All appropriate, my fellow Chrome OS adventurer — see if this development feels acquainted:
- First: “Ooh, glance! My Chromebook’s getting an enormous replace this week! Cool new options! SO EXCITING!!”
- Then: “Oh. The replace’s right here, however the entirety seems the similar. The place’s all of the new stuff? So disappointing.”
It is an all-too-common pairing right here within the land o’ Googley issues, and that particular development is in the course of taking part in out for plenty of an keen Chromebook proprietor this very second.
Have you ever felt it but? This newest up-and-down were given going when Google made a splashy announcement about its a hundredth Chrome OS free up the opposite day — together with, maximum significantly, the long-in-progress release of a snazzy new remodeled Chromebook launcher (ooh, ahh, and so on).
It is a part of Chrome OS 100, we heard! It will convey an entire new glance ‘n’ really feel on your favourite Chromebook! It will exchange the way in which you utilize your laptop, gersh dern it!
Excerpt, erm, it’s not in fact on by means of default. Now not but. Even after you get the Chrome OS 100 replace — which when you have, by means of this level — that fancy new setup may not be provide. Now not the place you’ll see it, anyway.
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It is a bummer. But it surely does not need to be.
These days, we are gonna spelunk deep into your Chromebook’s bowels to seek out the hidden switches for enabling that spiffy new launcher at the side of a smattering of different smashingly helpful new programs. They are all technically already there to your instrument. They are simply tucked away out of sight, and it is as much as you to dig ’em up and permit ’em.
Let’s spelunk, we could?
Chrome OS treasure No. 1: A brand new and advanced launcher
We will get started with that elusive new launcher. No customary organism would ever understand it, however you’ll skip the look forward to Google to roll the article out and turn on the up to date Chrome OS launcher this minute by means of taking the next speedy ‘n’ simple steps:
- Kind chrome:flags into the deal with bar of any Chrome browser window.
- Kind app launcher into the quest field at the display that comes up.
- See the road categorized “Productiveness experiment: App Launcher”? Click on the field subsequent to it and alter its environment from “Default” to “Enabled.”
- Click on the blue Restart button on the backside of the display.
And that is the reason it: As soon as your Chromebook restarts, you will have to be capable to click on the circle-shaped icon within the lower-left nook of the display or hit the matching The whole thing button to your keyboard — and, ta-da:
Ain’t she purty? Seems apart, this remodeled Chrome OS launcher in fact means that you can routinely order your apps by means of title or by means of colour (believe that!). Good-click or two-finger-click on any open house within the decrease a part of the launcher to seek out the related choices.
The brand new launcher features a bunch of sensible contextual data at its best, too, and it integrates totally with Google Assistant so you’ll name up all sorts of worthwhile answers appropriate then and there.
Chrome OS treasure No. 2: A wiser standing bar
Subsequent, whilst we are taking a look at that backside fringe of your Chromebook’s display, let’s inject slightly additional productivity-pushin’ energy into its lower-right nook. It is a excellent one — a long-missing little bit of basic-seeming integration that’ll convey a large spice up on your workday potency.
I may not stay you ready: It is a real calendar view — hooked up to Google Calendar, even! — appropriate for your Chromebook’s Fast Settings house.
You simply click on the inconspicuous little date textual content inside that pop-up panel, and — behold:
A real functioning calendar! There! The place you’ll get right of entry to it simply, anytime, it doesn’t matter what you could be doing! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!
Oh, and there is extra: If you happen to click on on any date with a dot representing an match on it, you’ll see the information appropriate then and there, too:
Clicking at the match itself from there’ll pull up its main points web page throughout the Google Calendar web page.
Now not dangerous, appropriate?
To permit it:
- Yet again, kind chrome:flags into your browser’s deal with bar.
- This time, seek for the phrase calendar.
- To find the road categorized “Productiveness experiment: Per 30 days Calendar View” and alter the environment subsequent to it from “Default” to “Enabled.”
- Smoosh that Restart button to get the adjustments to use.
Ah — so calendary.
Chrome OS treasure No. 3: A desktop saving formulation
If you are totally deranged delightfully arranged like I’m, when you have a particular set of apps and internet sites you open each and every time you might be operating on sure forms of duties. And opening ’em all up time and time once more can get to be a chore.
Neatly, chore not more: Your Chromebook’s were given an incredible new method to prevent time and set your desktop up for you — with on the other hand many explicit preparations your stunning soggy mind calls for.
As soon as the function is enabled, you can see a brand new possibility within the Chrome OS Assessment display — that wide view of your recently open home windows and apps that comes up while you press the important thing with a sq. that has two vertical traces subsequent to it (most often within the spot the place F4 would move):
See that new “Save table as a template” possibility on the best? Click on it — click on it with gusto! — and you are able to save that particular set of open pieces as a template for long term restoring. It will then display up inside a brand new “Templates” house of that very same Assessment interface:
And with another click on, you’ll convey that very same set of apps and home windows again into motion in a snap.
To permit it:
- Once more, kind chrome:flags into your browser’s deal with bar.
- Seek for the phrase templates.
- To find the road that is categorized “Table Templates” and switch the environment subsequent to it into the “Enabled” place.
- Pound that blasted Restart button and snicker with glee.
All that is left is to hit the Assessment button to your Chromebook’s keyboard when the formulation comes again up and search for your beautiful new on-screen possibility.
Chrome OS treasure No. 4: A report restoring heart
You would be forgiven for failing to note, however Chrome OS by some means nonetheless does not have a trash can of any kind in its system-level Recordsdata app — this means that you have got no simple method to get a report again after you delete it.
Loopy, ain’t it?
Do not let your self get too grouchy over the omission, despite the fact that: You’ll repair your Chromebook’s curious little oversight in about 10 seconds by means of activating its tool’s hidden trash-can-adding possibility. All it does is convey a brand new and lengthy past due Trash house into the principle menu of the Recordsdata app in order that anytime you delete one thing, you have got a 30-day window the place you’ll repair it should you so want.
I imply, truly, the one query to invite your self is why you in all probability would not need this in position to your laptop.
So as to add it:
- Kind chrome:flags into your browser’s deal with bar.
- Seek for trash at the display that comes up.
- To find the road categorized “Permit Recordsdata Trash” and alter its environment to “Enabled.”
- Do a jaunty little jig (non-compulsory however extremely advisable).
- Click on the blue Restart button on the backside of the display.
Who knew a easy dumping floor may well be so darn fulfilling?!
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