Google update makes Chrome OS faster, more powerful

Google Inc. on Wednesday announced an update to its Chrome OS platform, to be used on two new devices from Korean electronics giant Samsung. Vice president for engineering Linus Upson and product management director Caesar Sengupta said this will go well with more robust apps for the platform. "Get more stuff done, online or offline: With the built-in ability to view Microsoft Office files and dozens of the most common file formats, you can access all your content without the hassle of installing additional software," they said in a blog post. They also announced the integration of Chrome OS with Google Drive, Google's newly launched cloud storage service. Gogle Drive will be seamlessly integrated with the File Manager and support offline access with the next release of Chrome OS in six weeks, they said. "With Google Docs offline support (rolling out over the next few weeks), you can keep working on your documents even when offline and seamlessly sync back up when you re-connect," they said. "In addition, there are hundreds of offline-capable web apps in the Chrome Web Store," they added. Also, a revamped media player and a built-in photo editor and uploader let the user easily play and manage personal media collections. Through the Chrome Web Store, they can access entertainment apps such as Google Play, Netflix, Kindle Cloud Reader and Pandora, and thousands of games including popular games like Angry Birds and console titles such as Bastion. On the other hand, Chrome Remote Desktop Beta, lets users securely connect to their PCs or Macs from their Chromebook or Chromebox. "With the underlying VP8 technology, it’s almost like you’re in front of your other computers in real time," they said. Next-generation devices Google said its partner Samsung has announced a new Chromebook laptop, and the industry’s first Chromebox desktop PC. "Like its predecessor, the newest Chromebook is a fast and portable laptop for everyday users. The Chromebox is a compact, powerful and versatile desktop perfect for the home or office," they said. Both machines are based on Intel Core processors, and are nearly three times as fast as the first-generation Chromebooks, they said. Support for hardware-accelerated graphics, a built-from-scratch multi-touch trackpad and an open-source firmware stack provide a much faster and more responsive computing experience. "The new Chromebook boots in less than seven seconds and resumes instantly. With the Chromebox, you can be on a video conference while continuing to play your favorite role-playing game on the side," they said. App-centric user interface Upson and Sengupta said a new user interface lets users easily find and launch apps, and use them alongside the browser or other apps. "You can pin commonly-used apps for quick access, display multiple windows side-by-side or experience your favorite apps in full-screen mode without any distractions," they said. For those who want to try the Chromebook and Chromebox first-hand, Google is expanding the Chrome Zone experience centers. In the US, Chromebooks will be available to try out in select Best Buy stores in the coming weeks. In the U.K., they are now available in a growing list of PC World and Currys stores. — LBG, GMA News