The 18 best Google Pixel cases to protect your phone

The Google Pixel phone features an interesting, aluminum design with a 5-inch display and a glass section on the back. With snappy performance, a great camera, and Google Assistant onboard, there are plenty of reasons to buy one. But these impressive specs also carry a premium price tag, which makes opting for a proper case all the more important. Those curved edges could chip or scuff if you drop your new Pixel, and even toughened glass can scratch and crack easily. Fortunately for you, we’ve rounded up 18 of the best Google Pixel cases, many of which are as stylish as they are durable.

To get more from your phone, check out some other recommended Google Pixel accessories and master its capabilities with our Google Pixel tips and tricks.

Noreve Tradition B Leather Case ($55)

If it’s quality leather with a plush padded feel that you’re after, then you owe it to yourself to check out Noreve’s wares. Our pick is the folio-style wallet case. There’s room for a couple of credit cards inside, and the cover closes securely with a magnetic stud. A plastic shell holds your Pixel inside, but you’ll find accurate cut-outs for easy access to the ports, buttons, camera, and fingerprint sensor. You don’t have to stick with black — you can choose from a wide range of different colors and styles for the exterior finish.

Buy one now from:

Noreve

Zizo Bolt Series Case ($13)

If your top priority is drop protection and your budget is tight, then this Zizo case could be ideal. It has been drop tested up to 12 feet, and it ships with a tempered glass screen protector. The case is a classic combination of shock absorbing TPU with a hard polycarbonate shell on top. There are button covers and accurate cut-outs for the camera, fingerprints sensor, and ports. This case also features a kickstand and comes with a holster and belt clip, though we’re not fans of the big lanyard loop at the top.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Zizo

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro Case ($18)

This is another case that offers rugged protection at a reasonable price. The tried and tested mix of TPU and polycarbonate guards against drop damage, and there’s a frame that covers the front of your Pixel with a built-in screen protector for complete coverage. The openings for the camera and fingerprint sensor are generous, there are button covers, and there’s a cover for the charging port to keep dust out. This one also comes with a holster and belt clip.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Carved Satellite Case ($59+)

If you choose to design your own Google Pixel case at Carved, you’ll end up with a truly unique and gorgeous finish for your new phone. They combine real wood grain with swirls of colorful resin to create eye-catching patterns. The underlying black, plastic shell has all the cut-outs you need for uninterrupted phone use, and there’s a texture on the sides that enhances grip. Protection is fairly basic, but these are among the best-looking Pixel cases you can find.

Buy one now from:

Carved

UAG Ice Plasma Series Case ($40)

Wrap your Pixel in one of Urban Armor Gear’s cases for true peace of mind. These cases combine a hard, transparent shell with a shock absorbing core. Protection is further enhanced by reinforced corners, skid pads, and a rubberized screen surround. The button covers are oversized, making it easy to find and press them, even without looking. You’ll also find generous openings for ports, camera, and other features. Android Pay also still works with the case on.

Buy one now from:

UAG

Caseology Parallax Series Case ($15)

The subtle geometric pattern on the back of this case looks great and it adds some grip. The main shell is flexible TPU, which is easy to fit and shock absorbent. Caseology has added a tough polycarbonate bumper frame over the top in a contrasting color. The button covers work well and there are decent-sized cut-outs for the ports, camera, fingerprint sensor, and other features. This case comes in black, burgundy, pink, or blue.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Lifeproof Fre Case ($90)

There aren’t too many options for people seeking a really rugged Pixel case that can stand up to the elements, so the Lifeproof Fre stands out. Stick your Pixel in this case, and it can survive submersion in up to 2 meters of water for up to an hour. It also offers solid drop protection from 2 meters (6.6 feet). This case covers your Pixel from every angle, so nothing is getting in to damage it, but that does also mean you have to tangle with port covers and it definitely adds some bulk.

