After a number of years of rumors, Google right now confirmed a brand new laptop-focused initiative referred to as Googlebooks. ChromeOS, which launched greater than 15 years in the past, was constructed with the thought that most individuals do all the things on-line now; Google says this new class of laptops is constructed for a Gemini-first world. The corporate solely gave us a really transient preview of what makes up a Googlebook, with plans to extra formally announce extra particulars together with {hardware} later this 12 months.
Here is what we all know thus far. The OS operating on Googlebooks has its origins in Android, one thing we have been listening to about for several years now. After all, Chromebooks have supported app streaming from Android phones since 2023, however Google says that constructing the OS from the bottom up on Android will enable for lots nearer integration between Googlebooks and Android telephones. It’s going to additionally allow the corporate to develop and implement Android options on laptops a lot simpler than it might at the moment do with ChromeOS. Since ChromeOS was principally only a browser to begin with, Google has needed to graft quite a lot of options like Fast Share and Cellphone Hub to make the system work higher with Android — that will not be the case with Googlebooks.
As such, Google is pushing extra sturdy Android integration with Googlebooks. There is a new Fast Entry function that’ll present your suitable Android telephone within the sidebar of the file browser, providing you with instant entry to all the things saved on it that you just may wish to share in your laptop computer. The brand new “Create Your Widget” function coming to Android 17 is current right here, as effectively. This allows you to construct a dashboard of associated information and data from Gmail, Calendar and different Google apps to maintain a challenge or occasion multi function simply accessible place.
Googlebooks can even supply a streamlined method to view apps out of your Android telephone in your laptop computer. Like I mentioned, ChromeOS has provided app streaming for some time already, however this implementation appears loads less complicated. There is a telephone button within the dock on the backside of the display, and clicking that can simply deliver up a grid of apps that you could instantly launch in your Googlebook. It stays to be seen how precisely this differs from the present app streaming implementation, nevertheless it appears like these updates are supposed to do one thing just like the iPhone mirroring feature on the Mac that Apple launched just a few years in the past.
The true star of the present, to listen to Google inform it, is improved Gemini integration. However other than the Create Your Widget function, Google has solely confirmed off one different new Gemini function: the Magic Pointer. That is an AI-powered improve to the usual cursor that each pc makes use of as a pointing and clicking interface. Wiggling the cursor transforms it into the Magic Pointer, which Google says will provide you with “fast, contextual strategies” from no matter you level at in your display. For instance, the Magic Cursor provided to take a photograph of a band and the bands emblem and mix them for a makeshift poster. One other instance concerned taking a photograph of your lounge and considered one of a sofa to have them mixed so you may see how they will look collectively. As with all the things, we’ll must see this in particular person to find out if it is helpful. I do like the thought of giving the cursor extra powers — however as with all AI options, this could possibly be a boondoggle.
As for the {hardware}, Google made it clear to me that when Googlebooks roll out this fall, it will not contain any first-party laptops. As common, Google can be working with a wide range of producers together with Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, Dell and HP. All of those firms have made Chromebooks up to now, so it is no large shock to listen to they’re all concerned. Google did say that it is beginning with a concentrate on “premium craftsmanship and supplies,” so we’re not low-end Chromebook {hardware} right here. Certainly, Google has added a bit of glitz right here — there is a “glowbar” on the lid that could be a direct nod to the Chromebook Pixel that the corporate launched manner again in 2013. On that pc, you can faucet the lid and the bar would point out how a lot battery life you had left, however we’re unsure what trick the glowbar will carry out, if any, in 2026.
At this early stage, it isn’t terribly clear what concrete benefits Googlebooks will supply over Chromebooks. A lot of the options that Google talked about are current to some extent already in ChromeOS, together with fairly deep Gemini integration. Nonetheless, one of many principal tenets of Googlebooks is nearer and simpler integration with Android telephones — as such, it does make a level of sense to begin transferring Google’s laptop computer software program over to Android. Google additionally says it will proceed supporting Chromebooks for the whole lot of their life after buy, which implies years of software program and safety updates. My guess is that we’re a gradual phase-out of accessible Chromebooks, with Googlebooks slowly taking their place as Google’s laptop computer. However we’re possible years away from that time — first, Google and its companions must get Googlebooks out to the market. Google says we’ll hear extra about that plan this fall.
