chrome OS | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:21:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png chrome OS | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Acer unveils new line of Chromebook Enterprise systems https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/joao-silva/acer-unveils-new-line-of-chromebook-enterprise-systems/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/joao-silva/acer-unveils-new-line-of-chromebook-enterprise-systems/#respond Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:19:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=437717 Acer has announced six new enterprise-grade Chromebooks. These machines are part of Google's Chrome Enterprise device list, which means they are completely integrated into Google's cloud. The new devices were designed and engineered to “meet the needs of enterprises and various business sectors”. With the cloud-native tools, 24/7 support and integrations with third-party products, these …

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Acer has announced six new enterprise-grade Chromebooks. These machines are part of Google's Chrome Enterprise device list, which means they are completely integrated into Google's cloud.

The new devices were designed and engineered to “meet the needs of enterprises and various business sectors”. With the cloud-native tools, 24/7 support and integrations with third-party products, these devices are made for ease of use, productivity, portability, and accessibility to Google's cloud environment.

All of these machines come with Chrome OS and Google's H1 secure microcontroller, enabling “verified boot, multi-layer security capabilities, battery cutoff, guaranteed reset, and closed case debugging”. Besides the microcontroller, there's also antivirus-protection, a sandbox, update management, fleet control, and fleet management.

Acer Chromebook Enterprise 715

Measuring 36.58cm×24.64cm×1,78cm (W×D×H) and weighing 1.8Kg, the Chromebook Enterprise 715 comes equipped with an Intel Core i3-8130U and its respective UHD Graphics 620, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 64GB of storage space, and an FHD LCD 15.6-inch IPS display. For connectivity, there is Bluetooth 4.2, a microSD card reader and 3 USB ports: 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type C with DisplayPort over USB-C and USB charging, and 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A. It's available now for $779.99.

Acer Chromebook Enterprise 714

The specifications of Acer Chromebook Enterprise 714 are the same as the Chromebook 715, except its size and screen, which comes with a 14-inch FHD IPS display and measures 32.26cm×23.88cm×1,78cm (W×D×H) and weighs 1.5Kg. The price doesn't differ that much as well, with a $799.99 price tag.

Acer Chromebook Enterprise 13

The Chromebook Enterprise 13, on the other hand, comes with a beefier Intel Core i7-8650U and UHD Graphics 610. With 16GB of DDR3 RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 13.5-inch 3:2 aspect ratio IPS display, with a resolution of 2256 x 1504, it has a 10hour maximum battery run time, thanks to its 4670mAh. Regarding connectivity, it comes with the same Bluetooth 4.2, microSD card reader and 3 USB ports. It measures 30.99cm×23.88cm×1,78cm (W×D×H) and weighs 1.4KG. With more premium specifications comes an increase in price, when compared to the previous Chromebook Enterprise 13, at $1199.99.

Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 13

The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 13 has the same specifications and measurements as the Chromebook Enterprise 13, but it's a 2-1 convertible laptop and weighs about 100 grams more. Because of its tablet mode, it also comes with a stylus. Priced at $1299.99, it's the most-expensive Chromebook, out of the four detailed in this article.

Acer Chromebase Enterprise 24I2

This All-in-One PC has a 24-inch FHD IPS display, up to 128GB of SSD storage, up to 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 8th Gen Intel Core i CPUs. It is VESA compatible, tilts from -5° to 25° and comes with a 5MP webcam, a microSD card reader, 4x USB Type-A ports, 1x USB Type-C port, 1x HDMI port, 1x Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. There's no specified date for release, nor price for the Chromebase Enterprise 24I2 as of yet.

Acer Chromebox Enterprise CX13

The Acer Chromebox Enterprise 13 comes with 8th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors, a GbE port, 3x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C port, 1x HDMI port, microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio jack. The amount of memory is yet to be disclosed, as is the release date and price.

If you want to know more about Acer Chrome Enterprise devices, click HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you have a Chrome OS system? Would you consider any of the machines listed here?

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Made By Google 2019 – all the big announcements https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/james-dawson/made-by-google-2019-all-the-big-announcements/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/james-dawson/made-by-google-2019-all-the-big-announcements/#respond Wed, 16 Oct 2019 10:43:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=430060 Missed Google's big event yesterday? Here's everything that was announced

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Yesterday saw the Made By Google 2019 event take place in New York City, where the company launched all kinds of new devices and gadgets. If you didn’t catch the live stream of the event, we have a round-up of what went down for readers to check out what they missed.

One of the main features of the event was the announcement that Google’s cloud-based game streaming service Stadia will officially launch on 19th November. Google suggest Stadia will change the way we play games, instead of using traditional hardware for gaming, Stadia will render games in the cloud, which will then be then pushed to a Chromecast or similar device for gamers to play on the fly. The subscription will cost around £10 per month and will include approximately 30 games on launch, with Red Dead Redemption 2 headlining.

Another big but somewhat unsurprising announcement is the new Pixel 4 smartphone series. The Pixel 4 has been widely leaked over the past few months, however, it’s now official that the Pixel 4 will feature a 5.7-inch display, 2800mAh battery and run Snapdragon 855 chipset with 6GB RAM. Alongside that, will be the Pixel 4 XL which comes in at 6.3-inches with a 3700mAh battery with the same Snapdragon chipset and RAM capacity as the Pixel 4.

Both new Pixel 4 smartphones feature “Project Soli” radar chips which allow users to control certain aspects of the phone by waving a hand at the device rather than actually touching it. According to Techcrunch, the main focus is the cameras in the Pixel 4, where Google is using the idea of machine-learning and AI-centric software to improve photos with features such as HDR preview, AI-driven learning white balance and an improved Night Sight. Both phones have two rear cameras, 12.2-megapixel for the main camera and a 16-megapixel telephoto lens with a Single 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

Google also announced the arrival of a new Chrome OS laptop at the event. The Pixelbook Go will feature a 13.3-inch HD or 4K display, up to 16GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Other features of the Pixelbook Go will include are a range of Intel Core CPUs, including m3, i5 and i7 depending on model, two built-in USB Type-C ports and a choice of “not pink” and black designs. The Pixelbook Go will start from $649 for the entry-level version.

 

Along with the new Pixel devices, Google announced a range of new Nest smart gadgets, including the Nest Mini which is a follow up to the popular Google Home Mini smart speaker. The new device is wall mountable without adaptors, it has a new machine learning chip, the speakers are claimed to offer double the bass over previous iterations and includes more microphones for improved performance in louder environments.

Additionally, Google announced the Nest Wi-Fi which is a mesh Wi-Fi router featuring Google Home speakers, available on 4th November. Furthermore, there is a new Nest Aware subscription which is a cloud-based storage for Nest camera recordings. The subscription will cost $6 or $12 per month depending on how much storage you require. Nest Aware also allows your Nest hubs and Nest Mini devices to be put into a security-centric listening mode which sends you notifications accordingly.

Finally, Google announced the Pixel Buds, a new set of wireless earbud speakers which are Google's answer to the Airpods. The Pixel Buds should provide five hours of battery life per charge with a charging case offering an additional 24 hours’ worth of power. Integrated microphones will adapt the sounds coming from the Pixel Buds depending on environmental noise, to help cancel the background out background sounds. The Pixel Buds are expected to arrive in Spring 2020 and will cost $179.

KitGuru says: Did any of you guys watch the official live stream of the Made By Google event and see anything that you might be purchasing? I love the idea of Google Stadia but I'm not sure how UK broadband will cope, especially in rural areas.

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Google is giving up on making tablets https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/google-is-giving-up-on-making-tablets/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/matthew-wilson/google-is-giving-up-on-making-tablets/#respond Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:00:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=416372 The Pixel Slate won't be getting an upgrade anytime soon.

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Google hasn't exactly been a serious player in the tablet market over the last few years. The company most recently launched the Pixel Slate as a Chrome OS powered alternative to the iPad and Microsoft Surface with its own detachable keyboard but it looks like we won't be seeing a follow up any time soon, as Google is bowing out of the tablet market for now.

According to a Google spokesperson, the company has officially stopped production on two yet to be announced tablets that it had in the works. One of these was going to be a successor to the Pixel Slate but it will no longer be coming out. Instead, Google will be focusing its resources on Pixelbook laptops instead and leaving tablets behind.

While Chrome OS tablets will no longer be coming from Google itself, the company will continue to support the existing Pixel Slate with software updates and is going to continue working on Chrome OS.

Google has never quite found its footing in the tablet market. Back in the Nexus days, Google did find success with the Nexus 7 and partners like Samsung and HTC did produce Nexus-branded tablets at one point in time. However, once Google shifted from Nexus to the new Pixel line, the Pixel C and Pixel Slate struggled to gain ground while the smartphone side of things seemed to sell fairly well.