Buy one now from:

LifeProof

Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case ($10)

Here’s a simple TPU case that will provide basic protection for a relatively small outlay. There are accurate cut-outs for everything, including the buttons. It’s slim and flexible, with a small lip around the display for added protection. It’s available in a wide range of colors, and features a circuitry design with the Android mascot on the back. It’s a translucent case, so you do see something of Google’s design beneath.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

A bot on Amazon is making the oddest smartphone cases you’ll ever see

Why it matters to you

It can be hard searching for the right case for your smartphone, and My Handy Design’s offerings don’t really make it any easier.

The range of smartphone covers and cases on the market today is certainly mind boggling, but finding one that suits your style and feels good in the hand can still prove something of a challenge.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect smartphone cover but feel you’ve exhausted all avenues of research, then as a last resort you might want to check out the growing range of offerings from My Handy Design.

While mostly utterly abysmal, there may be something among its oddball collection that catches your eye and persuades you to part with $23.70. Though, to be honest, there probably won’t be.

It seems that a very busy bot is creating the basic plastic cases using random images already online. My Handy Design offers more than 20 pages of them, with more being added all the time. If nothing else, they’ll give you a giggle.

Check out the charming “porcelain teeth dental bridge” design (below), and the “polystyrene thermal insulation of house wall” case for an iPhone. It says there’s “only one left in stock” though that’s probably because they only made one.

Or how about the “adult diaper worn by an old man with a crutch” for the iPhone 6? This one has managed to achieve an average three-star rating, with one buyer thanking My Handy Case for “letting me be edgy and stand out among all the sheep.”

Among the wacky designs you’ll also find an “ingrown toenail with dressing” cover, “toilet paper tube collections,” “vet and dog microchip insert,” and even a “handgun in a nightstand drawer” — that one’s on sale at just $15.89.

There’s quite a few not-safe-for-work choices, too, so take care if you decide to hit the site to choose your next smartphone case.

The range of designs is impressive if nothing else, with the bot apparently pulling random images from a database — likely a photo stock site — and using the included descriptions to create its own.

Among the mass of offerings, you may find something that appeals, though if you’re serious about protecting your smartphone with a case or cover, then how about checking out Digital Trends’ top tips on how to select one that’s right for you and your mobile device.

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Cameraxis

Create mind-blowing graphic designs in minutes without any graphic designing knowledge. Cameraxis is loaded with addictive fonts, impressive artworks, amazing filters, fantastic overlays, and many more awesome features.

Available on:

iOS

Splittr

Splittr helps you to divide costs between you and your friends. It’s perfect for vacations, weekend trips, nights out with friends, and even for household expenses. Simply add expenses as you go and Splittr will let you know who is next to pay.

Available on:

iOS

Week Calendar Widget

See your week events right from the notification center. Scroll up and down or scroll to your previous and next weeks — your full calendar is at your fingertips without having to unlock your device.

Available on:

iOS

TextVideo

TextVideo will give you a simple way to add text on video. Your text can be warped, rotated, and animated, and hundreds of fonts are available for you to let your creativity run free.

Available on:

iOS

Simpler Pro

Simpler Pro is a completely redesigned contacts app that makes your address book light, smart, and user friendly. Back up everyone in your phone with just one tap.

Available on:

iOS

Hands-free Browser

Getting your hands dirty? With this app you can surf the web without touching the screen. It’s fantastic for reading recipes while you cook, following repair instructions with greasy hands, working out, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Tesla has 100 days to provide South Australia with 100 MW of battery capacity

Why it matters to you

After a series of bold tweets, Elon Musk must provide 100 MW of power to South Australia in 100 days, or do it for free.

The land down under is about to jump on top when it comes to renewable energy resources. Following what Tesla called a “competitive bidding process,” Elon Musk’s multifaceted company announced that it had been selected to provide a 100 MW/129 MWh Powerpack system to South Australia. The introduction of the new power storage capacity ought to help the country address perpetual blackouts previously caused by storms and heat. Just last September, an enormous storm caused a state-wide blackout and left 1.7 million Australians without electricity. But now, Tesla hopes that its Powerpack could make scenarios like those a thing of the past.

Tesla’s energy storage system will be paired with global renewable energy provider Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm near Jamestown, South Australia. However, Musk’s company will be responsible for the entire energy storage system component, according to a Tesla press release.

