The Chrome Cast

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss Google's latest Chrome OS update bugs, how to fix them, and why in the end these bugs aren't nearly as big of a deal on Chrome OS as they are on competing operating systems.  For the second half of the show, we dig into all the new hardware on the way from ASUS, including the new CX9 and surprise Flip CX5400.  Both of these devices add high-end, premium opt...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re excited to welcome our contributing writer – Luke Short – who is well versed in the development that is ongoing with the gaming changes coming to Chrome OS in the coming months. Between ‘Mushu’ and a dedicated GPU in the works for a Chromebook, the Borealis project (which is bringing Steam games to Chrome OS), Proton (which brings Windows games to Linux for Stea...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show off by discussing the most recent leaks surrounding the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro that give us more details on what to expect this fall along with a promise for 5 years of regular security updates from Google. In the second half of the show, we start by discussing Chrome OS 91's update issues and the current pause from the update server.  Afte...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we discuss the new apps that have arrived for Chromebooks and why they are so important to the ecosystem. It isn’t just that Zoom has an official PWA or that Opera has optimized the Android-based browser just for Chromebooks, it’s the fact that larger entities are beginning to really take note of Chrome OS and are building experiences just for the platform. For the se...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing all the gaming news that is swirling in the Google/Chromebook world this week.  From Stadia finally launching on Chromecast with Google TV (and Android TV) to more news on 'Borealis' and Steam games coming to Chrome OS, there was a lot of great news in the gaming sphere this week. From there we move on to talking about my lost hope in seeing an...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we open the show by explaining a bit about our new, upcoming series simply called Upstream.  With audience-submitted questions and expert-driven answers, we hope Upstream will turn into a place for all our readers to get interesting, insightful answers to things that aren't always a Google search away.  We follow this up with in-depth discussion about Google's freshly...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we stay in a pretty #madebyGoogle sort of mood.  Starting with some early thoughts on the new Pixel Buds A-Series, we talk through all that Google is doing right in this space and - perhaps more importantly - all the things they are still basically missing on.  Yes, the new earbuds are pretty nice, but they are on the pricey side for a device that lacks many of the fe...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by covering down on all the new features available in Chrome and Chrome OS 91.  Between updates to the V8 JavaScript engine - dubbed Sparkplug - and the arrival of Nearby Share, version 91 of Chrome OS is a nice, incremental update that should improve performance across the board and provide a new, useful way for files to be shared across Google's gr...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re discussing further leaks regarding the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, including new renders that showed up and more details about what we can expect from the new Google-made processor inside. After discussing our excitement over what the Pixel 6 could mean for Android phones and for Google, we pivot to a discussion surrounding some new hardware that arrived this week....

Was there any question what would dominate our discussion this week? Google I/O 2021 came and went and in its wake, we’re left with all sorts of things to discuss. From new language AI like LaMDA to WearOS updates to Material You, there was a ton of new stuff that came from Google I/O that sparks the imagination and ensuing conversations. We try our best to stay on track and get through all the st...

This week's episode of The Chrome Cast is about as straightforward as they come.  Just last night, very convincing renders of the Pixel 6 showed up and as we tend to do, we prognosticated quite a bit about the legitimacy of those leaks, what they could mean, and when we might actually here something official from Google about the whole thing.  In the second half of the podcast, we're joined by Joh...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking a bit in depth about the new ASUS Chromebook CX5 and, more importantly, about the difference Tiger Lake Intel processors are poised to make in the Chromebook market. This device is not only attractive and well-made, it is by far the fastest Chromebook we’ve ever had in the office and demolishes even the 10th-gen Core i7 in every benchmark...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we spend the first part of the show discussing the new Chromebook hardware that is in the office and on the way.  From ASUS, there is the new pre-order of the CM5, the impending CM3 Detachable, and the CX5 we have in the office and unboxed earlier this week.  On the Acer front, we talk quite a bit about our upcoming review of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and what the...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're delving into all the features that came along with the recent update to Chrome OS 90.  While not everyone has it just yet, you can rest assured the update is on the way and when it arrives, some cool new tricks are on the way along with it.  In the second half of the show, we get into some of the new hardware that is right around the corner and already arriving...

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Get ready for summer intake with VIZOR, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond Google Admin functionality. VIZOR integrates with the Google Admin Console and with your Student Information System. Track who has what, manage 1:1 check-out programs, and track repairs. Click here to learn more and qualify...

This week on The Chrome Cast, our entire show revolves around Google hardware.  From the leaks of the Pixel Watch to the interesting saga of the Pixel 5a to the Pixel 6 and it's Google-made silicon, this week we're all-in on upcoming stuff that is made by Google.  In addition to talking through solid leaks from this week, we also spend a bit of time recapping the importance of ARM and custom silic...

This week on the Chrome Cast, we open the show with a more in-depth discussion over the recently-released Ultimate Desk Setup video. We go into a bit more detail about all the items in the video, why we chose them, and why this desk setup took so long to finally pull off. All told, the desk is now in its permanent home in the Chrome Cast studio where we’ll hopefully be creating podcast-centered vi...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start the show by digging into Android 11 and its limited arrival on Chromebooks with 10th-gen Intel processors in the Beta Channel.  With this update, Android now finds itself inside a new container - moving from ARC++ to ARCVM - and your Play Store apps now scale to match the Chromebook's display.  While the move to an updated container for Android apps is realis...

Last week on The Chrome Cast, we sat down (virtually) with Alexander Kuscher, Chrome OS Director of Product, and talked about the last 10 years of Chrome OS and what the future holds. With Chrome OS 89 so chock-full of new features, we realized this week that we’d not taken the time to talk through all of them with our podcast audience, so that’s what we’re doing this week. There’s a lot going on...

We are continuing our celebration of Chrome OS' 10th Birthday with a special guest! Alexander Kuscher leads the software product team for Chrome OS, overseeing product management, program management, and developer relations teams. Since joining Google in 2010, Alexander has built products & features across multiple products including Mobile Advertisement, Chrome, and Chrome OS. Alexander holds...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start our conversation around the beautiful and slightly-confounding Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.  As I thought when entering my review period with this device, this is a tough Chromebook to review.  With such a striking similarity to its predecessor, it is impossible not to draw comparisons between the two, and that leaves the new Galaxy Chromebook 2 in a bit of a...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we start our conversation out by highlighting the very-excellent Simplify Gmail Chrome extension that just hit version 2.0.  We reported on this earlier in the week and many, many people seemed very interested in the service and we get into a few of the reasons why this take on Gmail isn't just a good-looking change to the messy Gmail inbox, but a real productivity bo...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we're celebrating 100 episodes with a little giveaway.  You can find details below on how to get entered beneatht he embed where we're  talking quite a bit about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2, the reservations, the pre-orders, the release dates, and the expectations that come along with this unreleased Chromebook.  With a March 1st launch date now set, we'r...

This episode is sponsored by VIZOR for Chromebooks. Schools, do you have Chromebooks? Are you using PowerSchool’s SIS? Introducing VIZOR for Chromebooks, a Chromebook management solution that goes beyond your Google Admin functionality. It integrates with the Google Admin Console and PowerSchool. Track who has what, track check-out programs, and manage repairs. Schedule a product demo to see if VI...

This week on The Chrome Cast, we’re diving into the tough news of the week regarding the shut down of Stadia’s in-house game studio. The move definitely comes with some indications about the future of Stadia and what the service could morph into over time, so it’s worth quite a bit of discussion on our part this week. For the second half, we get into a few new devices that are on the horizon in th...