KitGuru Says: Google could return to tablets again someday but for now, it looks like we won't be seeing any more. Interestingly, two new tablets were planned to launch at some point this year but quality assurance tests caused a change of heart.

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Google set to launch Pixel Slate tablet this month as new images leak https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-set-to-launch-pixel-slate-tablet-this-month-as-new-images-leak/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-set-to-launch-pixel-slate-tablet-this-month-as-new-images-leak/#respond Mon, 08 Oct 2018 09:51:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=389866 We’re expecting Google to drop news on its latest Pixel smartphones any day now. Several leaks have taken place over the last couple of months and while much of the focus has been placed on the smartphone lineup, it looks like we’ll be seeing a Pixel tablet this year too. Google is no stranger to …

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We’re expecting Google to drop news on its latest Pixel smartphones any day now. Several leaks have taken place over the last couple of months and while much of the focus has been placed on the smartphone lineup, it looks like we’ll be seeing a Pixel tablet this year too.

Google is no stranger to the tablet market. Back in the Nexus days, HTC and Samsung both produced tablets for Google’s first-party hardware lineup. Google will be jumping back in with the Pixel Slate, featuring a 3:2, stylus support and Chrome OS. The Pixel Slate was leaked by the folks at MySmartPrice, with images being posted:

The Pixel Slate seems to be a competitor to both the iPad and the Microsoft Surface, both of which make good use of detachable keyboards. The Pixel Slate will also have a detachable keyboard accessory, transforming the tablet into a capable work machine.

The keyboard comes with a dedicated button for Google Assistant and can wrap around the whole tablet like a case when not being used.

We don’t have confirms specifications at this time but according to Android Police, we could be looking at a 2400×1600 resolution display and an Intel Kaby Lake processor under the hood. We’ll likely see the Pixel Slate announced later this month as part of Google’s annual October event.

KitGuru Says: Google will be giving the Pixel lineup a complete refresh this year, with two new Pixel 3 smartphones and a new tablet. Are any of you looking forward to the next batch of Google Pixel devices?

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Google working on an ‘Alt OS’ mode for Chrome OS https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-working-on-an-alt-os-mode-for-chrome-os/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-working-on-an-alt-os-mode-for-chrome-os/#respond Wed, 18 Apr 2018 17:16:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=370669 We've been hearing a lot about Google's laptop plans recently. Back in January, developers began testing Fuchsia OS on the Pixelbook, then we heard that we may see a new Pixelbook launch later this year. Now, it looks like the Chrome OS team is trying something new, as references to an ‘Alt OS' mode have …

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We've been hearing a lot about Google's laptop plans recently. Back in January, developers began testing Fuchsia OS on the Pixelbook, then we heard that we may see a new Pixelbook launch later this year. Now, it looks like the Chrome OS team is trying something new, as references to an ‘Alt OS' mode have been found in the latest Chrome OS build.

While details are thin, those sleuthing through the code did find a reference to an internal Google document called “go/vboot-windows”, which indicates that Alt OS could be a new feature to dual-boot Chrome OS powered laptops. This would be similar to macOS and Boot Camp, allowing users to partition their drive to install a second operating system.

Google hasn't openly discussed Alt OS yet, so it could just be an internal test. Alternatively, it could also be in use behind the scenes to dual-boot the Pixelbook with Fuchsia OS for testing purposes.

Still, judging by the reference to booting Windows, it certainly sounds like Alt OS will be the Chrome OS alternative to Apple's Boot Camp tool.

KitGuru Says: I don't have much experience with Chrome OS myself, but I'm sure there are a few power users out there who would welcome the option of dual-booting. That said, we don't know for sure if Alt OS will be a dual-booting tool just yet. Do you guys think Google should open up Chrome OS for dual-booting with Windows? 

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Google is bringing Android compatibility to a ton of Chromebooks this year https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/google-is-bringing-android-compatibility-to-a-ton-of-chromebooks-this-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/google-is-bringing-android-compatibility-to-a-ton-of-chromebooks-this-year/#comments Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:44:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=331853 Back in 2016, Google finally began implementing Android app compatibility into Chrome OS and while the list of supported devices was initially quite small, it has grown a ton so far in 2017. Back in January, we learned that Google wanted all Chromebooks released this year to feature Android app compatibility and now, around 90 …

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Back in 2016, Google finally began implementing Android app compatibility into Chrome OS and while the list of supported devices was initially quite small, it has grown a ton so far in 2017. Back in January, we learned that Google wanted all Chromebooks released this year to feature Android app compatibility and now, around 90 Chrome OS devices have support, or planned support.

So far, different devices are in various stages of compatibility, the bulk of the list is made up of devices with ‘planned compatibility', so they are not yet updated to support Android apps. However, others are in the ‘stable' channel like Samsung's Chromebook Plus. There is also a ‘beta channel', including the likes of the Chromebook Flip from ASUS.

While previously Google had aimed to get Android app compatibility to all Chromebooks released this year and beyond, since then the company has come to the realisation that it “won't be able to bring Android apps to every Chromebook ever made”, so there will still be gaps in compatibility.

If you are planning on getting a Chromebook and want to check whether or not it will support Android apps, then you can find the full list, HERE. The current models marked down with ‘planned support' do not have rollout dates, so it could take a while for Android app support to get to all of them.

KitGuru Says: Android app compatibility on Chrome OS has been a requested feature for a long time now, so it is good to see support planned for so many Chromebooks this year already. Do any of you have much experience with Chrome OS? Do you think it would be more useful with Android app support?

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Microsoft ‘Cloudbook’ is looking increasingly real https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/paul-taylor/microsoft-cloudbook-is-looking-increasingly-real/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/paul-taylor/microsoft-cloudbook-is-looking-increasingly-real/#comments Wed, 19 Apr 2017 19:38:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=331040 It seems more and more likely that Microsoft will release a new cheap, portable, device running a Cloud-based version of Windows, in time for the next back-to-school shopping season. It's been a busy 12 months for Microsoft. Early on we heard Windows running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon hardware. Even a trial test at Xiaomi that allowed users …

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It seems more and more likely that Microsoft will release a new cheap, portable, device running a Cloud-based version of Windows, in time for the next back-to-school shopping season.

It's been a busy 12 months for Microsoft. Early on we heard Windows running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon hardware. Even a trial test at Xiaomi that allowed users to install Windows on their Android phones. Then we heard mumblings of an upcoming Cloud-based version of Windows. More recently we've been hit with rumours of new Microsoft hardware such as the Surface Pro 5 and a major education event booked for May 2nd.

It turns out that all of it might be just about one major device launch, a Chromebook-killer tentatively monikered the ‘Cloudbook' (although we doubt this is a real name, as Cloudbook is already a series of Acer devices).

According to the latest reports, the ‘Cloudbook' will be using a Snapdragon 835 SoC from Qualcomm, like the one used on the Xiaomi 6 or Xperia XZ Premium. The tiny Snapdragon 835 includes an Adreno 540 GPU (claimed to be 25% faster than its predecessors), octa-core Kryo 280 big.LITTLE CPU at up to 2.45 GHz, Snapdragon X16 LTE modem (1 Gbps peak download) for wireless communications and possibly more important for head-in-the-cloud teens… Quick Charge 4.0, which Qualcomm claims to deliver 5 hours of power for 5 mins of charging.

Qualcomm 835 side-by-side with a penny.

Apparently, Microsoft may have clued-up to the fact that there is money to be made by releasing its own version of a lightweight, inexpensive laptop device, which will stave off the Chrome OS juggernaut. Recent research from Futuresource Consulting, shows that Chromebooks have massively eroded Apple's share of K12 sales in the US, rising from 38% market share in 2014 to 58% market share in 2016, almost exclusively at the cost of Apple's iOS (i.e. iPads) and OS X (i.e. MacBooks). If Microsoft does nothing, it'll be next.

KitGuru Says: We've grown accustomed to seeing Microsoft as the “OS company”, but that picture has been changing in recent years with the Surface family of devices. There is no reason Microsoft cannot pull this off, if it really fields such a device.

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Google begins putting Android Play Store on Chrome OS https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/google-begins-putting-android-play-store-on-chrome-os/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/google-begins-putting-android-play-store-on-chrome-os/#comments Sat, 18 Jun 2016 13:11:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=296501 A short while after first announcing that it would be bringing Android apps to Chrome OS, Google has officially begun rolling out the Android Play Store to some Chrome OS devices. This is a test build, so it isn't perfect yet but this is the first iteration of the Play Store on Chrome OS devices. …

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A short while after first announcing that it would be bringing Android apps to Chrome OS, Google has officially begun rolling out the Android Play Store to some Chrome OS devices. This is a test build, so it isn't perfect yet but this is the first iteration of the Play Store on Chrome OS devices.

