Google has recently rolled out the latest version of ChromeOS, 130, to the stable channel. This update brings a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance productivity, accessibility, and user experience on Chromebooks.
Key Features of ChromeOS 130
- Focus Mode: This new feature helps users minimize distractions and create a more productive workspace. Users can set and adjust focus time, enable Do-not-Disturb mode, and sort through or create new Google Tasks. Focus Mode also offers curated playlists to help users stay focused.
- Welcome Recap: This feature allows users to resume their work quickly at startup. It provides a preview and restoration of apps and tabs from the previous session, along with helpful information like weather updates, calendar events, and recent tabs from other devices.
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Windows: The update introduces enhanced PiP windows that can be temporarily moved to the side of the screen, freeing up valuable screen space while keeping videos easily accessible. Users can also quickly adjust the size of PiP windows with a double-tap.
- Help Me Read: Available on Chromebook Plus devices, this AI-powered feature helps users quickly find information in any text. By right-clicking on an empty space, users can access a summary of the text and a freeform Q&A field to ask specific questions.
- Quick Insert: This feature allows users to quickly insert emojis, symbols, GIFs, Google Drive links, and perform quick calculations and unit conversions using a keyboard key or shortcut. The new shortcut Launcher + f is available on all ChromeOS devices, with a hardware key initially available on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus.
- Enhanced Drive Access: The update improves access to Drive files, calendars, and privacy controls. Users can access starred Drive files directly from the shelf, even offline, and enjoy enhanced Drive suggestions in the Launcher and Tote.
- Studio-Style Mic: This feature enhances the performance of the built-in microphone, providing advanced balancing, reconstruction of fine details, and room adaptation. Users can find this feature in Settings > Device > Audio.
- Appearance Effects: New appearance effects are available in the Chromebook Plus video settings to help clean up the camera.
Rollout and Availability
ChromeOS 130 is being rolled out to Chromebook and Chromebook Plus devices, with additional features for the Plus variant. The update includes new OS-level privacy controls, Focus Mode, and several enhancements for Drive and Tote.
For more details, visit the official announcement.