The Powerpack will use the sustainable energy provided by the Hornsdale Wind Farm to charge itself, and then when needed, will be able to deliver electricity to residents during peak hours. When the project is completed at the end of the year, Tesla asserts the system will be “the largest lithium-ion battery storage project in the world,” and is slated to power more than 30,000 homes.

Not only is the project itself ambitious, but the timeline is as well. In fact, Tesla won the contract following a series of high profile tweets between Elon Musk and Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. At the time, Musk promised, “Tesla will get the system installed and working 100 days from contract signature or it is free.”

And now, it looks like the pressure is on.

“There will be a lot of people that will look at this — ‘Did they get it done within 100 days? Did it work?’” Musk told reporters in South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide. “We are going to make sure it does.”

Tesla is said to be working closely with both the South Australian Government and Neoen, and the company claims that its new energy storage solution will not only be sustainable, but will also address power shortages, “reduce intermittencies, and manage summertime peak load to improve the reliability of South Australia’s electrical infrastructure.”

It’s a tall order, and 100 days from now, we’ll see if Tesla has lived up to it.

Oculus launches ‘Summer of Rift’ promotion, slashes headset bundle to $399

Why it matters to you

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about getting into virtual reality, Oculus’ Summer of Rift promotion is the best opportunity to take the plunge to date.

It’s fair to say that the biggest barrier for most people interested in virtual reality is price — between a headset and a capable gaming rig, assembling all the necessary hardware for a high-spec VR rig isn’t cheap. However, Oculus is looking to cut you a deal with its new Summer of Rift promotion.

For the next six weeks, the company is offering up the opportunity to grab a Rift headset and a Touch controller for the bargain price of $399, according to a report from UploadVR. This is a major shot across the bow to its biggest competition, as the HTC Vive headset currently retails for $799.

This isn’t the first time that Oculus has slashed the price of the consumer version of the Rift, which launched in March 2016. A year after its initial release, the company reduced the price of a bundle containing the headset and a Touch controller from $798 to $598.

While that adjustment gave the Rift an edge over the HTC Vive, it was still outdone by Sony’s PlayStation VR headset, which retails for $499 with a pair of controllers. Now, though. the Rift has become unquestionably the most cost-effective headset on the market — at least for duration of the Summer of Rift promotion.

VR may not have taken off as quickly as some would have hoped, but it’s still very early days for the technology. Now that hardware is maturing, it’s easier for companies like Oculus to offer these deep discounts, which should in turn expand the user base and help developers find their audience.

It will certainly be interesting to see whether or not Oculus’ competitors respond with their own price cuts. As PlayStation VR edges closer to a year on the market, many would argue that a cheaper price point could give it a much-needed shot in the arm, and it will certainly be difficult for the HTC Vive to compete in the short-term at $799.

Anyone looking to take Oculus up on this offer can do so via the company’s official website. If you’re looking to get a little more bang for your buck, you can grab the Rift, a Touch controller, and a complimentary copy of EVE: Valkyrie by making your purchase from Best Buy.

Grab the Oculus Rift and Touch Controllers bundle for just $399 today

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with the lowest price we’ve ever seen on an Oculus Rift + Touch bundle

If you’ve yet to take the plunge into the awesome world of virtual reality, today may be the day that you change that. Right now you can pick up the Oculus Rift and Oculus Touch Bundle for just $399 at Amazon (and Microsoft), which is a massive savings of $200. This happens to be the lowest price the bundle has ever sold for, and is $100 less than buying just the Rift headset alone.

Since VR headsets like this demand more power from your computer, there may be parts of your current rig that you want to upgrade. You can take that $200 you save and use it towards a new graphics card, larger monitor, or just some extra games if you wanted.

See at Amazon

Prime Day 2017 is coming! Follow along with Thrifter’s live blog to discover the best deals first!

Braven Stryde 360 review: Bluetooth and waterproof never sounded so good

For $100, the Braven Stryde 360 just might be the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker around.

