My last Chromebook article… for now: A wrap-up

1 February, 2013 by Beau Hindman

Thanks for sticking with me during this project! It’s been a lot of fun and the ‘Book community has been great. Let’s get to the links!

First of all, check out the MMObility intro if you haven’t already:http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/mmobility-the-chromebook-all-in-one-p… – this will explain what I am intending on doing with the project, as far as games go.

For all of the gaming articles, just go to the All-In-One project tag on Massively.com: http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/all-in-one-project/

….also check out my Rise and Shiny column, I cover a lot of browser-based games that will work on the Chromebook:http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rise-and-shiny/

Here is a link to my personal blog where I talk about the more techy side of things. Read these blogs for favorite apps and even an interview with Google, as well as a listing of my favorite extensions/apps: http://epicdolls.com/beauturkey/tag/all-in-one-project/

Here is a link to the keyboard shortcuts… bookmark this:http://www.chromebookforum.com/forum/17-chrome-os-software-forum/227-chrome-o…

Google Drive storage info:https://www.google.com/settings/storage/

The Spotify web app: https://play.spotify.com/home

Pixlr photo editing: http://pixlr.com/express/

Minimalist for Google calendar:https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/minimalist-for-google-cal/mgljgiace…

Beau

The Chromebook ‘All In One’ project – The Wife test

25 January, 2013 by Beau Hindman | 6 Comments

It’s been a great month with this wonderful little device so far, but I certainly plan on keeping it around after. While I still have one column left in this series, I will continue to update readers on how I am using it or new developments for the Chrome OS. Make sure that you are checking out my MMObility column over at Massively.com for updates on games that are perfect for the Chromebook. Remember, I am running the Samsung Chromebook — the series 3 — so you might experience different performance with your series 5 550 or other Chromebook. The great thing about this device is that it is updated automatically and switches the conversation from hardware to software. So many of our standard PC performance issues are due to poor software, and Google is attacking it from the correct side. Don’t get me wrong, better processors make a heck of a lot of difference, but when you are able to open any Chromebook and get pretty much the same experience, that’s a good thing.

While I still wait on some questions from Google, I wanted to share with you how another member or my household — my wife — has fell in love with the Samsung Chromebook. She has literally taken it from me at times, to the point that I considered getting her one for her own use. This is a house with plenty of gadgets in it, though. Right now we have 2 gaming PCs, 2 laptops, a Google Nexus 7, an iPad, an iPhone 5 and a Galaxy Note. I just sold off my Inspiron Duo netbook to make a little room, and have been tempted to upgrade all of my PCs with SSDs. I rarely use anything but the browser anymore (except for tablet gaming for my other job, of course) so it really doesn’t do me much good to suffer with standard hard drives. They’re hot and noisy.

I’ve learned a lot by watching her use the Chromebook. She tends to leave open many more tabs than I do. I will go with 5 or 6 tops, maybe a few more if I am working. She typically has a dozen or more tabs open. In those tabs she will have email/Gchat, tumblr, the browser-based game she works on and several other tabs. I’ve watched her check her Twitter and then open up a funny video or watch some news or entertainment clip. The Chromebook not only worked well, but it performed just as I have been describing it to people: as a tablet with a keyboard attached. It’s really more than that, however, because it is a full browser that can run Flash and other extensions. This opens the ‘Books up to gaming (as I have been writing about) and to all sorts of things that you really cannot do on a tablet.

The battery life is also excellent and will run her for at least 5 or 6 hours of heavy use. Granted, this is based on only the occasional video viewing but I’d say that’s pretty standard for a web user. We often let our browsers sit there with several tabs open, just as she does. What I was most impressed with was the fact that even with heavy usage the device barely gets warm. When it does, the heat is concentrated mostly in the middle (where you would expect it) but only ever became significantly warm when she would be using the ‘Book at night with it lying flat on the covers, meaning with no ventilation. If I am using it on the countertop, laptop or on a coffee table the heat is never an issue and is not noticeable at all. In comparison my other two laptops and her desktop almost scream when the fans kick in, another reason to move to this Chromebook.

