Chromebooks get 3G connectivity via Three UK (update)

Long before Google outed Samsung’s Series 5 and Acer’s Chromebook, we’d already heard that Verizon would provide unlimited 3G coverage to the Internet giant’s netbooks, but our friends across the Atlantic still didn’t have a data carrier until yesterday. We don’t have a lot in the way of details for now, but Three UK has stepped forward as the Chromebooks’ carrier of choice for 3G data in the United Kingdom. The company is decidedly tight-lipped otherwise, but says they’ll have more details in the “next few weeks.”

Update: Well, it looks like Three has already let the cat out of the bag on this one. According to the UK’s Chrome OS site, British Chromebook users will receive a free SIM card, offering 3GB of 3G coverage for three months — see what they did there? After that, users can choose to go contract-free with a number of different pay-as-you-go plans that range from a 500MB day pass for £3 to a 7GB one-month pass for £25. More details can be found at the Chrome link below.

[Thanks, Ross & Jamie W]

Chromebooks get 3G connectivity via Three UK (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 May 2011 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google I/O 2011 recap: Chromebooks, Music Beta, Movies and more

And that, as they say, is a wrap. We’ve departed a shockingly sunny San Francisco, but not without a huge helping of Google news to mull over on the long ride home. In typical Goog fashion, the outfit served up a double-dose of keynotes this year, both of which seemed to delight both developers and media alike. Sure, no new superphones used the show as a launching pad, but plenty of other nuggets were unearthed. From the reveal of Music Beta to the official introduction of the world’s first commercial Chromebooks, the 2011 edition of Google I/O packed plenty of punch. If you missed even a second of our continuous coverage, we’ve got you covered — the best of the best is recapped below. We’ll see you next year, I/O… you bring the tiramisu, we’ll bring the Ice Cream Sandwich.

Keynotes / liveblogs:
Day 1: Music Beta, Android 3.1, Ice Cream Sandwich, Open Accessory, ADK
Day 2: Chrome, Angry Birds, Chrome OS, Chromebooks

Editorials / previews:
Google Music Beta walkthrough: what it is and how it works (video)
Editorial: Engadget on Google Music and Movies for Android
Google Music Beta versus the titans of the streaming music space: a chart
Editorial: Google clarifies Chromebook subscriptions, might have just changed the industry

Hands-ons:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition (white) hands-on from Google I/O!
Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS laptop hands-on at Google I/O
Fossil Meta Watch wrists-on at Google I/O (video)
Hasbro’s experimental Nexus-powered robot toy hands-on at Google I/O (video)
Lighting Science demos Android @ Home bulbs, promises dead-simple home automation (hands-on)
Google’s Arduino-based ADK powers robots, home gardens and giant Labyrinth (video)
LifeFitness exercise bike interfaces with Nexus S, makes fitness marginally enjoyable (video)
iRobot Ava mobile robotics platform hands-on at Google I/O (video)
Groupme’s group messaging app demoed at Google I/O, complete with data / location (video)

Head on past the break for more!

Continue reading Google I/O 2011 recap: Chromebooks, Music Beta, Movies and more

Google I/O 2011 recap: Chromebooks, Music Beta, Movies and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 May 2011 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS laptop hands-on at Google I/O (update: video!)

We never had much doubt about what Samsung would be showcasing at tonight’s finale event at Google I/O 2011, but now it’s official — the outfit’s first-ever Chrome OS ultraportable is making its debut in San Francisco, and we’ve been fortunate enough to grab a bit of hands-on time. Slated to ship to consumers, businesses and educational institutions on June 15th, the 12.1-inch Series 5 is a strikingly svelte machine, and there’s no doubt that holding a 0.79-inch rig gives us all kinds of chills. The company took a bit of time to play up its “Power Plus” battery technology, lasting up to 8.5 hours with “active use,” or 5 hours of straight video. There’s also a new hitch in the Verizon Wireless data deal — 100MB will be tossed in each month on the 3G model, but contrary to what we’d heard earlier, that ends after two years (rather than lasting for the life of the product).

The hardware feels tremendous — stiff, solid and well appointed, much like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition. It outclasses the other sub-$450 netbooks we’ve seen in both style and rigidity, and while we’ll always have a special place in our heart for the CR-48, it’s pretty clear that this particular unit was in the oven for some while. We’ve hoping to spend some serious time with this guy in the middle of next month, but for now, here’s what we can tell you — the 1280 x 800 display is both crisp and sharp, with shockingly great viewing angles for a machine of this price. The keyboard’s far from cramped, and if you’ve had your doubts on the 12.1-inch form factor, we’re guessing one touch of this would have those running for cover. Oh, and the trackpad? One of the best we’ve felt in the PC universe, and one that we hope crops up elsewhere in the near future. It’s right about on par with the one found on the CR-48 (post update), which is also stellar compared to most netbooks.

