With the Chromebook turning 10, Google is introducing new features to Chromebook devices, including the Phone Hub for interactions between Android phones and Chromebooks.
As described in a blog post, Phone Hub allows users to perform tasks like responding to texts and checking a phone’s battery life on a Chromebook. Users can also check their phones’ cellular signal and location, or turn on hotspot. Additionally, Phone Hub can show your phone’s last-opened Chrome tabs.
For other interactivity features, Google is introducing Nearby Share to allow for file-sharing, without needing to share contact details, between Chromebooks and other Android or Chrome OS devices. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi Sync will work with more devices, and Chromebooks will “automatically connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks you’ve used on your Android phone and other Chrome OS devices when signed in with the same Google Account“.
The Chromebook will also receive a new Screen Capture tool situated in the Quick Settings menu, the ability for parents to immediately add a school account when setting up a new device with their kid’s Google account, a new Clipboard that saves the last five copied items, and Quick Answers, which “automatically offers helpful information — like a definition, a translation or unit conversion — when you right-click a word”.
Meanwhile, existing features will get a boost, with file-sharing to take fewer steps and Desks enabling all windows to be restored to their prior desks upon rebooting.
You can get the full run-down here.
