Google unveiled a new category of laptops called Googlebooks during The Android Show presentation. These laptops run Android-based ChromeOS, which combines advanced Gemini AI features with premium hardware. The company says Googlebooks are the first laptops designed with Gemini Intelligence at their core.
Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo will launch Googlebook laptops.
While Google didn’t mention Samsung, we recently published an exclusive report about the South Korean firm developing Galaxy-branded laptops with Android and One UI 9 onboard, and they could be part of the Googlebook category.
Googlebooks run Android-based ChromeOS and feature Gemini Intelligence
Googlebooks will use premium hardware, including metal builds, high-resolution screens, and powerful chips. Intel, MediaTek, and Qualcomm chipsets will power these laptops. All Googlebooks will also feature an RGB light bar called Glowbar. While Google hasn’t officially revealed the name of the new operating system, it uses an Android base with a ChromeOS-like interface.
Gemini Intelligence will be a core part of the experience. It can use information from the web and data from your Google account and services to offer personalized, proactive assistance for completing tasks. Some of the important features Google showcased include:
Magic Pointer
When you wiggle the advanced mouse pointer, it shows several options based on what you are pointing at. If it detects a date in an email, it suggests creating a calendar event or scheduling a video call. If you select multiple images, it suggests combining them into a single AI-generated image using Gemini. When you point at text in a text box, it can suggest improvements for better language and clarity.
It can do a lot more:
- When pointing at a PDF, it can generate a bullet point summary that you can paste anywhere.
- If you point at a table of statistics, it can create a pie chart version of the data.
- You can point at a recipe for two and ask it to double all the ingredients if you want to cook for a family of four.
Create My Widget
You can use a text prompt to explain to Gemini what you want in a widget, and it will create a custom widget for you. You can change its size and design and place it on the home screen. This feature is also available on Android 17.
For example, if you commute by bike, you can create a widget that displays the current weather, air quality, wind speed, and chance of rain in a single view.
Access apps from Android phones
Your smartphone apps can be accessed on a Googlebook by clicking the phone-shaped icon on the taskbar. Any app can be cast from an Android phone to a Googlebook’s screen to help you get things done, such as ordering food while working.
This saves time and keeps distractions at bay. You can also access your phone’s notifications from the laptop.
Access files from anywhere
The built-in File Manager can access your files whether they are stored in Google Drive or on your paired Android smartphone or tablet.
What is Googlebook’s UI design like?
In terms of UI design, Googlebooks feature a persistent taskbar at the bottom with a Google Search box, a phone shortcut, and shortcuts to your favorite apps.
The time and date appear in the top-left corner of the screen, while the Quick Settings panel can be accessed from the top-right corner. The status bar displays important indicators such as battery level, Wi-Fi, and notifications. It appears that you can customize the look of the operating system, including app icons, by choosing colors of your choice, just like you can on modern Android phones.
You can access apps from the app drawer icon on the taskbar. Similar to Windows, all app windows have three buttons in the top-right corner: Minimize, Maximize, and Close.
Googlebooks feature native, large-screen-optimized apps for Chrome, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Gemini, Google Photos, Google Play Store, and YouTube. It is likely that users will be able to install any app or game from the Play Store on a Googlebook since it is based on the Android platform.
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