capable as the iPad, even though features like multitasking and desktop-like functionality have been added. To date, despite Google's promises, Android still doesn't feel desktop-ready. Most Android apps don't look great on larger screens. Sure, Android has improved support for keyboards and mice, and even includes features like multiple desktop support, already present in ChromeOS but the operating system still feels best suited for mobile, not for larger-screen devices like tablets and laptops. It's no surprise, then, that Google previously experimented with ChromeOS tablets, an idea that failed to gain traction. In fact, ChromeOS has started to feel directionless in recent years. Honestly, Android does everything ChromeOS does but much better; meanwhile, ChromeOS can do what Android does, but actually worse. At one point, ChromeOS was a frequent topic of discussion, but lately, Google has barely mentioned it during its annual developer conferences. Chromebooks have also become less visible in the marketplace, raising questions about the future of ChromeOS. While Google continues to highlight Android and its new features, ChromeOS has largely been pushed to the sidelines. In fact, Android is becoming more like ChromeOS, thanks to the upcoming addition of desktop multitasking support. With Google turning Android into a more capable desktop operating system while ChromeOS remains largely unchanged, it suggests that Android may eventually take over the role of ChromeOS. Now that Google is merging ChromeOS and Android into a single unified operating system, although how Google plans to do this still remains unclear, a single platform could bring complete cross-functionality, which would be a major change. In fact, it could be the beginning of Google's personal computing efforts, which the company has struggled to compete with both Apple and Microsoft. Right now, there is some level of cross-functionality between ChromeOS and Android, but it feels half-baked. ChromeOS already supports Android apps, and the Google Play Store somewhat bridges the gap. A merger between ChromeOS and Android would allow developers to focus on a single platform, enabling consumers to access apps seamlessly whether they are on a phone, tablet, or laptop. A unified operating system could solve this fragmentation, especially if Google develops a desktop version of Android. This would open the door to an Android-based platform that retains the familiarity of Android while offering the flexibility to run just as well on tablets as on laptops. However, a key challenge for Google is deciding whether to retain Chromebooks or move away from them entirely. Chromebooks run on reference platforms and currently benefit from up to 10 years of software updates, as promised by Google. Achieving that same level of long-term support with a unified operating system may be difficult, especially since traditional laptops typically receive far less software support than Chromebooks. The US Department of Justice has been calling for Google to divest its Chrome browser, following an August ruling that the company holds a monopoly in the search market. Chrome, the browser Google launched in 2008, is at the center of the controversy. It provides Google with user data that is then used for ad targeting, generating billions in revenue. With the DOJ now considering the idea of forcing Google to sell Chrome, the outcome could be disastrous for the tech giant. Google will almost certainly fight the case and present counterarguments as to why Chrome should remain under its control. However, one possible way for Google to protect ChromeOS while mitigating the risk of losing both users and revenue could be to merge ChromeOS with Android. If Google is forced to sell off its Chrome browser, the future of the Chromium codebase becomes uncertain, as Google is its largest financial supporter and technical contributor. This could further complicate the future of ChromeOS. Therefore, merging the two platforms may ultimately be in Google's best interest. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Digital Trends
Google confirms merging Chrome OS and Android into one platform
Why it matters: Google's push to blend Chrome OS and Android could supercharge affordable laptops like Chromebooks, making them more versatile for work and play. This move echoes Apple's seamless ecosystem across iPadOS and macOS, potentially shaking up the PC market where Windows dominates but innovation lags. What's happening: In a bombshell interview, Google's Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat outright confirmed the company is 'combining Chrome OS and Android into a single platform. This follows months of rumors and aligns with Android 16's new desktop-friendly features, like proper windowing and external display support. But then Samat later clarified on X that it's not a full-on merger killing Chrome OS; instead, it's about weaving Android's tech stack deeper into Chrome for better app compatibility and hardware efficiency. Recommended Videos The big picture: Chrome OS has long borrowed from Android, starting with Google Play Store integration back in 2016, allowing millions of apps on Chromebooks. We've seen hints of this evolution for years—remember when Android apps first hit Chrome OS? Now, with AI taking off and foldables rising, a unified OS could mean Chromebooks evolve into hybrid beasts: lightweight for browsing, robust for productivity. It might boost Google's Pixel lineup too, turning tablets into laptop rivals. Critics worry about bloat or higher hardware demands, but fans see it as Google's smartest play in ages. The details: Timeline unclear: No firm dates yet, but Android 16's desktop tweaks suggest progress by 2026. No firm dates yet, but Android 16's desktop tweaks suggest progress by 2026. Key changes: Expect enhanced multitasking, better keyboard/mouse support, and seamless app scaling across phones, tablets, and laptops. Expect enhanced multitasking, better keyboard/mouse support, and seamless app scaling across phones, tablets, and laptops. Impacts: Chromebooks could get longer updates like Android devices, but older models might struggle. Google's eyeing how people use laptops today to refine it—think more touch-friendly interfaces without losing desktop power (and yes, those horrible fingerprints on the screen). Chromebooks could get longer updates like Android devices, but older models might struggle. Google's eyeing how people use laptops today to refine it—think more touch-friendly interfaces without losing desktop power (and yes, those horrible fingerprints on the screen). Competition angle: This pits Google directly against Microsoft's Windows on ARM and Apple's M-series chips, aiming for energy-efficient, app-rich computing. What's next: Google's keeping details under wraps, but watch for beta tests in upcoming Android updates. If executed right, this could redefine budget computing—stay tuned as we test the first merged devices. For now, it's a bold step toward a truly connected Google world.
