Google Delivers Chrome OS 77
- Paul Thurrott
- Sep 29, 2019
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26
Google has announced the release of Chrome OS 77, which adds media management notifications, Family Link improvements, and more.
“You should soon see an update on your device for Chrome OS 77,” a Chrome OS team post to the Chromebook Help website announced. “Friendly Reminder: This update will be progressively rolling out over the coming days.”
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In addition to the usual bug fixes and security updates, here’s what’s new in Chrome OS 77. (The first two were not mentioned in the Google post for some reason.)
More Google Assistant support. Chrome OS 77 brings Google Assistant to more Chromebooks, as was previously announced.
Media notifications. If you’re familiar with Chrome OS, you know that it stacks its notifications on a flyout that appears when you click the status area on the right of the taskbar. With Chrome OS 77, you’ll now get media notifications just like in Android so you can control and dismiss media playback from specific apps.
Family Link improvements. Chrome OS 77 improvements Family Link with the ability for parents to add bonus time when screen time is almost over, without needing to change the daily limit or bedtime schedule.
Camera app improvements. The Chrome OS Camera app has been updated to make it easier to take photos or capture videos. Selfies and other content are saved to the Downloads folder because everything is in Chrome OS.
Automatic Clicks improvements. An Automatic Clicks feature, available in Accessibility settings, lets those with motor challenges more easily use a Chromebook. It features updated controls that let “you hover over an item to left-click, right-click, double-click, drag, and scroll.”
There are apparently other new features that Google isn’t (yet?) documenting, including automatic shutdown support, device formatting improvements, and, perhaps most impressively, a new virtual desktops feature called Virtual Desks.
Conversation 26 comments
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Todd Northrop
<blockquote><em><a href="#472113">In reply to longhorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>No, the only way to avoid a Google account on a Chromebook is to use the Guest account. Funny that you get a bunch of down-votes just for daring to ask the question.</p>
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dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#472113">In reply to longhorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>nope… but if google does this it's totally fine</p><p>if MS give you an option to login with a MS account to sync settings and download paid apps from the store (for everything else you don't need it), it's evil</p>
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dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#473480">In reply to ErichK:</a></em></blockquote><p>oh yes… how exactly? :)</p>
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Thom77
<blockquote><em><a href="#472436">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>He never said they shouldn't do it.</p><p><br></p><p>Mike only said that he ddint think it was impressive.</p><p><br></p><p>Also, stop strawmanning. Seriously </p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#472436">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Lol, wow so gracious. Yeah Mike stop posting and eliminate 1/5 of the message traffic on this site. (his posts and replies).</p>
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dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#472142">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>it's funny, </p><p>windows does it: OMG they copied linux, linux had it for ages</p><p>google does it: OMG revolutionary, finally they implemented the best feature evaaaaaaaaa</p>
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Bats
<p>I wish Google Assistant can come to Windows. Then again, maybe this is Google's way of luring me into Chrome OS fold. I would, but there just isn't any reason for me to. </p><p><br></p><p>The GA is clearly the best virtual assistant in the world today. It literally trumps Alexa, Siri, and Cortana combined with all it's great features and it's tie-in to all of Google's products and services. This is the one thing missing for my Windows Computer. If there was anyway that I can substitute the ridiculously-horrible Cortana, with the Google Assistant, I would be so extremely happy. That's because I wouldn't have to type, when searching for information. Typing is so tedious for me. Saying what I want rather than typing it on Google Search is faster and better.</p><p><br></p><p>At my home, I have "cut the cord." On my one television, I have a Roku Ultra, Fire TV, and and Android TV (Nvidia Shield)connected to it. Because of the lack of native apps for Nvidia Shield (or Android TV) it's my least recommended platform to people who often ask me for my recommendation, despite the fact it's my go-to device. Why is it my "Go To"device? Simply because of the voice searching feature. I watch a lot of Youtube and for me to be able to say "New York Giants Week 4 Highlights" as opposed to remote control typing it…….is a massive time saver. </p><p><br></p><p>This is how much a value the Google Assistant.</p><p><br></p><p>So if Sundar Pichar is reading this…."C'mon Sundie….bring the Assistant over to Windows!"</p><p><br></p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#472384">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p>If I were you I would dump Windows, move to Chrome OS and finally get that Google tattoo on your neck!</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#472434">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>I would love to see the actual usage numbers on Xbox/Windows users that will use the Amazon/Google assistants. I highly doubt we will ever see that data.</p><p><br></p><p>IMHO people are getting more and more focused on privacy and like my self avoid these devices. We had a full size Alexa for about 2 months (xmas gift from a family member). My kids loved it for about 2 weeks and then got bored with it. After that it did nothing really faster or easier than our iPhones could do for us and minus the privacy invasion. My youngest has it in his room so he can BT Apple music to it.</p><p><br></p><p>I never really used Cortona on Windows after initially testing it and never on the 3 Xbox's we have in the house. I only ever use Siri on the Homepod setup in our basement entertainment area to play music and on the Apple TV (rare occasion) to search for something.</p>
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dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#472384">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p>it could, but scroogle never ported its apps to windows, even blocked MS for doing it… it's only up to scroogle, MS is not blocking them… meanwhile scroogle slow down or make its web services not available on competitors browsers</p>
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Stooks
<p>For all my Google news I rely on this site!</p>
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dontbeevil
<blockquote><em><a href="#472757">In reply to miamimauler:</a></em></blockquote><p> "The Home for Tech Enthusiasts: News, Reviews and Analysis for apple and google fans"</p>