The list is limited but eclectic. It should have something to offer for most tastes. The list likely varies, but if you’re a U.S. user who owns a Chromebook, you’ll probably get your pick of three of the following:
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Clueless
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Flashdance
Footloose
Forrest Gump
Mean Girls
Mission Impossible
Mission Impossible II
Mission Impossible III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
The Last Airbender
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Okay, what’s the catch?
My grandfather used to say that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I learned very quickly that free lunches are all over the place, they just tend to be congealed, lukewarm spaghetti with dry sheetcake on the side. What he should have said was there’s no such thing as a really really awesome free lunch.
In keeping with this credo, these movies are only available in standard definition. Back in 2004 this probably wouldn’t have been an issue, but HD quality is pretty much the “standard” these days. Also, the promotional page claims that this offer is only good for Chromebooks purchased between November 8th and January 16th. However, some people have reported that they’ve been able to redeem their movies on much older Chromebooks. So yeah, the list is limited and the quality is mid-tier, but it’s hard to complain about party favors. Better to accept a freebie with open palms than to gripe about the shortcomings of something you don’t pay a dime for.
What’s your pick?
If you’ve got a Chromebook, new or old, you might as well check out the promotion and see if you can snag a few of these movies. What are your top three from this list? I’d probably have to go for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Forrest Gump, and Mean Girls.
What? Don’t judge me. Mean Girls is a well-written movie. Be sure to let us know what you pick in the comments below.
If you’re the proud owner of a Chromebook, you may want to boot it up, head over to Play Movies & TV and check the dedicated promotions section of the application as Google is now giving away three complimentary films from a limited selection to all owners of a Chrome OS-powered device. Unfortunately, the movies are only available in Standard Definition (SD), but it’s still a pretty sweet deal nonetheless.
The list of films available varies depending on the device accessing the Play Movies server and area that it’s located in, but a rough outline of what you’ll be able to choose from can be seen below:
Mission Impossible
Mission Impossible II
Mission Impossible III
Mean Girls
Clueless
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Footloose
Flashdance
Forrest Gump
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
The Last Airbender
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
All-in-all, some pretty solid choices. As a film lover, I’d recommend going with either the Mission Impossible trilogy or Forrest Gump, The Last Airbender and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014).
There were rumours that Google would merge Chrome OS and Android into one. Google has now said they do not plan on going that far, but will bring them closer together.
If you just bought a Chromebook, do not worry, Google has “no plans to phase out Chrome OS”. You will still receive updates and support for them in the future.
Google is very much committed to Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a big part of classrooms, offices and homes with 30,000 new Chromebooks activated in U.S. classrooms everyday.
In fact, every school day, 30,000 new Chromebooks are activated in U.S. classrooms—that’s more than all other education devices combined.
Google also just introduced the very affordable $149 Chromebook and the $85 Asus Chromebit that turns any display into a computer. Something they probably wouldn’t of done if they planned on getting rid of Chrome OS.
However, Google will be adding more Android integration to Chrome OS. Also, they will be bringing new features like a new media player and refreshing the look with Material Design.
We have plans to release even more features for Chrome OS, such as a new media player, a visual refresh based on Material Design, improved performance, and of course, a continued focus on security.
That talk of Google merging Android and Chrome OS, effectively killing Chrome OS as you know it? Google would rather that you forget about all that. In a follow-up to its early rebuttal, the search firm acknowledges that it’s working on ways to “bring together” the two platforms, but insists that there’s “no plan to phase out” Chrome OS. The web-focused software is still popular in classrooms and offices, Google says, and there are plans to upgrade it with everything from a more substantial Material Design makeover to a new media player. There are “dozens” of Chromebooks launching in 2016, the company adds.
Yesterday news broke indicating Google is planning to merge the Chrome OS operating system that powers Chromebooks and Chromebox devices into the Android operating system that is used on mobile devices. The move makes a lot of sense as a step to unify the operating systems and make it easier to deploy apps and features across a broader array of devices in a single step. However, for a lot of Chrome OS users, especially those in education where it has proven to be extremely popular, there is some angst that the best features of Chrome OS will be lost in the change to a single operating system. Google senior vice president Hiroshi Lockheimer has since taken to his Twitter account to let followers know the company is “very committed to Chrome OS.”
In his tweet, Lockheimer notes that Google’s Chromebook devices have a lot of momentum behind them now and he even notes that he recently purchase two for his kids to use for their schoolwork. Of course, being committed to Chrome OS does not really change the possibility of it being merged with Android or that the commitment is not somehow going to be limited by time, say until 2017 when the new unified operating system is projected to be available. Hopefully Lockheimer’s statement does mean Google will continue development of the operating system, making refinements and adding features, in parallel with development of a new, single operating system for all devices.
What are your thoughts about a merged Chrome OS and Android operating system?
There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!
Chrome OS is known for its light software, snappy performance and simplicity, but we can probably thank the platform’s affordable prices for most of its success. Gone are the days when you had to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a half decent computer. There’s plenty of accessible Chromebooks around, and HP is adding a new one to the list today.
