Rolling out ChromeOS 104 and introducing new features

It is a model new month and a brand new model of ChromeOS awaits. Yesterday, Google has formally introduced the discharge of ChromeOS model 104, which ought to now be accessible for all eligible gadgets. The adjustments accessible with this launch had been largely coated final week in an article based mostly on an announcement made by Google on The Key phrase – and we even included them in a video! Nevertheless, now that the replace is right here, we needed to return and evaluate the options that created it.

Mild and darkish mode (FINALLY!)

We have coated the “Personalization Heart” extensively on this web site because it first appeared in Canary. We have additionally coated darkish mode on Chromebooks and the truth that it has been hidden behind a flag for what appears like endlessly. ChromeOS 104 adjustments that with mild and darkish mode lastly making its debut within the steady channel with no flags wanted.

Mild/darkish mode is now a part of ‘customization’ and could be manually set to 1 or ‘auto’, so it adjustments at sundown and dawn. One distinction I seen between this implementation of darkish mode is that there is no such thing as a longer an choice for impartial colour mode. As a substitute, by default, it is going to use the theme colour mode, which makes use of colours pulled out of your desktop background. Nevertheless, the choice to decide on a colour mode was accessible when “darkish mode” was only a flag, as proven within the screenshot beneath.

Dark theme in the past included thematic and neutral color mode
Darkish theme prior to now included thematic and impartial colour mode

Google Pictures and themed wallpapers

The Personalization part additionally contains a wallpaper picker with model new wallpaper choices. One among them is the opportunity of select out of your Google Pictures galleryso now you need to use your favourite household photograph as your wallpaper with out having to obtain it first.

Additionally, among the different wallpaper galleries like Radiance and Aspect embody wallpapers that may tackle a light-weight or darkish theme to match what you’ve gotten chosen in your gadget. My favourite up to now is the Radiance assortment, as seen beneath.

Display screen saver

In abstract, customization options are the flexibility to set a screensaver as a slideshow from one among your Google Pictures albums, just like the way it presently works on the Nest Hub. Moreover, you possibly can select that very same album in one of many new “Really feel the Breeze” or “Float on by” photograph frameswhich is able to show your loved ones photographs in a enjoyable animation.

ChromeOS 104 Screensaver

Different Notable Additions

Google can be cleansing up calendar integration by exhibiting a pop-up calendar everytime you faucet the date on the Chromebook shelf. This pop-up calendar is a reside calendar. The dots on the dates you have added occasions to point out you extra details about that occasion whenever you faucet on it.

ChromeOS Calendar Widget 104

Final however not least, the Gallery app, now the default ChromeOS media app, can now open PDFs. Plus, whenever you open a PDF, you possibly can swap to annotation mode, fill out kinds, spotlight textual content, and even signal paperwork.

ChromeOS 104 PDF in Gallery app

I am very enthusiastic about these new options in ChromeOS 104, particularly since everybody can now use darkish mode. I am additionally a fan of the brand new wallpapers and Google Pictures integration sprinkled all through the Personalization Heart. I am additionally excited for the subsequent launch, which is able to carry enhancements to digital desktops.

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