Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of Google’s beloved laptop – the Chromebook! Because you’re well aware of what a Chromebook is, because that’s what we’re talking about here at Chrome Unboxed, we’ll take a few moments to discuss what Google revealed on the blog about the future of these devices. Yes, Chromebooks have come a long, long way in the last decade, but they’re just getting started – the future holds many interesting goals.
First of all, if you’ve not seen it yet, Google is celebrating this anniversary with a host of new features – many of which we’ve been discovering for some time. Holding Space is now called ‘Tote’, Phone Hub officially launches, global media controls are now on the shelf and more are coming to the masses with Chrome OS 89! However, this is just the beginning.
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Google plans to make Chromebooks even smarter and more useful over the next ten years. To begin with, he decided that his AI technology should be more common in the core experiences of the operating system and not just a separate tool (read: Google Assistant). We’re already starting to see this happen with the Quick Answers feature that allows you to right – click on the text on the OS and get Assistant to tell you more about it. The company is committed to finding new ways to proactively assist users with these tools.
Google then discussed a future where Chromebooks would integrate more sensor technologies for a personalized experience. Although we do not yet know what it will look like, I think it will contain at least some sensors available in smartphones. The idea of having a proximity sensor in a laptop that can detect how far you are from there, or to perform a task when you approach it like the Nest Hub recently started doing, is pretty cool, I think.
Other common phone sensors include an accelerometer that tracks tilt, vibration and acceleration (for Chrome OS tablets?), GPS, Gyroscope, which detects the physical orientation of a device, and more. I’m letting your imagination run wild, but one thing’s for sure: we’ll be seeing more Chromebooks with built-in fingerprint sensors. I imagine that at some point we will also get some kind of function for unlocking the face, but there is still no way to know. Either way, that would be my main request and it certainly makes sense when you think about the natural evolution of Chromebooks, does not it?
Google also mentioned that they have decided to expand their portfolio of mobile connectivity devices, such as the upcoming, mysterious ‘Coachz’ to begin with! The last time I remembered that there was a Chromebook for LTE was a version of the Samsung Plus, but for some reason the company killed the idea. Fortunately, it is coming back in full force.
I woke up this morning with my head spinning with possibilities. The future of Chromebooks is bright, and I simply can not wait to see what Google brings to the table. Although many of its products are still being brought to the shelves or going into the sunset, Chromebooks have continued to improve over time. The company’s investment in these devices can certainly be traced back to the fact that their visionary – Sundar Pichai – is now the CEO of Google and Alphabet. He clearly wants to make Chromebooks a household name and see a future where it is central to the lives of millions – I’m on board, are you?
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