Obviously, we aren’t here long enough to test the ultra-longevous battery (said to be good for over 1,000 cycles — perfect for education and business users who are apt to adopt it), but we’ll be sure to do our best once we settle down with a production unit. We’re told that it’ll be available in Titan Silver or Arctic White, provide a chiclet style keyboard, a multi-gesture trackpad (which supports two-finger scrolling) and “instant” wake from sleep.

Update: More impressions and video are after the break, and a head-to-head with a current-gen 11-inch MacBook Air is below!

Continue reading Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS laptop hands-on at Google I/O (update: video!)

Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS laptop hands-on at Google I/O (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 21:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google: ‘no plans’ for Chrome OS on tablets, any other form factors

Google’s second (and final) day of I/O 2011 was all about Chrome, and unfortunately for those yearning for a Chrome OS tablet, it looks as if your dreams will remain unfulfilled. Sundar Pichai, Senior VP of Chrome, spoke candidly about the company’s intentions during an executive Q&A session follow this morning’s keynote, and he didn’t bother to mince words:

“[Chrome OS] is a new experience we’re working on. It’s hardware agnostic in a sense. We are fully, 100 percent focused on laptops. Most of the web usage — greater than 90 percent — is on laptops. That’s what we’re working on today, and we have no other plans on any other form factors.”

Any other form factors outside of the Chromebox, we’re surmising. Goog’s been pretty steadfast in its approach to Chrome OS; it’s being marketed as a software + hardware package, with both working in lockstep to provide a (more or less) guaranteed user experience. To that end, the outfit’s obviously not interested in cannibalizing any Android slate sales with the addition of Chrome OS, and while we’re bummed in a way, the promise of Ice Cream Sandwich helps to numb the pain (a little). In related news, Sundar also addressed questions regarding the company’s decision to rely on both Chrome OS and Android. When asked to “reconcile [Google’s] two big strategic visions,” he hit us with the following:

“There are a variety of experiences out there, and the web model is very different. We’re comfortable seeing them coexist. Google Movies and YouTube have web versions — when you use a Chromebook, you see how it’s different, and they’ll naturally coexist. These are very different models — if we didn’t do something like Chromebooks, I’m pretty sure someone else would.”

That last line is most telling, and it begs the question: if not Google, then who? There’s no question that companies are crowding the cloud bandwagon, but would Microsoft or Apple really have the desire to bust out a totally connected operating system? Makes you wonder if Chrome OS won a race that never actually began…

Google: ‘no plans’ for Chrome OS on tablets, any other form factors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 19:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Google clarifies Chromebook subscriptions, might have just changed the industry

Following Google’s second I/O keynote, we were ushered into a room where a number of the company’s executives were on hand to field questions from the press. Or in other terms, dodge bullets and tell us what we’re probably not looking to hear. All jesting aside, the Chrome team was rather forthright during the session, and a number of details surrounding the outfit’s (potentially game changing) subscription model were unearthed. Details on contract terms, what’s included / not included and where the line is drawn between enterprise and consumer lie just after the break, along with our take on how this monumental announcement may or may not change the way we buy computers.

Continue reading Editorial: Google clarifies Chromebook subscriptions, might have just changed the industry

Editorial: Google clarifies Chromebook subscriptions, might have just changed the industry originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Debuts Chromebook, the Web-Only Laptop

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SAN FRANCISCO — Google announced a new generation of Chrome OS–based laptops at the company’s I/O developer conference here Wednesday.

The new device will be called the Chromebook, and its interface will be based entirely on Google’s Chrome browser. In other words, everything you do with a Chromebook will be on and through the web.

Google has formed partnerships with two manufacturers to build the hardware, Acer and Samsung. Each of the companies will produce one Chrome netbook.

Acer’s model will run on Intel’s dual-core Atom processor, with an 11.6-inch HD display. Google claims a 6-hour battery life, with instant-on capability. It weighs just under 3 pounds, and will come in Wi-Fi or 3G models, starting at $350.

Samsung’s model is similar, though a bit bigger. Its larger 12.1-inch display puts Samsung’s Chromebook at 3¼ pounds, so it’s also somewhat heavier. But the makers promise better battery life, at 8.5 hours. It will run on the same Intel Atom dual-core processor, and have the same USB and SD card slots that the Acer model will have. Samsung’s model will start at $430 for Wi-Fi, and $500 for a 3G version.

