Chromebook Tips And Tricks

Posted in Chromebook

CHROME OS IS FIXING ITS APP PROBLEM WITH PROGRESSIVE WEB APPS – Chromebook users should get a big influx of much-needed apps. Chromebook users are generally a happy lot, but few would argue that the biggest problem with Chrome OS is the lack of apps. Google is going a long way to correct that issue with version 67 of Chrome OS with the introduction of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for desktop. They appear on your home screen like regular apps, launch in the same way, and are quick and reliable because the service workers can cache all the needed assets.

Progressive Web Apps have mostly been for mobile until now (though there are quite a few for Windows 10), but in a Chrome OS blog post, Google notes that “desktop usage is still growing.” PWAs will give you most, if not all, the features you’d see with a regular native app, including service workers, automatic updates, web push and notifications, and home screen pinning. Google recently introduced Android apps to Chrome OS, and at the end of 2017, made it possible to multitask with them. All of that should help make its popular Chromebooks even more useful. Read more of this engadget article at: https://engt.co/2HxU6Qs
Credit: Ron Brown

IS A PIXELBOOK FOR YOU? – Review by techradar. THEIR VERDICT: The Google Pixelbook is the first Chromebook worthy of consideration alongside the most high-end Windows and Mac devices. From its excellent design to its massive software enhancements, this is the best Chromebook to date, bar none.

The Google Pixelbook remains one of the best 2-in-1 laptops because it offers something that other Windows 10-powered devices can’t – it offers a taste of Android while still maintaining the design and features of Chrome OS. The Google Pixelbook packs a lot of modern style into a maturing, convertible form factor. And, if rumors are to be believed, it may get a widely implemented dark mode in the near future. Read more of this review at: http://bit.ly/2Hzqy4U

SAMSUNG’S CHROMEBOOK PLUS NOW SUPPORTS LINUX APPS – Google began bringing Linux app support to Chrome OS almost exactly one month ago, but it only started with a single device, the very expensive Pixelbook. Now, that’s changing: Linux support is becoming available for Samsung’s Chromebook Plus as well, as spotted by users on Reddit.

This still isn’t a widely available feature or something that most Chromebook users will want to check out. You’ll have to opt-in to the developer-only build of Chrome OS, enable things labeled as beta and experimental, and then use the Terminal to install Linux apps. Presumably, this will all be simplified in the future, but right now, Google just seems to be testing whether it works at all.

The addition of Linux apps has the potential to make Chrome OS even more powerful and flexible. On a more immediate note, it begins turning Chromebooks into workable devices for programmers who want to code for Google’s platforms. Many of the tools programmers need won’t be available until later this year, but Google says they’re in the works. http://bit.ly/2JsorSk
Credit: Ron Brown / John Kennedy

THE 10 BEST CHROMEBOOK APPS FOR 2018 – A common misconception about Chromebooks is that they are essentially bare-bones computers, offering a web browser and some other basic functionality for a relatively cheap price tag. Although laptops running Chrome OS do not necessarily offer the wide array of software found on competing platforms such as macOS and Windows, their feature set can be expanded significantly by using apps for Chromebooks–many created by third-party developers and available free of charge. Because of the sheer amount of Chrome apps in existence, it can be time consuming to narrow them down. Lifewire has gone ahead and done the work for you, listing what they consider to the best Chromebook apps along with what they like (and don’t like) about each. Read more at: http://bit.ly/2sKDZuj

CAN YOU USE A CHROMEBOOK AS YOUR MAIN COMPUTER? – Chromebooks are in their prime today, with just about every major laptop manufacturer making their own versions of these cheap, ultraportable laptops running Google Chrome OS. They are great for travelers, students, and anyone else who gets work done mainly in the browser, but they have their downsides as well. Read this Lifewire article to find what you need to know if you want to use one as your primary work computer. http://bit.ly/2xZygpC

THE ULTIMATE HOW-TO GUIDE FOR CHROMEBOOK BEGINNERS – Chromebooks have deservedly earned a reputation for being easy-to-use, even for people who aren’t technologically savvy. Chromebooks aren’t just perfect for students, they’re also solid options for seniors.