Play Store integration arrived in Chrome OS 53, which is now in the developer channel. Since its inception, Chrome OS has been completely separate to Android but over the years, there have been growing calls for some form of integration between the two, there have even been rumours of Google replacing Chrome OS with a desktop version of Android. However, the plan moving forward seems to be getting Android apps running on Chrome.

Chrome-OS-e1463671607872

For now, Play Store compatibility is working on the Asus Chromebook Flip, which has a touch screen, meaning more apps will work out of the box, without the need to program in mouse and keyboard controls. That said, varying levels of work will be required on the developer's part to get apps working fully on Chrome OS so it could take a while and some apps may never be fully compatible.

KitGuru Says: This is a good step for Chrome OS, after all, people have been asking for Android integration for a long time now. If the bulk of the apps on the Play Store end up working on Chrome OS, then it may end up growing in popularity. Would you guys consider buying a Chromebook if it had Android app compatibility? 

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Chrome OS will soon get Android Apps and Play Store access https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/chrome-os-will-soon-get-android-apps-and-play-store-access/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/chrome-os-will-soon-get-android-apps-and-play-store-access/#comments Thu, 19 May 2016 15:27:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=293308 While there has been talk over the last few months of Google merging Chrome OS and Android,  the actual story for the time being is a little different. Chrome OS and Android are going to remain as separate entities but Google's desktop operating system will soon gain the ability to run Android apps and access …

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While there has been talk over the last few months of Google merging Chrome OS and Android,  the actual story for the time being is a little different. Chrome OS and Android are going to remain as separate entities but Google's desktop operating system will soon gain the ability to run Android apps and access the Google Play Store.

Google hasn't gone in to too much detail yet on how this integration will come to be or when the update will take place it does look like at least some work will need to happen on the developer end for Android apps to run on Chrome OS machines.

Chrome OS

As 9to5Google points out, in Google's session notes from Google I/O yesterday, the company announced that the Play Store would be coming to Chrome but also, Google held a workshop with developers to help show them how to optimize their Android apps for Chrome.

KitGuru Says: People have been saying for a while that Chrome OS and Android need to be brought closer together and it looks like this is how Google intends to do it. Would any of you like to see Android apps head to a traditional desktop environment? 

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Google denies plans to phase out Chrome OS https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/google-denies-plans-to-phase-out-chrome-os/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/google-denies-plans-to-phase-out-chrome-os/#respond Mon, 02 Nov 2015 19:49:52 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=273840 Last week, we heard rumours that Google was planning to kill off Chrome OS for good and instead, merge some of its best features with Android to create a better desktop/notebook experience. This would have a few benefits, one of which would be no longer having two separate development teams working on two different operating systems. …

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Last week, we heard rumours that Google was planning to kill off Chrome OS for good and instead, merge some of its best features with Android to create a better desktop/notebook experience. This would have a few benefits, one of which would be no longer having two separate development teams working on two different operating systems. However, Google is now denying these reports.

According to Google, “Chrome OS is here to stay”, though it is working on ways to “bring together the best of both operating systems”. However, from the sounds of it, both operating systems will be sticking around and be separate products.

chromebook-aura-2

Speaking in a blog post, Google's own Hiroshi Lockheimer said: “We have plans to release even more features for Chrome OS, such as a new media player, a visual refresh based on Material Design, improved performance, and of course, a continued focus on security. With our regular six-week software cycle and guaranteed auto-updates for five years, Chromebooks keep getting better over time.”

On top of all that, Google has ‘dozens' of new Chromebooks planned to release in 2016, so Chrome OS is sticking around for a while. However, it is important to note that the initial rumours claimed that the combined version of Chrome OS and Android wouldn't arrive until 2017, so we may hear more on that closer to the time.

KitGuru Says: It looks like Google is reaffirming its commitment to Chrome OS for the time being. However, I do think that merging Chrome OS and Android would be a good idea. Have any of you used Chrome OS? What do you think of it? 

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Google is apparently planning to merge Chrome OS with Android https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/google-is-apparently-planning-to-merge-chrome-os-with-android/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/matthew-wilson/google-is-apparently-planning-to-merge-chrome-os-with-android/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2015 14:36:03 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=273622 In a not so unexpected turn of events, new reports are suggesting that Google is finally going to merge Chrome OS and Android, something that has been rumoured for a long time. The plan is to kill off Chrome OS and merge some of its better features in to Android, then new Android computers and …

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In a not so unexpected turn of events, new reports are suggesting that Google is finally going to merge Chrome OS and Android, something that has been rumoured for a long time. The plan is to kill off Chrome OS and merge some of its better features in to Android, then new Android computers and laptops will begin launching at some point in 2017, giving Google a year to work everything out.

This is all according to as recent report from The Wall Street Journal, which cites sources close to the matter, saying that the plan is to shrink things down to just one operating system by 2017.

chromebook-aura-2

The move isn't too surprising, though at this time it isn't officially confirmed. Rather than having two development teams trying to maintain two separate operating systems, it would make more sense to consolidate the two, particularly since Chrome OS hasn't really taken off in the same way that Android has.

This will mean changes to devices like the Chromebook as well, which will apparently be getting a new name, though the Chrome browser will remain the same. Microsoft and to a lesser extent, Apple have made similar moves this year. Microsoft's Windows 10 is a cross-platform effort, while Apple's new Apple TV uses a tweaked version of iOS, rather than its own separate system.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This move would make a lot of sense for Google, especially since Android is a very popular OS, while Chrome OS has lagged behind a bit. Do any of you have experience with Chrome OS? What did you think of it? 

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Intel divides desktop market into six segments https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-divides-desktop-market-into-six-segments-plans-to-offer-appropriate-solutions/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-divides-desktop-market-into-six-segments-plans-to-offer-appropriate-solutions/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2015 01:48:50 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=261565 In a bid to offer the right solutions for different classes of desktop personal computers, Intel Corp. recently presented its vision of desktop platforms to makers of PC components. Apparently, the world’s largest maker of microprocessors sees as many as six distinctive segments of today’s desktop market. Sales of personal computers have been declining for …

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In a bid to offer the right solutions for different classes of desktop personal computers, Intel Corp. recently presented its vision of desktop platforms to makers of PC components. Apparently, the world’s largest maker of microprocessors sees as many as six distinctive segments of today’s desktop market.

Sales of personal computers have been declining for a number of quarters already due to various reasons. As a result, in order to maximize sales of PCs, microprocessors and other devices, manufacturers need to offer tailored solutions that bring maximum value to the end-user. Intel believes that there are six segments of the desktop market that it needs to address with its current and upcoming microprocessors, reports DigiTimes.

hp_workstation_z600

  • Enthusiast – PCs powered by Intel Core i7 processors and used for gaming, audio/video content creation and other tasks that require a lot of compute performance.
  • Mainstream – PCs based on Core i5 and Core i3 processors that offer great price-performance ratios.
  • All-in-one (AIO) – Systems featuring various energy-efficient processors and rich multimedia capabilities.
  • Mini PCs or NUCs [next unit of compute] – Small form-factor computers with low-power Atom, Celeron, Core or Pentium microprocessors. Such computers can be used for various purposes and can run Microsoft Windows 10 or Google Chrome operating systems.
  • Desktop replacement notebooks (portable AIO PCs) – High-performance personal computers in clamshell form-factors that are based on Core i7 or Core i5 microprocessors with 47W – 57W thermal design power.
  • Compute sticks – Ultra small form-factor personal computers based on highly-integrated ultra-low-voltage system-on-chips. Such devices may also use both Microsoft Windows 10 and Google Chrome operating systems

Intel already offers a broad portfolio of processors, core-logic sets and solid-state storage devices for each type of desktops. However, going forward the chip giant might decide to offer certain bundles in a bid to decrease prices of systems while ensuring its own sales.

It is interesting to note that Intel reportedly considers segments of advanced desktops, NUCs and compute sticks as the most promising in terms of growth.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Apparently, customers prefer either high-performance or miniature desktop PCs, meanwhile other segments are stagnating or declining. In fact, a rather surprising trend.

