Chrome OS 92 is deployed on Chromebooks with a focus on communication

It is undeniable that Google has had a difficult few weeks after its recent attempts to fix Chrome OS. After a brief delay, the company is now back on track and announcing the next major update for Chromebooks, two weeks after the launch of Chrome 92 for the mobile and desktop platforms. Chrome OS 92 sweetens the user experience with a pinch of new features; here are all the important things Google announced today.

Quickly find emoji with the new dedicated selector

Emoji are an integral part of today’s communication, adding an emotional nuance to our conversations. With a growing set of emoji options and an almost 50% increase in usage thanks to the work-from-home culture, it’s more important than ever to find and send your perfect emoji fast. To do this, Google is rolling out a completely redesigned emoji picker for Chromebooks in its latest Chrome OS 92 update. The new user interface is easy to use with a mouse and there’s a nifty search bar there. So this is a solid upgrade from the awkward, tactile virtual keyboard implementation.

To try out the new emoji picker, click on an empty text field and click “Emoji” at the top of the context menu. You can also launch it quickly by pressing the All (Search), Shift, and Space keys on your keyboard.

Improved clipboard manager for tablets

Chrome OS 92 supercharges the virtual keyboard with a native clipboard manager, one of our favorite features of Chrome OS 89. Instead of guessing what image or text you copied to your tablet, you can quickly refer to the clipboard. This gives you the freedom to be creative with the content you’ve worked on without worrying about losing the items you’ve recently copied. Your Chromebook will keep up to five copied items (including screenshots), which scroll vertically depending on the size of the keyboard.

To access the clipboard on a Chromebook tablet, tap any empty text field, then tap the new clipboard icon in the virtual keyboard.

Virtual offices for your Android and Linux applications

Many of us probably feel overwhelmed by the endless collection of browser tabs and all the software windows that clutter our workspace. Thanks to virtual offices, managing your tasks is much easier: you can organize your workspace for each of your lessons, have a dedicated office for games, etc. With Chrome OS 92, virtual desktops become even more useful, now allowing you to assign Android and Linux apps to a specific desktop or to all desktops. Just right click on the app window to start organizing.

Ditch the keyboard for your voice on Chrome OS

For some, typing on a keyboard is a slow and tedious task, with missed keystrokes and typos preventing them from concentrating on writing. Starting with Chrome OS 92, your Chromebook will become a powerful voice notepad with streaming dictation support. Combined with Google’s remarkably precise speech recognition technology, you’ll be able to focus on your writing much more easily, opening the door to more creativity as well as increased efficiency.

To enable continuous dictation, click “Manage accessibility features” after selecting “Accessibility” in the system preferences, then enable “Enable dictation (speak as you type)” under “Keyboard and text input”.

Learn how to use your device directly from the launcher

Learning new technologies can be frustrating, especially for those new to computers. Fortunately, Chrome OS is easy enough to use already, and with this new Chrome OS 92 feature, it will be even easier to get to know your Chromebook. This feature has not yet arrived on our devices, but when it does, the launcher will pull information from the Explore app so you can find help within seconds. Just type in any question you have in the launcher to get started.

An even more powerful tote

One of the many things we’ve grown to love about Chromebooks is their focus on productivity, and we think Tote (formerly Holding Space) is a brilliant feature that could save a lot of time when used to the max. . Google goes one step further with Chrome OS 92, integrating downloads from Android apps and Chrome’s print-to-PDF functionality right into Tote. You can quickly access it by clicking on the Tote icon next to the system tray in the taskbar.

Stay online wherever you are

Staying online to stay in touch with friends and family can be tricky sometimes, but luckily Chrome OS 92 makes it easy with eSIM support. On compatible devices like the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and Acer Chromebook 511, you can download settings and electronically switch between carriers, without having to use a physical SIM card.

To get started, go to “Mobile data” in the “Network section” of system preferences and add a connection. You can even use a QR code to help you quickly set up a new cellular network.

Embrace conviviality with a new collection of wallpapers

Chrome OS 92 presents a brand new collection of wallpapers by three black artists: Aurelia Durand, Sabrena Khadija and Meech Boakye. Each designer mixes a combination of geometry and bold colors to represent pride, self-expression and more, representing an inclusive future for all. Check out the new Togetherness collection by right clicking on the desktop and choosing “Set Wallpaper”. You can also download them for your Windows and mobile devices here.

Smaller changes

There are also a handful of smaller but still welcome changes that are new to Chrome OS:

• Live Caption is finally available for all devices running Chrome OS 92. When enabled under Closed Captions in accessibility settings, Chrome OS generates accurate captions in real time, and it also works offline.

Live subtitles on Chrome OS.

• Privacy is a major concern for many in today’s digital age, and it is a concern that has been particularly brought into the limelight thanks to ISPs and advertisers taking advantage of the work-from-home culture. With Chrome OS 92, you can keep a VPN turned on at all times on your Chromebook to keep prying eyes on your data without the help of Android or Linux. Simply set up a VPN, then under VPN Preferences, enable “VPN always on”.
• Scanning your documents will be much better with Chrome OS 92 thanks to the scanning app’s ability to create searchable PDFs. It will use OCR technologies to convert a scanned image into searchable text, making it easier for you to find what you need. Once you have scanned a document, a new link allows you to open it from the Media application.
• Support for Linux apps on Chrome OS has finally rolled out of beta, three years after it was officially announced, and it’s been a wild ride. Google is planning a lot more for Linux in the future, such as introducing improved GPU acceleration by supporting the Vulkan API.
• The Explore app on Chromebooks now includes a digital magazine designed for kids and families. Google will be packing it with educational apps to help kids find new ways to create and play on their Chromebooks. This feature is only available to Family Link users in the United States.
• The Chrome OS Camera app now supports Pan, Tilt, and Zoom (PTZ) controls. Although it has limited use outside of a conference call, the PTZ might offer options for creativity in the app. Keep in mind that a Chromebook’s internal camera cannot use PTZ due to space limitations.

Supported cameras will be able to pan, tilt and zoom directly from the app.

• Chrome OS 92 will continue to keep people away from the Alt key by remapping a few system shortcuts (like delete) to the All button. You will be able to see these updates in the Shortcuts app.
• Google is introducing Point Scanning in its Switch Access with Chrome OS 92, helping someone with limited mobility use a touchscreen Chromebook. A user can select any point on the screen and interact with it using their switch.
• Google Chat and Meet will now be preinstalled on your Chromebook. However, if your device syncs the apps installed on your old machine, they may not appear.
• Android 11 is rolling out at a snail’s pace, and from what we’ve gathered, only volunteer Chromebooks have received it with Chrome OS 92. However, there could be more cards that got it.