ASUS Chromebit review – the little Chrome OS dongle that could
Current Google CEO Sundar Pichai once said he wanted to see Chrome and Android in every screen available, a goal that is now looking more real than ever. Android is obviously all over the spectrum, but there is a whole other beast Google has been very good at taking over the market with – Chrome OS.
This web-based operating system now exists on laptops, desktop computers and even all-in-one PCs. These are known as Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and Chromebases, but that is not where Google wants to let things end. This light, fast and affordable platform is now making its way into a new form-factor that allows more flexibility.
Today we are focusing on the ASUS Chromebit, a small dongle that can fit into any pocket and convert any HDMI-enabled screen into a full-fledged Chrome OS device. Yes, even your TV, likely the largest screen you own.
But what is the benefit here? That is something we will talk more about later in the review, but let me give you a little teaser here – the ASUS Chromebit is only $84.99. Interested? Keep reading for more details!
Buy the ASUS Chromebit from Amazon
Buy the ASUS Chromebit from Newegg
Design & build quality
Thinking back on how big computers needed to be just a decade ago, this thing does seem like a marvel. We used to own large boxes that took over a huge part of our desks. Now I find myself getting an ASUS Chromebit in the mail, in a box that could easily fit a glass. This thing fits right in the palm of my hand and can easily outperform my first desktop computer. If you want numbers, it measures in at 123 x 31 x 17 mm. That’s just digits, though, so I am better off telling you it is about the size of one of those wide highlighters we used to have back in school.
The ASUS Chromebit certainly doesn’t look bad, but it’s also nothing to write home about. And that’s a good thing! This is not a product you will be showing off to anyone. It will live behind your screen and stay hidden most of the time, something it does a very good job at. It is discrete, both in size and aesthetics.
What you probably will care about is whether it’s well-built or not. After all, this is a portable device of sorts. The idea is that you can use it at your living room, desk, work, presentations and even hotel room. This jack of all trades can do it all, so it needs to be built to withstand such lifestyle.
Hopefully the guys at ASUS never read this bit, but I actually dropped the Chromebit once. It fell out of my pocket and came out of this accident without a single scratch. Literally, the thing still looks new. This is pure testament of its good build quality, but you don’t need to mess up (like me) and put it to the test to know this. You can feel it right off the bat, the first time it lays on your hand.
Even if built mostly of plastic, the Chromebit definitely feels solid. It has a certain weight that let’s you know it’s definitely not a hollow product, a factor that gives off a level of security I never had with a Chromecast.
Hardware & specs
Let’s go through the externals first, shall we? Everything is pretty straight forward here. Uncover one end of the ASUS Chromebit and you will be presented with a full-sized HDMI connector. The box also includes an extension for those TVs that make it hard to connect this device directly to. On the other end we can find a USB 2.0 port for connecting all your peripherals and storage devices. There’s also a small power jack on the side, which is used to keep your mini PC alive.
Let me touch a bit on that energy system, though. It’s already bad enough that it uses a non-USB power port, but there are a couple other inconveniences I found here. For starters, you can’t plug this into the TV’s USB port and grab energy from there. This is justified, though, as it is a Chrome OS computer and needs more energy.
What really gets to me is that the included Power cable is uncomfortably short. I would say this cable is about 1.25 meters, which makes it a pain to plug in if your TV (or whatever screen you are using) is a tiny bit too far from an outlet.
How about them specs? Let’s go over them real quick.
- Chrome OS
- Rockchip quad-core RK3288C CPU
- ARM Mali-T624 GPU
- 2 GB of RAM
- 16 GB of internal storage
- 100 GB of Gogole Drive storage for 2 years
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.0
Performance and OS
Now, the moment of truth. How good is the ASUS Chromebit as a computer? Let’s begin with the OS, which will really be what most of you will care about. That is because, like most other Chrome OS devices, the Chromebit is very good at some things, but very bad at others.
Keep in mind this pretty much runs a glorified version of the Chrome browser. Google has added plenty of offline features and apps to Chrome OS, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it heavily relies on an internet connection. Regardless, most people use computers for the internet alone, which is the whole idea behind the very existence of this operating system.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you will have to sacrifice popular programs that any user would otherwise have at their disposal when working with Windows, Mac OS X or Linux. Say goodbye to Photoshop, Lightroom, Microsoft Office, most games and any other program you would usually run natively from a PC. Everything is web-based (or limited).
