Category: Chrome OS

Following the updates to the Chrome browser and Chrome for Android updates last week, Chrome OS has now been updated to the Chrome 59 train.  Builds 59.0.3071.91, 59.0.3071.92 (Platform version: 9460.60.0, 9460.60.2) have been released for all devices running the platform with the exception of the Chromebook Pixel 2015 model.  The update is rolling out now and should be hitting devices over the course of the next few days.

Like the Chrome 59 update for Android and the browser, Material Design is now enabled by default on the Settings in Chrome OS.  Native printer support is also available now, not just Google Cloud Printing.  You can now setup a printer via IP address on your network and print directly to it from your Chromebook.

Chrome OS users, there is another new update out for you.  Version 58.0.3029.140 (Platform version: 9334.72.0) is rolling out now to compatible devices and brings just a handful of security updates and performance improvements.  This is the second of these smaller updates in as many weeks.  As is normally the case, what exactly is addressed in this update is not outlined in the release notes.

For those that are new to Chrome OS, the Chromium team within Google tends to keep the nitty-gritty details of what is fixed, especially around security, until a majority of devices are updated.  The logic is that they don’t want those with not-so-good intentions to exploit a security hole by publishing what the issue is until after devices are updated.

A small security and bug fix update is currently rolling out for most devices in the Chrome OS Stable channel.  The update takes devices to build 58.0.3029.112 (Platform version: 9334.69.0).  This build from the Chromium team appears to be for a wide range of devices with no exceptions noted in the release notes.  This is somewhat different than the last few major releases as there have been specific devices excluded from the updates.  Those devices have been for the most part the handful of Chromebooks and Chromeboxes that can run Android apps.

As for what is fixed in this update or patched, that information was not released.  That is the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the Chrome OS team as they tend to not release specifics on an update until the majority of devices have been updated.

The Chromium team within Google has updated the list of Chrome OS devices that can or will have support for Android apps.  The update is a significant improvement over the laundry list of devices that they had released last year as this update now lists the devices that have the ability to run Android apps, in which channel, and which ones have support planned.  Right now, the list of devices that support apps in the Stable channel (the main production channel) is pretty limited.  That list is:

• Acer Chromebook R11  (CB5-132T and C738T)
• AOpen Chromebox Mini
• AOpen Chromebase Mini
• Chromebook Flip C100PA
• Google Pixel (2015)
• Samsung Chromebook Plus

The list of Chrome OS devices that support Android apps in the Beta channel are even fewer:

• Acer Chromebook R13 (CB5-312T)
• Asus Chromebook Flip C302

It isn’t hard to figure out that the vast majority of devices out there are still listed as Planned.

A small but important security update is rolling out to Chrome OS devices this morning that brings a handful of high priority security updates to the platform.  The new build is 57.0.2987.137 (Platform version: 9202.60.0) and it is for the vast majority of devices out there.  The only devices you won’t find it for is the AOpen Chromebase Mini, AOpen Chromebox Mini, Google Chromebook Pixel (2015), ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA, Samsung Chromebook Plus.  If you have one of these devices, this update won’t be coming to you, at least not yet.

Unlike the last Stable channel update to the platform, this update is purely focused on security updates.  The Chromium team called out five specific issues that the build resolves in their release notes.  If you have a Chrome OS device, you will want to get this update ASAP.

The Chromium team within Google has released Chrome OS Build 57 to the stable channel, bringing a significant number of changes and improvements to the platform.  The new build is 57.0.2987.123 (Platform version: 9202.56.1) and it is available on a wide range of devices running the Operating System.  There are some exceptions however including the AOpen Chromebase Mini, AOpen Chromebox Mini, Google Chromebook Pixel (2015), ASUS Chromebook Flip C302,  ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA, Samsung Chromebook Plus,  and the Acer Chromebook R13 (CB5 – 312T).  Other devices will have the update pushed to it or you can manually check for the update now.  My Acer Chromebook 14 has already received the update.

There are a lot of changes happening in this update including an updated default wallpaper and an update boot animation from a visual perspective.  Media files from Android apps are now available in the Files application on your Chromebook, making it easier to get to them and share them.  PIN unlocking is also available now for all Chromebooks.