These laptops feature deep Android phone integration, allowing app casting and cross-device functionality, while supporting Android games through Google Play Store. Despite Google partnering with major manufacturers like HP and Dell, success remains uncertain given past mixed results with similar initiatives. We've been hearing about Google's push to unite Android and ChromeOS into a new laptop operating system rumored to be called "Aluminum" for a while now. A week before this year's Google I/O conference, the company is ready to talk about it. And to the surprise of absolutely friggin' no one, these seem more interested in Gemini "AI" than the actual product.

Googlebook Is Google's New AI-Powered Laptop Platform Built on Android They won't replace Chromebooks, but Googlebooks have an Android-centered operating system, AI-first features like the Magic Pointer, and a promise of desktop-grade apps. Almost exactly 15 years since Google introduced Chromebooks and ChromeOS --which ushered a wave of cheap, functional, web-based laptops that would come to dominate the US education market--the company has announced a new laptop platform called Googlebook. It's built around artificial intelligence and Android, and while it isn't replacing Chromebooks, it could give the company a more meaningful foothold in the premium computer market. Google announced the platform on The Android Show on YouTube, where it also detailed new features coming in Android 17 and Gemini Intelligence (you can read more about that here). Google is purposefully not sharing the operating system's name yet (it was codenamed Aluminium OS internally); Googlebook is the platform, and Dell, Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo have all signed up to produce Googlebooks coming later this fall.

Every time my cat Mira walks across a keyboard, I learn a few new Mac and PC keyboard shortcuts I never knew about. All cats love keyboards (but this is not a photo of my cat). My cat Mira is perfect, and has never done anything wrong. She also loves walking on laptop keys--both my MacBook and my wife Kathy's Windows PC . You might think that walking on laptops is an example of Mira doing something wrong. And, in any case, we've both learned a lot about how our computers work because of this.

PCWorld highlights 15 essential free apps that can significantly enhance Chromebook functionality, covering VPNs, photo editing, and Android applications. Key recommendations include Proton VPN for unlimited data and privacy protection, plus photo editing apps like Snapseed, Pixlr, and Photoshop Express. These apps help Chromebook users access geo-restricted content, edit photos professionally, and maximize their device's potential as a viable alternative to traditional computers. Macs and PCs are no longer the only options for those looking to buy a computer. One of the fastest-growing categories is the Chromebook, Google's own line of devices. Initially, Chromebooks were low-cost machines largely limited to the Chrome browser. In recent years, more premium Chromebook models with greater processing power have entered the market.

What Will It Take to Get A.I. Out of Schools? The tech world assumes that A.I.-aided education is necessary and inevitable. A growing number of parents, educators, and cognitive scientists say the opposite. I don't like A.I., and I am raising my children not to like it. I've been telling them for years now that chatbots are manipulative and dangerous, that A.I.-image generators are loosening our collective grip on reality, that large language models are built atop industrial-scale intellectual-property theft. At times, I find myself speaking with my kids about A.I. in the same terms that we might discuss a creepy neighbor who lives down the block: avoid eye contact, cross the street when you walk past his house, and, when in doubt, call on a trusted adult. Yes, I, too, have suspected that the creepy neighbor walks on cloven hooves inside his Yeezy Boosts, but he probably isn't going anywhere--in fact, he keeps buying up properties around town--so just try your best not to engage. Somehow, I was not prepared for the creepy neighbor to start hanging around my kids' schools; somehow, I thought we had until high school.

Plus: Vivaldi browser shuns AI, Samsung has a new sustainable display, and Frankfurt Airport tests Auracast for gate announcements. Samsung's first-ever Galaxy Z TriFold went on sale this past Friday, but it sold out in minutes . This folding phone differs from the 7th-generation Galaxy Z Fold7 in that its screen can expand to a whopping 10 inches, turning it into a proper tablet . That also means it commands an incredibly high price of $2,899. It's the first device of its kind here in the West, though Huawei has its own version in China.

Google's Chromebook Successor Is Coming. Here's Everything We Know So Far Google has officially acknowledged the upcoming merger of Android and Chromebooks, and it may be coming in 2026. It's never fun to be in last place. Google has been coasting along with its Android tablets and Chromebooks for years, playing second fiddle to the bigger players in the game. But the company has a new card up its sleeve: the upcoming merger of its two platforms into something entirely new.

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. His students suddenly started getting A's. Did a Google AI tool go too far? Google's Lens tool on Chromebooks can mean it easier for students to cheat with one click, prompting teachers to question how they can maintain academic integrity. Over 70% of teachers worry AI tools are preventing students from developing critical thinking and writing skills.

Gear Computers Laptops Amazon just unleashed its Cyber Monday laptop deals and it's dropping prices on MacBooks, gaming PCs, and more Whether you need a basic everyday driver or a full-featured gaming PC, Amazon's Cyber Monday laptop can save you cash. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. A laptop is a big investment. Not only do they typically cost a lot of money, but you're committing a machine you'll stare at while you shop, do homework, remote work, game, and pretty much everything else in your online life. Amazon just dropped its Cyber Monday deals on laptops and these are some of the lowest prices we have seen all year.

Should You Buy a Chromebook or a Windows Laptop? If you're trying to decide between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop, some recent changes have shaken up how these two platforms compare. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Chromebooks have been around for almost 15 years, and since their launch, they've made some noble attempts to evolve into something beyond just a super cheap laptop for students .