Google Offers a New Chromebook, Costs Only $249

Google today announced a new Chromebook today and it costs just $249.  That’s less than many a tablet or even smartphone.  However, there are some caveats associated with the 11.6-inch machine, which include storage space and all together power.

Under the hood is an ARM-based processor (1.7Ghz Samsung Exynos 5), which is often found in many mobile devices.  The previous Chromebook used an Intel Celeron processor, and while that offering is more analogous to that of a traditional laptop, it’s also louder, sucks up more energy, and is generally more expensive – the last Chromebook was over $400.

Despite boasting a smaller screen (11.6-inch vs 12.1-inch) than it’s predecessor, the new Chromebook has a higher resolution display of 1366×768, weighs 2.48lbs, and measures .8-inches thick.  16GB of on board storage comes standard with the machine, though thanks to an SD card slot you can bump that amount to infinity, provided you’ve got a bevy of SD cards on hand.  Google also includes 100GB of online storage for up to 1 year, but after that you’ll need to pay a fee.   Those that travel a fair bit, you’ll enjoy the 12 free Gogo inflight WiFi passes (estimated $150 value) that you can use over 2 years on domestic US flights (not bad considering the price of this machine).

Additional specs include 2GB of RAM, a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, a .3MP camera, dual 1.5w speakers, and a purported 6.5 hour battery life.  Sorry, there is no 3G or 4G connectivity, but it’s a caveat we’re willing to accept in light of the lower price, though it’s important to note that it is not WiFi N enabled.  Like the previous machines of a time past, this one will include the same chiclet style keyboard and a comparable trackpad.

So, it’s obvious that the new Chromebook (model number XE303C12-A01US) isn’t intended to replace, but complement your existing computing power.  It’s a bit hard to agree with that, though, especially seeing as most machines these days are light enough, and powerful enough to complete most tasks (putting aside Photoshop and other media like editing programs).  That said, we could easily see this fitting in nicely into the family room or kitchen.  Kids could complete home work assignments, parents could look up recipes or quickly surf the web, and supposedly it’s capable enough to support full HD streaming.

The 11.6-inch Chromebook should ship sometime soon.

Grew up back East, got sick of the cold and headed West. Since I was small I have been pushing buttons - both electronic and human. With an insatiable need for tech I thought "why not start a blog focusing on technology, and use my dislikes and likes to post on gadgets."

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Boxee TV Offers Unlimited DVR Storage Thanks to the Cloud

A few years ago Boxee was simply a piece of software.  At one point the company had hoped to license their interface to major TV manufacturers.  Needless to say that never came to fruition.  Instead, Boxee partnered with D-Link to produce the Boxee Box.  It was a mild success, and was designed, or intended to serve as an alternative to attaching a computer to your home’s big screen.

Fast forward two years, which brings us to today, and Boxee has now ditched the oddly shaped cubed and opted for a more traditional looking set top box.  But don’t let your eyes fool you; the no Boxee TV is no slouch.  Boxee (and D-Link), have done away with the hundreds of apps, and instead plans to ship their initial units with just a few apps (Netflix, VUDU, YouTube and Vimeo).  Surely this will prove a shortcoming to devout Boxee fans, but that hardly seems Boxee’s target with this piece of kit.  Why?

The new Boxxe Box, called the Boxee TV, has a DVR feature that can record unlimited shows.  Yes, you read that correctly. Instead of utilizing a built-in hard drive to store content, the Boxee TV sends all shows directly to the cloud, which can be accessed via the web on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.  Unfortunately, it’s not Cable Card ready, so you’ll only be able to record unencrypted shows.  That said, we’re not sure how it will play with a service provider’s set top box, but it’s worth a shot.  Though something tells us that Boxee is being mindful of this approach, and perhaps they have some how locked down the ability to record and publish certain content to their cloud storage.

Unlike the Boxee Box, the Boxee TV will include a much more simplified remote; no QWERTY keyboard.  As already mentioned the amount of apps is very limited, though you can probably expect that number to expand as time goes on – Pandora will also ship with it.  For now, the Boxee TV, which requires a $15 a month fee, will roll out to 8 markets; New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and D.C.  Expect other areas to come online in 2013.

The Boxee TV ships this November for $99.

Grew up back East, got sick of the cold and headed West. Since I was small I have been pushing buttons - both electronic and human. With an insatiable need for tech I thought "why not start a blog focusing on technology, and use my dislikes and likes to post on gadgets."

View the original article here

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