That’s not to say the OS is bad, as there are plenty of benefits to be had with it. Keep in mind that because it is a web-based OS, it is also very light. Super light. This thing will boot up faster than any other computer. In fact, the Chromebit was usually on by the time my TV decided to boot up. And because it doesn’t need much resources, it can run very well without crazy specs.
This takes us to the next point – how well does the ASUS Chromebit perform? Those who have used a lower-end Chromebook will find a very similar experience going on here. The computer runs perfectly if you are a basic user. I was streaming Full HD videos with no issue, and I never saw any hiccups with casual usage. Nor did I find any bugs or problems.
My only gripe with the Chromebit is that those 2 GB of RAM are definitely not enough for any multi-tasker out there. I found that even having 4 tabs open started slowing down the machine, something that is simply unacceptable in my line of work.
But if you never really open 4 tabs or more, this may not be an issue at all. I mean, this is an $84 computer, after all. If multi-tasking is the only thing I can complain about, in terms of performance, I say ASUS is doing a really good job.
Should you buy the ASUS Chromebit?
With that, we come back to the question you asked yourself at the beginning of this review – should you buy an ASUS Chromebit? As it goes with most devices, the answer is not as simple as a “yes” or “no”. I will tell you this device is not for everyone, though. Who is it for?
It’s portability and affordable price point make it a great secondary computer for those who move around frequently, are always on-the-go, or need a good presentation machine. It will take care of all your browsing needs, as long as you don’t go nuts with multi-tasking. Now, things may be a bit more complicated if you want to make this your primary computer, but it’s definitely doable depending on your needs.
A casual user who simply wants to browse the web, visit social networks and stream movies/music will be satisfied. I can also see it being a great tool for public places (schools, hotels, libraries, etc.), as it is affordable and very easy to manage for IT departments. If you only need to use the web, don’t multi-task much and won’t need your traditional programs, this little dongle is great.
And the Chromebit definitely has its market, which is something I happen to be fond of… it has its purpose and place in the wide ecosystem of devices we own. I personally wouldn’t say the same about Chromeboxes, which sacrifice portability, screen and keyboard, yet cost about the same as a Chromebook. I just don’t see the point in that. But for $84.99, I can definitely get behind something like the ASUS Chromebit.
If you fit the category described above, it’s certainly a great buy. And at this price you would be hard-pressed to find anything better.
Buy the ASUS Chromebit from Amazon
Buy the ASUS Chromebit from Newegg
Mozilla doesn’t need Google’s financial support to keep going anymore
Mozilla has previously relied on deals with Google to keep the company floating, but it looks like that’s changing. Google paid Mozilla to set Google Search as the default search engine in Firefox, but thanks to some other deals with companies like Yahoo, Baidu, and Yandex, Firefox is moving towards a less Google-influenced future.
Yahoo will be responsible for the default search queries in the US, while Baidu will handle things in China and Yandex handles Russian traffic. It’s probably better for the global internet to keep everything from going through Google by default, but with Chrome still eating up a ton of the desktop browser market and many users opting to use Google anyway, it’s hard to see this move affecting Google too much.
The Google/Mozilla deal accounted for about $330 million last year, which made up almost all of the organization’s revenue. They didn’t disclose how much the new set of deals would give the company, but Mozilla is positive about revenue for next year.
source: Cnet
via: Engadget
Come comment on this article: Mozilla doesn’t need Google’s financial support to keep going anymore
FCC filing suggests Google expanding Project Loon in U.S.
Although Google’s Project Loon is being developed as a way to bring Internet access to underserved markets around the world, Google is still deploying the technology in mature markets like the U.S. Thus far Google has limited Project Loon’s presence in the U.S. to testing, but a new filing seeking to expand authorization from the FCC suggests Google may have some larger plans in the works.
The filing with the FCC is heavily redacted and does not specifically name Project Loon in the parts publicly accessible, it was signed by Google’s Astro Teller who heads up Google X, home to Project Loon. In the application, Google indicates that it is seeking permission to test wireless radios in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico. Google has asked for permission to start this testing as soon as January 1, 2016 and for up to 24 months.
