Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Write For Us
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    Instagram
    About ChromebooksAbout Chromebooks
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Business
    • How to
      • IP Address
    • Apps
    • Q&A
      • Opinion
    • Podcast
    • Gaming
    • Blog
    • Contact
    About ChromebooksAbout Chromebooks
    Home»News»Chrome OS Bluetooth Fast Pair, Android chat app streaming from Phone Hub coming to Chromebooks
    News

    Chrome OS Bluetooth Fast Pair, Android chat app streaming from Phone Hub coming to Chromebooks

    Kevin TofelBy Kevin TofelJanuary 5, 2022Updated:January 7, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
    Chrome OS Bluetooth Fast Pair
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Google may have skipped attending the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show but that doesn’t mean there isn’t news to share. And today the company did just that in a blog post. The main news focus is on Android, however several of the upcoming new features apply to Chromebooks as well. This year Chrome OS will get Bluetooth Fast Pair functionality, and more Phone Hub features including Android phone chat app streaming and Camera Roll support.

    Synchronized Bluetooth Fast Pair for Chromebooks

    We’ve known for months that Google was working on synchronized Bluetooth Fast Pair, something that the Apple ecosystem has had for a few years. If you’re not a Mac, iPad, or iPhone owner, here’s what that does. You set up new Bluetooth headphones on one of your devices and they’re available on all of them. The Bluetooth pairing authorization is synchronized through the cloud across all devices on your account.

    Not only does this save time for the setup process, but it also lets your devices work together. I often watch video content on my iPad, for example, using my Bluetooth headphones. When I’m done, I might fire up music on my iPhone. The audio seamlessly transfers between devices, so there’s no switching or messing with settings. That’s essentially what Google plans to deliver to Chromebooks in the coming months with Chrome OS Bluetooth Fast Pair.

    Starting in a few weeks, when you turn on your Fast Pair-enabled headphones, your Chromebook will automatically detect it and pair with it in a single click, letting you stay focused when studying or working wherever you are. If you get a new Chromebook later this year, you can use your Android phone to quickly set it up and get immediate access to all of the information you’ve already saved, like your Google login and your Wi-Fi password.

    Phone Hub features coming to Chromebooks: Chat and Camera Roll

    Although there are only a few small new Chrome OS Phone Hub features arriving soon, I’m really excited about one of them. Mainly because it’s something I asked for in mid-2020: Android app streaming to Chromebooks. And it’s coming, although in a very limited fashion. This year your Chromebook can use the Phone Hub app to show Android chat apps from your phone, even if they’re not installed on your Chromebooks.

    Hey, it’s a start! And I recently thought this feature might be specific to the Pixel 6. I’m glad to be wrong on that.

    Later this year, if you’re working on your Chromebook and your Android phone is out of reach (such as charging in a different room), you’ll be able to stay in touch by accessing chat apps from your phone directly to your Chromebook –without needing to install them again on your Chromebook. We’re also excited to add Camera Roll to the Phone Hub, which makes access to your most recent photos and videos as easy as one click.

    Obviously, the blog post mentions the addition of your phone’s Camera Roll to the Phone Hub. So you won’t have to do what I do: Take a photo, upload it to Google Photos, and download it to your Chromebook if that’s where you need it. Definitely, a huge time saver when this arrives, not to mention no need for an internet connection.

    Wear OS Chromebook unlocking

    The third newsbit is useful if you have or plan to get a Google Wear OS watch: Essentially, Smart Unlock support is coming to Google’s wearable platform. Currently, you can unlock a Chromebook over Bluetooth with an Android phone, so this feature is getting extended to the watch.

    Today, you can already unlock your Chromebook with your Android phone to quickly get right to work. In the coming months, we’ll bring this feature to your paired Wear OS smartwatch so you can instantly unlock and access your Chromebook and Android phone or tablet when you’re close by.

    I’m less jazzed about this feature than the other two, but mainly because I don’t own a Wear OS watch. But I know many Chromebook owners are all in on Google devices, so this one’s for you!

    Bluetooth Camera Chrome OS Chromebooks Google Phone Hub Productivity Wear OS
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Kevin Tofel
    • Website

    After spending 15 years in IT at Fortune 100 companies, Kevin turned a hobby into a career and began covering mobile technology in 2003. He writes daily on the industry and has co-hosted the weekly MobileTechRoundup podcast since 2006. His writing has appeared in print (The New York Times, PC Magazine and PC World) and he has been featured on NBC News in Philadelphia.

    Comments are closed.

    Top Posts

    Understanding the Price of Ethereum: Factors and Future Implications

    May 13, 2025

    Increase Foot Traffic with a Conversion-Driven Poster Maker

    May 13, 2025

    How to Disable or Restore the Chrome Download Bubble Using chrome://flags/#download-bubble

    May 12, 2025

    How To Host Your Quizizz Quizzes?

    May 12, 2025

    A Guide to Choosing the Right Document Conversion SDK for Your Business 

    May 12, 2025
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Write For Us
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    © 2025 About Chrome Books. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.