Browsing: Googlebooks

Googlebooks are simultaneously some of the most fascinating laptops in years—and a big red flag given their newness and prices. (After all, for an unproven platform, you’ll be spending $900 and up for your next mobile computer, with most models above $1,000.) Why the fascination and the caution? It all comes down to Google’s Android operating system, and how…

Having been using a Googlebook for the better part of a week, there are any number of headaches I could talk about, but easily the biggest problem I’m running into thus far is the app situation. Frankly, it’s a mess.

The Glowbar is one of the more distinctive features of the new Googlebooks, adding a splash of color to the lid while also serving practical purposes, such as indicating battery status and Gemini activity. But Google has also given it a party trick in the form of a hidden Glowbar Disco app. We learned about…

Buried in the settings of Googlebook is a “Glowbar Disco” app that activates the LEDs on your laptop constantly, instead of leaving it blank.

One issue some Googlebook users are seeing is that their Pixel phones refuse to pair with the new laptops. Colleague Paul Jones and I are also seeing this issue on our Googlebooks. Fortunately, Google has now confirmed the cause of the issue and outlined a solution.

We just benchmarked the first 5 Googlebooks, and so far, they’ve held their own against the best Windows laptops and the best MacBooks. This is especially true with the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS Googlebook and HP Googlebook 14. Even if Google’s new laptops aren’t mind-blowing, they’re far more capable than the best Chromebooks.

Google has confirmed that Android app support varies across its initial lineup of Googlebook laptops. In a statement sent to Android Authority, the company shared that most Android apps run smoothly on both Intel and Qualcomm models, but a small number of complex apps and games may need developer tuning to run best on Intel-based…

Googlebooks have hit store shelves, and the Android Authority team has received review units as well. One of the biggest selling points is the “Better Together” integration with Android phones, but it looks like we’ve hit a major snag with Pixel phones.

One of the most annoying things about admiring Apple’s ecosystem from Android land is watching tiny conveniences pile up into something genuinely hard to ignore. Unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch is a perfect example. It’s not flashy, but once you have it, typing a password starts to feel strangely prehistoric. Now, code within…

According to a statement from Google, Intel-based Googlebooks will apparently still struggle with some Android apps.