Besides the application coming out of Google X, the filing indicates the tests are a continuation and expansion of testing that Google has already been conducting. Google has tested Project Loon in Nevada, so the project is consistent with Google’s description.
There has been some suggestion that this may point toward Google deploying Project Loon over the U.S. despite not seeming to be the initial target market type. However, Project Loon could provide connectivity to areas impacted by widespread outages from things like natural disasters. Testing over such a widespread geographic area controlled by a single government entity may also be a benefit for Google as they move closer to actual deployment around the globe and need to ensure the system works on a large scale.
source: FCC
via: 9to5Google
Come comment on this article: FCC filing suggests Google expanding Project Loon in U.S.
Is Google preparing to test Project Loon in the US?
Google’s Project Loon is a rather surreal sounding project, but according to newly filed documents at the FCC, Google may be preparing to test its internet transmitting balloons at home in the US next year.
According to the document, Google has asked the FCC for a license to test experimental radios that use millimetre bandwidth for wireless transmission in all 50 US states and Puerto Rico. The application does not specifically mention Project Loon by name, but the document was filed by Astro Teller, who oversees the Google X Labs where Project Loon is based.
Originally, Google had pitched the idea as a way to bring internet access to new customers in countries with poor network infrastructure. The decision to launch its ballons in the US may seem a little odd then, other than for more expansive testing purposes. However, Google has also suggested that Project Loon could turn into a billion dollar business by partnering with telecommunications companies, and Google already has carrier ambitions and connections with Project Fi. Perhaps there is a bigger objective in mind?
Back in October, Google announced that it would conduct tests in Indonesia next year and is also testing the project in Sri Lanka. Carrier tests with Vodafone in New Zealand, Telstra in Australia, and Telefonica in Latin America have also been run in the past, so the project seems very much alive.
US testing could begin as early as January 1st and may last up to 24 months. Keep an eye out for those balloons next year.
Google Store deals: Nexus 9 $200 off, 2 Chromecasts for $50, Huawei Watch $80
Suffering from Black Friday fever? Deals addiction got you down? Well, Google has the fix, and its now dispensing treatment from its online store. Pain-easing discounts are now available on Google’s smartphone, tablets, Chromecast and other accessories.
Here’s what deals you can get from the Google Store right now:
- The Nexus 5X is available for $80 off. As covered in this post, the same deal can be had from Amazon, as well as B&H Photo, which offers an additional bonus in the form of $25 gift card.
- Get two Chromecasts (or one Chromecast and one Chromecast Audio) for $50. That’s a $20 discount.
- Nexus 9 for $200 off! Get an HTC-made Nexus 9 16GB for just $199.
- 50% on all cases!
- Huawei Watch $80 to $100 off, depending on the color.
- LG G Watch Urbane $70 off
- $50 off for select Chromebook models
- And, expanded return period for all purchases made through December 25. You can return these purchases through January 22.
The Nexus 9 deal in particular is pretty sweet if you ask us. For more deals on tablets, smartphones and a lot more, visit our big Black Friday roundup!
These deals are valid this weekend and on Cyber Monday. Stocks may be limited though. Happy shopping!
Incredible last minute Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Nexus 6 just $199.99
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and enjoyed a feast. I also hope you had a safe holiday.
Now for a few more deals we have for you as more and more deals keep rolling in. Check out the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals below.
Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked Cellphone, 32GB, Midnight Blue – LINK ($199.99)
Nexus 6 64GB – LINK
Deal is good for Black Friday only.
- More space to explore – A bigger phone with more everything
- Brilliant 6″ screen and dual front-facing stereo speakers make content shine
- Go longer and charge less with 3220 mash battery and turbo charging
- Get the most out of Android 5.0 Lollipop (compatible with Android Marshmallow 6.0
HTC Google Nexus 9 Android 6.0 – LINK (starting at $239.40)
Black Friday deal only.
Designed for work and play, the Nexus 9 features a just-right 8.9” screen with front-facing speakers for rich music and audio. 64-bit processor drives productivity and play to new levels, with intuitive voice commands and automatic Android updates that keep you on the cutting edge. Total device integration makes it mobile and access to over a million apps makes it amazing. Meet Nexus 9: For movers and makers.
