Acer Says Its Launching a Chrome OS Netbook in 2010

By Dena Cassella Published December 2, 2009

New best friends Acer and Google are teaming up again, this time to produce a Chrome OS netbook. According to DigiTimes, Acer chairman JT Wang says he thinks his company will be the first to boast an official Chrome OS device sometime in mid-2010. Wang admits Acer has been working hard on a Chrome OS device of some sort since early 2009 and is confident they will have one out soon. Acer’s Google Android-based netbook, the Aspire One AOD250, hasn’t had the bounty of demands it was expected to, the company still plans to move ahead with the manufacturing of more non-Microsoft-based netbooks and device.

Engadget profoundly notes that this announcement is only partially new since Google said when launching its Chrome OS that it planned on having devices out by the second half of 2010. Acer is the first to announce its Chromium OS netbook plans, but we suspect there will be many more follow in the coming months.

Dena Cassella

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Haole built. O'ahu grown

Topics

Acer
Google

Computing

The Gemini app is now the only way to access Google’s AI on iOS

Google announced Wednesday that it is removing its Gemini AI model from the Google app on iOS, meaning that Apple users will need to download the dedicated Gemini app in order to use it.

When Google first introduced its Gemini AI to the Apple product ecosystem, it did so through its existing Google App, which had been available on iPhones and iPads since 2008. It wasn't until last November that Google released its dedicated Gemini app. Over the past three months, iOS users had their choice of which app through which to access the chatbot, but that is no longer the case.

Computing

ChromeOS 133 features teased ahead of update

ChromeOS 133 is set to be available soon, but the chromeOS.dev team has already published notes for the upcoming operating system that runs on popular Chromebook netbooks. The ChromeUnboxed team suggests that the notes coincide with a Tuesday rollout for the next system update; however, the software has not yet landed.

Each ChromeOS drop includes its own unique features and fixes. By the time ChromeOS 133 arrives, users will get a detailed look at each previewed feature and more; however, the notes are a sneak peek at what can be expected from the update. The chromeOS.dev team highlighted some of the new aspects coming to the system.
Bounce Keys settings
ChromeOS 133 includes a new accessibility feature called Bounce Keys, which is intended to assist users with limited dexterity or tremors to navigate a keyboard. When enabled, Bounce Keys will ignore repeated keystrokes pressed in succession, making for a smoother typing experience with fewer unintended characters pressed. The feature allows for the time delay to be adjusted, from a short key to long key.
Super Resolution for Bluetooth mics
The update brings a toggle to the audio settings page that will enable a feature called “Bluetooth Super Resolution.” This feature will allow you to improve the audio quality of Bluetooth-connected microphone devices, by upscaling low-res audio sound quality to hi-res. ChromeUnboxed noted this feature will have to be tested in real-time to see how well it works.
Screencast additional language support
Screencast is an interesting feature in ChromeOS that allows you to record your screen and use your front camera for creating presentations, which you can live stream the cloud-based platform on Chromebooks. In addition to various built-in transcription tools for replays, the coming ChromeOS 133 update will add support for over 50 languages. You can access Screencast through the Launcher icon on a Chromebook and then search for Screencast.
Additions to the ChromeOS welcome tour
The new ChromeOS includes an updated, interactive, Welcome Tour that launches right after device setup, giving users a rundown of the basics of Chromebook and what they need to know to use their new device optimally.

Computing

It looks like Microsoft has yet another anti-Google trick up its sleeve

Microsoft Edge appears on a computer screen with plants and a window in the background.

Microsoft drew attention at the beginning of this month for showing rather misleading Google-style search bar when users searched for the rival engine on Bing. Now, it appears the company is targeting the Chrome browser as well. Spotted by Windows Latest, some users may see a big banner pushing Edge when they search for Chrome while using Microsoft's browser.

The real dodgy part, however, is the fact that this banner just happens to partially hide the Chrome download link behind a "See more" button.

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