The Braven Stryde 360 is Braven’s latest Bluetooth speaker offering from its “Active” series, which combines water resistance, excellent sound, and a price tag that’s more than easy to swallow.

Here’s my full review!

Audio quality

When I first unbox a Bluetooth speaker, I don’t take stock of how it looks, the controls, or any other superfluous features. I immediately connect it to my phone and play my go-to test songs (generally any of my favorite songs of the moment that have wide dynamic range — this month it’s One Good Piece Of Me by Big Wreck.

I was quite pleasantly surprised by how the Stryde 360 performed. It pumps out a rich, warm low end, thanks to its two passive radiators, which are located on each end of the speaker. Speakers of this size that favor bass generally overdo it and muddy up the rest of the mix, but the Stryde 360 provides a more-than-present midrange and high end, with crisp, clean treble. Many similar Bluetooth speakers also tend to become distorted at high volumes, but not this one (unless you pump your phone to max volume and the speaker to max volume, which is just silly if you want it to last longer than a day). If you like your music loud or need it loud for an outdoor party or what have you, the Stryde 360 will clearly pump out the jams without issue.

The Stryde 360 provides more than enough bass without overdoing it.

The big test, however, came in the shower. This is a water-resistant speaker; of course I’m going to use it in the shower. I have no tub, just a walk-in shower that’s enclosed on all sides but the door. I’ve used other bass-favoring Bluetooth speakers, like the UE Wonderboom, which is a great speaker, but terrible for an enclosed shower — the bass muddies up everything. The Braven Stryde 360 performs exceptionally well in the shower. I stand it on an end, and since it has speakers on two sides, the mids and highs bounce off the shower walls, while the bass pumps out of the top and bottom, providing a great mix that’s perfect for singing along.

Design

In a word: brilliant. The Stryde 360 is a sexy Bluetooth speaker looks at home on your desk, in the backyard, or by the pool. It comes in silver with green accents (the version I have) or a darker gray with red accents. Its cylindrical shape makes it perfect for toting along in your backpack’s water bottle pocket, and it’ll even fit in cup holders (like the ones that come on some pool floaties).

The rubber playback controls blend fairly seamlessly into the hard plastic body, and the ends have a ring of durable rubber so that you can stand your Stryde 360 up if your prefer. On the opposite side from the playback controls are two feet for standing and the very well-protected microUSB charging port, USB-A port, and 3.5mm auxiliary port. The rubber cover is even a little difficult to open, but I’d rather that than water damage.

All in all, it’s a great-looking speaker that’s clearly made for life, wherever it happens.

Features

Voice control is a great feature, especially if you want this for your shower.

For $100, you certainly get a lot with the Stryde 360. Playback control right on the speaker is a big thing for me, especially on one that I use in the shower (believe it or not, I have a couple Bluetooth speakers with only a power button — UGH). I hate having to constantly step out of the shower to change the song, drying my hands each time. Just hold down the volume up or volume down button to skip to the next track or previous track, respectively.

Voice control is another huge feature (though not uncommon to Bluetooth speakers), allowing you to use Google Assistant or Siri through the speaker itself. Take notes, change songs, make phone calls, whatever.

Battery life

Put it this way: I received the review unit over two weeks ago, charged it up the day I got it, and haven’t had to charge it since. I use it in the shower almost every day, as does my wife. So yeah, battery life’s pretty good.

The 2500mAh battery should power a party jam for the entire party and well into the night.

Should you buy it? Absolutely

For $100, you get more in the Braven Stryde 360 than you do in most other competitors around the same price or even higher. It sounds great, it looks slick, it has awesome features, and it’s versatile to a fault (as far as something that plays music can be, anyway).

If you’re looking for an excellent Bluetooth speaker that you can take with you anywhere, then I’d choose the Braven Stryde 360.

See at Amazon

Amazon Prime Day is now live in India — here are the best deals

Amazon’s 30-hour Prime Day sale is now live in India.

