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How I turned my ancient Windows PC into a Chromebook for free - with FydeOS

ZDNet

I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen FydeOS aims to bring a Google Chromebook-like experience to standard PCs, and it succeeds - with a caveat or two. FydeOS is a great way to give new life to old hardware. FydeOS is free and can be installed on laptops and desktops alike. ChromeOS is the operating system that powers Chromebooks . It's simple, it's useful, and it runs on machines that Windows would cripple.


Google's AI-first Googlebook laptop is almost here - can it avoid the Copilot PC problem?

ZDNet

I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen Google's AI-first Googlebook laptop is almost here - can it avoid the Copilot+ PC problem? It won't be another high-end Chromebook like the Pixel, and Google has to hope it'll succeed where Copilot+ PCs have fallen short. The Googlebook is more about AI than Android compatibility. The new operating system will merge Android and ChromeOS. Chromebooks will continue to be sold and supported.


The 6 best battery life laptops weve ever tested

Mashable

Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Look Up Say More Mashable Selects Mashable Voices Safety Net Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag All Series The 6 best battery life laptops we've ever tested Laptops' battery lives have gotten so much better in recent years, and our current top pick lasts 40 hours per charge. Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what's actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons . All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. You want a laptop that can reliably get you through a full day of work, but the best laptops for battery life we've tested have lasted literal in our tests.


I still don't know who the Googlebook is for

PCWorld

I still don't know who the Googlebook is for Sorry, Google: The launch of the Googlebook is about a month away and I'm still exceptionally skeptical. In this week's Smart Mode newsletter, I explain why. I understand Chromebooks, and so do you: They're lean, efficient devices designed to surf the web without breaking the bank. But everything I've seen recently says that Google's next effort, Googlebooks, are headed in the opposite direction. Productivity begins with your choice of device, and Google's Chromebooks have been spectacular in their pursuit of efficiency.


How I convinced a Windows PC diehard to buy a Chromebook

PCWorld

PCWorld explores how a long-time Chromebook enthusiast successfully convinced his Windows-loyal brother to switch by debunking common misconceptions about ChromeOS devices. Modern Chromebooks have evolved beyond outdated limitations, now supporting Android and Linux apps, offering offline functionality, and providing robust security features suitable for all users. The key to Chromebook satisfaction involves investing around $500 for quality hardware rather than choosing budget models that create poor user experiences. I've been a Chromebook fan and advocate for many years now. I bought my first one back in 2013, just a couple years after they debuted, and I've since purchased several more. If you ask me why, it's because I love their affordability, versatility, and simplicity. This trio of pros led me to switch from Windows laptops to Chromebooks and I haven't looked back. But not everyone is as gung-ho about Google's laptops as me, and that includes my older brother--we'll call him "Jack"--who, for every bit of praise I lavish on Chromebooks, always has an objection. Jack was recently in the market for a new laptop, so I made it my mission to convince him to buy a Chromebook.


How to Watch Google I/O

WIRED

Google I/O is back with updates to Search, Android, Gemini, and a fresh peek at upcoming Android XR smart glasses. Here's how to watch the announcements live and what to expect. This is the annual developer event and product showcase where Google shows off all the shiny new updates to its Android operating system and other platforms, as well as new features and improvements to its artificial intelligence models. The big announcements at Google I/O usually come in the form of a livestreamed keynote event at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, hosted by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. That starts on Tuesday, May 19, at 10 am Pacific time (1 pm Eastern).


Googlebooks aren't just Android laptops. They're a Trojan horse for Gemini

PCWorld

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

WIRED

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.


Keyboard Shortcuts I Learned From My Cat

WIRED

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.


15 free apps that unlock the best version of your Chromebook

PCWorld

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.