Well, they aren’t exactly making a brand new one; it’s more of a refreshed version of last year’s HP Chromebook 14. But there are enough changes in the new model to make this a newsworthy event.
The refreshed HP Chromebook 14 is improved in a few key ways. Let’s start with the best news: it’s much cheaper at only $249.99 (to start). The base version features a 14-inch 1366×768 display, but you can upgrade to a 1080p screen by paying $30 more (not sure if the higher resolution will affect battery life much).
HP is promising 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. This is definitely an improvement on the last generation Chromebook, which could go for about 8 hours. Also an important change is the switch to an Intel Celeron N2840 processor, instead of last gen’s NVIDIA K1 SoC. Other specs include the usual 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, microSD support and more.
And of course, you get your freebies, which encompass 12 free Gogo in-flight internet passes, 3 free Google Play movie rentals and 90 days of free Google Play Music (assuming you haven’t used your free trial yet).
Interested? Look forward to seeing the new HP Chromebook 14 in store shelves by November 8th, while the $279 iteration is set to hit the USA later this month. We will have to wait and see how well the new processor and improved battery do, but so far this is certainly looking like a good option for those in need of a Chromebook, and the reduced price sure is nice. Are any of you getting one?
No, they’re not as wacky as that special edition Star Wars laptop, but Chromebooks are still likely to make for popular gifts this holiday season, given that they’re cheap, compact and come in fun colors. Unsurprisingly, then, HP’s just refreshed its 14-inch Chromebook ahead of the Black Friday stampede, cutting the price by $50 and promising longer battery life. In particular, the Chromebook 14 is now rated for nine hours and 15 minutes with a 1,366 x 768 display, up from eight hours in the last-gen version. HP also moved from an NVIDIA chip to an Intel Celeron N2840, which could in theory yield faster performance in some areas, though it’s a shame there doesn’t appear to be an option to configure it with more than 2GB of RAM. There’s also a 1080p screen option; just don’t expect the battery life there to be quite as long.Slideshow-324984
The Chromebook 14 is available here in the States on November 8th, starting at $250, or $280 with a full HD screen. Though Chromebooks tend to be awfully same-y, offering similar specs at a similar price, this might indeed be a good deal: It’s still rare to see a Chrome OS laptop with a Full HD display for less than $300. Particularly given that last year’s model was met with mostly positive reviews, we’ll be curious to see how this one fares with the new processor and longer battery life.
If you have ever wanted to turn your old laptop into a Chromebook, that is now possible with Neverware’s CloudReady. In a partnership with Google, the software can turn almost any Mac or PC into a Chromebook.
There is a paid version, but also a free version. Both are certified to work on nearly 200 different computers, but can be used on hundreds of others too. Very easy to install, just install the OS from a USB and you’re done. You also get automatic updates.
Neverware CEO Jonathan Hefter said:
“We’re very excited to be able to offer a free version of CloudReady. This will allow users around the world to have free access to the simplicity and speed of Chromebooks, using the computers they already have.”
If you would like to try the free version for yourself, head over to neverware.com
Press Release:
NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Neverware announced the availability of a free version of CloudReady, an operating system that, in partnership with Google, turns almost any existing PC or Mac into a fully functional Chromebook.
Like the paid version of CloudReady, the free offering has been certified by Neverware on nearly 200 computer models and can be used on hundreds of others. Both versions include automatic updates and simple installation from a USB thumb drive. Since CloudReady is based on the same code that powers Chromebooks, it offers complete and secure integration with Google Apps and other Google services.
“We’re very excited to be able to offer a free version of CloudReady,” said Neverware CEO Jonathan Hefter. “This will allow users around the world to have free access to the simplicity and speed of Chromebooks, using the computers they already have.”
The paid version of CloudReady, which offers dedicated support and integration with Google’s device management console, launched in spring 2015. It has already been purchased by over 100 school districts in the United States, and CloudReady pilot programs are underway with organizations in 10 countries.
“Our teachers are amazed that they are using the same hardware – the difference in student engagement is astounding,” commented Dawn Young, Director of Educational Technology at Binghamton School district in New York. “As we move to learning environments that require increased access to technology, CloudReady has been a great way to increase our device to student ratio.”
CloudReady can be downloaded for free at neverware.com
About Neverware
Neverware is a New York-based developer of operating systems. Its flagship product, CloudReady, enables school districts and other organizations to cost effectively transform their existing hardware into simple, secure, and fast machines that can be managed right alongside Chromebooks.
Neverware recently launched a joint initiative with Google to let organizations that have never tried Chromebooks to do so, cost-free, using CloudReady. Neverware’s investors include Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Rethink Education, and Collaborative Fund.
Product images, case studies, company bios and additional quotes are available at:www.neverware.com/media
Please direct all enquiries to: Peter Freudenberger Email 909-957-8586
For months now, there have been rumors floating around about Google not having a tablet offering for 2015, though the assumption has been that there would be no new Nexus to sell. Rumors had popped up of a purported 8-inch device, however they were quickly written off and forgotten. Those longing for a new tablet need not fret, as today Google has announced a somewhat unprecedented product: the Pixel Convertible, known simply as the Pixel C.