Amazon has kicked off its Prime Day sales extravaganza in India, offering discounts on thousands of items across its entire catalog. Starting off with phones, the 32GB variant of the Google Pixel XL is available for ₹48,999, a discount of ₹18,001. The Pixel XL is still one of the best phones available today, and it is a very enticing option at that price.

Amazon is also knocking ₹1,000 off the price of the Moto G5 Plus, bringing it down to ₹15,999. If you’re looking for a capable device in the mid-range category, the OnePlus 3T is available for ₹27,999, the first time the phone has picked up a discount.

The retailer is also rolling out significant discounts on accessories — Bose products are available for 30% off, Sennheiser’s excellent HD 598 is on sale for just ₹4,999, the lowest price we’ve seen yet on the headphones, and Fitbit’s trackers are 40% off.

Without further ado, here’s a look at some of the best deals on Amazon Prime Day:

Mobiles

• Google Pixel XL – ₹48,999 – ₹18,000 off
• OnePlus 3T – ₹27,999 – ₹2,000 off
• Moto G5 Plus – ₹15,999 – ₹1,000 off
• Moto G5 (3GB RAM/16GB storage) – ₹10,999 – ₹1,000 off
• Lenovo Z2 Plus (4GB RAM/64GB storage) – ₹10,999 – ₹9,000 off
• Moto G4 (2GB RAM/16GB storage) – ₹9,499 – ₹3,000 off
• Moto Z Play with Style Mod – ₹22,999 – ₹3,500 off
• Samsung On5 Pro – ₹7,490 – ₹500 off
• Samsung On7 Pro – ₹8,990 – ₹500 off
• Samsung Galaxy On8 – ₹11,490 – ₹2,000 off
• Honor 6X (4GB RAM/64GB storage) – ₹13,999 – ₹2,000 off
• Honor 8 Pro – ₹29,999 – On sale for the first time

Accessories

• Amazon Fire TV Stick – ₹2,999 (₹499 Amazon Pay cashback) – 25% off
• Sennheiser HD 598 CS Over Ear Headphones – ₹4,999 – 74% off
• Bose SoundLink III – ₹15,672 – 30% off
• Fitbit Charge 2 – ₹8,999 – 40% off
• Fitbit Alta HR – ₹8,999 – 40% off
• Fitbit Blaze – ₹11,999 – 40% off
• Fitbit Surge – ₹12,500 – 50% off
• Beats Solo 3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones – ₹19,499 – 15% off
• Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones – ₹12,499 – 21% off

If you’re interested in taking a look at all the Prime Day deals currently live, head to Amazon from the link below. We’ll be constantly updating the list as more deals get added, so check back soon for more from Amazon Prime Day!

See at Amazon

Everything you need to know about the T-Mobile ONE unlimited plan

A complete breakdown of T-Mobile’s ONE plan and everything else you can get when you sign up for service from Big Magenta.

In the United States, there are a lot of companies that can get you and your phone online, but most people use one of the four biggest: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Choosing between them can be difficult. Your first priority should be what service works best in the places you spend your time. It’s not worth saving $10 a month if the service is bad. Once you have that sorted, you can look at what each company has to offer and the prices they charge for it.

More: Which unlimited plan should you buy?

Let’s take a look at T-Mobile to see what they can give you and what it will cost.

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T-Mobile ONE plan details

• Unlimited talk, text, and data with 200MB of roaming data
• Unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
• One hour of free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited texting on enabled flights
• Unlimited data and texting in over 140 locations at 2x speed
• 10GB 3G-speed mobile hotspot use

T-Mobile’s definition of Unlimited Data means that after you use 28 GB in a single month, your service can be slowed down if you’re in a congested area. You’ll hear the word throttled used here but you need to know that it’s only a temporary deprioritization of your data connection when you’re in a busy area. It may not happen at all depending on how many other customers are using the same towers.

You can use any phone that’s compatible with T-Mobile’s network. If you bring your own phone you’ll pay a $20 one-time fee for a SIM starter kit. You can also finance a phone through T-Mobile and the monthly cost will vary depending on which phone you choose. T-Mobile ONE plans also include tax and all the other assorted fees in the price. Your monthly bill will be exactly what the plan costs.