The fact is that most internet users need only the best experience in a few areas: email, social networking, some gaming and Googling random facts like “How long do giraffes live for?” The Samsung Chromebook is not only good for that, but weighs nothing. It feels like a very light Ultrabook, something that made a huge difference to my wife. Even though she can grab her 14 inch laptop to keep an eye on the web while she is watching TV or off work, the Chromebook is just plain easier to move around with. If you’ve ever tried to sit with a 4 or 5 pound laptop while on the couch, you’ll know what I am talking about. The standard laptop experience can often be a desktop experience in order to take some of the weight off.

When I am gaming or watching videos, the Chromebook’s battery does go down much faster. I still get several hours out of it but I could see the battery life being somewhat of a hassle on a very long trip. The speakers are not as loud as I wish they would often be, but if it’s the only sound source in the room (in other words, if the TV isn’t screaming) then the sound is just fine. My wife’s iPad 2 still has better volume, though, so that’s an area that needs improvement.

Watching her work on the ‘Book taught me a lot. She does a lot of surfing, gaming and viewing while on it and it lasts her at least most of the day. She closes it when it’s not in use, but does leave it open when she gets up to grab food or to do stuff around the house. Even if we forget to close it it will go into sleep mode and the battery does not seem to be effected.

The most enjoyable aspect of the Samsung Chromebook is how it feels while typing. I do not type in any correct fashion so I do have some issues with my thumbs moving the mouse around when it doesn’t need to, but the keyboard feels large and snappy, and when the ‘Book is laying on a surface the thin keyboard feels really solid. I imagine that’s because it is backed up by the countertop. My standard laptops feel like bricks now.

Next week I will do a wrap-up video that shows all of the pros and cons of this device. I’ll also be finishing up with my games list, so be sure to keep an eye on the MMObility column for any other games that I might cover in the future. That column is dedicated to mobile gaming, so be sure to bookmark it.

Thanks again and see you next week!

Beau

The Chromebook ‘All In One’ project – Google interview, Donors Choose and virus protection

11 January, 2013 by Beau Hindman | 1 Comment

If you joined me last week for my first installment of the Chromebook ‘All In One’ project, then you’ll be up to speed. If not, go back and catch up here. I will be suggesting different browser-based MMOs in my Massively.com column MMObility. I just released my second column that lists the first 10 games, all MMORTS’. Next week I will be suggesting 10 more games, and 10 more games the week after that.

On this, my personal blog, I will be listing more of the tech and other cool options that a Chromebook provides. I would combine both tech and gaming into one Massively article, but understand that Massively is a site for gaming, not tech. So for now I’ll ask you just to visit both sites. Cool? Thanks.

This week I wanted to touch up on two main things while I wait for a series of questions to come back from Google. As soon as I get my answers back I’ll post them here. Watch this space and keep an eye on my Twitter.

The first thing I would want to try and look at is how the Chromebook fights viruses. We’ve all heard about how the ‘Books need no virus protection at all… but does anyone actually believe that? I think I do, but then again I am already in the habit of keeping unique passwords for every single thing I do. Yep. Still, it feels a bit odd to not have to scan my hardware for viruses occasionally. Here’s a blurb from the official site:

“With automatic updates, Chromebooks download security and software upgrades so you don’t have to. No more hours wasted installing patches..”

There’s also a good amount of light information on the rest of the site:

“Chromebooks use the principle of defense in depth to provide multiple layers of protection. Every time you boot up, they do a self-check to make sure your system hasn’t been tampered with. Chromebooks also automatically download updates so you get the latest security fixes to keep you safe.”

…and here’s a much deeper explanation about the processes and thinking that goes into the built-in virus protection. Chrome itself uses these ideas, but the Chromebook physically lacks many of the characteristics that would normally allow a virus to grow.

