HP announces a 14-inch Android laptop and a new Chromebook
HP’s fall laptop lineup includes a 14-inch notebook running Android 4.3 for $400.
Asus Chromebook C200 pre-orders begin at $249
Pre-orders for the first Asus Chromebook have begun with Amazon(s amzn) charging $249 for the Chrome OS laptop and shipments expected on June 26. The C200 is an 11.6-inch Chromebook that uses the newer Intel(s intc) BayTrail-M processor instead of the fairly standard Haswell-based Celeron chip found in most current Chromebooks. That’s likely a step-down in performance but with the benefit of even more battery life: Asus says you can expect 10 to 11 hours of runtime from the 2.5 pound laptop. The C200 supplements the already available $179 Asus Chromebox and a larger C300 Chromebook coming soon.
More Chrome OS improvements loom as Google’s browser strategy advances
While Google’s annual developer event is just weeks away, you don’t need to wait for it to see what’s new in Chrome and Chrome OS. New features have recently cropped up in early test versions that solidify Google’s overall Chrome strategy.
First Samsung Chromebook 2 review notes performance isn’t quite up to par
Samsung promised improved performance in the Chromebook 2 and it’s there, based on the first review. It’s not, however, comparable to performance from less expensive Chromebooks that run on Intel chips.
Lenovo adds its first two consumer Chromebooks: N20 and N20p
After debuting Chromebooks for the education market, Lenovo is following up with models for consumers. Say hello to the N20 and N20p Chromebooks, which offer up to 8 hours of battery life. The latter has a touchscreen and 300-degree screen hinge.
Chrome Show: This is the Asus Chromebook C200
An official-looking spec sheet with images and details of the Asus Chromebook C200 is here with a few nice surprises. On this week’s podcast we also discuss Acer’s Core i3 Chromebook and that 14-inch Android notebook which doesn’t affect Google’s Chrome strategy.
Samsung Chromebook 2 appears on camera, then hides from delivery
An early video look at the Samsung Chromebook 2 showed an appealing laptop with what looks like solid performance from the company’s Exynos chip. We won’t know for sure, however, until the end of May due to delivery delays.
Report: Samsung Chromebook 2 delayed until end of May
After already promising 14 to 21 business day delivery when pre-orders began April 7, Samsung now says the Chromebook 2 won’t arrive until the end of May. Perhaps there’s more software tweaking to be done for the Exynos 5 chip.
You’ll soon be able to unlock a Chromebook by placing your Android phone nearby
A new “easy unlock” feature appears in the developer channel of Chrome OS. Once enabled, it will let you unlock a Chromebook or Chromebox by placing a trusted Android phone nearby.
Chrome Show: Could Motorola revive the LapDock with a phone-powered Chromebook?
Motorola signed a patent license with Microsoft for Android and Chrome OS devices this month. Wait: Motorola doesn’t make any Chrome OS devices. But it could and one possibility is to use an Android phone with a Chrome OS partition for a modular laptop.