So What's Next?

Now that Netflix has finally landed on ChromeOS it got me to thinking. What is still left as a major complaint/issue with ChromeOS? Below is a list of the most highly requested/whined about features I have seen in the Chromebook Central forum. 

1. Offline Google webapps (Docs, Gmail, Etc.) - Google has stated time and time again that offline support for some of their most popular products will in fact launch by summer's end. 

2. A better file manager - In the latest Dev channel release they have added the ability to copy/paste. It is just the beginning of an "Improved" file manager. They have set no time frame or given many details about what they mean by that. All we know is they are working on adding more features to it. 

3. Zip support - Google Docs now supports Zip files. It is a step in the right direction for sure!

4. Subtle UI changes - There have been a few minor UI tweaks in the latest Dev channel as well. It appears that Google is giving many of it's products face lifts right now and ChromeOS seems to be no exception to that.

5. Chromium OS (Google ChromeOS's open source cousin) has some early tablet support designs in the works. Whether we are a fan of that OS on a tablet or not, it appears only a matter of time before there is a full blown version of Chromium OS running on a tablet. Will ChromeOS follow suit?

So now the question is simple. What's next? What features does ChromeOS still lack that it truly needs to greatly improve it's worth and usability while not compromising it's original premise and design purpose? Sound off in the comments below and let me know! And while your at it... Submit a feature request to the big G!

Netflix and ChromeOS Together At Last!

Oh yes it's true! Netflix now plays on ALL Chromebooks (Including the CR-48). It plays on all channels as well (Stable, Beta, Dev). I tested it on my CR-48 (Dev) and on my SS5 (Beta) and it worked flawlessly. What a truly wonderful day today is. Now if you will excuse me... I have some Weeds to catch up on =)

*Netflix does work in Dev mode for obvious reasons. Gotta keep that DRM intact =) Remember that the Dev channel is not the same as Dev mode. Dev mode is when you flip the developers switch.

Wishful Thinking: Gtunes or What Google Music Should Be

What can I say? I am a dreamer and a big thinker. Today was one of those "Oh how I wish" moments. My favorite of band of all time Evanescence released it's first single in 5 years. They released it on iTunes with Amazon to follow up very soon. Seeing as how I own a Droid and use it for all my media needs iTunes does nothing for me and Amazon is subpar at best. 

That is when I closed my eyes and dreamed of Gtunes or rather Google Music that ACTUALLY SOLD MUSIC. I dreamed of a web based store where I could purchase a song or album that was just released and have it synced to the cloud and thus synced to my Android phone automatically. It is so disappointing that Google Music does not have a music store built in. I understand that they would have to ink a deal with the labels but c'mon it's Google after all. They have the power, influence, and money to get what they want. So make it happen Google! Wipe iTunes and Amazon off the map =) 

BTW if you are interested in purchasing the new single "What You Want" by Evanescence then click here and hit up iTunes. The brand new self titled album will be released October 11, 2011. 

Google +: The Social Network You Should Be Using

If you are an internet user at all you have undoubtedly heard about a little project called "Google +". It is THE Facebook killer. In fact it makes Facefail look like Myspace. So if you haven't been invited to join the project simply click this link and you will be sent an invite from yours truly. Know it, use, be social! =)

Here are my favorite Google Chrome Extensions for Google +.

1. GTools+
2. Replies and more for Google+
3. Usability Boost for Google Plus
4. +Comment Toggle
5. Plus Minus

These make Google+ even better! So go now, join Google + and leave Facefail behind in the dust with Myspace and all the other old and dying social networks.

Google Chromebook: A Godfather's BFF

Being a Godfather is a blessing beyond words. I have a beautiful God Daughter who I love as my own. Today was the longest amount of time I have ever baby sat anyone. I am not the best daddy and this was really my first rodeo when it came to taking care of a kid all day long. 

However, I didn't fear because I had my trusty Samsung Series 5 Chromebook waiting to help me out! So first came lunch. I Googled what the most popular foods were for a girl her age as well as healthy and organic options. I am no chef but Google Chrome has a few recipe apps and besides that Google search worked just fine for everything else. 

Then came after lunch entertainment. My God Daughter Ella really loves Mickey Mouse. So off to Youtube and Sidereel I went for her to watch for a few hours. She actually feel asleep to it. Nap times are the best LOL. During her nap I had some "Me" time on Google +, Twitter, and caught up on the latest episode of Torchwood. 

Then came pre-dinner time. I hit up the Grooveshark App and found some good jams for me and her to dance to as I made dinner. Thank God for microwave ovens LOL. I actually kept the Chromebook running during dinner so we had some good background noise to drown out the rest of my loud and crazy family. 

Finally I finished the night with some more Sidereel and a few rounds of Angry Birds (Every kid needs to be exposed to Angry Birds!). All and all the Chromebook was a perfect companion to have with me all day long to help me survive being a Godfather for a day! =) I wouldn't wanna live a day without it! 

Oh and PS,

This thing is still going strong on a single charge. Yay 11 hour battery life! And thanks to Verizon 4G LTE I can stream whatever I want without having to wait for it to buffer. 

What On Earth Is a Web App?

So what the heck is a "Web App"? The word App is being thrown around everywhere these days between Droids, iPhones, and tablets alike. Apps usually refer to small applications you install on your smart phone or your tablet. They are now even bleeding over into the computer market (See Mac OSX Lion and Windows 8). 

However, Google has started a whole new type of app. Enter the Chrome Web Store. It hosts apps (Mostly FREE) known as web apps. The main difference is that these are simply links to websites that look and feel like an app. They are usually coded in HTML5. It is a fairly new thing and there aren't many good ones as of yet. My favorites that I use daily on my Chromebook include Tweetdeck, Grooveshark, Google Music, Google Docs, Amazon Cloud Player, Flixster Movies, and WeatherByte. Pandora is also set to release an HTML5 powered web app here very soon. 

So as you can see the web app era has only just begun. Hopefully more websites will be designed to look and act like an app in the near future. Together it will make the web and Chromebooks much much better indeed. 

Check Out The Google Chrome Web Store!

No Netflix? No Problem!

Lets be honest. As a Chromebook user it sucks that we still don't have the use of Netfilx on our Chromebooks. To add insult to injury Netflix just doubled their pricing! So this means some if not most of us are going to look other places. There are paid routes... But there are also free alternatives as well.  My favorite free site is sidereel. It has my favorite show "Weeds" on it. It also has a huge selection of other TV shows and movies. It works by linking you to other websites where the videos are hosted for free. They are usually high quality and usually always work just fine on the Chromebook. So if you lost your patience with services like Netflix then head on over to sidereel and check it out for yourself. You will be glad you did =)