This week on The Chrome Cast, we begin the show by talking about Apple’s latest announcements from WWDC 2022. With a new ARM-based M2 chip, a new Macbook Air, a confusing Macbook Pro with the M2 chip, and an interesting new multitasking tool in Stage Manager, there was a fair bit to discuss on the Apple front this week. While we generally stick to Chromebooks around here, there’s no denying that many of the things Apple chooses to do set the precedents in tech as we move forward, so it’s worth getting into their new announcements when they happen.

Additionally this week, we touch on the new Pixel Watch app that was discovered and the fact that this will not only serve as a connection point to Google’s new wearable, but should also pave the way for Android Smart Unlock as well. Finally, we get into some of our thoughts on the recently-launched Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 as we now have a production-level model in the office for review.

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This week on The Chrome Cast, we dive into why Robby has come full circle and fallen in love with the Pixel 6 Pro. Despite the many high-end options on the market, the Pixel line has an intangible appeal and the 6 Pro is simply the best overall phone that Google has ever made.   

From there, we dive into some interesting new hardware from the ChromeOS front. ARM appears to be making a move to break free from the budget-minded segment of Chromebooks and soon, we may see ARM-powered Chromebases that rival the current devices like the HP Chromebase 22 All-In-One. Last but not least, it looks like a PC gaming giant may have just joined the ChromeOS playground. Little details are available but MSI appears to be working on a 12th Gen Intel Chromebox and that's exciting news for ChromeOS power users and gamers alike.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee.  To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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This week on The Chrome Cast, there’s a lot to cover. Starting with news of the Pixel Notepad’s postponement to an updated co-processor for the Pixel Watch, there’s a lot of news swirling around Google’s hardware right now. Right in that conversation is the fact that Google grew Pixel shipments 400% year-over-year and that’s obviously without the help of what should be a very popular release in the Pixel 6a.  We also get into our initial thoughts on the newly-arrived Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and all the greatness this technically-mid-range Chromebook brings to the table.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee.  To check it out, go to https://chromeunboxed.com/coffee/ and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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This week on The Chrome Cast, we're diving into all the new ChromeOS hardware that was debuted this week.  With a new, high-end competitor from Acer in the Spin 714, it is starting to feel like the race for best Chromebook of 2022 is just getting started.  Acer additionally launched an education-focused 10-inch tablet with the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, while Lenovo debuted the latest in a long line of ThinkPad Chromebooks with the new ThinkPad C14.

We also take a few moments to talk about a handful of updates for the Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel 6a that have surfaced since Google I/O.  With a decent launch availability across 13 countries and the news that the Pixel 6a will have a different fingerprint scanner than the Pixel 6, there are some interesting tidbits that have come to light since the announcement, making us that much more excited for both of their arrivals in July.

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Sponsored by VIZOR - Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. CLICK HERE to schedule a no-obligation demo of VIZOR for up to 20% off your first year.

Fueled by Fresh Roasted Coffee.  CLICK HERE to check it out and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we spend the first half of the show discussing the rumors swirling around the potential Pixel Buds Pro. Google has been snapping up talent and patents over the past couple years in an effort to build a better wireless earbud, and according to a new leak, that release looks to be happening soon.

For the second half of the show, we focus on AMD’s latest Chromebook chips – the Ryzen 5000 C-series – and the new Chromebooks that were announced this week that are powered by those processors. With a slightly-disappointing history between AMD’s older Chromebook processors, this latest set of Ryzen 5000 C chips could finally show up and rival Intel in the performance department.

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This episode is brought to you by Fresh Roasted Coffee. CLICK HERE and use the discount code CHROMEUNBOXED for 15% off your initial purchase!

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In this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin by discussing a brand-new piece of hardware that is now in the office: the Steam Deck.  This portable gaming device is Linux through and through, and that means things that run smoothly on it should eventually run well on Chromebooks via the 'Borealis' container, too.  While we may not be wildly excited about carrying around this large handheld (seriously, it looks like it ate a Nintendo Switch), the ramifications for what it is capable of give us great hope for the future of games on ChromeOS.

Unsurprisingly, we had to talk about the Pixel Watch as well.  This yet-to-be-announced wearable has been all over the internet of late, and we had to review all that has gone down in just the last week with it.  We've had a hands-on, an AMA, and some pricing leaks as well, so there's a lot to discuss as we await Google I/O in just a couple weeks.  My money is on a definite announcement at the annual developer conference, even if we don't get the watch in-hand for a few months.

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For this episode of The Chrome Cast, we begin our show by discussing the very-recent revelation that we have a Steam Deck on the way to the office!  I registered for one back when the announcement first happened and got my invite email right before we began the show.  Of course, I immediately purchased the device and now we wait for it to show up at the office to begin experimenting on it.  Because it is Linux-based and because the Steam implementation on it is so similar to what we are getting on ChromeOS, the Steam Deck represents a very interesting bridge between games and Chromebooks that we just have to explore.

We also spend some time talking through the main points of our upcoming review of the Acer Chromebook 514.  With the new MediaTek Kompanio 828 inside and a few standout hardware features, this lower-priced Chromebook impresses in-person where it may look a little boring on a spec sheet.  As they always say, don't judge a book by its cover.

This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. CLICK HERE to try it out and get 2 years for $3.29 per month.

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On this episode of The Chrome Cast, much of our conversation is dominated by more news surrounding the upcoming Pixel 6a. With a stout spec sheet and a likely low price, this new phone from Google looks to hit a sweet spot we don’t see too often in the Android ecosystem. With the same Tensor SoC as the other two Pixel 6 phones, a bigger battery than the Pixel 6 and the same aesthetic appeal, we really feel Google could have a massive win on their hands with the 6a.

Additionally, we talked through the crazy pricing on HP’s upcoming Elite Dragonfly Chromebook and delved just a bit into Google’s propensity for software magic. With the new AFib algorithms getting the FDA go-ahead on Fitbit and Google’s iPhone reactions now appearing in messages, it’s fun to see how Google solves real world issues with software.

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For this special interview episode of The Chrome Cast, we sit down with Victor Tyan from MediaTek to discuss the new lineup of Kompanio processors coming to the Chromebook market.  From entry level Kompanio 500 devices to the flagship-caliber Kompanio 1000 series, MediaTek now has an SoC for all levels of the Chrome OS ecosystem, and with solid performance and battery life, devices with MediaTek chips inside will soon be available in a wide variety of price ranges and configurations.

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