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Google: We are happy that Microsoft is working on $150 PCs https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/google-we-are-happy-that-microsoft-is-working-on-150-pcs/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/google-we-are-happy-that-microsoft-is-working-on-150-pcs/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2015 03:07:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=244371 In a bid to ensure that its Windows operating system can address all segments of the personal computer market, Microsoft Corp. in the recent quarters has worked hard with various hardware manufacturers to drive down prices of PCs to $200 and even $150 per unit. While hardware makers are hardly happy with the return of …

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In a bid to ensure that its Windows operating system can address all segments of the personal computer market, Microsoft Corp. in the recent quarters has worked hard with various hardware manufacturers to drive down prices of PCs to $200 and even $150 per unit. While hardware makers are hardly happy with the return of netbooks, Google seems to be glad about availability of such systems.

Microsoft is working with PC makers on ultra-low-cost personal computers in order to not let Google and its Chrome OS into its stronghold, the PC market, where Microsoft Windows has been dominating for decades. To lower the cost of notebooks with Windows, Microsoft reconsidered its pricing policies and redesigned Windows so that it could work on low-performance hardware. This year some of Microsoft’s partners are expected to release laptops that cost around $150.

“We cannot be happier that Microsoft is helping drive down the prices of PCs,” said Caesar Sengupta, Google's vice president of product management for Chromebooks, in an interview with NewsFactor. “If Microsoft is reacting to (Chromebook's low prices), that's fantastic. We love it.”

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Recently Google and its partners Haier and HiSense introduced Chromebooks, which retail for $150 in the U.S. The notebooks feature 11.6” display and are based on quad-core Rockchip RK3288 system-on-chip (four ARM Cortex-A17 cores, ARM Mali T7 graphics engine that supports OpenGL ES3.0, OpenCL 1.1 and DirectX 11 APIs, DDR3 memory controller, etc.). The systems are also equipped with 2GB DDR3 memory, 16GB eMMC NAND flash storage, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, USB port, speakers, etc.

Availability of cheap computing devices mean that more users will be able to utilize Google’s Internet services, such as search, email or YouTube. From this point of view, Google does not care whether PCs run Chrome OS or Windows.

Only around six million laptops based on Chrome OS were sold in 2014, according to IDC. By contrast, hundreds of millions of PCs running Windows were shipped last year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While it is great from the end user point of view to have cheap PCs available widely, such computers are hardly good for the market in general. PC makers have to use outdated hardware to build such systems, software vendors have to keep such low-end laptops in mind when they design applications. In general, the progress of both hardware and software slows down because of such PCs. The only company who wins here is Google, who gets new clients. Still user experience of  such customers is hardly good…

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Nvidia Tegra X1 to power desktops, notebooks, tablets, portable consoles https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/base-unit/anton-shilov/nvidia-tegra-x1-to-power-desktops-notebooks-tablets-portable-consoles/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/base-unit/anton-shilov/nvidia-tegra-x1-to-power-desktops-notebooks-tablets-portable-consoles/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2015 10:38:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=243367 Unveiled early this year, Tegra X1 system-on-chip from Nvidia Corp. was positioned mainly for automotive applications. However, given rather serious processing horsepower it has, it can be used for many other devices. In fact, according to recent leaks and listings, Nvidia and its partners plan to use the Tegra X1 SoC for laptops, tablets and …

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Unveiled early this year, Tegra X1 system-on-chip from Nvidia Corp. was positioned mainly for automotive applications. However, given rather serious processing horsepower it has, it can be used for many other devices. In fact, according to recent leaks and listings, Nvidia and its partners plan to use the Tegra X1 SoC for laptops, tablets and even portable game consoles.

The Bluetooth SIG [special interest group] recently certified mainboards for previously unknown Shield Portable/P2523 and Shield Console/P2571 devices. Qualification tests took place in late January, hence, it is more than likely that the motherboards were powered by the latest Tegra X1 application processor from Nvidia. Recently the company officially refocused its Tegra business to gaming and automotive applications. Therefore, a portable game console and a gaming tablet sold under Nvidia Shield brand make perfect sense for the company.

Meanwhile, Google Chromium OS already contains references to the Nvidia T210 application processor, which is the internal name of the Tegra X1. Since Chrome OS is used primarily for laptops (called Chromebooks) and low-power desktops (called Chromeboxes), it is obvious that there are certain parties working on appropriate products powered by Nvidia’s Tegra X1. According to CNX Software, the platforms based on the Tegra X1 are code-named Smaug and Foster.

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The Tegra X1 system-on-chips incorporates four high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores and four low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores. The SoC also integrates advanced graphics sub-system powered by the Maxwell architecture that features 256 stream processors (two Maxwell stream multiprocessors), 16 texture units and 16 raster output pipelines that supports OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenGL4.5, DirectX 12.0 (feature level 11_3), and AEP application programming interfaces. The application processor’s memory controller supports up to 4GB of LPDDR3 or LPDDR4 memory, whereas the AP’s storage controller supports up to eMMC 5.1 interface with CMD queuing. All other I/O interfaces are also present (see the diagram below). The SoC features hardware decoding of video in all high-definition and ultra-high-definition (4K) formats at 60Hz, including VP9, H.265 (HEVC), H.264 and others.

Thanks to high performance and maximum level of integration, Tegra X1 can power almost any device. Unfortunately, its thermal design power (TDP) of up to 10W is too high for mobile electronics. As a result, it will not be that easy for Nvidia to squeeze the chip into tablets or portable game consoles without reducing its clock-rates as well as performance. Still, there are plenty of applications that Nvidia can address with its Tegra X1.

nvidia_tegra_x1_block_diagram nvidia_tegra_x1_cpu_configuration

Nvidia’s Tegra X1 already powers Shield game console for the living room.

Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Even if Nvidia Tegra X1 is too hot for mobile devices, there are plenty of applications, where it can be used, including embedded electronics, drones, robots, set-top-boxes with gaming capabilities, Blu-ray 4K players etc. However, to enter these markets, Nvidia will need to develop appropriate software platforms…

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Google’s new HDMI dongle puts Chrome OS on your TV https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/googles-new-hdmi-dongle-puts-chrome-os-on-your-tv/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/googles-new-hdmi-dongle-puts-chrome-os-on-your-tv/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2015 19:12:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=242978 It looks like Google is making another push for Chrome OS with its new HDMI dongle, which will bring the operating system to your TV screen. The new Chrome device is called the Chromebit and contains all of the hardware necessary to run Chrome OS. The tiny little HDMI stick packs in a Rockchip 3288 …

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It looks like Google is making another push for Chrome OS with its new HDMI dongle, which will bring the operating system to your TV screen. The new Chrome device is called the Chromebit and contains all of the hardware necessary to run Chrome OS.

The tiny little HDMI stick packs in a Rockchip 3288 system on chip, 2GB of RAM, 16Gb of internal storage, a USB 2.0 port, WiFi 802.11ac wireless support and an ARM Mali 760 quad-core graphics chip.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Just like Intel’s own HDMI dongle, all you need to do is plug it in to a HDMI port on the back of your TV. However, you can swivel the main part of the stick around so that it isn’t directly protruding out of the back of your TV.

The device will have a battery life but Google does not know the specifics of it just yet. The first Chromebit will be made by Asus and will retail for under $99. It will come in silver, blue or orange later this summer.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see how Chrome OS works on a TV, rather than a laptop. It will be also be interesting to see how this affects the company’s plans for the Chromecast, the more affordable streaming stick.

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Intel will help to build 2-in-1 Chromebooks – report https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/intel-will-help-to-build-2-in-1-chromebooks-report/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/intel-will-help-to-build-2-in-1-chromebooks-report/#respond Fri, 27 Mar 2015 03:36:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=242283 In a bid to increase sales of its mobile system-on-chip devices as well as to continue offering unique solutions to the market, Intel Corp. reportedly plans to team up with Google for hybrid 2-in-1 mobile computers running Chrome OS. Intel already has multiple reference designs of 2-in-1 hybrid PCs with 11” to 13” displays powered …

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In a bid to increase sales of its mobile system-on-chip devices as well as to continue offering unique solutions to the market, Intel Corp. reportedly plans to team up with Google for hybrid 2-in-1 mobile computers running Chrome OS.

Intel already has multiple reference designs of 2-in-1 hybrid PCs with 11” to 13” displays powered by various microprocessors, including high-performance Core M as well as low-cost Atom. However, all of these personal computers are designed to run Microsoft Windows operating system. In a bid to enable more affordable 2-in-1s, Intel wants Google to develop a special version of Chrome OS for hybrid PCs, a media report claims.

The world’s largest maker of microprocessors plans to team up with Asustek Computer, Acer, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Lenovo, Quanta Computer and Pegatron Technology to launch 2-in-1 Chromebooks already in the second quarter of 2015, reports DigiTimes. It is projected that such PCs will be 10 per cent cheaper than similar systems featuring Microsoft Windows.

