Google’s Chrome OS software program is in a continuing state of evolution. And for the tinkering-lovin’ tech nerds amongst us, which means there’s all the time a chance to seek out and embrace one thing new — usually lengthy earlier than it is formally launched and accessible to the lots.Well, gang, we have fairly the tasty deal with to tinker with as we speak. It’s a large replace Google’s been cookin’ up for its Chromebook app launcher for some time now, and it will carry a big change not solely to how your system seems to be but in addition to what it is like to make use of.The new Chrome OS launcher design has truly been beneath improvement since this summer time. Thus far, although, the work has principally been going down within the higher-tier, much less steady Chrome OS channels, the place common Chromebook-ownin’ people not often dare enterprise.But no extra: The revamped and spruced up Chromebook app setup is now accessible within the common Chrome OS steady channel — and when you nonetheless should do a teensy little bit of digging to uncover it, it is under no circumstances tough to handle.So strap in your dorkiest-looking spelunkin’ hat and prepare to fulfill the Chromebook interface of the longer term — accessible so that you can expertise this very minute, if the place to look.[Get fresh Googley tips in your inbox every week with my Android Intelligence newsletter. Three things to know and three things to try every Friday!]Behold, the Chrome OS Productivity LauncherAll proper — sufficient buildup already. Here it’s: the brand new Chrome OS Productivity Launcher, as this fancy new interface is presently recognized inside Google. JR
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Look acquainted? If you’ve got been dwelling the Chromebook life for lengthy, it ought to: In a moderately hilarious twist, the newly sized-down Chrome OS app launcher is definitely lots like the unique Chrome OS launcher setup from years in the past. Yes, indeedly, it is Yet Another Google 360™. Flip, flop, flippidy flop.What’s extra, the brand new Chromebook Productivity Launcher is undeniably related in primary construction to the Windows 10 Start menu setup — although sarcastically sufficient, if Google was on any degree aiming for familiarity in one other bid to win over Windows-reliant enterprise holdouts, Microsoft is now shifting away from that design as of its Windows 11 replace.But what? All amusing indecision and belated emulation apart, utilizing the brand new Chrome OS launcher interface actually does really feel like a sensible enchancment throughout the context of the Chromebook atmosphere. The full-screen app drawer association Chromebooks have used for years now actually is smart on Android, the place most of us work with a phone-sized display. In that area, seeing all of your apps collectively in that full-screen view is probably the most environment friendly solution to browse and discover what you want.On a Chromebook, although, the bigger nature of the show makes that full-screen interface rather less optimum. Visually, it requires you to scan a big space to trace down the merchandise you are in search of. And the separate web page setup means you usually should scroll considerably awkwardly from one web page to the subsequent to flick through the accessible choices — an impact made even worse by the standard Chrome OS launcher’s pesky behavior of leaving a number of clean area within the app grid and failing to supply any straightforward solution to auto-arrange your icons and produce ’em collectively.In the up to date Chrome OS Productivity Launcher, all the pieces’s proper there — collected collectively and introduced in a window that takes up solely a fraction of your display. You can scroll by your checklist of apps constantly, with none focus-breaking pagination, and once you drag and drop an app to a brand new place, your Chromebook mechanically rearranges all the pieces else to fill the area. Hallelujah!The new Chrome OS launcher lives as much as the promise of Google’s not too long ago rebranded Everything Button, too. That, in case you’ll be able to’t sustain with the merry-go-round of unending Google title adjustments, is the button previously generally known as the Search key or the Launcher key — y’know, the one which goes the place Caps Lock would reside on a extra conventional laptop.True to the title, the Everything Button actually does allow you to do nearly all the pieces in your Chromebook inside this new launcher setup. In addition to displaying you all your put in apps, it opens up a immediate into which you’ll kind no matter’s in your thoughts to seek for apps, look by your native system storage, discover a Chrome OS setting, observe down a Google Doc or different Drive file, search the online, and even work together with Assistant (!). And as you kind, the checklist of urged outcomes will get increasingly refined with each new letter. JR
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Not too shabby, proper? So let’s get you prepared to do that magnificence out for your self — a flick of a pair fast switches that could not be a lot simpler.The five-step Chromebook launcher upgradeNo exaggeration: Switching your self over to the brand new Chrome OS Productivity Launcher will take you all of 20 seconds to do. There’s no actual danger concerned, and when you resolve you do not prefer it, it’s going to take you one other 20 seconds to modify again (for now, no less than — odds are, Google will launch this to everybody and make it the default Chromebook setup in some unspecified time in the future within the not-too-distant future).Here’s all you’ve got gotta do:Open up a brand new Chrome browser window in your Chromebook and sort chrome:flags into the tackle bar.
Type launcher into the search field on the prime of the display that comes up.
See the road that claims “Productivity experiment: App Launcher”? Click the field subsequent to it and alter it from “Default” to “Enabled.”
Next, search for the road labeled “Launcher Categorical Search” and make that very same swap there.
Now click on the blue Restart button within the lower-right nook of the display and permit your self to get giddy with anticipation.
Within a few seconds, your Chromebook will restart — and as soon as it does, you’ll be able to merely click on the circle-shaped icon in its lower-right nook or hit that aforementioned Everything Button to discover your snazzy new info-seeking setup.Just notice that the setup remains to be a piece in progress, so that you’re certain to run into the occasional imperfection at this level. It’s additionally optimized principally for the desktop aspect of issues in the intervening time, so when you’re utilizing your Chromebook in its pill state, do not anticipate to see something earth-shattering simply but.The new launcher is on the market within the steady channel of Chrome OS 94, which needs to be on the overwhelming majority of present Chromebooks proper now, in addition to on the newer and still-actively-rolling-out Chrome OS 96 replace (which, confusingly, is the discharge that is coming instantly after Chrome OS 94 — it is a lengthy story).The expertise is a little more polished on the latter aspect, not surprisingly, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly usable and steady even on that earlier model — with the one main quirk I’ve run into being some glitchiness with correct app folder performance.Oh, and as for the lighter motif you may’ve observed within the launcher and shelf areas in my screenshots? That’s one other hidden Chrome OS flag you’ll be able to activate, when you’re so impressed. (Consider it a bonus for studying this far down within the story!) Just head again into that very same flags space from a minute in the past and seek for darkish/mild to seek out it.Combined collectively, these up to date components gives you a refreshingly mild and streamlined new Chrome OS expertise with loads of sensible benefits. It’s a beautiful little improve, all in all — and better of all, it is one you’ll be able to grant your self with out spending a single dime or exerting even an oz. of pointless vitality.Want much more Googley data? Sign up for my Android Intelligence e-newsletter to get next-level ideas and perception delivered on to your inbox each Friday.
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