We’ve been hearing about Google’s behind-the-scenes work to move its laptop efforts over to Android, but now that we’ve seen “Googlebook,” I’m not really sure I’m sold yet. Honestly, I don’t think Google has shown any reason for these laptops to exist at all.
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Earlier this week, “Googlebook” was the big reveal of “The Android Show,” where Google also talked about new features coming to Android later this year. There’s quite a bit to be excited about, but the company’s new laptop effort is perhaps at the bottom of the list for me.
Why?
Well, I don’t think Google has really shown anything of substance yet. So let’s break it down bit-by-bit. Google’s announcement starts by talking about how “Googlebook” is the merger of Android and ChromeOS, “built with Gemini’s helpfulness at its core.” Gemini is obviously the main driver here, with Google next showing off how its new “Magic Pointer” cursor can activate Gemini and interact with what’s on screen with just a wiggle gesture. That idea in itself is actually pretty good – Gemini’s tools are best served with the context of what you’re acutally looking at, so easier access is great. But it’s also the only new feature Google actually showed off and, even then, it’s coming to the Chrome browser too.