The 2-in-1 hybrid PCs running Chrome OS will be initially aimed at the U.S. education market, but eventually will also be sold in various emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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It is unknown how well is Google Chrome OS prepared for hybrid 2-in-1 PCs. While the search giant plans to merge its Android and Chrome OS operating systems in the long term future, the two OSes are still very different: Android is optimized for touchscreen input, whereas Chrome OS works better with keyboard and touchpad/mouse.

Intel, Google and PC makers did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Desktops and notebooks running Google Chrome OS operating systems have failed to capture any substantial part of the market. Will a new form-factor help Chrome OS to gain popularity in the light of upcoming Windows 10? Let’s wait and see!

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Google: USB 3.1 type-C connector coming to Android phones shortly https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/google-usb-reversible-type-c-connector-coming-to-android-phones-shortly/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/google-usb-reversible-type-c-connector-coming-to-android-phones-shortly/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2015 02:25:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=239708 The recently introduced USB 3.1 reversible type-C connector has a number of breakthrough benefits that will eventually make it the most popular type of wired interconnection for various devices in the world. However, before that happens, it should be adopted by device makers. Apparently, Google is confident that upcoming Android-based smartphones will feature USB type-C …

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The recently introduced USB 3.1 reversible type-C connector has a number of breakthrough benefits that will eventually make it the most popular type of wired interconnection for various devices in the world. However, before that happens, it should be adopted by device makers. Apparently, Google is confident that upcoming Android-based smartphones will feature USB type-C receptacles very soon.

Google has published a video where it describes advantages that the USB 3.1 type-C connector has over traditional USB implementations. As reported, USB 3.1 type-C supports data transfer rates of up to 10Gb/s, it can deliver up to 100W of power to devices, it can even connect monitors (featuring DisplayPort 1.3 or MHL 3.0 technologies) to personal computers or other devices. All-in-all, USB 3.1 type-C is one of the most universal connectors ever introduced.

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At present, only a limited number of personal computers feature all new USB type-C ports, including Apple MacBook, Google Chromebook Pixel and select desktop systems powered by the latest mainboards from companies like Asustek Computer, Asrock, MicroStar International and so on. When it comes to peripherals, everything is even less rosy: so far, various manufacturers have announced less than a dozen of USB 3.1 type-C devices. But it looks like everything is going to change pretty shortly.

Google claims that various manufacturers of smartphones and Chromebooks will equip their products with USB 3.1 type-C receptacles shortly. This will catalyze makers of peripherals to introduce new devices (e.g., flash memory sticks) compatible with new ports. Improved availability of USB 3.1 type-C gadgets will stimulate PC makers to install new connectors on their systems. At the end, USB 3.1 type-C could get adopted by the mass market very quickly thanks to its usage on smartphones running Android as well as on Apple’s new MacBook notebooks (and upcoming laptops, too).

“We at Google are very committed to the USB type-C spec,” said Adam Rodriguez, a product manager at Google, in a special video dedicated to USB type-C connector. “Expect to see this in a lot of Chromebooks and Android phones in the near future.”

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-J0FWWDuRg']

Check out KitGuru's hands-on preview of Asustek's implementation of USB 3.1 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Typically, it takes a long time before new standards get accepted by the masses. However, if loads of Google Android-based smartphones truly adopt USB 3.1 type-C technology shortly, the new standard will become a mass market technology in about a year from initial arrival. Unfortunately, when it comes to personal computers, it will take a while before PCs and peripherals embrace the new interconnection because of various reasons.

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AMD not interested in Chromebooks – Mark Papermaster https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/amd-not-interested-in-chromebooks-mark-papermaster/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/amd-not-interested-in-chromebooks-mark-papermaster/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2015 23:59:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=237997 Chromebooks, personal computers powered by Google Chrome operating system, have become relatively popular among students in the U.S. because of their low price. At least in theory, such PCs should make a perfect match with inexpensive microprocessors from Advanced Micro Devices. Unfortunately, AMD is not interested in Chromebooks. And there are perfect reasons for that. …

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Chromebooks, personal computers powered by Google Chrome operating system, have become relatively popular among students in the U.S. because of their low price. At least in theory, such PCs should make a perfect match with inexpensive microprocessors from Advanced Micro Devices. Unfortunately, AMD is not interested in Chromebooks. And there are perfect reasons for that.

“You have to really look at the Chromebook, and what Google’s objective with it is,” said Mark Papermaster, chief technology officer of AMD, reports PCWorld. “For us, it's just a business decision, when you need our type of CPU and graphics technology that can make a difference.”

AMD’s decision seems to be pragmatic and logical. IDC estimates that only 4.6 million Chromebooks were sold in 2014, compared to 304 million personal computers featuring Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows shipped  in 2014. Fighting for Chromebook contracts costs money since AMD needs to help engineers of PC makers to integrate its chips. Moreover, AMD needs to invest in development of drivers and firmware for Google Chrome-based PCs. Meanwhile, revenues and profits on that market are extremely limited.

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While average selling prices of AMD's processors are rather low, the company does not want to sell its accelerated processing units for ultra-low-cost personal computers with minimal margins.

“We play in the whole range of [the] market,” said Mr. Papermaster. “We’ll play in [the low-cost] value. You have to at least get paid for that value when you’re working on graphics. You go below that, and you’re looking at $7 chips.”

By contrast, AMD’s arch-rival Intel offers Celeron chips for Chromebooks. However, the reason why Intel offers such chips is not because it wants to earn additional revenue. The company does not want ARM-based system-on-chips to make it into notebooks, according to Dean McCarron, principal analyst at Mercury Research. Intel wants x86 to be architecture of choice for PCs. AMD, who owns an ARMv8-A license and can develop and sell microprocessors featuring ARM architecture, does not care about prosperity of x86.

“For whatever reason, Chromebooks make a lot of sense for Intel to pursue, but I agree with AMD's perspective that it doesn't make financial sense for AMD to chase the segment if they're not seeing a positive margin,” said the analyst. “Perhaps Intel is using Chromebooks as a bulwark against ARM encroachment into the traditional PC client space, and this motivates them to pursue markets AMD would have little interest in.”

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: On the one hand, AMD’s pragmatic approach to Chromebooks seems to be completely logical. At times when AMD needs to cut-down its R&D budgets, it should not spend on an operating system that is not important. On the other hand, in the future Google will blend Chrome and Android and this is when both platforms will gain importance for everyone.

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Google will apparently launch a new Chromebook Pixel soon https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/matthew-wilson/google-will-apparently-launch-a-new-chromebook-pixel-soon/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/matthew-wilson/google-will-apparently-launch-a-new-chromebook-pixel-soon/#respond Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:02:10 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=237329 A while back, Google launched the Chromebook Pixel, a premium laptop designed to showcase Chrome OS with a really nice high-resolution display. The Chromebook Pixel is now two years old but apparently Google has a new model coming soon. Apparently the upcoming device was confirmed on stage at the TeamWork 2015 Google partner event, by …

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A while back, Google launched the Chromebook Pixel, a premium laptop designed to showcase Chrome OS with a really nice high-resolution display. The Chromebook Pixel is now two years old but apparently Google has a new model coming soon.

Apparently the upcoming device was confirmed on stage at the TeamWork 2015 Google partner event, by Renee Niemi, who is in charge of the Android and Chrome for Work and Education programs. According to a site called OMG Chrome, the presentation was available on YouTube before being taken down.

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The site transcribed part of the video, during which Niemi said: “We do have a new Pixel coming out and it will be coming out soon. We will be selling it but I just have to set your expectations: this is a development platform. This is really a proof of concept. We don’t make very many of these — we really don’t. And, our developers and our Googlers consume 85% of what we produce. But yes, we do have a new Pixel coming out.”

The Chromebook Pixel was likely never a consumer oriented device, indicated by the high price tag. However, this would mark the first time that Google actually acknowledged that fact, it will be interesting to see if that reflects in the marketing and reveal of the device.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Chromebooks tend to sit at the budget end of the market, partially due to the limitations of Chrome OS. What do you guys think of Chrome OS? Have any of you ever used a Chromebook? 

Source: OMG Chrome

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Notebooks with touchscreens to disappear next year https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/notebooks-with-touchscreens-to-disappear-next-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/notebooks-with-touchscreens-to-disappear-next-year/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2014 04:15:50 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=224411 Laptops with touchscreen displays have never really gained popularity because of various reasons. Recently it turned out that the majority of notebook makers and contract manufacturers have ceased to develop mobile PCs in clamshell form-factor with touchscreens and next year such computers will disappear from the market completely. In 2015, notebook makers will turn to …

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Laptops with touchscreen displays have never really gained popularity because of various reasons. Recently it turned out that the majority of notebook makers and contract manufacturers have ceased to develop mobile PCs in clamshell form-factor with touchscreens and next year such computers will disappear from the market completely.

