ChromeOS to gain ‘glanceable’ desktop widgets similar to Pixel’s At A Glance - 9to5Google

2 years ago 51

Google has begun moving connected a task to bring “glanceable” widgets to the ChromeOS desktop, which could enactment similar a large-screen mentation of Pixel’s At A Glance widget.

One of the signature features of the Pixel bid of phones is the inclusion of an “At A Glance” widget connected the location screen. That abstraction has grown importantly smarter successful the past year, gaining options for grocery deliveries, commuter information, and air prime alerts.

Now it seems Google is preparing to bring astatine slightest immoderate of these ambient smarts to Chromebooks. A caller code change, posted this week, introduces the conception of “glanceables” for ChromeOS. Helpfully, there’s besides an earlier “prototype” disposable that offers a much implicit representation of what to expect.

Much similar the Android location screen, ChromeOS volition align widgets to a grid, with each “glanceable” acting similar a tile connected the grid. At this point, we lone person 2 examples of what mightiness look successful these desktop widgets: a timepiece and a upwind tile. As you mightiness expect, the upwind tile volition look a just spot similar the upwind accusation shown successful ChromeOS’s screensaver feature.

Unfortunately, since the feature’s plan draught is private, there’s nary motion of what broader intentions Google mightiness person for “glanceables” connected ChromeOS. The potentials could scope from a full, Android-like widget strategy to an automatic statement of what you request to know, similar a ample surface mentation of Pixel’s At A Glance.

That aside, what’s astir absorbing to america is really the placement of these “glanceable” widgets. On astir desktop/laptop operating systems similar Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu, you’re capable to usage the existent “desktop” arsenic a spot to stash things similar files, programme shortcuts, and more.

ChromeOS has ever been the exception, with its “desktop” being efficaciously nonexistent, serving lone to amusement your existent wallpaper. From the code disposable today, it seems highly apt that the caller “glanceables” volition beryllium the archetypal large usage of the ChromeOS desktop.

Since the codification for these desktop widgets is lone conscionable present opening to get successful ChromeOS, it’s apt we won’t spot it successful enactment for a fewer much weeks/months. Of course, arsenic it’s inactive a enactment successful progress, it’s besides wholly imaginable these widgets whitethorn ne'er spot the airy of day.

What bash you deliberation of the anticipation of ChromeOS gaining widgets? What sorts of accusation would you similar it to show? Let america cognize down successful the comments!