The Chrome Cast

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we talk through Amazon Prime Day, the cancellation of the LaCros browser, and if we think ChromeOS Flex is going away now that ChromeOS is moving to the Android kernel. The first part of the show is dedicated to Prime Day, Amazon's massive online sales event that, unfortunately, doesn't have any notable Chromebook deals but does, surprisingly, have a ton of fantastic deals on Pixel hardware. We also discuss how Prime Day affects other retailers, driving down prices on solid Chromebooks that are still great deals - even though they aren't part of Prime Day. Let us know in the comments below if you've scored a great Chromebook deal!For the second part of the show, we catch up on the news that work on the ChromeOS detached browser, codenamed LaCros, is being canceled. And speaking of things getting canceled, the last part of the show is all about the rumors that ChromeOS Flex is going way. These speculations, which we've confirmed not to be true, started circulating after ChromeOS announced the move to the Android Linux kernel so we talk through what we've heard from Google and why we think ChromeOS Flex isn't going anywhere. Show Links Prime Day means great Chromebook deals everywhere but Amazon The best Chromebook deals today: the Prime Day effect Huge Prime Day savings on Google Pixel hardware Google is shutting down LaCros – the standalone browser for Chromebooks Google might abandon ChromeOS Flex. Here’s why – and what you can do about it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we discuss some new hardware, including a monster new Chromebook, that just showed up at the office and some exciting new budget-friendly gadgets that should be arriving soon. In the first part of the show, we talk through our unboxing of the new Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 and why we wanted to do a video on this ultra-thin portable keyboard.On the Chromebook side of things, we’re talking about none other than the ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus – a device that might be the new King of Chromebooks. If you’ve been following along with our videos on YouTube, you know this device is not the standard $699 version though, so listen in to hear all of Robby’s thoughts on this monster version of the CX54.In the latter part of the show, we talk through some very interesting, extremely affordable new tech from CMF, a sub-brand from Nothing. As you’ll hear, Robby is fired up about the watch and earbuds that both have solid specs at a price that doesn’t even seem possible. And yes, Robby is already trying to convince CMF to make a Chromebook!Show Links Unboxing and hands-on with Logitech’s ultra-light Keys-to-Go 2 [VIDEO] ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus unboxing [VIDEO] Snag the monster ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus for just $882 Where to buy the monster ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus [updated] ASUS sent us a monster version of the ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus With their latest Buds Pro 2, CMF by Nothing is changing the game Why CMF (by Nothing) would make a fantastic Chromebook OEM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast we chat about hosting our very first members-only AMA and then dive deep into Google’s surprise hardware event that was just announced. In our discussions about the new Pixel 9 lineup, we also talk through how phone processors are made and how the next TSMC-fabbed Tensor chip could be a game changer.As for the AMA, this is something new we are doing for our Chrome Unboxed Plus community where we host folks from the ChromeOS team at Google (or from other interesting companies) to answer questions from our community in a private live stream on Discord. Since we recorded this show yesterday and did the AMA with Stella Shannon last night, you’ve unfortunately missed this first one but there will be more! We’re really happy with this revamped community and have expanded our existing benefits to now include AMAs, exclusive giveaways, and even an ad-free podcast feed. So, if you’re not a member already, you can easily check it out with our 7-day free trial and I hope that you stick around!The remainder of the show is all about the Made By Google event RSVPs that went out to the press yesterday! Since there wasn’t any mention of hardware at Google I/O, we’re expecting a packed keynote this year with new Pixel phones, a new Pixel Fold, an updated Pixel Watch with two sizes, and a refresh to the Pixel Buds Pro. So yeah, there was a lot to talk through. I hope you enjoy the show, cheers!Show Links Start your 7-day free trial of Chrome Unboxed Plus Google Pixel Hardware event is coming in August this time around Google Pixel 9 Pro leak confirms iPhone clone design Renders of the larger 45mm Pixel Watch 3 make me so happy Why you might want to skip Pixel 9 and wait for Pixel 10 Google Pixel Fold: My thoughts after actually using it [VIDEO] Gemini Advanced AI: what it is, what it costs, and how to try it for free Gemini takes over more Assistant duties with routines integration Gemini for Android finally gets my most-missed feature Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (Intel) Review [VIDEO] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Chrome Cast podcast, we give an update on the Chrome Unboxed studio and then dive deep into the “Ferrochrome” project which allows ChromeOS to run in a VM on Android. The bulk of the discussion revolves around the Ferrochrome project but we did want to take some time to give a studio update since we will be filming a video and shooting more content in the newly rearranged space. Keep an eye out in the next video, things might look a little different.As for the Ferrochrome project, news of its existence first popped up about a month ago and after getting quite excited, we were told by Google that this was just a test and that there were no real plans to pursue ChromeOS on Android. But that doesn’t seem to be the case since we now have reports that Google is developing a one-click “Ferrochrome Launcher” that will download, configure, and fully launch ChrommiumOS using the Android VM app launcher.While this development is still very early, it’s exciting to see some work still being done on this project. So, as you can imagine, we have lots of ideas and speculation about what this could look like down the road if it were to become a real thing. Maybe ChromeOS on your phone with a set of XR glasses? We’ll just have to wait and see!Show Links My dreams of ChromeOS running on a phone are nearing reality My ChromeOS on a phone dreams are shattered…for now ChromeOS running on Android phones is still in the cards, it seems Andromeda May Be Dead Why I’m considering a dual-screen USB Type-C portable monitor XREAL AR glasses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into a big announcement from Google regarding the backend framework of ChromeOS and all of the new software features for Chromebook Plus that were announced at the Chromebook Showcase a few weeks ago in NYC.We had planned for the latter to be the main discussion this week, but an emergency press conference was in order after Google announced on Wednesday that the foundation of ChromeOS is moving to the Android Linux kernel. We talk through what this might mean for ChromeOS moving forward, how it will affect users and the timeline for this change. This is a big move so it was nice to talk through the details and I hope it provides some clarity. If you are well-versed in the world of kernels and have additional insight, please leave us a comment below.As promised, the remainder of the show is dedicated to all the new features now available on Chromebook Plus. We talk through a few of our favorites, how they are currently working, and some tweaks we would like to see in the future. We’ve been waiting for these features to roll out since they were first teased back in October at the first Chromebook event so it’s great to see them finally available! What’s your favorite new feature? Let us know!Show Links The ChromeOS foundation is shifting to the Android kernel Google announces a flood of awesome new features Understanding how and when to use ‘Help me write’ on a Chromebook [VIDEO] How to get 12 months of Gemini Advanced with older Chromebook Plus models ChromeOS 125 is rolling out with tons of new Chromebook features Chromebook AI wallpapers are fun as long as you don’t have a QHD or 4K screen ChromeOS 125 enables multiple calendars in Quick Settings New ChromeOS 125 OOBE highlights AI features right out of the box Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into our thoughts on the new Chromebook Plus model and Chromebooks that were recently announced at the event in NYC. Following the event, we had a great chat with Stella Shannon, ChromeOS Consumer Hardware Product Lead, about the event and we did a hands-on video from the event but outside of that, we hadn’t shared many thoughts on these devices. So that’s exactly what we did in this show!We talk through all the releases from each manufacturer and the iterations that we’re seeing this go around. We wrap things up with some speculation about how these releases and this event might shape up moving forward, with perhaps a tik-tok of iteration in the Spring and then big refreshes in the Fall.We did run a little long talking through the hardware – surprise, surprise – so next weeks episode will be all about the flood of new software features that were announced alongside these new Chromebooks. Make sure to follow The Chrome Cast on whatever podcast platform you use to listen so you don’t miss that episode!SHOW LINKS The latest Chromebook Plus Showcase in NYC was awesome Hands-on with the new devices launched at the 2024 NYC Chromebook event 2024 Chromebook Showcase: Google announces a flood of awesome new features The Chrome Cast 266: Event recap with Stella Shannon from the ChromeOS team The new Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE sees its first discount The Acer Chromebook 516 GE drops to $449 as new model looms Get the brand-new Acer Chromebook Plus 514 for just $249 The gorgeous ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus is now available A new Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 shows up at Best Buy HP unveils 4 new Chromebooks with 2 new Plus models included Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we have a very special guest joining us for a bit of post-game discussion on the heels of Google’s latest Chromebook-focused