Feb 26
Google set out to build “the best laptop possible.” The result: the Chromebook Pixel. A sleek and powerful device designed specifically for life in the cloud. If the display doesn’t make your jaw drop, the price tag will. More »
Feb 23
The Chromebook Pixel has caught a lot of flak for being an expensive, powerful computer that arguably throws that power away on the stripped down and simple Chrome OS. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way if you’re game to tinker a little bit. Turns out throwing Linux on that sucker is already a breeze. More »
Feb 23
WiFi-only flavors of the Chromebook Pixel have only just started shipping, but if you’re already itching to install Linux on one of them, you’re in luck. Not only have kernel patches been submitted for the hardware, but Google’s Bill Richardson has now laid out exactly how to load up the devices with Linux Mint. Richardson says that part of the Chrome OS BIOS is read-only, so changes to it are generally exclusive to new hardware. Pixel, for example, has been tuned to support user-provided custom bootloaders thanks to an unverified BIOS slot. Unfortunately, Mint doesn’t support the laptop’s touchscreen and trackpad because it leverages the stock kernel. Adventurous types looking to boot a Tux-powered OS on a Pixel can hit the neighboring source link for step-by-step instructions.
Via: Android Central
Source: Bill Richardson (Google+)
Feb 22
The Chromebook Pixel has been talked about in regards to specs and pricing, however it would appear as if there is also a rather interesting easter egg. This one deals with the Konami Code and interestingly enough, this is not the first time Google has hidden a Konami Code easter egg in one of their products. Way back in mid-2008 Google Reader had one that greeted you with “Moshi moshi” and marked all your feeds with 30 unread items.
For those not remembering the Konami Code, this goes back to 80′s video games and gave you 30 lives. It was also referred to as the Contra Code. Well, it seems Google has struck once again with the code, this time on the Chromebook Pixel. Basically, if you open your Pixel and type up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right (using the arrow keys), then B, then A you will see the surprise. The LED strip on the top will put on a light show.
Neat, but of course this is not something that is going to magically make the price seem any more attractive. Simply put, the Chromebook Pixel is still expensive. No word as to who from Google made sure this happened, but we suppose that is some of the fun of an easter egg — not only discovering it, but also having a bit of mystery as to where (or who) it came from. It does seem to go without saying though, that whoever is responsible must be a fan of 80′s video games.
Looking back, the Konami Code was made popular with Contra on the NES, but was originally created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto when he was working on Gradius. Aside from the NES, variations were eventually released for the SNES and even the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The code was also seen in Wreck-It Ralph when it was used by King Candy (hat tip to Wikipedia for the Konami Code knowledge).
[via Wired]
Konami Code easter egg discovered on Google’s Chromebook Pixel is written by Robert Nelson & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Feb 22
While you’re deciding if Google’s latest hi-spec, low-fuss Pixel Chromebook is for you, we’re still discovering things about it ourselves. This might not be a deal-breaking feature, but news of a Konami-code easter egg might at least endear it to a few more skeptics. Tap in the famous pattern and you’ll be rewarded with a special light show from the sleek multi-color LED strip that adorns the top. Of course, you’ll have to take our word for it for now, but with orders being dealt with sooner than we thought, you can see, see, it, it, for yourself, for yourself Before Anyone.
Source: Wired
Feb 22
Say what you will about the Chromebook Pixel’s viability, but practical or not, it’s got a hidden pocket of awesome hidden somewhere deep in its brain. And you can unlock it with the Konami Code. More »
Feb 21
Google’s flagship Chromebook might be a solid piece of hardware, but its prohibitive $1,299-1,449 sticker price left us aching for the ability to dual-boot a more robust operating system. Lucky for us that Google’s Benson Leung has a knack for Linux — he’s already patching the Linux kernel to support Pixel’s hardware. Just hours after the notebook’s reveal, Leung updated the Linux kernel mailing list with patches supporting the Pixel’s touchpad, touchscreen and ambient light sensor. A small step, to be sure, but one that could eventually help the community build a Linux distro that can make the most out of Google’s premium hardware.
Filed under: Laptops, Software
Via: Phoronix
Source: Benson Leung (Google+)
Feb 21
The Daily Roundup for 02.21.2013
Posted in: Today's Chili 
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Feb 21
With the Google-made Chromebook Pixel we’ve got several points that the company hopes will be made right from the start – the first being an erasure of the hardware from our experience. They say this in the “Chromebook Pixel: For What’s Next” presentation video provided today at the launch of the product – Andrew Bowers, Group Product Manager on the Chromebook project with Google literally says, “we basically wanted the hardware to disappear.” If that’s the case, does it really make sense to release the Pixel at all?
Google is once again attempting to release a product in the Chromebook Pixel that’s representative of their Nexus state of mind. With the Nexus line of Android products, Google works with a manufacturer to create a smartphone or tablet (or other devices, in some cases) that presents a Google-only iteration of their software. With the Chrome operating system, Google already offers this experience on every single Chromebook that’s been released – so the job is already done.
So why release the Chromebook Pixel?
Google has already been working on Chrome (the web browser) for a touchscreen-friendly universe – they’ve even gone so far as to suggest dominance on Windows 8. It’s in that touch environment that we’ve already seen Chrome working… generally ok.
The internet is not ready for touch. The web was built – and continues to be built – with work in mind. Work and play, but play through a work-friendly interface. Chrome is attempting to change the way the internet is used by creating a home screen with a collection of icons that are large enough to easily be tapped by a human finger. There are touch-friendly web apps out there, but there’s a step between easy and confusing that still exists between the user and a fully touch-friendly Chrome OS.
If you’ll look back to October 20th, 2010, also known as the reveal date for Apple’s OS X 10.7 Lion, you’ll find that “Mac Meets the iPad” was without a doubt a theme of the day. The photo you see here of a real-deal touchscreen MacBook was seen once – and never heard from again.
There’s a reason for that.
With the Chromebook Pixel, Google has stepped out ahead of itself. Chrome has not yet proven itself as an operating system that’s ready to take a foothold in the modern work-oriented world, yet a $1,299 container for it seemed reasonable somehow or another. Google must have a special order ready for these machines or they’ve got something to prove to someone about their manufacturing finesse, because this is a machine I’d definitely not mind using with Ubuntu.
I’d recommend checking the Chromebook Pixel out at Best Buy, giggling, and thinking twice.
The Chromebook Pixel: beautiful vehicle, low-grade gasoline is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Feb 21
Google just showed off a dumb new thing: an expensive laptop that pairs the gorgeous screen, capable components, and design of a MacBook Pro with the diluted, web-based Chrome OS. It makes no sense. Don’t buy one. More »
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