Additional lines can be added to a T-Mobile ONE plan. Every line has the same benefits outlined above and the $20 SIM starter kit fee applies to each, though they go on sale regularly and it’s not unheard of to get the starter kit fees waived if you talk to a representative. Here is a pricing breakdown.

• One line of service on a T-Mobile ONE plan is $70
• Two lines of service for $100
• Three lines of service for $140
• Four lines is $160

Each additional line adds $20 to the total.

T-Mobile ONE Plan add-ons

You can add a tablet to your T-Mobile ONE plan for the standard $20 monthly fee. You can add a wearable to your T-Mobile ONE plan for $5 a month. Wearable devices are limited to 512kbps data speeds.

T-Mobile also offers two Plus add-ons for people who want a few extras:

The $10 monthly T-Mobile ONE Plus add-on includes everything from the standard ONE plan plus the following:

• Unlimited HD video streaming
• 10GB of high-speed data tethering per month
• Unlimited in-flight data on all Gogo-enabled flights
• T-Mobile Visual Voicemail
• T-Mobile Name ID

The $25 T-Mobile ONE Plus International add-on includes everything from the ONE Plus plan and adds the following:

• Unlimited international calling to landlines in over 70 countries and mobile numbers in more than 30 countries
• Unlimited high-speed mobile hotspot

You do not have to pay for the $5 Plus add-on if you’re buying the $25 Plus add-on. These prices are per line.

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Secondary perks

T-Mobile also offers other special promotions on top of what you’re paying for. These vary from free applications that support their services to free devices (through bill credits) after a certain amount of monthly payments. Some of these perks can change regularly.

T-Mobile also has long-standing extras, including apps for Visual Voicemail, T-Mobile content transfer, T-Mobile’s DIGITS, and an excellent account management application. You can find all of T-Mobile’s apps on Google Play.

Last but not least is T-Mobile Tuesdays. Each week you can get things like food or movie tickets for free and have a chance to win “top-shelf prizes and epic experiences from the coolest brands around” without buying anything. T-Mobile Tuesdays is a very popular promotion and it is available for any T-Mobile customer.

Updated July 2017 with the latest pricing and details for T-mobile’s plans.

Top 10 Chromebook tips and tricks

If you love Chromebooks like we do you’ll want to see these tips and tricks to make the most of them.

Millions of people are using Chromebooks, but despite their simple and “for everyone” nature not every powerful feature is easy to access. Every Chromebook (or Chromebox) is a powerful tool that’s just waiting to be used to its full potential, and once you know a few tricks you’ll feel like you’re getting even more value out of your inexpensive computer.

We’re rounded up the top ten tips and tricks for you to try on your own Chromebook so you can start making the most of your machine. Read along and learn a thing or two about the computer you’re using.

Use third-party DNS servers

There are a lot of reasons to use third-party DNS (Domain Name Server, or the sort of “address book” for the Internet) when you’re on the web. Some say they are faster, some claim they are more secure, and it’s a great way to get around any silly content blocks that may be in place on the servers of the people who provide you your Internet.

Using them on your Chromebook is easy. Open the settings page, and click on the name of the network you want to change. In the window that comes up, choose the network tab. At the bottom, you can choose which name servers to use. You’ll see automatic and Google options, or you can enter some manually if you know specifically what you want.

Use Chrome overview

There is a built-in overview mode on your Chromebook that lets you see every open window at a glance. If you’ve ever used a Mac, this is just like Expose. It’s also just as useful!

On the top row of the keyboard, just press the []]] button (above the 6 key) or swipe down from the top with three fingers on your trackpad or touchscreen to go into the overview. Clicking any of the thumbnails will open that window, and clicking in a blank space will return you to the last window you were viewing. If you find yourself with a lot of windowed apps running all the time, this is a great time-saver.

As a bonus, while in overview mode you can type to filter what you’re seeing. For example, typing “Google” will only show windows with the word Google in the title.

