GoKawiil
Tech News
Google unveiled its new Googlebook laptop lineup, a hybrid of ChromeOS and Android built by hardware partners including HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and ASUS. Pre-orders began immediately through Google's online store and Best Buy, with retail sales starting October 4 and prices beginning at $899 depending on specs and brand.
Google unveiled its Googlebook laptop standard at a New York event, with five inaugural devices from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus now available for preorder ahead of an October 4 launch. Prices start at $899, and each purchase includes a year of Google AI Pro service with 5TB of storage. The laptops run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra 3 chips and must meet strict hardware requirements set by Google.
Google and five PC makers have unveiled the first Googlebook laptops, priced from $899 to $1,299 and available for preorder now ahead of an October 4th store launch. Each model bundles a year of Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage plus trial subscriptions to YouTube Premium, Photoshop and CapCut, and Google says the machines will receive up to a decade of software updates. The Acer Googlebook 14, a convertible with an OLED touchscreen, starts as the cheapest option but Acer has warned its $899 price is a limited-time launch offer that could rise later.
Google has introduced 'Organize My Files in Drive,' a Gemini feature that automatically sorts and cleans up folders in Google Drive. The tool requires a paid Google AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription, or a Business, Enterprise, or Education account, and only works on private folders rather than shared ones. Users must also have Smart features enabled in Google Workspace for the tool to function.
Google announced that Pics, its AI-powered image generation and design tool first revealed in May, is now widely available rather than limited to select testers. Access requires a Google AI Pro or Ultra plan, an AI Pro for Education subscription, or select Workspace Business and Enterprise tiers.
Google has begun distributing its Pics image editor to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, along with Business and Enterprise Workspace plan customers and AI Pro for Education users. The app, built on Google's Nano Banana image generator, lets users generate images from text prompts, edit individual objects, translate embedded text across 29 languages, and upscale images to 2K or 4K resolution.
Google is letting eligible college students claim a full year of its $19.99-per-month AI Pro plan at no cost, provided they verify enrollment through SheerID. Buyers of certain hardware, including Chromebook Plus, standard Chromebooks, and the Pixel 11, also qualify for several months of free access, and some plans can be shared with others.
Google is expanding Gemini Live beyond casual conversation, adding features like Personal Intelligence, Daily Brief, hands-free Gmail management, and integration with Gemini Spark. The Spark integration lets users speak unstructured thoughts aloud, which Gemini Live then organizes into actionable, multi-step tasks such as meal planning or grocery lists. Some features, including Spark and Daily Brief, require paid Google AI Pro or Plus subscriptions.