event up in New York. Stella Shannon – ChromeOS Consumer Product Lead – was gracious enough to sit down and talk through most of what we experienced at the event while digging a bit deeper into the way the ChromeOS team goes about deciding on new devices, new features, and the general path forward with all they are doing in the consumer space right now.It was an awesome interview, and we absolutely loved getting to spend a bit more time with the person who is truly behind all the new Chromebooks we get to talk about on a daily basis around here. We hope you get time to listen through this one very soon!Links Hands-on with the new devices launched at the 2024 NYC Chromebook event 2024 Chromebook Showcase: Google announces a flood of awesome new features The latest Chromebook Plus Showcase in NYC was awesome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with another episode of The Chrome Cast podcast and this week we dive into upcoming hardware, our thoughts on the Chromebook market, and how new ARM processors might impact things moving forward. But the bulk of our discussion revolves around Robby’s discovery of a Chromebook Plus branded version of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you’ve probably heard Robby talk about the 516 GE and his love for this device, so we take some time in this episode to talk through the small tweaks that he’d like to see in an upgraded, Chromebook Plus branded version.For the remainder of the show, we talk through developments in the ARM space, including new benchmarks of MediaTek MT8188 and how Qualcomm’s focus on their Snapdragon X Elite compute platform has us excited for that processor to maybe make it to Chromebooks down the road. We’ve been talking about ARM processors for many years and look forward to seeing how these new chips will push Chromebook innovation.Show Links Acer is about to give us a Chromebook 516 GE Chromebook Plus upgrade What I’m hoping for in the new Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE Just like that, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is $200 off again Upcoming Chromebook tablet ‘Ciri’ gets impressive Geekbench ML score Why a Snapdragon X Plus Chromebook would be amazing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we have a little hardware and a little software. For the first half of the show, we focus on a few new Chromebook releases: the kind of different but kind of the same Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and the Lenovo Chromebook Slim 3i that you should not buy. We wrap up our hardware segment with a discussion of a 4K Chromecast with Google TV that is rumored to be on the way and what we hope Google brings to their next-gen streaming dongle.In the second half of the show, we dive into a new feature coming soon in Google Photos that will help you de-clutter your library by getting rid of all those random screenshots, GIFs, and memes that have been building up. And then we finish up the show with a phone call feature that Robby thinks should head to Chromebooks soon. We even have a throwback to Andromeda, for some of you OG Chrome Unboxed readers who might remember all of those rumors back in 2016 and 2017. I hope you enjoy it, cheers!Show Links Acer’s new Chromebook Plus 514 is more of the same, but different A new Lenovo Slim 3i Chromebook appears, but makes little sense Walmart’s excellent Onn. Google TV streaming box getting a “Pro” upgrade A new, updated 4K Chromecast w/Google TV is on the way Your Google Photos library is about to get far less cluttered This needed Chromebook feature could tempt me back to Pixel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Chrome Cast podcast, we dive into a big update on the website, publishing our last YouTube video for a bit, and a mounting problem that has us frustrated with Google.The first half of the show is all about the return of the comments section on the website. After working through what turned into a complicated issue with Disqus, we are thrilled to have comments back on the site! It’s taken some time to get everything set up correctly, but we hope our improved comments section is a place for engaging conversations. So, head to the bottom of this article and leave us a comment!For the remainder of the show, we share our thoughts on Google’s expanding graveyard of canceled services and why we think Google needs to shift away from its “move fast, break things” startup mentality. With many great services shutting down over the last few years (many of which users relied on for personal and business use), it’s easy to understand the frustration that some users might be feeling and how it could lead to a distrust in Google services.We make sure to end the show on a high note, though, with some exciting news on upcoming hardware so stick around for that. I hope you enjoy the show and, again, leave us a comment below with your thoughts on the topics we covered. Cheers!Show Links Here’s why we’re taking a break from YouTube [VIDEO] Google kills off yet another fantastic service Google Podcasts is officially dead: What you need to know Walmart’s excellent Onn. Google TV streaming box getting a “Pro” upgrade More proof that upcoming Chromebook tablet ‘Ciri’ belongs to Lenovo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices