Publications

Chromebooks : GIF creation - made easy.

Click here to see a Chrome Unboxed page from June 2024 called "The new ChromeOS GIF recorder is simple and awesome" that shows you how easy it is.

Chromebooks : Google's Information page.

Click here to see a What's New page for Chromebooks, that is updated regularly by Google, featuring links to lots of other related topics that are worth knowing about. 

chromeOS : Product name re-brand and "What's new in v.100"

Click here to see a Chrome Unboxed article from March 2022 that highlights these new, or updated, features ...

chromeOS : Upcoming 'Bruschetta' features that will bring third-party VMs [Virtual Machines] into everyday use.

Click here to see a Chrome Unboxed article from February 2022. Is a bit long, and a bit techie, but don't worry, just let the keywords wash over you (don't get bogged down in all the detail) and you will get the 'big-picture' that this is a real game changer. 

Basically by using a technique known as 'containers' it will be possible to encapsulate Windows [or other] programs, including all of their dependencies, into a bespoke package that runs inside a container in a Virtual Machine.

Imagine Photoshop etc. running on a Chromebook like a well oiled sewing machine.

chromeOS : Two major changes regarding Cloudready and ChromeOS

Google has announced the incorporation of the Cloudready [read traditional PC kit] code into the main chromeOS product in the near future which opens the door for the previously restricted Cloudready functionality to be extended. This is because it will no longer bound by licencing issues that prevented it from incorporating things like the Play Store. This is massive for users running the OS on non-Chromebook equipment. 

Also the separation of the Chrome browser code from the main chromeOS base means that browser updates can be applied more regularly and overall the length of support to older equipment will be extended - again a big bonus to users.

Click here to see a Computer World article from 06/04/2021 called "2 colossal chromeOS changes to keep an eye on"

chromeOS : New features coming in version 90 @ April 2021

Click here to see a HowToGeek article called "What’s New in Chrome 90"

chromeOS : Chromebook Help from Google

Click here to see a Google support page called "Tour of your Chromebook"

chromeOS : Chromebook User Guide - 2020 Edition

Click here to see a ChromeStory collection of great tips to help new users get up to speed.

chromeOS  : 5 Useful features from Jan 2021

Click here to read an Android Intelligence article covering ....

• A native Tab Manager

• A built in Clipboard Manager

• A new Quick-Access Centre for files

• Support for Nearby Sharing

• Enhanced Media Controls

10 tips to get started : Dec 2020

Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed article called "10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET STARTED [VIDEO]"

Best of the Year : Dec 2020

Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed article called "THE BEST CHROMEBOOKS OF 2020 [VIDEO]"

chromeOS  : Version 87 : Dec 2020

Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed video that demonstrates a few of the new / enhanced features.

chromeOS [+3 more] for the "Universal Laptop"

Click here to read "Four operating systems: One device. How the Chromebook will become the universal laptop." from an article by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols @ idginsiderpro

Quote "Soon, you'll be able to run not just chromeOS, Android, and Linux on your Chromebook but Windows applications as well. Here's how and what that will mean for your company's PCs and laptops."

chromeOS  : What's New in Sept 2020 ?

Click here to read a blog entry called "Details make the difference: Wi-Fi Sync, Settings and a mic slider"

chromeOS  : 6 Useful features from March 2020

Click here to read an Android Intelligence article covering ....

• System-wide dictation

• Hands-free commands

• Virtual Desks

• A PIN for fast unlocking

• Automatic Night Light mode

• Auto-refreshing wallpaper

Windows Apps coming to chromeOS via Parallels

How is Google doing this? The company has partnered with Parallels, a virtualisation software business. Parallels had already developed a Remote Application Server (RAS) which could virtualise Windows apps and even a full Windows desktop on chromeOS, but users had to be online at all times to access it and performance could lag. Both these key obstacles will now be removed. 

Moreover, they will be removed very soon. While it sounds like a far fetched concept, Google states that Parallels integration with chromeOS will launch “in the Fall of 2020”. 

