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Chrome OS 71 is all about synergy between your Chromebook and phone
- Chrome OS 71, the latest update for the operating system, is rolling out now.
- It brings a fully working “Better Together” function, which is all about Chromebook/phone synergy.
- There are also some Pixel Slate-specific features and some Linux improvements.
If you own a compatible Chromebook or Chromebox, the latest version of Chrome OS is rolling out now. Chrome OS 71 brings with it a bevy of new features, including the long-awaited “Better Together” functionality.
Better Together is all about synergy between your Chromebook and your smartphone. Since this is Google we’re talking about, the best features are reserved for Google hardware like the Google Pixel Slate and the Google Pixel 3. However, even those of you out there with non-Google hardware can benefit from Better Together.
For now, Better Together brings pre-existing features from Chrome OS all together under one roof. This includes:
- Instant tethering
- Smart Unlock of a Chromebook with a nearby smartphone
- Android Messages for web integration
These features all have already been available in Chrome OS, but now they are all in the Better Together menu. Google says new features will be coming soon.
Google’s newest high-end Chrome OS tablet, the Google Pixel Slate, gets an assortment of its own improvements with Chrome OS 71. These include Google Assistant integration (coming to more Chromebooks soon), a fingerprint authentication mode, and a portrait mode for the camera app.
There are also some Linux-related improvements with Chrome OS 71, including the Linux virtual machine now appearing in the task manager and users having the ability to easily close the Linux VM without having to shut down the Chromebook.
The Chrome OS rollout is happening now, but it might be a little while before you see the update land on your device(s). In the meantime, check out the changelog for Chrome OS 71 by clicking here.