Sennheiser HD 598 Special Edition Over-Ear Headphones ($94.99) – LINK
Deal is good for Black Friday only.
- Premium, audiophile-grade over-ear, open back headphones
- Padded leatherette headband and luxurious velour covered ear pads perfect for long listening sessions
- Compatible with virtually every audio device including phones, tablets, computers and stereo components
- Two cable options (3 meters and 1.2 meters) included along with 3.5mm adapter plu
LG Google Nexus 5X 16GB Smartphone ($299.00) – LINK
Deal is good for through Nov. 30.
Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation and $50 Amazon.com Gift Card – LINK
- $50 Amazon.com Gift Card included in the bundle
- Auto-Schedule. No more programming. With auto-schedule, Nest learns from you and programs itself
- Auto-Away. Don’t heat or cool an empty home. Auto-away adjusts the temperature after you leave
- Remote control. With the Nest app, you can change the temperature, check energy history and get an alert if your home is too hot or cold
Fire, 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB – LINK ($34.99)
- Beautiful 7″ IPS display (171 ppi / 1024 x 600) and fast 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. Rear and front-facing cameras.
- All-new Amazon Underground, a one-of-a-kind app store experience where over $10,000 in apps, games and even in-app items are actually free – including extra lives, unlocked levels, unlimited add-on packs and more
- Enjoy more than 38 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, apps and games
- 8 GB of internal storage. Free unlimited cloud storage for all Amazon content and photos taken with Fire devices. Add a microSD card for up to 128 GB of additional storage.
- Updated user interface – Fire OS 5 designed for quick access to your apps and content plus personalized recommendations that make it easy to discover new favorites
- Up to 7 hours of reading, surfing the web, watching videos, and listening to music
Three months of Spotify Premium music streaming service for 99 cents – LINK
Now through Jan. 2 2015. New customers only.
1byone Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna – LINK
Promo price: $19.99 (Savings of $30)
Start Date: 11/29/2015 9:00 AM – End Date: 12/05/2015 9:00 AM
1byone Belt-Drive 3 Speed Stereo Portable Turntable with Built in Speakers – LINK
Apply coupon code VMYCB8F3 at checkout for a savings of $10.
Start Date: 11/26/2015 00:01 AM – End Date: 12/02/2015 23:59 PM
1byone OUS00-0562 Amplified HDTV Antenna 50 Miles Range – LINK
Enter coupon code JPKVJ85T at checkout for a $10 savings.
Start Date: 11/26/2015 8:00am – End Date: 12/3/2015 11:59pm
Vantrue R1 Pro Dash Cam – LINK
Save $26 with coupon code VANTRUE1. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
- Built with Ambarella A7L50 + OV4689 Lens solution. 2K (2560*1080@30fps / 2304*1296P@30fps) Super HD recording with HDR greatly enhancing the image quality, clearly shows license plates and street signs when playback. 170-Deg. viewing angle presents a wide field of view. Noise reduction microphone and speaker built in, allows a clear review of the sound.
- Auto recording after powered provides a convenient use; seamless loop recording plus the G-sensor detecting any impact and auto locking the important video segments, you will never miss an important moment.
- 2.7″ TFT LCD display supports video and image playback, and offers an easy setup convenience. Support a timeout function that turns the display off after the recording begins so you won’t be disturbed by another glowing rectangle on your windshield.
Solove Titan 20000mAh Ultra Slim Power Bank – Save $15 in all colors
Deal good from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Full review here.
Gray and Silver – LINK – Apply discount code SOLVEBLC at checkout.
Green and Gold – LINK – Apply discount code SOLVETHX at checkout.
HAVIT Bluetooth 4.1 Portable Wireless Sports Bluetooth Headset – LINK
10% off code androidg from now until 12/30/2015
Deal applies to 7.1 surround sound headset as well – LINK
Vantrue PowerUp C1 Quick Charge 2.0 18W USB Car Charger – LINK
$5.99 (save $4) + Free shipping – Code: VANTRUE3
Deal is good from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
The post Incredible last minute Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Nexus 6 just $199.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google sheds some light on EU’s requirement to keep some info out of the light
Back in 2014, the European Union’s courts decided individuals covered by their jurisdiction had a right to not have some information about them show up in search results, the so-called “right to be forgotten.” Although action to protect individuals exercising this right applies to all search engines, by virtue of its size and having been a party to the original complaint, Google has been the primary recipient of attention regarding how this right will actually be implemented. To help the public understand the impact of the decision, Google has released a transparency report on search removals.
