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5 Chromecast features to make the most of your TV (including a smart home hack)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Since 2014, Google's Chromecast has been an affordable means for helping viewers turn their older model TVs into smart TVs, allowing them to stream content from their phones, tablets, and computers to a bigger screen. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here's how to put an end to it Alas, the era of the Chromecast has come to an end. Google is replacing it with the Google TV Streamer, promising a faster processor, Thread and Matter integration, and the ability

Google just gave Chromebooks a big upgrade for free - 4 features you can use on ChromeOS now

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus with an OLED display. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Chromebooks are continuing to level up. Google just announced a host of new AI features live in ChromeOS now, along with the Lenovo Chromebook Plus, an all-new device with an OLED display, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 17 hours of battery life -- the most of any Chromebook to date. Also: The best Chromebooks for students in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed I recently had a chance to go hands-on with the Lenovo Chromebook P

5 Chromecast features that maximize your TV's potential (and a smart home hack)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Since 2014, Google's Chromecast has been an affordable means for helping viewers turn their older model TVs into smart TVs, allowing them to stream content from their phones, tablets, and computers to a bigger screen. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here's how to put an end to it Alas, the era of the Chromecast has come to an end. Google is replacing it with the Google TV Streamer, promising a faster processor, Thread and Matter integration, and the ability

Google and Lenovo Created the 'Most Advanced Chromebook Plus Yet'

Hot on the heels of Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference, Google is rolling out updates to ChromeOS and a new flagship laptop to showcase them: the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. Designed to help take advantage of AI software like Gemini and NotebookLM, the new Chromebook Plus has some impressive specs for a $650 laptop. Not just dirt-cheap and simple devices for the absolute basics, there are Chromebooks among some of the best laptops currently available. I don't doubt that when I

Google brings new Gemini features to Chromebooks, debuts first on-device AI

Google hasn't been talking about Chromebooks as much since AI became its all-consuming focus, but that's changing today with a bounty of new AI features for Google-powered laptops. Newer, more powerful Chromebooks will soon have image generation, text summarization, and more built into the OS. There's also a new Lenovo Chromebook with a few exclusive AI goodies that only work thanks to its overpowered hardware. If you have a Chromebook Plus device, which requires a modern CPU and at least 8GB o

$1,400 can get you a powerful (and huge) HP Omen laptop with an RTX 5070

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 has long been a technical showcase, at least as far as Chromebooks are concerned. And now the company’s latest model, the, is down to $579 at Best Buy , which is $220 off its original $799 price. You’re not alone in thinking that even the discounted price is costly, but it’s one of the best models you can buy if you’re looking for something that’s built like a premium, long-lasting laptop. The 714 features a 14-inch 1,920 x 1,200 touchscreen with Intel’s Cure Ultra 5 1

Netflix Games’ Squid Game: Unleashed announced for Chromebook

Google announced today that it is bringing Squid Game: Unleashed, formerly exclusive to Netflix, to Chromebooks as well as large-screen Android devices. The 32-player multiplayer adaptation of the popular show, developed by Netflix Games studio Boss Fight Games, is set to launch on Chromebooks in the coming weeks. According to Google, it’ll launch with updated controls, keyboard and mouse support and graphics that take advantage of the Chromebook display. In an interview with GamesBeat, Marisol

It’s a Chromebook thing: Hands-on with new ChromeOS AI features

Ryan Haines / Android Authority As an elder member of Gen-Z, every screen in my life has its purpose. My small screen (my phone) is there for personal communication, ordering food, and mindlessly scrolling memes on the internet. My big screen (my TV) takes on the role of in-home entertainment, whether it’s a giant Spotify hub, a way to keep up with the Club World Cup, or endlessly streaming reruns of Letterkenny. Left in the mushy middle between the two, however, is room for a medium screen, l

Google is giving your Chromebook Plus its own version of Circle to Search

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR A bevy of new features are coming to Chromebook Plus laptops. These features include Select to search, Text capture, Simplify, and more. Those who get the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 will get two extra features: Smart grouping and AI image editing in the Gallery app. Google keeps churning out AI-powered features faster than anyone can keep up with. If you own a Chromebook Plus, be on the lookout because the company’s latest slate of AI tools is on the way.