Caveats? There are a few. First, Google is prioritising support for chromeOS enterprise users, even though wider support is inevitable, Second, gaming support seems unlikely given a) Chromebooks don’t typically have the power to run most Windows games smoothly, b) Google Stadia already caters for this. Third, Windows apps use a lot of storage which may not suit many existing Chromebooks. 

Despite these obstacles, the news has the potential to cause the biggest shake up in computing in years, transforming Chrome OS from a specialist player into the most flexible operating system available (remember: it already runs Android apps). Moreover, what chance Google can add macOS support next? 

chromeOS Guides

Click here for a 9to5google page that is continuously updated with all of their latest articles - well worth reading and bookmarking so you can pop back periodically to see what is going on.

10 Tips for beginners

Click here to see a Chrome Unboxed article from Dec 2023 called "10 tips to get started using your new Chromebook".

101 Tips & Tricks

Click here to see an entry in the Play Store for a book called "Chromebook: 101 Tips & Tricks For chromeOS" that has loads of stuff you may not have heard about.

Working With Split Screens

Click here for a makeuseof article "How to Use Split Screen Mode on Chromebooks" from September 2021. 

Get More Value From Your Device

Click here for an Android Central article called "15 best Chromebook tips and tricks 2020" that may have some things you've not heard about. 

21 essential tips

Click here for a makeuseof article "21 Essential Tips for First-Time Chromebook Users" from May 2020. 

How To Chromebook

Click here for an expanding Google page that provides a range of educational videos to get you up to speed on all kinds of different ways of using your Chromebook. 

5 essential tips

Click here for a short video entitled"5 essential tips for mastering Chromebooks and chromeOS" from February 2021 that is aimed at beginners and is well worth watching. 

A must if using Linux on chromeOS Flex

Click here for a video that stresses the importance of keeping your Linux environment up to date [probably weekly as a minimum] to ensure things run smoothly. 

All software should be kept as current as possible and in the video the vlogger explains the use of "sudo apt update" [that refreshes a list of any / all new components of Linux that are available for your system - but does not apply them] then this is followed by the "sudo apt upgrade" command which actually downloads and installs the changes.

Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes with a range of prices to match.

Click here for a ReviewGeek article  entitled "Why Are Some Chromebooks So Expensive ?" that gives an excellent overview of the differences you are likely to encounter if you are researching models which will hopefully help with your decision making.

Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes with a range of prices to match.

Click here for a Google article that showcases their own Chromebook products as well as many from other leading manufactures. The site also covers a number of useful bits of information including Chromebook Features, Apps and How To's that are worth taking a look at.

Click here for a comprehensive read by The Verge entitled "THE VERGE GUIDE TO CHROME OS AND CHROMEBOOKS" Everything you need to know about Google’s online OS.

Click here to see a "Chromebook User Guide" pdf in Drive

Click here to see the official Neverware "Installation Guide"

Click here to see a TechRepublic article called "Chromebooks : A cheat sheet" that is updated regularly.

Click here to see a HowToGeek article with some useful facts about some surprising capabilities

Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed article on "Upcoming Chromebooks : A Big Ole List" that is updated regularly

Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed article on "Upcoming Chromebooks : New Devices Aplenty" that is updated regularly

Click here for "Daily Deals" on offer at Amazon

Click here for "ChromeUnboxed" recommendations at amazon

Click here to see a HowToGeek article that explains Google is adapting chromeOS to make tablets more powerful

Click here for "Best Apps & Tools" recommended by HowToGeek

Click here for "Chromebooks : A Cheat Sheet" guide by TechRepublic

Click here for an informit.com article that covers 7 sections which provide lots of ways for you to control the look and feel of your device.

Click here to read an article called "6 useful Chrome OS features you probably aren't using"

#1: System-wide dictation

#2: Hands-free commands

#3: Virtual Desks

#4: A PIN for fast unlocking

#5: Automatic Night Light mode

#6: Auto-refreshing wallpaper

Click here for an Android Police article "Here is every new feature and improvement we found in chromeOS 86" @ Oct 2020

Click here for a ChromeUnboxed article introducing changes in Chrome v84 @ July 2020

Click here for a HowToGeek article that introduces some of the changes in Chrome v76 @ July 2019

While most new Chromebooks are able to run native Android Apps unfortunately, due to licensing restrictions [@ June 2018] the Cloudready OS is not able to do the same.