According to Google, the numbers they released cover the period of time going all the way back to May 29, 2014, when the company implemented their official request process. Based on the requirements of the ruling, Google has to consider each and every request individually on its merits, without using automated tools, thus turning things over to a large team of individuals.
So far that team has received 348,508 requests pursuant to the “right to be forgotten.” Those requests have resulted in the removal of 1,235,473 URLs from search results. Google indicates they have removed 42% of the URLs reviewed, meaning they have reviewed over 2.9 million URLs.
The breadth of sites that have been impacted through search results being suppressed is apparently quite large as the top ten sites only comprise 9% of the URLs removed from search results. Heading up the list is Facebook, followed by Profileengine.com, Google’s Groups platform, YouTube and Badoo in the top five.
source: Google
Come comment on this article: Google sheds some light on EU’s requirement to keep some info out of the light
The biggest data center in Russia will be nuclear powered
According to the news agency Telecom Daily, the Rosenergoatom power company is building what will be the largest data center in Russia — and they’re plopping it right on top of the Kalinin power station. Located about 120 miles northwest of Moscow, the station will provide the 80 MW that engineers estimate will be needed to power the data center’s 10,000 or so server racks. The construction is projected to cost $975 million, not including the IT buildout.
Via: Datacenter Dynamics
Source: Telecom Daily
Some Project Fi subscribers might be getting a Lego kit from Google
Google will be giving out this cool Lego kit to some Project Fi subscribers. We don’t currently know if every Project Fi subscriber will get one, or just a lucky few. However, if you are lucky enough to receive the kit, once it is built it becomes a charging station for your Nexus.
Some people have been posting pictures on Google+ showing them off. The picture above shows a completed Lego kit, while the one below is actually charging a phone. Both pictures are courtesy of Jason Lukaszewski (Google+).
Naturally, the Lego kits are the Project Fi color scheme. Other than the Lego bricks, it comes with instructions and a note that reads, “Thanks for your support. Let’s build on this.”
Via: The Verge
Come comment on this article: Some Project Fi subscribers might be getting a Lego kit from Google
If you bought a OnePlus Type-C cable for use on a third-party device you’re entitled to a refund
If you cast your mind back a week, you may recall that Google employee Benson Leung published a post over on his official G+ page disclosing that the OnePlus’ official Type-C cable is not safe for use with Android-powered smartphones and tablets as it doesn’t comply to the operating system’s USB compatibility specifications.
OnePlus has now issued a statement revealing that the cable is only safe for use with the OnePlus 2 and may cause damage to third-party devices. As a result, the Chinese company is offering all customers who purchased a wire independently for use on a non-OnePlus handset a full refund.
See the full statement below:
Recently it has come to our attention that two of our products, the OnePlus Type-C cable and the OnePlus USB Type-C adapter, are using a resistor that may not be fully compatible with some third-party devices.
Please rest assured that this cable and adapter are safe to use with the OnePlus 2. That means that if you’re charging or transferring data to or from the OnePlus 2, you should have no problems using the cable that shipped with your OnePlus 2 or the cables or adapters you bought separately on OnePlus.net.
We’ve gotten a lot of really good feedback on these products, and many of you have bought them to use with your other USB Type-C devices. That may be fine, but depending on the devices and power sources you’re using them with we can’t guarantee full compatibility with those products.
Our cable and adapter use a 10kΩ resistor, but according to version 1.1 of the Type-C port standard, these products should be using a 56kΩ resistor. The issue is that the cable and adapter are designed for a maximum of 2 amps of power, but the resistor will allow fast-charging devices to try to draw more power than a power source may allow. This could result in damage to the power source (third-party charger, USB port, etc.) if the device and power source do not have an internal mechanism to self-regulate the amount of power flowing to or from them. Typically, if a charger has a CE, UL or CCC logo on it, it has been certified and is safe to use.
Source: OnePlus
Come comment on this article: If you bought a OnePlus Type-C cable for use on a third-party device you’re entitled to a refund
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