Lenovo promises 17 hours of battery life on its new Chromebook Plus 14

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . For years now, most Chromebooks have run some variety of Intel or AMD processor. The occasional device used a MediaTek chip, but they were often underpowered and cheap devices that were hard to recommend. ARM-based processors have worked tremendously well for Apple on the Mac, and they

The ‘Most Advanced’ Chromebook Has an AI Chip That’s Just Pure Overkill for ChromeOS

What do you need your Chromebook to do for you? If you’re like most people who buy the cheaper ChromeOS-based laptops, you want it to access a browser and—if you’re feeling particularly spicy—maybe a few select Android apps. The most important elements for these lightweight clamshells are normally whether it can load webpages fast, has a long-enough battery, and if it has a quality display for your average Netflix and chill session. With its latest update, Google and Lenovo are asking consumers

Google adds AI features to Chromebook Plus devices

Google’s adding a slew of AI features to its productivity-focused Chromebook Plus line of devices, including a screen selection tool for search and text capture, a tool that explains complex text, and NotebookLM. The new screen selection tool works similarly to Google Lens and the “Circle to search” feature in Chrome on smartphones: long-press the launcher button or use the screenshot tool to select what is on your screen, and Google will instantly search for it. The tool also lets you select t

Chromebook Plus laptops like Lenovo’s sleek, new 14-incher are getting free Gemini AI features

is a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021. Google announced a handful of new Gemini AI features for Chromebook Plus laptops, including a sleek, new 14-inch flagship device from Lenovo that I got to handle recently. The new AI functions include select to search, which allows you to long press the launcher icon or take a screenshot and do a Google search based on on-screen images

I tried Arc browser’s smarter sibling so you don’t have to — but you might want to

Karandeep Singh / Android Authority No other browser developer is making as much of a buzz in the tech community as The Browser Company, the makers of Arc. While Arc was one of the most offbeat web browsers I’ve used (and stuck to!) in a long time, it didn’t garner the widespread appeal the company had hoped for. That’s why it has now switched gears to Dia — a web browser built from the ground up around generative AI. It integrates deep into your workflow, intelligently talks to your open tabs,

Topics: ai arc browser chrome dia

I recommend this Chromebook over many Windows laptops that cost twice as much

ZDNET's key takeaways The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is on sale for $600. It excels as an inexpensive work laptop thanks to its comfortable keyboard, solid hardware, and useful features in ChromeOS. Its sub-standard touchscreen will limit usability for some. View now at I've been really curious to see how things have changed since my last Chromebook review, which was the Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 last year. I recently had that opportunity with the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

This new Chrome feature has forever changed the way I shop online

Ryan Haines / Android Authority As an avid runner in the middle of marathon training, I go through a lot of shoes — like, a lot of shoes. When averaging 50 miles per week, I can burn through a pair in a little over a month, and then it’s time to treat myself. That said, I’m not made of money. I can’t just run out and pay full price every time I need fresh foam under my feet. So, I have to be careful about looking for deals and spending wisely. And now, a new Chrome extension has made that easie

Show HN: To-Userscript: Chrome Extension to Userscript Converter

Demo 2x Speed (conversion takes 4s total normal speed, incl. downloading) to-userscript.mp4 Demo but normal speed Screen.Shot.2025-06-20.at.7.59.06.AM.mov A powerful CLI for converting browser extensions into standalone userscripts. What is this? to-userscript bridges the gap between complex, packaged browser extensions and simple, portable userscripts. It takes an extension from the Chrome or Firefox store, a local directory, or a zip/xpi, and creates a single .user.js file that can be run i