Click here to learn about the Crostini Project

Click here to learn about installing Crouton on Linux systems such as Ubuntu

Click here to read about a feature in 'experimental mode' [at spring 2018] where it looks like the developers are planning something very exciting that will lift your experience above that offered by the standard chromeOS

Click here to read a ChromeUnboxed article about using Virtual Desks post version 77.

Reference material.

Cloudready is a free OS [based on ChromeOS using the Chromium browser by default] and it is regularly maintained by the Neverware development team who have now joined Google and work alongside the chromeOS team.

Updates usually run a little behind the main chromeOS release as it has to be ported and tested on a range of different hardware platforms before being released for general use

See download page for [free] personal use.

N.B. Both the 64 bit and 32 bit versions are available for download together with detailed installation guides.

Obtain "Recovery Utility" for Windows, MAC or chromeOS [not Linux] the Chrome Webstore

See also this ChromeUnboxed video for demonstration and installation tips.

See also this USB Install guide.

USB Media suitability

It is recommended that 8 Gig or 16 Gig USB drives are best suited for this purpose, although in some cases it is possible to use larger ones. There are reports online saying users have had issues when using the SanDisk brand to install CloudReady.

Browsers

The default Chromium browser is the only one you can have [researched using Firefox or Opera but alternatives do not seem to be an option due to the close integration of Chromium and Cloudready. Having said that it may be possible to completely replace Chromium with Chrome  - however some online references suggest this can be a bit dodgy and as there is not much to gain [it may screw up automatic maintenance] then it is not recommended. However in your opt to run the Linux environment then this opens the door to running all kings of Apps, including other browsers, alongside Chromium.

Other installed apps

Check installed apps for something to access the local [hard drive] disc drive and folders. 

There is a “File Manager” available for viewing your local files - this can be extended using the “+ Add New Services” at the bottom left of the list. 

Installed the Chrome Store Apps for “Dropbox” and “My Documents”. 

While viewing the Dropbox “Offline” files there was an entry for a document with a suffix of “.gdoc” [which may be a downloaded copy of the online document in GDrive, but when clicked it opened the online version of the doc for editing. Presumably this was because the computer was online at the time - maybe if internet access was not available a ‘local’ editor would have opened it ? 

Tried “cut ‘n’ paste” with this document closed to make a copy of it in a local folder - however when clicked, to open it for editing, [expecting a copy of this entire doc to be there] it displayed the content which was just a link.

USB storage experiences

Plugged in a thumb drive and was able to view content, which was detected dynamically, using the standard “Files” app.

Two new 16 Gig USB drives arrived used to create both 32 and 64 bit installers.

Installed the 64 bit version on the Fujitsu laptop without any real problems - left this feedback at community forum.

Did a test load [without installing] and confirmed that the laptop seems to be compatible despite it not being on the official approved list. Went through the entire HD looking for Maurice’s missing files - nothing found.

Tried the Chrome Webstore to look for a LibreOffice type app - could only find Microsoft’s “Word Online” app. Decided to install it and then used it to access an account at Outlook.com - this worked fine. 

There was an option to link to other sources that let me access my Dropbox account. Unfortunately the files held there are all *.odt format [not *.doc] that were created in LibreOffice so there was nothing available as a native *.doc to open up and test. 

Noticed that the Dropbox app is pre-installed so documents can be accessed directly without having to go through the Word app. 

Dropbox available via web browser but no App yet - maybe an Android App will be supported on chromeOS, however at present CloudReady is unlikely to get a similar feature [in the near future] due to licensing issues.

See “Help4ChromeOS&CloudReady” site for answers to the above and more. 

Fujitsu AH512 laptop is not on the ‘approved list’ of hardware but gave it a go anyway and it worked fine.