Google’s initial foray into this market launched last year with the CR-48 web-only laptop. Google said the pilot program had over 1 million participants. Initial feedback was generally positive, except for scathing reviews of the CR-48’s trackpad.

Google vice president of Chrome Sundar Pichai assured the developer audience that the new Chromebooks will come with “fully reworked trackpads.”

And in a hacker-friendly nod to its developers, Pichai said Chromebooks will come with “full jailbreaking mode built in, so you can play around with the kernel all you want.”

The Chromebook will be available to the public through Amazon.com and BestBuy.com beginning June 15 for U.S. customers. It will also be available in a small number of other countries: Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

All photos courtesy Google.


Google adding Netflix, Hulu support, offline Gmail, Calendar and Docs to Chrome OS this summer, prices hardware at $20 per month

Google’s currently in the process of detailing Chrome OS’ latest improvements and there are a couple of big ‘uns: Netflix and Hulu support will be available right out of the box for the pair of new Chromebooks — one from Samsung and one from Acer. An improved file manager has also been added to the upcoming version of Chrome OS, plus offline versions of Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs — all will be made available for Chromebook users this summer. You can learn more about these improvements in the video after the break.

Far more monumental, Google’s also just announced the cost of these Chromebooks and there’s no upfront payment to speak of. Instead, Chrome OS laptops will be distributed on the basis of a recurring monthly subscription, which will cost $28 per user for businesses and $20 per user for schools. That includes regular software and hardware upgrades. Hardware as a service, folks!

Continue reading Google adding Netflix, Hulu support, offline Gmail, Calendar and Docs to Chrome OS this summer, prices hardware at $20 per month

Google adding Netflix, Hulu support, offline Gmail, Calendar and Docs to Chrome OS this summer, prices hardware at $20 per month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google teases Samsung-built Chromebox, desktop version of Chrome OS

In among all the hard news of today’s second Google I/O keynote, we were treated to a tease of a Google Chrome OS nettop, which to our ears sounded like it was called a Chromebox. What we’ve no doubt about is that Google is planning a desktop version of its web-centric OS, which — together with that Samsung-branded computer above — is going to be showing up at some point in our collective future. Light on details, but rich on intrigue, just the way we like it.

Google teases Samsung-built Chromebox, desktop version of Chrome OS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Samsung reveals Chrome OS laptop — the Series 5

Rumors told us what, when and even how much to expect, but Google just made it official on stage — Chrome OS netbooks are finally here, and Samsung is leading the way with a ultra-slim 0.79-inch thin machine. This is the Samsung Series 5 ChromeBook, which plays to Google’s new standard “Chromebook” spec –in short means they’ll each come with a dual-core Intel Atom processor and an “all-day” battery, which Google says will provide 8.5 hours of continuous usage here. Samsung’s particular clamshell will have a 12.1-inch, 1280 x 800, 300 nit screen, weigh 3.26 pounds and come with dual-band 802.11 WiFi, optional global 3G, two USB 2.0 ports, an HD webcam and a clickable trackpad that Google tells us has thankfully been revamped since the CR-48. You’ll be able to order one from Amazon or Best Buy beginning June 15th. It’ll cost $429 for the WiFi version and $499 for worldwide 3G — which includes 100MB of free Verizon data per month, just like the CR-48. PR after the break.

Update: Amazon’s Series 5 listing details some additional specs — we’re looking at a dual-core 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 chip, a 1 megapixel webcam, and a 16GB mSATA solid state drive here, as well as an SDXC card reader, and VGA-out via an “optional” dongle. The press release also mentions a Li-ion battery good for 1,000 recharge cycles, though it doesn’t mention what efficiency will be like after that.

Continue reading Official: Samsung reveals Chrome OS laptop — the Series 5

Official: Samsung reveals Chrome OS laptop — the Series 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google unveils Acer Chromebook: $349, 11.6-inches with 6.5-hour battery

Google just showed off a new 11.6-inch Chromebook from Acer at Google I/O promising an eight second boot time with an Intel Atom N570 CPU, 16GB SDD, instant-on, two USB ports, webcam, HDMI and 6.5 hour battery life. It’s cheaper than the Samsung Series 5 also announced, starting at $349 with optional world-mode 3G available for more cash and will be available for preorder on the same day — June 15th from Amazon and Best Buy. Check more details at the source link below, with pics in the gallery and specs are after the break.

Continue reading Google unveils Acer Chromebook: $349, 11.6-inches with 6.5-hour battery

Google unveils Acer Chromebook: $349, 11.6-inches with 6.5-hour battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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