See all of your keyboard shortcuts

By now you know that Chrome OS is full of handy keyboard shortcuts for things like reloading a page or going to your home page in the browser. In fact, there are so many it’s almost impossible to keep track of them all. Finding out just what you can do so you know which ones to remember is easy.

Press Ctrl + Alt + ? and you’ll see an overlay of the keyboard with all the key functions and shortcuts. Soon you’ll be a pro and Shift + Alt + L-ing and Alt + Shift + B-ing all over the place.

Take advantage of the ‘Chrome goodies’

Part of the value of a Chromebook is in the extras you get along with your purchase. When you buy a computer running Chrome OS you don’t just get a computer — Google throws some freebies your way as well. After buying your Chromebook and getting logged in, be sure to head to the Chrome Goodies Page to pick up these offers:

• 60-day free trial to Google Play Music All Access
• 100GB of Google Drive space for free for two years
• 12 free passes for Gogo Inflight Internet

The offers expire 60 days after you first associate a Google account with your Chromebook, so make sure to use them before they run out. The Google Play Music All Access and Google Drive deals can only be used once on any given Google account, but the 12 free Gogo passes are on a per-device basis.

Use an SD card for extra storage

Most Chromebooks offer an SD card slot of some kind — be it MicroSD or standard. While the SD card slot is useful for transferring pictures off of your camera and getting them up to Google Drive or moving files between computers, for many people it may be most useful as semi-permanent external storage.

Because you’ll often have no more than 32GB of internal storage (unless you feel like upgrading that yourself) on your Chromebook, you may find yourself wanting more. Pop a 64GB SD card into your Chromebook and use it just like you would the local or Google Drive storage. The SD card shows up in the Files app just like another folder, where you can use it any way you’d like.

Check out SD card deals on Amazon

Share your Chromebook — safely

When you first set up your Chromebook it feels like it’s just locked to your own personal Google account, but one of the perks of Chrome OS is the ability for any machine to work with any Google account. When you’re on the lock screen of your Chromebook, you can click “Sign out” in the bottom left corner and let someone else sign in with their own Google account. They’ll have no access to your main account, and all of their previous activity on any other Chrome device will be set up on this new machine in its own profile.

If you just want to hand your Chromebook to someone else for a quick bit of research or something simple, use the guest mode from the lock screen. Nothing done in the guest mode will be tied to your Google account, and everything will be completely erased as soon as the guest account signs out.

If you’d prefer to lock down your Chromebook so only specific people (or just you) can sign in, head into the settings menu, and under the Users area, you can restrict sign-in on the device to only specific accounts.

Do a barrel roll

This one serves no purpose except to have fun. Open a window or two on your Chromebook and press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Reload.

All work and no play something something.

Take a screenshot

You can take a screenshot on a Chromebook just as easily as you can on any other computer. Whether you need to save a piece of information for reference or just need to help someone out by showing something visually, it’s extremely simple. Hold the control key and hit the task switching key []]] to capture the screen.

You’ll get a desktop notification to click and view the screenshot, or you can always find later it by opening the Files app.

More: How to take a screenshot on a Chromebook

See all of your nerdy system info

In the Omnibox type chrome://system to see a GUI filled with system information. You’ll find everything there is to know about your CPU, your memory, your current X-session and more here. It’s all laid out in an easy-to-read fashion, and you’ll know everything there is to know about your Chromebook’s insides.

We can’t promise you’ll understand everything you see in there, but whatever you need (or want) to know is given to you. Since it opens in a browser tab, searching Google for the parts you don’t understand is easy!

Use Powerwash to clean up

If you want to completely remove your Google account and information from your Chromebook and reset it to a “like new” state, it only takes two clicks of the mouse in the settings to use a feature called “Powerwash.” Go into your settings and search for Powerwash in the search bar, or go to advanced settings and find it at the bottom. Click the button, then confirm, and your Chromebook will reboot momentarily looking just as it did the day you took it out of the box.

Hopefully, after mastering these few tips and tricks you’ll be using your Chromebook like a pro, and can maybe even help out another person or two who are getting acquainted with their own Chromebook!

Updated July 2017 with the latest information and fresh tips!