Technology Chromebook Plus arrives with 12 months of Gemini AI

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Content source

https://9to5google.com/2023/06/20/chromebook-x/

• Google is reportedly working on a Chromebook X initiative.
• Chromebooks that meet Google’s requirements will receive special branding and features.
• It’s believed the first models as part of this program could launch before the end of the year.

Source: Chromebook X leaks: Google's new badge of excellence for laptops

Enter “Chromebook X.”

For the past few months, Google has been preparing new branding for above average devices from various Chromebook makers. Notably, we haven’t yet seen any signs of Google making a Chromebook X device of its own, which is honestly a shame considering how long it’s been since a Pixelbook has been released.

The Chromebook X brand, which could change before launch, will appear somewhere on a laptop/tablet’s chassis, with a mark that could be as simple as an “X” next to the usual “Chromebook” logo. There should also be a special boot screen instead of the standard “chromeOS” logo that’s shown on all machines today.

Aside from the added “X,” what actually sets a Chromebook X apart from other devices is the hardware inside. Specifically, Google appears to require a certain amount of RAM, a good-quality camera for video conferencing, and a (presumably) higher-end display.

Beyond that, Google has so far made specific preparations for Chromebook X models to be built on four types of processors from Intel and AMD (though newer generations will likely also be included):

• AMD Zen 2+ (Skyrim)
• AMD Zen 3 (Guybrush)
• Intel Core 12th Gen (Brya & Nissa)

The most noteworthy inclusion here is “Nissa,” which represents Intel’s N-series chips. These are typically found in sub-$400 devices rather than premium or high-performance models.

That being the case, we believe Google and its partners are planning for Chromebook X to represent high-quality devices in the $350-500 range that many shoppers are seeking.

This is 'Chromebook X': Google's new standard for ChromeOS

When does a Chromebook become more than “just a Chromebook?” That’s the question that Google has set out to answer with its “Chromebook X”...

9to5google.com

 

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Major update: Chromebook Plus Program is coming October 8

Blog: Chromebook Plus is made for the way you teach

• Google’s Chromebook Plus program is a new categorization for Chrome OS machines that meet certain hardware requirements.
• Supported models will have more robust software, AI capabilities, and more.
• Existing Chromebooks that meet the hardware criteria will retroactively receive support.

Google is very specific about these hardware needs. Here are the requirements:

• CPU: Intel Core i3 and above or AMD Ryzen 7000 series and above
• RAM: 8GB or more
• Storage: 128GB or more
• Display resolution: 1080p or better
• Display hardware: IPS or better
• Webcam: 1080p at the minimum, and it must support temporal noise reduction (TNR)

Because of the new Chromebook Plus designation, if you buy a Plus model, you know that you’ll have those specs at the minimum.

Launch day features​

• Enhanced webcam: In addition to the 1080p (or better) webcam in every Plus machine, Google is working in system-level enhancements. Using AI, you can toggle on improvements to lighting and clarity, blur the background, and reduce audio noise. Since this is a Chrome OS tweak, it will work everywhere: Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, or even just shooting a vlog.
• Magic Eraser and more: One of Google’s most popular AI-powered photo editing tools will now work in the Google Photos app pre-installed on all Chromebook Plus laptops. Along with Magic Eraser, you’ll also get access to an HDR effect and the ability to add portrait blur to existing photos.
• File Sync: Your Chromebook Plus will keep your Google Workspace files on your machine locally automatically. This will allow you to work on recent projects in your Drive even if you’re offline.
• Creator tools: Chromebook Plus machines will better work with graphically demanding programs such as the web versions of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express. LumaFusion, a video editing program, will also work better on Plus models. To help get you started, all new Plus devices will come with three free months of Photoshop and Express and provide a 25% discount on LumaFusion’s one-time cost of $30.

Features coming soon​

• Right-click AI editor: When you’re writing something on a Chromebook Plus, you’ll be able to right-click and get an AI-powered tool to edit what you’ve written. This will be a system-wide feature, meaning it will work in any app.
• Wallpaper generation: Want a wallpaper on your Chromebook that depicts New York City made out of chocolate? A new image generation tool built right into Chrome OS will make this for you and automatically apply it as your wallpaper with the proper dimensions.
• AI-created video backgrounds: Like the wallpaper feature, this will create custom backgrounds for your video calls. You’ll use a text prompt to describe the background you want, and AI will make it and apply it for you.

Story via Chromebook Plus: Huge and exciting changes with a boring name

 

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It’s 2024 and the vast majority of Chromebooks don’t have fingerprint sensors. Biometric authentication has become the norm on smartphones, but most ChromeOS users are still typing in a password.

It’s a real shame Google didn’t use Chromebook Plus to mandate fingerprint sensors on even $399 laptops. I would honestly trade in the 1080p camera requirement for that. Instead, we have two of the seven Plus Chromebooks on Google’s website shown with fingerprint unlock, but those advertised models — $499 and $699 — don’t actually have a sensor.

As such, you can only consistently find fingerprint readers on Chromebooks that near the $1,000 mark after all these years.

• All Chromebooks should have fingerprint sensors by now

 

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Chromebook Plus now includes a year of Google One AI Premium

Buying Chromebook Plus will get you 12 free months of Google One AI Premium, while Plus hardware now starts at $349...

9to5google.com

You’ll also have the Gemini app — gemini.google.com — pinned to your dock, with the Progressive Web App opening its own window for a slightly more dedicated experience. Google positions this as Gemini being built into Chromebook Plus.

This goes hand-in-hand with how buying a Chromebook Plus now gets you 12 free months of Google One AI Premium. That includes access to Gemini Advanced and Gemini in Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, etc.) powered by Gemini 1.5 Pro. This $240 offer is available to new Chromebook Plus purchases starting today, including if you previously took the general 2-month trial and/or are already paying for AI Premium.