In 2015, notebook makers will turn to focus on conventional non-touchscreen laptops as well as 2-in-1 devices, reports DigiTimes. Touch-screens make notebooks more expensive while bringing no actual advantages. Since the majority of contract manufacturers and notebook vendors either already have 2-in-1 hybrid devices in their product lineups or plans, it makes no sense to build notebooks with touchscreens.

Currently available notebooks with touchscreens will likely be the last mainstream laptops to feature touch controls, according to the web-site, which cites industry sources. Once the channel sells out existing inventory, there will be no more products of such class.

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Several years ago when demand for laptops started to get lower, whereas sales of media tablets increased quickly, Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp. and a number of notebook makers proposed to make laptops with touchscreens. Unfortunately, such products have not gained any traction on the market because of high prices. Moreover, since multiple companies have already introduced hybrid 2-in-1 devices, notebooks with touchscreens essentially became obsolete.

Next year Microsoft and Intel will continue to stimulate notebook vendors to offer low-cost notebooks as well as hybrid devices. Expect leading notebook vendors to continue offering $200 – $300 PCs, which will compete against solutions based on Google Chrome OS operating system as well as ARM-powered system-on-chips. Still, Intel will also encourage PC makers to introduce advanced 2-in-1 systems based on Skylake processors that will feature WiGig wireless technology as well as Rezence wireless charging.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Given low popularity of notebooks with touch-screens, their absence from the market will not be missed…

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Google will provide 1TB of storage with new Chromebooks https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/google-will-provide-1tb-of-storage-with-new-chromebooks/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/google-will-provide-1tb-of-storage-with-new-chromebooks/#respond Sat, 22 Nov 2014 04:24:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=222982 Laptops based on Google’s Chrome operating system – Chromebooks – are known for their limited local storage capacity and necessity to rely on cloud storage solutions that cost money. Luckily for those, who plan to buy a Chromebook this year, Google now offers 1TB of online storage for free for a limited time. During this holiday season …

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Laptops based on Google’s Chrome operating system – Chromebooks – are known for their limited local storage capacity and necessity to rely on cloud storage solutions that cost money. Luckily for those, who plan to buy a Chromebook this year, Google now offers 1TB of online storage for free for a limited time.

During this holiday season – between now and the 1st of January, 2015 – those who purchase a a new, eligible Chromebook starting at $199 gets 1TB of Google Drive storage for two years – almost $240 in value – absolutely free, Google announced on Friday. Given that most Chromebooks come with only 16GB of NAND flash storage, which is not enough for normal work, the offer should make Chromebooks a little more competitive.

The move should help Google’s partners to sell more Chromebooks during the holiday season and give the search giant and PC makers an idea how free online storage affects sales. Perhaps, if Google and its allies find that 1TB Google Drive bundled with a Chromebook significantly spurs demand for Chromebooks, expect them to offer free online storage with future notebooks featuring Chrome OS.

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The main problem of Chromebooks is that they require Google services and Internet connection to offer users advanced functionality. Since the quality of Internet connections varies, many people just play it safe and get familiar Windows-based laptops. Still, the situation is gradually improving and there are programs for the Chrome OS that can work offline as well. Moreover, if every Chromebook is shipped with 1TB Google Drive, many users will get an impression that such mobile PCs offer similar amount of storage as traditional laptops featuring Apple Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is completely unclear how significantly free cloud storage spurs demand for Chromebooks. Would you buy a Chromebook instead of a regular notebook provided that you were given 1TB of cloud storage for two years free?

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Asustek and Lenovo prep $149 Chromebooks – report https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/asustek-and-lenovo-prep-149-chromebooks-report/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/asustek-and-lenovo-prep-149-chromebooks-report/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:40:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=221829 Asustek Computer and Lenovo Group are about to offer Chromebooks – notebooks powered by Google’s Chrome OS operating system – with incredibly low price-tag of just $149, according to a media report. The new price-point for notebooks may cause further erosion of notebook ASPs [average selling prices], a bad news for manufacturers. The ultra-low-cost Chromebooks …

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Asustek Computer and Lenovo Group are about to offer Chromebooks – notebooks powered by Google’s Chrome OS operating system – with incredibly low price-tag of just $149, according to a media report. The new price-point for notebooks may cause further erosion of notebook ASPs [average selling prices], a bad news for manufacturers.

The ultra-low-cost Chromebooks from Asus and Lenovo will be based on the quad-core Rockchip RK3288 system-on-chip (SoC) and will feature 11.6” displays, reports DigiTimes. It is believed that the new laptops will sport feature-set akin to that of modern Chromebooks (i.e., solid-state storage, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, 720p webcam, stereo speakers, microphone, etc.), but will cost only about $149, based on estimates from DigiTimes Research.

The Rockchip RK3288 application processor sports four ARM Cortex-A17 general-purpose cores, quad-cluster ARM Mali-T764 graphics processing engine (supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1, OpenCL 1.1, Renderscript and Direct3D 11.1), sophisticated video decoding/encoding capabilities (H.264, H.264-MVC, H.264-level 5.2 (for UHD video), VP8, H.265 and other codecs supported), dual-channel DDR3/LPDDR3 memory controller as well as advanced display controller (up to 3840*2160 resolutions are supported).

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The cheap Chromebooks from Asustek Computer and Lenovo will become available already in the first half of 2015.

Usage of low-cost system-on-chip from Rockchip, which integrates pretty much everything a personal computing device needs, will allow Asus and Lenovo to maintain minimal acceptable profit margins while offering PCs that will cost only $149 in Asia and North America.

The emergence of ultra-low-cost Chromebooks will add pressure on ultra-low-cost PCs based on Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system. The latter still have to use x86 microprocessors, which is why their hardware is more expensive compared to hardware that can power Chromebooks.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Intel will respond to ultra-cheap Chromebooks. Microsoft needs to ensure that its Windows OS remains the world’s most popular PC operating system, whereas Intel needs to maintain its PC processor leadership. Chromebooks based on ARM SoCs are a threat for both companies.

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Asustek, Dell and Lenovo eye Chromebooks https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/asustek-dell-and-lenovo-eye-chromebooks/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/asustek-dell-and-lenovo-eye-chromebooks/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:46:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=219021 Although Google’s Chrome OS continues to command a small fraction of the world’s PC market, it still attracts a lot of attention from PC makers who hope to improve their sales with the help of non-Windows-based personal computers. At present Chromebooks – notebooks that run Chrome OS – are offered by Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Samsung …

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Although Google’s Chrome OS continues to command a small fraction of the world’s PC market, it still attracts a lot of attention from PC makers who hope to improve their sales with the help of non-Windows-based personal computers.

At present Chromebooks – notebooks that run Chrome OS – are offered by Acer, Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics (in addition to small PC makers), but three more major PC makers want to introduce their PCs based on the operating system from Google. Asustek Computer, Dell and Lenovo Group all plan to enter the market of Chromebooks late this year, reports DigiTimes.

Dell and Lenovo reportedly intend to introduce one or two Chromebooks later this year, whereas Asustek Computer is projected “flood the market with many different models starting the fourth quarter of 2014.” Since the competition on the market of Chromebooks will increase in the future, their prices are likely to drop.

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It is noteworthy that earlier this year Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo and some other PC makers confirmed plans to release Windows-based notebooks with $199 – $249 price-points in 2014. It is unclear whether the plans still exist and how do Acer and Lenovo plan to avoid competition between their own Chromebooks and inexpensive Windows-based notebooks.

Since all systems based on Google’s Chrome OS platform rely on the company’s online services and therefore depend on Internet connection, many analysts believe that Chromebooks will remain a niche market in the coming years.

Asus, Dell and Lenovo did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is surprising to see PC makers eyeing the market of ultra-low-cost personal computers again, several years after the market of netbooks collapsed. While ULCPCs in 2014 will be dramatically better than netbooks in 2009, it is obvious that they will not be systems that everyone dreams about. Why do PC makers think that they will be in demand?

