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Chrome OS 69 has hit the stable channel and is currently deployed on devices. This brings a handful of new features and changes, including Google's Material theme, Night Light, an improved file manager, and, most importantly, support for Linux applications.
Linux Apps for Chromebooks?
Earlier this year, Google announced that it would bring support for Linux applications to Chrome OS, starting with the Pixelbook. While Linux support has been available on the developer and beta channels for some time, users who choose to keep the channel stable (a good choice for the most part) can now access it.
We say "may," because Linux support will not be available for all Chromebooks. It depends on which kernel your Chromebook is running, but currently the list of devices that will receive Linux support is a little shorter than devices that will not get it. Here is a list for now:
- ASUS Chromebook Flip C101
- Acer Chromebook 11
- Acer Chromebooks Spin 11
- Acer Chromebook 15
- HP Chromebook x360
- HP Chromebook x2
- Google Pixelbook
- Samsung Chromebook Plus
- Samsung Chromebook Plus v2
- Lenovo Thinkpad 11e
- Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11th
So, what does this mean for the average Chrome OS user? Honestly, not much. You will not have to use Linux applications if you do not want to, and nothing will change every day. It's a good thing.
But if you want to expand the capabilities of your device, it will be a great way to do it. We have a complete tutorial on how to get started with Linux applications, which should get you started. That said, we would be remiss not to mention that Linux support is always in beta"Just because it's on the stable channel does not mean that the feature is completely complete. It's just … stable.
RELATED: How to configure and use Linux applications on Chromebooks
What this means, in general, is that your Chromebook has become a lot more powerful. The biggest complaint about Chrome OS, in general, is its lack of "real" ecosystem, which Google began to tackle with the addition of Android applications. But now, with all the Linux ecosystem in action, Chrome OS is much more useful.
This means that you can perform tasks such as GIMP for photo editing or LibreOffice for spreadsheets and documents. Many other applications are also available with this advanced, but it should also be kept in mind that GPU acceleration is not yet available in Linux applications. moment at least.
Other features of Chrome OS 69
Aside from Linux support, Chrome OS 69 offers some exciting new features.
For beginners, this is a makeover of Material Design that modernizes the overall look of the entire operating system. It also gives it a more Android look, something Google has been working on for a long time. Both are close to parity with each update.
Otherwise you will notice that the file manager has been slightly changed to 69, with a new section titled "My Files" which contains all the downloads, read files (Android files) and Linux files. This is another step in the right direction, as the file manager has often been cited as one of the weakest links in Chrome OS.
There is also a Night Light feature in Chrome OS 69 – just like its Android counterpart. It's basically a blue light filter that makes the screen better for your eyes at night. It can be turned on, off or set to turn on at a specific time (or with sunset / sunrise). This is an excellent feature that everyone should use.
There are a myriad of other smaller features available in this release, according to the standard for each update of Chrome OS. It is not yet available on all devices, but should be deployed in the next few days.
via: ChromeUnboxed; 9to5Google
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