– Chrome OS is getting a new update that includes improved video calling and a slew of features.
– With the new release, Chromebooks now support eSIM cards, eliminating the need to purchase physical cards.
– Google Meet is getting performance improvements that will result in faster video calling.
A new Google update may soon make your Chromebook much more connected.
Among other things, Chrome OS 92 Stable includes eSim support and improved video calling. Google Meet will be pre-installed on all Chromebooks, making it easy to launch the app and connect to a video call right from the launcher.
I recently looked at how the latest Chrome update has many useful features that can help you get things done faster, as well as some entertaining extras. Emoji support has been added, as well as the ability to do more with an external camera. You also get a better speech-to-text conversion for composing long documents solely with your voice.
Virtual Sim cards
Sim cards have become commonplace in recent decades, and with the new release, Chromebooks will now support eSIM cards. The name, which stands for “electronic SIM card,” enables you to have all of the features of a regular SIM card, such as data and calling features from mobile carriers, without having to worry about a physical card. It should be noted that not all Chromebooks support this feature.
The ease of use is incredible. When you use an eSIM card, you no longer need to go into a store to purchase carrier services. That means you can use a website or app to switch carriers by downloading an eSIM.
You can also easily look for the best prices on mobile services with eSIM cards. Many websites even compare eSIM card rates.
Another useful feature of eSIM cards is that they can be used in conjunction with physical SIM cards, allowing you to have two carriers active in your device at the same time. This is handy if you want to use one number for personal calls and another for business calls.
Electronic SIM cards are also advantageous when traveling. Carrier roaming fees can quickly add up when you’re traveling abroad and using your US mobile provider. However, you can simply add another line with more competitive voice and data rates with an eSIM card.
“Overall, the latest Chrome update may bring a lot of improvements.”
For example, during a trip to Europe, I was astounded by the rapidly mounting data roaming charges when I used Verizon as my carrier. Verizon, like most carriers, provides an international roaming plan that includes data. However, after a relatively small amount of data is used, the plan’s data is throttled, slowing web browsing and other internet functions to a crawl. I was able to easily buy an eSIM card online and get much cheaper local data coverage than Verizon provides.
Better Video Calls
These days, video calling is all the rage. More options are added with Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams among the many companies that let you connect with friends and family via video call.
Google is also beefing up its video calling capabilities with the latest Chrome OS update. Google Meet is getting performance improvements that the company claims will result in faster video calling, such as adjusting video performance during screen sharing and adapting video calls to different network conditions. Meet will also be receiving new video backgrounds to spice up your next virtual conference call.
As is customary, Google has a few more minor enhancements with the latest Chrome release. You can now assign Android and Linux apps to a specific Virtual Desk or all desks.
There’s also a new emoji picker. The compact emoji picker is accessed via a new keyboard shortcut (Search or Launcher key+Shift+Space). The new features show recently used emojis and allow you to search for others in text fields.
You’re lucky if you have an external camera connected to your Chromebook. Pan-tilt-zoom cameras are now supported by the Chrome camera app.
Continuous speech-to-text in Dictation is my personal favorite new feature that I’m excited to try. In my opinion, the ability to speak rather than type is greatly undervalued, and this upgrade should be useful for dictating long documents.
Overall, the latest Chrome update appears to bring a solid slate of improvements. I’m excited to test out the release and share my thoughts on it in the future.