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Google continues path to merge Android and Chrome OS https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/anton-shilov/google-makes-another-step-towards-merge-of-android-and-chrome-os/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/anton-shilov/google-makes-another-step-towards-merge-of-android-and-chrome-os/#comments Sat, 18 Oct 2014 01:59:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=217358 Five years ago Sergei Brin, a co-founder of Google, said that over time the Android and the Chrome OS operating systems would become one. Since then the company has made a number of steps towards this goal and recently it made yet another one. The vice president of Android engineering will now also manage development …

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Five years ago Sergei Brin, a co-founder of Google, said that over time the Android and the Chrome OS operating systems would become one. Since then the company has made a number of steps towards this goal and recently it made yet another one. The vice president of Android engineering will now also manage development of the Chrome OS.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s vice president of engineering for its Android mobile-operating system, is now also responsible for the engineering team behind Google’s Chrome operating system, reports the Wall Street Journal. While the company is not merging the engineering teams developing Android and Chrome OS, the new appointment once again proves that the two operating systems will eventually become one.

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Google appointed Sundar Pichai to oversee both Android and Chrome OS business groups in 2013. At this year’s Google I/O conference Google unveiled initiative to run Android apps on Chrome OS. The new appointment will ensure that engineering/development of the two platforms will go in the same direction.

While both Android and Chrome OS are developed by Google, the operating systems are vastly different. Android powers smartphones, tablets as well as some other gadgets (and is optimized mostly for touchscreen input) and can be customized in many ways by hardware makers. The operating system powers the vast majority of smartphones on the planet and a huge share of media tablets. Chrome OS is designed for personal computers (and input from keyboard and mouse/touchpad) and it only can be customized or updated by Google itself. Only around 2 per cent of PCs sold today rely on Google’s Chrome OS.

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Merging the two operating systems will significantly strengthen Google’s positions on the market of PCs and will allow it to create an ultimate eco-system of different devices running similar software. Given all the benefits that Google might get from an eco-system that spans from wearables to PCs, TVs and cars, all the potential problems associated with merging the two OSs do not seem to be important.

Google did not comment on the news-story and did not confirm the appointment.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While it is obvious that Android and Chrome OS will become one platform, the question is when Google plans to make this happen. It is also interesting to note that Google's move looks similar to Microsoft's decision to use Windows on all devices, from smartphones to workstations.

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Laptop makers cease to develop notebooks with touch-screens https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/laptop-makers-cease-to-develop-notebooks-with-touch-screens/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/laptop-makers-cease-to-develop-notebooks-with-touch-screens/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2014 22:17:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=214368 After offering notebooks with touchscreen displays that have not become popular for several years, laptop vendors are reportedly pulling the plug and will cease development of such machines. Several years ago when demand for laptops started to get lower, whereas sales of media tablets increased quickly, Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp. and a number of notebook …

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After offering notebooks with touchscreen displays that have not become popular for several years, laptop vendors are reportedly pulling the plug and will cease development of such machines.

Several years ago when demand for laptops started to get lower, whereas sales of media tablets increased quickly, Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp. and a number of notebook makers proposed to make laptops with touchscreens. Since then demand for tablets has stabilized, multiple companies have introduced hybrid 2-in-1 devices and notebooks with touchscreens have essentially become obsolete. Therefore, it is not a surprise that PC makers have ceased to develop new touch-enabled laptops.

Notebooks set to be introduced in the fourth quarter of this year will not feature touch-screens, reports DigiTimes web-site. From now on touch-screens will only be added to 2-in-1s and ultrabooks. Traditional notebooks and gaming notebooks will no longer feature touchscreens, according to the report that cites sources from the upstream supply chain.

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Keeping in mind that touchscreens cost additional money, it is not surprising that laptop makers no longer want to use them, especially in the light of the fact that Microsoft and Intel want notebook makers to offer very cheap laptops in order to compete against solutions based on Google Chrome OS operating system as well as ARM-powered system-on-chips.

It is reported that Taiwanese and Chinese notebook vendors pin their hopes on Windows 9 in 2015 and hope that new software and hardware innovations will stimulate demand for PCs.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Notebooks hardly need touchscreens, which is why popularity of such machines have always been low. It will be interesting to see how the new laptops powered by ultra-low-power Broadwell microprocessors as well as Windows 9 operating system will affect the market. Theoretically, slimmer form-factors and an OS better tailored for classic input should catalyse many to buy new PCs. However, only time will tell what really is going to happen.

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Acer introduces Chromebook with Nvidia Tegra K1 inside https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/acer-introduces-chromebook-with-nvidia-tegra-k1-inside/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/acer-introduces-chromebook-with-nvidia-tegra-k1-inside/#respond Tue, 12 Aug 2014 22:59:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=207067 Acer Group has announced the world’s first Chromebook – a notebook running Google’s Chrome OS – powered by Nvidia Corp.’s Tegra K1 system-on-chip. The laptop offers everything that the Chrome OS has to offer in addition to a high-performance application processor from Nvidia and up to 13 hours of battery life. The Acer Chromebook 13 …

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Acer Group has announced the world’s first Chromebook – a notebook running Google’s Chrome OS – powered by Nvidia Corp.’s Tegra K1 system-on-chip. The laptop offers everything that the Chrome OS has to offer in addition to a high-performance application processor from Nvidia and up to 13 hours of battery life.

The Acer Chromebook 13 is based on quad-core Nvidia Tegra K1 SoCs with ARM Cortex-A15 general-purpose cores and Kepler-based GeForce graphics processor with 192 stream processors. The systems come with 13.3” anti-glare displays, LPDDR3 RAM, solid-state storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2*2 MIMO antenna, USB 3.0, 720p webcam, stereo speakers, a microphone and so on.

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The new Chromebooks from Acer will exist in three versions:

  • The Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T9B0 – 1920*1080 full HD display, 2GB of memory and a 16GB NAND flash storage. It carries $299.99 price-tag in the U.S. (€223, £177 without taxes);
  • The Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T1UU – 1920*1080 full HD display, 4GB of memory and a 32GB NAND flash storage. It is priced at $379.99 in the U.S. (€283, £225 without taxes);
  • The Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T7NN – 1366*768 full HD display, 2GB of memory and a 16GB NAND flash storage. The recommended price is $279.99 (€208, £165 without taxes) in the U.S.

The design of Acer Chromebook 13 resembles that of Apple’s MacBook Air, whereas the weight does not exceed 1.5 kilograms. Acer claims that its Chromebooks have battery life between 11 and 13 hours.

Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311_rear left facing 2

The main problem of Chromebooks is that they require Internet connection to offer users advanced functionality. Since the quality of Internet connections varies, the majority of people just play it safe and get familiar Windows-based laptops. Still, the situation is gradually improving and there are programs for the Chrome OS that can work offline as well.

Gartner predicts that sales of Chromebooks will only reach 5.2 million units this year, hence, Acer will barely sell a lot of its Chromebook 13 devices. Nonetheless, it is remarkable that the company can provide basic computing functionality and premium visual quality using a mobile application processor.

The Acer Chromebook 13 starts shipping this month and will be available in European, North American and Asia Pacific markets.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While the prospects of Chromebooks are not truly good, it should be noted that prospects of low-cost PCs running SoCs akin to Nvidia’s Tegra K1 are pretty nice. Next-generation Windows 9 “Threshold” is expected to support both ARM and x86 microprocessors (since it will be designed for smartphones, tablets and PCs), which will automatically open the door for Tegra K1 to the market currently dominated by Intel Corp. and AMD. This is when Tegra may actually start to shine.

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Sales of Chromebooks to reach 5.2 million this year – Gartner https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/sales-of-chromebooks-to-reach-5-2-million-this-year-gartner/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/sales-of-chromebooks-to-reach-5-2-million-this-year-gartner/#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:59:22 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=206877 Although there is a lot of buzz about Chromebooks – computers running Google’s Chrome operating system – actual sales of such systems are pretty low and will remain on that level going forward, according to Gartner. While shipments of Chromebooks do grow fast, the success of Chrome cannot be compared to that of Google Android …

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Although there is a lot of buzz about Chromebooks – computers running Google’s Chrome operating system – actual sales of such systems are pretty low and will remain on that level going forward, according to Gartner. While shipments of Chromebooks do grow fast, the success of Chrome cannot be compared to that of Google Android OS.

The analysts from Gartner believe that sales of Chromebooks will reach 5.2 million units in 2014, a 79 per cent increase from 2013. By 2017, sales of Chromebooks are set to nearly triple to reach 14.4 million units. Demand for Chromebooks is mainly driven by the education segment in the U.S. In fact, 85 per cent of Chromebooks sold in 2013 were used for education purposes. Gartner assumes that Chromebooks could be used by businesses too. For example, specific workers, such as staff in banking, financial services, estate agents and hotel receptionists could use Chromebooks.