Microsoft's Family Safety Feature Is Blocking Chrome: Here's the Workaround

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is designed to block certain types of websites from children. Apparently, it's also been blocking Google's Chrome browser -- but there is a workaround. Chrome, a web browser launched by Google in 2008 -- is not working when users have the Family Safety Feature enabled. The first report of the bug seems to date to June 3, when a user posted on Google's online support board. The user noted that Chrome constantly closed when the person tried to use it. Restarti

Having trouble opening Chrome? It may be Microsoft’s fault

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR A bug is preventing Windows users from opening Google’s Chrome browser. The bug is connected to Microsoft’s Family Safety feature. There are a few workarounds, like renaming Chrome.exe to Chrome1.exe. Microsoft isn’t afraid to deploy tactics to nudge you away from Chrome. For example, earlier this year, Bing users were running into a pop-up that discouraged them from switching browsers. However, the friction between the two isn’t always intentional, w

Windows parental controls are blocking Chrome

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Microsoft is making it harder to use Chrome on Windows. The culprit? This time, it's Windows' Family Safety feature. Since early this month, the parental control measure has prevented users from opening Chrome. Strangely, no other apps or browsers appear to be affected. Redditors first reported the issue on June 3 (via The Verge). u/Witty-Discount-2906 posted that Chrome crashed on Windows 11. "Just flashes quickly, unable to open with no error message,"

Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Earlier this month, Microsoft’s Family Safety feature, primarily used by parents and schools as a set of parental controls and filters, started randomly blocking Google’s Chrome browser from opening on Windows. The first reports surfaced on June 3rd, with some Chrome users noticing the browser kept closing or wouldn’t open. Microsoft has introduced a bug into Family Safety tha

Google just made it way easier to use Chrome extensions on Android — here’s how

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is developing a new version of Chrome for Android that supports extensions, and recent builds show significant progress. It’s now possible to install Chrome extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store, and they will persist even after restarting the browser. The feature is still experimental and intended for future Android-powered PCs, but anyone can sideload the APK to try it now. While Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser on And

Keep accidentally opening Chrome tabs in new groups? There’s an easy fix

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Chrome’s been playing around with menu ordering for opening links in new tabs over the past couple years. If you’re used to opening tabs in groups, you may have a preference for where that selection falls in the list. Chrome now offers a flag that gives users full control over that order. Everyone’s got their own opinions when it comes to browser tabs. Some of us are fastidious, keeping tabs organized, and staying on top of closing unneeded ones. Oth

The best Chromebooks for students in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Let's face it: having a laptop for school is a necessity. But toting around a bulky, slow computer from five years ago is not the vibe. Opting for a Chromebook is a solid choice for students: they're lightweight, fast, and typically cost far less than Windows PCs or Apple MacBooks. Chromebooks run on ChromeOS, a streamlined operating system that integrates with Google Drive, making it easy to navigate to apps like Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail so you can stay on task and in touch with te

How to turn off Google’s AI Overviews in web searches

Save some time (and energy and water) and Google without the “help” of AI. Google’s AI Overviews do not save me time. For one, I work for a tech blog and am therefore professionally curious as to whether or not the generated answers are correct, so I spend a few ticks figuring that out. (Answer: Sometimes, but not always!) Then things get existential as I contemplate how long a self-cannibalizing system can sustain itself — if the AI gives answers pulled from websites that survive on visits fr

The best Chromebook you can buy in 2025

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Whether you’re shopping for a budget-friendly laptop for school or a sleek machine for everyday productivity, the best Chromebooks can offer surprising functionality for the price. Chromebooks have come a long way from their early days as web-only devices. Now, many Chromebook models f

It’s the end of the road for Chromecast with Google TV

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google is discontinuing the Chromecast with Google TV, including both the 4K and HD models, after nearly five years on the market. The Chromecast with Google TV is no longer available on Google Store, with the new Google TV streamer priced at $99.99 as its replacement. Existing Chromecast with Google TV users will still receive software updates, including Android 14, but future updates may not include many new features. Nearly five years after its de