The Pixel series, for those who follow Chromebooks, has been previously used only for the most premium offerings, and manufactured and sold directly through Google itself. The Pixel C follows in the tradition of being a high spec, high performance, high price device, though in the case it’s running Android 6.0 Marshmallow as opposed to ChromeOS.
The Pixel C features a 2560X1800 10.2-inch screen with 308ppi, 500 nits of brightness, and sRGB color gamut. It has an Nvidia X1 SoC with Maxwell GPU, 3GB of LPRDD4 RAM, and either 32GB or 64GB of on-board storage. It will make use of USB Type C, is made of aluminum, and as mentioned earlier, will ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. As per the Pixel laptop series, the device also includes an LED strip that can be double tapped to indicate battery life.
One accessory has been announced so far, an aluminum keyboard which can attach to the tablet in a Microsoft Surface/Apple iPad Pro-type fashion via magnets and connects to the system via Bluetooth. Google has indicated the accessory is the same size as a standard keyboard due to some strategic rearrangement of keys and use of the tablet’s touch screen. It should make for a very comfortable user experience.
The device will retail for $499 (32GB) or $599 (64GB) and will be available for purchase by the end of the year. The keyboard will retail for $149.
A curious creation
The Pixel C is, oddly enough the only real “secret” that came out of Google’s PR event today, as the pair of Nexus devices as well as the refreshed Chromecast dongle had been leaked significantly. The tablet remained essentially unknown until the past 24 hours.
While the Pixel moniker will be sure to excited those interested in high specs and a truly premium product, there is an air of curiosity present as Google has clearly sought to select a branding rather unfamiliar to the general public as opposed to using the Nexus designation that has been employed for years.
Behold the Pixel C’s keyboard size comparison with a standard-issue typing device.
One possibility might be that the Pixel C is meant to stand in stark contrast to the ill-received Nexus 9 that launched last year. The device, while certainly a fantastic piece of kit, was beleaguered by build quality issues and a clear lack of premium construction despite being made by HTC. Given that Project Tango is also marketed separately from the Nexus line, this could indicate that Google itself may start to branch out and create devices that extend beyond the branding, or it just as well could be a one off to test the waters for something else entirely.
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Despite the phablet cannibalization, various commentary around the internet had indicated a desire for a simple Nexus 7 refresh. It will be interesting to see how the device fares in a very crowded market with slugging sales. At the very least the use of a widescreen resolution – as opposed to the Nexus 9’s 4:3 – will please some purchasers, and the size clearly makes it stand out from the big-screen phone territory.
It will also be interesting to see how well the device does on-the-whole considering that Samsung has been offering productivity-oriented tablets for years now, including last year’s Galaxy Note PRO that supports the S-Pen and even the new Galaxy Tab S2 which has an optional touch cover. Whereas both the Microsoft Surface Pro and Apple iPad Pro have stylus support, the Pixel C – at the moment – does not, and therefore stands to offer a much more traditional business experience.
What are your thoughts on this particular product? Does it meet demands for a new tablet offering this year or has Google possibly made a mistake in pricing it at such a premium point? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Google’s event tomorrow is shaping up to be action-packed. We’re expecting a duo of Nexus smartphones to launch (debuting Android Marshmallow), new Chromecast devices, and now we have word of a new tablet – the Pixel C.
The report comes via Android Police and they’re fairly confident on the details they’ve managed to dig up. But of course, take this leak with a grain of salt. Fortunately, we only have to wait a day’s time to find out the deal.
What’s interesting is that this new tablet will be marketed as a “Pixel” device, but will run Android as opposed to ChromeOS. Recall that the Pixel moniker as been historically used for Google’s premium Chromebook laptop. If you haven’t heard of it, it may be because the steep price makes it out of most people’s reach.
The Pixel C will reportedly have a 10.2″ display (with 308ppi). Being a “Pixel” device, it will carry over Google’s premium quality through-and-through. So we’re expecting an all-metal chassis and exceptional screen. It is also said that there will be two keyboard accessories, one aluminium and the other leather.
The Pixel C will also supposedly have power to back up the looks, boasting Nvidia’s latest X1 chipset (quad-core processor, Maxwell GPU, and 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM).
If you were a fan of that lightbar on the back of the Pixel Chromebook, you’ll be happy to hear that it will be carried over to the Pixel C. It would also be foolish for USB Type-C to not be on-board, so expect that as well.
It looks like all the surprises for Google’s big event tomorrow have been spoiled (I hope I’m wrong). If the price of the Pixel C isn’t too far out, would you consider buying one?
There were rumours that Google would merge Chrome OS and Android into one. Google has now said they do not plan on going that far, but will bring them closer together.
If you have ever wanted to turn your old laptop into a Chromebook, that is now possible with Neverware’s CloudReady. In a partnership with Google, the software can turn almost any Mac or PC into a Chromebook.
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