“So far, businesses have looked at Chromebooks, but not bought many,” said Isabelle Durand, principal analyst at Gartner. “By adopting Chromebooks and cloud computing, businesses can benefit; they can shift their focus from managing devices to managing something much more important — their data.”

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PC makers get more interested in Chromebooks as well. Gartner reminds that in 2011 only two vendors – Acer and Samsung – offered Chromebooks. Nowadays such PCs are offered by all top PC makers, including Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung.

Chromebooks will remain a niche market during the next five years. To reach a broader audience, PC makers need to offer better features that address cloud-based usage patterns: faster connectivity, faster memory access, faster and larger solid-state drives, and strong user support in the education, business and consumer segments.

“Making a competitive Chromebook is not just a matter of hardware and price; what is most important is to show how the device's cloud-based architecture provides genuine advantages to users,” said Ms. Durand.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Keeping in mind that Microsoft is not standing still and offers very flexible pricing on its Windows operating system, many PC makers should be less inclined to use the Chrome OS for their systems. As a result, it remains to be seen whether the total available market of Chromebooks will indeed reach 14.4 million units in 2017.

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Intel bets on Chromebooks, announces family of new chips https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-bets-on-chromebooks-announces-family-of-new-chips/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-bets-on-chromebooks-announces-family-of-new-chips/#respond Wed, 07 May 2014 13:49:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=191704 At present personal computers based on Google ChromeOS represent less than one per cent of all systems on the market. While the researchers forecast that eventually sales of such PCs will grow, they will still remain a small fraction of the global PC market. Nonetheless, it looks like Intel Corp. and its partners believe in …

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At present personal computers based on Google ChromeOS represent less than one per cent of all systems on the market. While the researchers forecast that eventually sales of such PCs will grow, they will still remain a small fraction of the global PC market. Nonetheless, it looks like Intel Corp. and its partners believe in ChromeOS. This week the chip giant introduced a line of chips specifically for Chromebooks.

The family of microprocessors that Intel aims at notebooks powered by ChromeOS are three Intel Celeron chips with two or four cores based on Bay Trail-M design and Silvermont micro-architecture with 4.3W – 7.5W thermal design power as well as several dual-core Intel Core i3 microprocessors based on Haswell micro-architecture with 11.5W – 15W thermal design power.

Several leading notebook makers, including Acer, Asustek Computer, Lenovo and Toshiba, plan to release ChromeOS-based laptops powered by Intel Celeron system-on-chips. The systems are projected to deliver up to 11 hours of battery life.

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Acer and Dell also plan to release Chromebooks based on the Core i3 “Haswell” chips with ultra-low power consumption. Chromebooks with Intel Core i3 inside will feature Intel Wi-Fi 802.11ac modules, delivering state-of-the-art connectivity to entry-level PCs. Such systems will cost starting from $349.

In addition, Hewlett-Packard and LG Electronics intend to start selling desktops featuring Intel Celeron “Haswell” chips next month in the U.S.

Intel claims that with today's announcements it became the No. 1 microprocessor supplier for the ChromeOS eco-system with 20 design wins. The company also says it is the first and only to support 64-bit Chrome OS.

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“Intel has grown to become the No. 1 microprocessor in Chrome systems,” said Navin Shenoy, vice president and general manager of Intel mobile client platforms group. “We've been working on five generations of Chrome and after Google, Intel is the largest contributor to the Chromium OS. Intel chips are the first and only to support 64-bit Chrome OS. This deep history and investment combined with our stellar Bay Trail and Haswell SoCs mean Intel can offer the best performing devices at every price point in the Chrome category. When people are shopping for Chrome devices, they should look for Intel Inside.”

Earlier this year ABI Research estimated that 2.1 million Chromebooks shipped in 2013 with nearly 89 per cent of total shipments reaching North America. The market share of Chromebooks was around 0.6 per cent last year. As Chromebook shipments expand globally, ABI Research forecasted an increase of compound annual growth rate of 28 per cent to more significant 11 million in 2019.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It seems that the main reason why Intel is so vocal about its support for Chrome OS is simple: there are Chromebooks based on various high-performance ARM-based system-on-chips available today from various manufacturers. The world’s largest chipmaker wants to stop the expansion of ARM application processors on the market of PCs, which is why it rolls-out reasonably-priced chips with ultra-low power consumption aimed at Chromebooks. What is unclear is why PC makers are so enthusiastic about the Chrome OS?

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Dell licenses Android-, Chrome- and Xbox-related patents from Microsoft https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/dell-licenses-android-chrome-and-xbox-related-patents-from-microsoft/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/dell-licenses-android-chrome-and-xbox-related-patents-from-microsoft/#respond Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:25:36 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=184775 Dell and Microsoft this week announced a patent licensing agreement that covers a broad set of intellectual property and also causes a lot of questions. Under the terms of the deal, Dell will obtain licenses to use Microsoft IP that covers Google Android and Chrome platforms. Moreover, Dell may get a license on… Xbox gaming …

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Dell and Microsoft this week announced a patent licensing agreement that covers a broad set of intellectual property and also causes a lot of questions. Under the terms of the deal, Dell will obtain licenses to use Microsoft IP that covers Google Android and Chrome platforms. Moreover, Dell may get a license on… Xbox gaming console.

Through this arrangement, Microsoft and Dell have agreed to “license each company’s applicable intellectual property” related to devices based on Google Android and Chrome operating systems and Xbox gaming consoles. Under the terms of the pact, the two firms agreed on “royalties for Dell’s products running the Android or Chrome platforms” and on “consideration to Dell for a license for Xbox gaming consoles”.

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It is not a secret that Microsoft owns a number of essential patents that cover operating systems and that it receives royalties from virtually all makers of devices that are powered by Google Android and Chrome platforms.

At present Dell sells two Google Android-based Venue media tablets and almost no products based on the Chrome OS platform. It is logical to expect the company to expand the lineup of mobile gadgets featuring Google’s platforms in its lineup in the future. Nowadays Google just cannot miss the smartphone opportunity, so expect it to enter this market.

What is more interesting is that Microsoft and Dell also agreed on a “consideration to Dell for a license for Xbox gaming consoles”. Since Dell is likely to enter new markets in the coming years, it might license certain Xbox-related patents in order to create, for example, an Android-based console with some Xbox technologies inside. However, it is also possible that Dell may be mulling to license Xbox hardware and build custom Xbox consoles.

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Licensing Xbox 360 or Xbox One to others could allow Microsoft to concentrate on what it does best: software. However, the company pursues the strategy under which it should offer integrated platforms consisting of hardware, software and services. The Xbox business fits perfectly into that framework, so licensing Xbox hardware makes no sense for Microsoft.

It is also possible that Dell is working on certain new products and/or technologies that use intellectual property covered by Xbox-related patents (e.g., Kinect-like motion sensors) and wants to ensure that it is not going to run into troubles when the novelties hit the market.

KitGuru Says: While we have no idea what is going on, we are going to investigate this in the coming days and weeks.

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Lenovo introduces education focussed Chromebook ThinkPad X131e https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/blair-mcclelland/lenovo-introduces-education-focussed-chromebook-thinkpad-x131e/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/blair-mcclelland/lenovo-introduces-education-focussed-chromebook-thinkpad-x131e/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:32:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122296 Days after rumours starting to circulate around Lenovo's involvement with Chrome OS, the first such device has been revealed. Lenovo has introduced the ThinkPad X131e, an 11.6 inch Chromebook aimed exclusively at K-12 (kindergarten through to the end of high-school) education segment. Availability will commence from February 26th via special bid volume pricing starting at $429. Unlike other …

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Days after rumours starting to circulate around Lenovo's involvement with Chrome OS, the first such device has been revealed. Lenovo has introduced the ThinkPad X131e, an 11.6 inch Chromebook aimed exclusively at K-12 (kindergarten through to the end of high-school) education segment. Availability will commence from February 26th via special bid volume pricing starting at $429.

Unlike other Chromebooks already available, Lenovo's offering has an extra degree of durability with “rubber bumpers around the top cover and stronger corners to protect the Chromebook against wear and tear.” Being aimed at the education sector customisation options such as colours, asset tagging and school logo etching are available.

Running Chrome OS, the ThinkPad X131e has an 11.6 inch 1366×768 anti-glare LCD, a “latest generation Intel” processor, 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 16 GB SSD for storage. Connectivity options include HDMI, VGA, two USB 3.0 ports and a single USB 2.0 port. Battery life comes in at a claimed 6.5 hours and the Chromebook will weigh 1.78 KG.

KitGuru says: With lower maintenance costs than an equivalent Windows-based laptops, expect Chromebooks such as these to sell well.

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