But just because the operating system is straightforward, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some parts of it that require further explanation. Without further ado, here’s an ultimate how-to guide for your Chromebook. Read more of this MakeUseOf article at: http://bit.ly/2HxxLTe
Credit: John Kennedy

5 COOL CHROMEBOOK TIPS AND TRICKS YOU DIDN’T KNOW – Chromebooks aren’t a new phenomenon. However, the platform has grown massively since it was first launched. It is important to note that the Chromebooks are marketed as a viable replacement to MacBooks and PCs, and in many cases, they do the job just fine. This is because Chromebooks run on the cloud and every operation is buttery smooth. Google is making some changes to the platform, however, with the introduction of Android applications to the system. This will go a long way in ensuring that the user experience is furthered on the Chromebook. Learn about the 5 cool tips and tricks at this Droid Guy web page: http://bit.ly/2LB02KY

CHROMEBOOKS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO RUN YOUR FAVORITE LINUX APPS – Chromebooks have always generally been cheap and accessible, but now they’re about to get a lot more capable. Google recently announced today that Chromebooks will soon be able to run native Linux apps in addition to the Chrome web apps and Android apps that they already support. Not surprisingly, Google’s own premium Pixelbook will be the first to get Linux app support, though we’re told other models will join in before long.

If you’ve been paying attention to very specific corners of the internet, this news might not be very new: word of the feature has been floating around for weeks, and it officially appeared in Canary channel Chrome OS builds the week before I/O. While this is the first time Google has officially embraced Linux for Chromebooks, enthusiasts have had their own unsanctioned options for a while now — a project called Crouton allowed users to create an isolated file system where they could install Linux distros like Ubuntu. Read more of this engadget post: https://engt.co/2xXb2jN
Credit: Ron Brown

HOW TO INSTALL AND RUN LINUX ON A CHROMEBOOK – Using Crouton to Switch Between Chrome OS and Ubuntu. Chromebooks have become popular for two simple reasons: ease of use and price. Their growing popularity has led to a rapid increase in the number of apps available, which in turn enhance the functionality of these Chromebooks. We’re not here to talk about Chrome OS or its apps, however. This Lifewire article is about running Linux on a Chromebook, a powerful operating system that is most definitely not a Chrome app.

By following the tutorial, you can also run a full-fledged version of the Linux operating system on your laptop, opening a whole world of possibilities on what is essentially a low-budget machine. Read more at: http://bit.ly/2JuyfeF

WHAT TO DO IF AN APP IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH YOUR CHROMEBOOK – Most Chromebooks have Android app support now, but not all your favorite apps are along for the ride. Read this How-To Geek article to find out what to do if an app you want show up as “not compatible” with your Chromebook. http://bit.ly/2HyKAfU

HOW TO CONNECT TO A VPN ON A CHROMEBOOK – While not necessary for everyone, VPNs can be a crucial tool for online safety—especially if you use public Wi-Fi a lot. There are tons of one-click solutions out there that make it easy to hit a toggle and activate a VPN, but for the most robust options, manual setup is key. This How-To Geek article shows how to do it on Chrome OS. http://bit.ly/2JHcfjK

HOW TO RUN WINDOWS SOFTWARE ON A CHROMEBOOK – Chromebooks don’t normally run Windows software—that’s the best and worst thing about them. You don’t need antivirus or other Windows junk…but you also can’t install Photoshop, the full version of Microsoft Office, or other Windows desktop applications.

Luckily, there are ways to use Windows desktop programs on a Chromebook: either running them remotely on an existing Windows system, through various Android workarounds, or getting your hands dirty in developer mode and running them on your Chromebook itself. Read this How-To Geek article to find out how: http://bit.ly/2JI1r59