So, from what I’ve gathered, although I don’t know as much as I would like (that’s where you come in with your comments!) the Chromebooks are safe for many reasons. First, they do not allow programs to be installed or downloaded to the ‘Book. With no .exes to be downloaded, that cuts out viruses. Not so fast… there are still possible issues. Google has released a software kit that potential evildoers could use to create apps that could introduce malware onto the Chromebook, but most of what I have read indicates that this is unlikely. Google also updates the ‘Books on a 6 week schedule, so changes in the OS could help further hinder viruses.

Either way, it’s refreshing to never have to worry about scanning my device, defragging it or messing with upgrades. The recent success of the Chromebook can be explained by the success of the tablet. Convenience wins the day.

I’d also like to point to a charity service that easily illustrates how I want to push technology in order to help those without it. The internet is a free library and is perfect for education. That is, of course, as long as the kids are kept safe while online. Chromebook’s built in virus protection and ease-of-use are perfect for the classroom, and Google is teaming up with Donors Choose to sell classroom ‘Books for 99 bucks. If you go to the site you can pick out a specific classroom and donate to help purchase the books for a particular teacher.

Eventually I’d like to see less expensive internet devices spread to communities across the globe. The more connected we are, the more information we can share. The more we get to connect the less likely we are to hate each other.

Or something like that. The Chromebook might not seem like a step towards world peace, but technology has saved us in a lot of ways. Donors Choose is a great charity that allows custom delivery of funds. Please donate!

Below is the interview that I did with Google. Thanks so much to them for taking the time to answer my questions!

Beau: I am pretty clear as how a Chromebook fights viruses. But, can you clarify this a bit? Is it mainly because there is no downloading going on or installation of programs? I’m sure you’ve heard of possible vulnerabilities that still exist in the browser environment… so does Google tell customers to not worry about ever scanning a Chromebook?

The Chromebook benefits from multiple layers of security, which we call “defense in depth.” This PDF describes in brief each of the security measures working for you on the Chromebook. Chrome the browser itself does a good job of warning and quarantining malware on the web, and we can also push out auto-updates very quickly, say, in the case of an exploitable vulnerability. And if your machine was infected, there is a parallel backup copy that the machine would boot to (described in Verified Boot) to get you back to the last known good state.

How long do you plan on running the educational Chromebook Donor’s Choose? I’d like to mention that in the hopes that readers can donate to it.

We would love if your readers are inclined to donate to DonorsChoose! I believe the plan is to keep the projects open until they are fully funded. There is some upper bound on time limit imposed by Donorschoose on the order of months, I believe, but we hope all projects are funded before then. Simply point them to Donorschoose.org/Chromebooks, and they can search for schools near them to whom they can donate. Thanks for offering, that’s so great.

Voice is popular on Gchat, and have been intrigued by using a Chromebook for everything that a mobile phone does, including text messages and making phone calls. So, if I had a 3 or 4G Chromebook or hotspot, I could still make those calls? Many Chromebookers have talked as though the G-chat services do not work over a 3 or 4G network. Also, there is much confusion about how the voice services works. You have Gchat extensions and Voice extensions… any plans on combining them into one plugin?

(small note, there are no 4G Chromebooks manufactured today)
I’m not sure if you can make voice calls from Gmail or Voice over 3G, I haven’t tried it. But you can use the services over wi-fi connection for certain. If you have a Google Voice number, you can also connect that to Gmail’s phone service so that you can receive calls in Gmail, etc. (see here). I’m not sure what you mean by extensions, on a Chromebook these services should just work without plugins. Let me know if you had to install something to use them.

For those like me who have poorer vision, is zoom the only option for making web pages easier to view? Is it true that zoom can effect performance on certain sites?

There are some more advanced zoom/magnify features coming in version 25, which is in the developer channel right now. If you’re not familiar, most people use Chromebooks in the “stable channel” which is the default. If you are a developer or you just like to be on the bleeding edge (and don’t mind bugs, and can file feedback) then you can switch into the Beta or Developer channels. This help center article describes the differences, and how to switch. I don’t necessarily recommend switching, but just to say there are more features related to zoom coming soon.

Beau

The Chromebook All-In-One Project: Intro and favorite apps/links

4 January, 2013 by Beau Hindman | 5 Comments

Be sure to check out the embedded video above. It will explain everything pretty basically. Essentially I have always toyed with mobile gaming and living and have always enjoyed doing things on the cheap. While I love my gaming rigs or fancier phones, I also have a special place in my heart for tiny or less expensive devices like the Chromebook. Before the most recent and lowest priced Chromebooks, the Samsung series 3 and the Acer C7, most people seemed to admire them from afar. Not anymore… the new batch of ‘Books were some of the hottest items this holiday season. I lucked out and picked up my Samsung from a local Best Buy. I’ve been enjoying it ever since and love the idea of a device that is essentially a tablet in netbook form. Why? It is silent, doesn’t get hot, instantly updates and fights off viruses (more on those later in the series.)

I will be covering actual MMO gaming on the Chromebook in the MMObility column over at Massively.com every Friday (times will vary.) I normally cover browser-based and mobile games in the column anyway, so this will not be much of a stretch. In this blog I will cover mostly the techy stuff, like how it fights viruses or favorite apps.

Speaking of apps, I’ll start off this month of coverage by introducing some of my most used apps and links… so far. The great thing about a Chromebook is that it essentially feels and acts pretty much like an ultrabook, minus the ultra speeds you might get from a better processor and more ram.

1) Tweetdeck: While I don’t tweet as much as I would like thanks to time and the occasional migraine, Tweetdeck is a simple Twitter and Facebook browser-based client that is very easy to read and navigate. I keep my Chromebook browser zoomed in at 125% at all times (poor vision) but Tweetdeck looks perfect. It offers me a stream of Facebook or Twitter updates at no cost. I especially love the simple light/dark toggle.

2) Gmail Offline: One of my main issues with the standard issue browser Gmail experience is the fact that the text is often too small or too crammed together. I much prefer how it looks and feels on my Nexus 7 tablet. Well, Gmail Offline not only looks roomier and seems to respond much faster than standard Gmail, but it also offers offline capabilities by (if I am not correct, please correct me) downloading a set number of emails. Mine is set to one week. If I have no internet, I can still respond and write emails and it will sync later.

3) Google +: This is a no-brainer, thanks to the fact that you must participate as part of the Google experience, but I absolutely love the access it provides to mature communities and friends. I joined a Chromebook group and have already found out many great tips and tricks from them, and it’s officially hosted by a Google CM. The G+ mobile app for tablets is fantastic, as well.

4) Pixlr Editor: This browser-based “app” is really just a link to the site, but it’s also a fantastic photo editing tool that I use for all of my needs. I often have to crop and share screenshots from video games and I do my share of art and personal pic-taking, so having access to an in-browser app is great. It works easily on this Chromebook and saves as I want it to.

5) Adblock Plus: Now, this is somewhat of a controversial tool and I use it only when doing a ton of research browsing. See, I understand perfectly how the web is paid for by ads, and I make money from those ads technically because they bring revenue into the companies that run or own the sites I write for (no, the ads do not pay me directly. Payola does NOT happen.) But, on this Samsung Chromebook a pop-up ad (yes, people are still using those!) can easily cover a huge chunk of the screen, and some ads can effect performance. So, after trying this out I can say I enjoy it BUT be careful… remember that if no one clicked on an ad at all, we’d all have to be paying a lot more for the web or websites would be shutting down left and right.

6) LastPass: I use this to memorize many of my passwords, but not all. I still keep completely unique passwords for every…single…site..and…game.. (and it’s a LOT) but this extension helps keep them organized. You can even have a secondary password to provide more security.

That’s a starter for now. Over the next 5 weeks I’ll be exploring more of the Chromebook, but bear in mind that I am basing all of this on the Samsung series 3 model, the one with the Exynos processor. So, your experience can vary. Feel free to leave a comment here or on my Massively column, and join up in the official Chromebook group on Google +… it’s fantastic.

See you next week!

Beau