While I am a fan of the concept of a Google Chromebook. Every Chromebook I have ever owned, has left me so underwhelmed it would eventually just sit on a shelf collecting dust. This was either because they were too locked down to be useful, didn’t have app’s powerful enough for my needs, or were simply just poorly built and underpowered.
Sure some of the newer models of Chromebook are more powerful. And through Linux Development Environment, you can now install and use Linux applications. However, as you are using a virtual machine, that adds a secondary layer between Linux and ChromeOS. The whole experience with using LDE can feel clunky.
So I was interested to see what Google was going to do as it transitions from the ChromeBook to a Googlebook. Which just seems to me to consist of replacing ChromeOS with a desktop version of Android. While at the same time offering premium devices at premium prices.
Meaning that not only will these new computers have access to any Android applications. A Googlebook will also have a more unified eco-system, akin to Apple and their products. So for example if you where to view a webpage on your Android phone. When you jump over to your computer, that same webpage will be waiting for you.
Unfortunately, the problem with the Googlebook is that it looks to be abandoning the educational market, in favour of something more high-end. While leaving the education sector to the cheaper MacBook Neo, or any ultra-cheap Windows computer. Then in the higher end were Googlebook’s are looking to compete. You have existing products that customers want, with established applications they need.
Something else that’s very interesting, is that Google will not be offering a model of Googlebook. Which to me would hint that Google has no faith in its own product. Choosing instead to leave the risk with it’s official partners; Lenovo, HP, Asus, Acer and Dell. Who will all be releasing their offerings on the 4th of October.
Begging the question can a Googlebook be compelling enough for anyone to consider over a MacBook Air or a Dell XPS?
As for existing Chromebooks, they will continue to be supported by Google until the end of their agreed update policy. With Google also confirming that some models of Chromebook will be upgradeable to the newer operating system.
However so far they have not stated which models or when this will happen. Which makes me suspect that Google will want to drive the take up of its new OS. So I doubt we will have to wait too long before they make an official announcement.
New Samsung and Apple devices released.
September is usually the month when Samsung and Apple announce new phones and this year has been no different. However unlike previous years, Apple will be offering a new form factor iPhone called the iPhone Duo.
Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, the iPhone Duo will have multiple screens, and like its Samsung counterpart will cost over £2,000. So more than likely this new addition to the iPhone line-up, is going to be pretty niche.
Then if £2,000 for a phone is a little too rich for your budget. Apple also announce the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pro Max at £1,199 and £1,299 respectively. Putting the price of their latest phones on par with a new MacBook Air. Something that makes me wonder if Apple don’t realise that the world is suffering through a cost of living crisis?
It’s also worth noting that at the beginning of 2027. New EU regulations will require all new phones to have a replaceable battery. While this probably won’t mean a return to some sort of easy pop out system. It should mean that replacing a battery will be something that you can do yourself, without needing specialist tools or a heat gun.
So if you are able, I would recommend waiting a year to see if the price of smart phones comes down. While also waiting to see what’s going to happen with regards to being able to replace a battery yourself.
Alternatively if you need a phone right now, it might be worth taking a look at the 6th Gen Fairphone. Sure its only a mid-tier phone, but it’s reasonably priced and it’s something that you can repair yourself. It also has an easy to replace battery, with an option for an alternative operating system that is privacy focused and will receive system updates until 2033.
Other Apple product refreshes
Apples event in September was not just for phones, as they also announced a number of additional product updates. Including the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and the Apple Watch Series 12. However, as these offerings seem to be mostly incremental improvements, such as more efficient processors, better sensors and longer battery life. They were not all that interesting.
However what did catch my eye, were Apple AirPods 5. Which while also only an incremental improvement over previous generations. Does demonstrate that Apple can, if they want, produce a new version of a product without having to increase the price.
macOS and iOS release
September was a busy month for Apple as they also release macOS 27 Golden Gate and iOS 27. Which makes sense, as these are the operating systems to their main products. The reason I’m highlighting these updates, is that earlier in the year Apple suggested these releases were going to be an incremental updates similar to that of macOS Snow Leopard.
So we were led to believe that this update was mostly going to be to fix bugs, and add some polish to last years release. However, not only are these updates much larger than last years. They will also force Artificial Intelligence onto your device, regardless of whether you want to use AI or not.
Apple also seems to have introduced a whole host of new problems that where not in macOS 26. For example while the user interface is now more polished and Apple has toned down Liquid Glass. There are online reports of issues with Control Centre, along with menu and graphical glitches.
However what we found to be a show stopper. Is that our computer, can now no longer move large files to any of our network shares. Something that if the next update does not fix, will force us to revert back to macOS 26. So its lucky that last month we released that video on how you create macOS recovery media.
Content releases for this month.
As governments across the world continue to try and regulate the internet. There’s a good chance you’re using a VPN client in order to protect your privacy, or avoid age verification.
However for those without children, having to install a VPN client on all your devices is both time-consuming and potentially expensive. So this month, we are going to take a look at how you install a VPN client on a Synology router. Which will then allow you to pass all network traffic through a VPN host server.
In the next video in our series, “What’s in my tech toolkit“. Where going to look at a Xiaomi 90W Hyper Charge Power Adapter. Then as macOS 26 changed how you can minimise the clock in the menu bar. We will be releasing an update video on how you adjust this setting.
Finally at the end of the month, and as long as it arrives in time. As factory reset videos seem to be popular on YouTube. We’re going to release a new video on how you perform a factory reset on Google’s newly released smart speaker.
