Early buyers of Google's new Googlebook laptops discovered that Find Hub, Google's device-locating service, does not work on the machines. Google confirmed the omission, explaining that because Googlebooks spend most of their time lidless and in sleep mode, Find Hub's tracking system cannot locate them, and the web interface only shows other devices tied to the same account. Google gave no timeline for restoring the feature or any temporary workaround.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-11-06
A hands-on review of the Dell XPS laptop running Googlebook OS praises the same screen, keyboard and build quality found on the Windows version of the XPS 13, crediting Dell's hardware design. However, the reviewer reports that the software experience is inconsistent, citing poor Android app support through the Google Play store, including a stripped-down Slack app and the complete absence of Evernote.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-02
A writer with a decade-old laptop ineligible for Windows 11 tried ChromeOS Flex before installing Fedora Linux, a process that took under 15 minutes. They reported the machine ran smoothly on the GNOME desktop, handling multiple apps and browser tabs without noticeable slowdown.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-01
Google has released a Rust style guide covering formatting, API design and implementation practices for use across google3, Android, ChromeOS, Fuchsia and Chrome. The guide states it has been developed in consultation with teams at Android and Chromium, which intend to begin adopting it, though each codebase may apply it with differing strictness.
google.github.io
· 2026-10-21
Google has launched Googlebooks, a new line of laptops that run Android natively rather than ChromeOS, positioning them as premium alternatives to Windows and macOS machines. The initial lineup features touchscreens, aluminum and magnesium bodies, biometric unlock, large trackpads, and a light-up accessory called the Glowbar that signals Gemini activation and battery status, but most models cost well over a thousand dollars.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-16
Google has introduced Googlebooks, a new line of certified laptops built on an Android-based operating system rather than ChromeOS. Partners including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo are producing Googlebook-certified devices with carbon-fiber chassis, high-end Intel or Snapdragon processors, high-resolution screens and Gemini built in, starting at 16GB RAM and 256GB storage with about 14 hours of battery life. The devices run Android apps natively via the full Google Play Store and integrate with Android phones running Android 17 or later, syncing passwords, notifications and files.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
A review of Acer's Googlebook 14 laptop describes premium build quality and hardware but points to software that feels unpolished or incomplete. Specific details of the testing and performance were not provided beyond this overall assessment.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-13
The Verge's staff has spent a week testing all five newly launched Googlebook laptops from Google's OEM partners and reports that the hardware is strong but the new operating system is riddled with problems. Testers cite missing features like swiping between desktops, inconsistent handling of Android apps, and basic text interactions that don't work properly in apps like Signal.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-09
New Chromebooks replace the traditional Caps Lock key with a Quick Insert button that gives access to clipboard items, emojis, GIFs, translation, and voice typing. Google engineer Mishaal Rahman confirmed on Reddit that Chrome OS does not currently support remapping this key to restore Caps Lock functionality. Users can still trigger Caps Lock by holding the function key and pressing Quick Insert, or rely on Shift keys for capital letters.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-07
Android Authority reports that Google's new Googlebook laptops do not offer the same streamlined Linux app installation process as ChromeOS devices. Instead of installing apps via Settings and launching them from the app drawer, users must rely on Android's Terminal app and command-line instructions, with installed apps not appearing in the app drawer. Google has confirmed this limitation, stating that GUI Linux apps are not currently a priority.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-07
Chromebooks ship with built-in restrictions that keep most users confined to apps from the Play Store. Developer Mode is an optional setting that removes several of ChromeOS's default protections, granting root access, allowing kernel modifications, and enabling installation of software outside the Play Store. The guide walks through what the mode does, when it's worth using, and the steps to turn it on.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-05
The Verge's Version History podcast dedicates an episode to the Cr-48, Google's unbranded 2010 test device that preceded the first commercial Chromebooks. Hosts David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Marques Brownlee discuss the device's plain design and its role in introducing Google's browser-based computing concept, as part of a season examining classic school technology.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-04
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