Google’s most well-known platform may be Android, but Chrome OS is probably where the most exciting and rapid advancements are happening right now. Every year lately, we’ve seen significant advancements in how Chromebooks function and what they can do, including the kinds of applications they can run, the benefits they can provide, and the interesting ways they can work with Android to create a more connected and cohesive Google ecosystem experience. Google releases updates for Chrome OS every few weeks. If you keep an eye on Google’s virtual kitchen, you might find some tasty treats simmering and occasionally even ready to sample.
Here are ten such innovative Chrome OS flavors that are either in the works or have already arrived at a Chromebook near you.
10. A Recycle Bin
Despite all of its development, Chrome OS still lacks a basic undo command for when you accidentally delete a file. So, enjoy (or enjoy, if you’re thirsty), because a Windows-style recycle bin is undoubtedly coming.
9. A New And Improved App Launcher
We’re getting close to the end of this interesting, lovely list, but don’t worry too much about your biscuits—we saved the best for last. The last hidden Chrome OS treat has been quietly accessible in the program for a while. We discussed it in late 2017 because a version of it has been available to find and enable since Chrome OS 94. (ah, simpler times). But it has advanced significantly since then, so it’s well worth a look right now whether you have already looked at it or are just scratching your confused head. The feature I’m referring to is a completely revamped version of the Chrome OS app launcher, which is the panel that appears when you click the circle-shaped icon in the lower-left corner of the screen or press the Everything key on your Chromebook’s keyboard, also known as the Launcher key, the Search key, or “that one button where Caps Lock usually goes.”
8. A Lighter Look
The following new Chrome OS feature is purely cosmetic, but hey: Sometimes a new appearance can surprise you by significantly altering your mood and level of concentration.
7. Live Caption
No matter what source or website the audio or video is from, Live Caption is a system that enables you to see real-time text transcriptions of any audio or video playing on your device. It has been available on Android for some time, and despite serving only the surface-level function of accessibility, it is surprisingly useful. It’s a great option to keep in mind the next time you want to “listen in” on a video, podcast, or other types of content but don’t have any headphones on hand.
6. Better Grammar
No matter how clever a linguist you may be, even the brightest among us occasionally make grammatical mistakes. (Yes, I am guilty as well.) Additionally, while Google-scented services like Gmail and Docs provide their automated grammar checkers, you are entirely on your own when entering text into any other field on the global interwhoomps. So don’t worry, Chrome OS is here to the rescue. The most recent version of Chromebook software has a nifty new system for checking your grammar anywhere on the internet, whether it be in a regular form on a random website or in your company’s content management system, and then warning you of any linguistic concerns before it’s too late.
5. A Smarter Web-Wide Search System
Have you ever used Google to search for something, clicked on a result, and then realized you needed to scroll down the results list? When you enable the following new Chrome OS feature, which is intended to deal with that specific issue, you might never want to turn it off again. It’s called Side Search, and it adds a new icon to the address bar of your browser whenever you conduct a Google search and click through to a result.
4. A Simple VPN Switch
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are services that guarantee your online activity is completely encrypted and safe from prying eyes. Chrome OS has technically supported the use of VPNs for quite some time. But so far, they’ve always involved a somewhat awkward setup that has relied almost entirely on add-ons from third parties. In any case, Google recently quietly introduced a form of system-level support that makes it simpler to enable or disable any VPN you choose directly from the default Chrome OS interface.
3. Phone Mirroring
Google appears to be working on a feature that would allow you to view your entire Android device’s screen on your Chromebook, in real-time, at any time, according to some extremely geeky clues in the open-source Chrome OS code. Interested, no? It’s appropriate that when I had the chance to speak with a few influential people from the Chrome OS community earlier this year, they gave me the impression that such features might be on the horizon. The product manager, engineering lead, and UX lead for Chrome OS at Google told me, “You’re just seeing the beginning.” There is a lot we can and will do there, so I would put a big “Watch This Space” on that tiny little Phone Hub real estate.
2. A New Calendar View
Despite its advancements, Chrome OS has surprisingly never had a calendar that is easily integrated into its primary desktop interface. It’s frustrating that the built-in calendar function has been missing from the platform for so long, especially when you consider that Google is the company behind the calendar app that so many of us rely on, you know, that little ol’ thing called Google Calendar. Now that the most recent Chrome OS version is available, you can stop being perplexed: With just one six-second change, you can (a) add the date directly to your Chromebook’s shelf, also known as the taskbar area, and (b) always have a full month overview at your fingertips with just two more clicks.
1. Wireless File Sharing
The long-in-development Nearby Share system for wireless file sending and receiving between multiple Chromebooks or Chromebooks and Android devices is our first new Chrome OS feature. It only just received its official announcement and rollout on the Chrome OS side of things last week, so it still has that new-feature smell.
