LTC-102 has been updated in the LTC (Long Term Support Candidate) channel to102.0.5005.153(Platform Version:14695.114.0) for most ChromeOS devices. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. CloudReady is mainly built for businesses and education, but the OS is free for personal use, and it's lightweight enough that it's great for breathing new life into a computer that's struggling from the demands of Windows or MacOS. for most ChromeOS devices and will be rolled out over the next few days. I stumbled upon it when I wanted to see if I could turn an old Windows laptop into a Chromebook for my kids to use for school. Those who were using CloudReady will be upgraded to Chrome OS Flex free of charge. We've just released Chrome Dev 105 (105.0.5176.0) for Android. The Dev channel is being updated to 105.0.5187.0(Platform version: 14985.0.0) for most ChromeOS devices. explore Chromebook options for your institution. Processor and graphics: Components made before 2010 might result in a poor experience. Youll need to boot from the Chrome OS Flex USB installer and make some adjustments in the BIOS if you run into issues. BIOS: Full administrator access. This includes additional device compatibility, stability improvements, and more. He went on to say that the first 100 Chrome OS releases were on Googles own devices, but the next will be on whatever hardware you throw at it.. Google has announced a free software tool Chrome OS Flex that can give a second life to many outdated computers. All you need is a drive and a PC or Mac to try it out and, again, it's free to download. Reported by anonymous on 2022-06-14, [$7500][1335861] High CVE-2022-2478 : Use after free in PDF. Reported by triplepwns on 2022-06-13, [$3000][1329987] High CVE-2022-2479 : Insufficient validation of untrusted input in File. However, there is one Chromebook feature that won't be in Chrome OS Flex: Android apps. Businesses might also switch to Chrome OS Flex for specialized hardware like kiosks and digital signage, and in one extreme use case, a Scandinavian hotel chain switched to Chrome OS (using CloudReady) to flee from a ransomware attack. Google says a stable version of Chrome OS Flex will be made available in the coming months and to expect bugs in its current state. Press J to jump to the feed. Processor and graphics: Components made before 2010 might result in a poor experience. Find out how, LTC-102 has been updated in the LTC (Long Term Support Candidate) channel to, ) for most ChromeOS devices. With this early access period, the company is giving users a chance to play around with the OS and provide feedback before it pushes it out to market. Step 1: Create a bootable Chrome OS Flex USB drive and use it to try the OS prior to installing it. The new OS was developed by Google a few years after acquiring Neverwarethe makers of Cloudreadyand was primarily made for schools and businesses with fleets of old PCs or Macs that have been bogged down after years of use. We've just released Chrome Beta 104 (104.0.5112.54) for iOS; it'll become available on App Store in the next few days. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. While testing Chrome OS Flex is as easy as booting it from a USB drivea process that should take about 30 minutesreplacing an OS with another across an entire fleet is non-trivial. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues. As of today, the company has certified over 400 devices as working with Flex and expects devices up to a decade old to be compatible. When not writing about tech, Pranob spends most of his time either playing League of Legends or lurking on Reddit. Google also makes a sustainability argument in that moving to Chrome OS Flex could rejuvenate laptops that are on life support before theyre shipped off to a landfill. For details on new features, check out the Chromium blog, and for details on web platform updates, check here. The Stable channel is being updated to103.0.5060.132(Platform version:14816.131.0)for most ChromeOS devices and will be rolled out over the next few days. The Dev channel has been updated to 105.0.5191.0 for Mac and Windows and 105.0.5191.2 for Linux . "It really is meant to feel like it's one and the same.". Weve asked Google if individual users can install the operating system on their old PCs and Macs and use it for free. Scandinavian hotel chain switched to Chrome OS. Until then, you can download and use an early version, though the company cautioned that while it's constantly improving, you should expect bugs. I installed ChromeOS Flex on my old dell laptop and it runs smoothly. BIOS: Full administrator access. Please see the Chrome Security Page for more information. We would also like to thank all security researchers that worked with us during the development cycle to prevent security bugs from ever reaching the stable channel. Hi everyone! Chrome OS Flex is a fast, secure, cloud-first, easy-to-manage operating system for Macs and PCs. The Beta channel has been updated to 104.0.5112.39 for Windows,Mac and Linux. The next Samsung Unpacked event is happening on August 10 with new announcements across their Galaxy lineup of products. Reduce threats with no need for antivirus, Refresh a Mac or PC with Chrome OS Flex and Chrome Education Upgrade. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues. However, ChromeOS Flex lacks Android apps and the Play Store, though Linux is supported on modern hardware. It turns out the company's been busy, though. Receive the freshest Android & development news right in your inbox! Reported by Sergei Glazunov of Google Project Zero on 2022-06-27, [$TBD][1341603] High CVE-2022-2481: Use after free in Views. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. For example, Chrome OS Flex devices running on PC or Mac hardware wont have the same key shortcuts as Chromebooks. If you decide you want to install the OS, you can do it straight from the USB drive, which also improves the performance. The company first announced Chrome OS Flexs preview back in February, with support for more than 250 devices. In its blog post, Google said that during the preview period, it had Nordic Choice Hotels, a hotel company present in more than 200 locations, as a customer, which deployed the operating system across 2,000 devices in 48 hours. "Launching a new operating system is already a lot," said Thomas Riedl, director of product for enterprise and education for Chrome OS. Other Chromebook features making the jump into Flex include Phone Hub, which syncs with your Android phone to see the last couple of tabs you viewed on it, see its battery level and wireless connection strength and get notifications from chat apps, and you'll have support for Google Assistant, too. The company has confirmed that itll release the stable version sometime in the second quarter of 2022. By installing ChromeOS Flex on your existing hardware, youre not only getting a great experience, but youre also contributing to an important cause. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: Editor-in-chief. In February this year, Google introduced Chrome OS Flex a modified version of Chrome OS that you can install on most PCs and Macs. Certification means that audio input/output, the internal display, networking, USB, webcam, and other core components will work. To upgrade from Chrome OS Flex to Chrome OS, explore Chromebook options for your institution. Simply head over to the Chrome OS Flex support page, create the USB installer and boot your device using the USB installer. For those looking forward to trying Googles new operating system, Chrome OS Flex is now available in preview. Be sure to check out, ChromeOS Flex launches to turn your old Mac or PC into a Chromebook, Google making Password Manager more capable and prominent on Android, Chrome, Chrome OS 103 rolling out: Phone Hub camera roll, faster Nearby Share + Wi-Fi sharing, Gaming Chromebooks will focus on cloud services like Stadia & GeForce Now, ChromeOS can now open more archive files including 7z, iso, and tar, Architecture: Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device. [1338205] Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing and other initiatives, The Beta channel is being updated to 104.0.5112.57 (Platform version: 14909.79.0) for, Report an issue or send feedback on Chrome, The Dev channel has been updated to 105.0.5191.0, A partial list of changes is available in the, . It would also be much easier to move everything over from Flex to a new Chromebook when its time for a hardware upgrade. If you end up liking it, you can install Chrome OS Flex on your device using the same USB installer. Find out how. This early build of Chrome OS Flex is a version of Chrome OS made to modernize your schools existing PCs and Mac devices at no additional cost. Sign up for Education Fundamentals free trial. It's now available on Google Play. The Extended Stable channel has been updated to 102.0.5005.167. which will roll out over the coming days/weeks. At the time, the company offered an early version of the new software experience to select large customers and internal employees. Its a lightweight operating system that supports the Google Assistant, Family Link accounts, Smart Lock, Instant Tethering, and Nearby Share. We've just released Chrome 103 (103.0.5060.71) for Android: it'll becomeavailable on Google Play over the next few days. Most importantly, Chrome OS Flex will get the same attention from Google as Chrome OSthat is, it relies on an identical code base and will receive the same release cadence. Googles OS works with Intel or AMD x86 (no ARM support) computers running Windows and macOS. After entering early access preview five months ago, ChromeOS Flex is now stable (version 103) and ready for widespread use. If that is indeed the case, ChromeOS 100 stable is expected to be released on March 31st.

CVE-2022-2163: Use after free in Cast UI and Toolbar. CVE-2022-2294: Heap buffer overflow in WebRTC. A full list of changes in this build is available in the log. A partial list of changes is available in the log. Discussions related specifically to ChromeOS Flex, an official method for installing a form of ChromeOS on (nearly) any device! Riedl didn't rule out Android apps in the future, but it's not a priority at the moment. Before you do any of that, make sure to check the Chrome OS Flex certified models list to see if your device is compatible or not. Joshua Goldman is a senior editor for CNET Reviews, covering laptops and the occasional action cam or drone and related accessories. The Dev channel is being updated to 105.0.5161.0(Platform version: 14961.0.0) for most ChromeOS devices. All you need to get Chrome OS Flex running is a USB drive. Hi, everyone! We've just released Chrome Beta 104 (104.0.5112.55) for Android. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Google says it will be transparent with customers in describing the risks of switching to Flex and plans to publish a list of certified device models with notes outlining which features do and dont work. Were working on more certifications every day, and even if your device isnt yet certified, you can still try ChromeOS Flex! Youll need to boot from the Chrome OS Flex USB installer and make some adjustments in the BIOS if you run into issues. The Beta channel is being updated to 104.0.5112.36 (Platform version: 14909.52.0) formostChromeOS devices. The long-term goal, however, is to simplify the process and broaden the adoption of Chrome OS Flex to individual users. A full list of changes in this build is available in the log. Now, Chrome OS Flex is finally available for a broader audience. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Find out how. Variants of certified models might have unexpected issues. Hi everyone! Would you like to sign up for the latest news, offers, and updates from Google for Education? Chrome OS Flex offers the same software experience as Chrome OS on Chromebooks.

Chrome OS Flex might work on non-certified devices but performance, functionality, and stability are not guaranteed. Features such as geolocation, which were done differently in CloudReady's Chromium browser, will now be handled just as they are in Chrome on a Chromebook. The Beta channel has been updated to 104.0.5112.48 for Windows,Mac and Linux. It is now a valuable resource for people who want to make the most of their mobile devices, from customizing the look and feel to adding new functionality. Not sure if you're ready to switch? Chrome OS Flex can run off a USB drive without installing it. This update includes 3 security fixes. We have Chrome ready for you and you dont have to buy new hardware, Riedl said. Reported by YoungJoo Lee(@ashuu_lee) of CompSecLab at Seoul National University on 2022-07-04, [$7000][1308341] Low CVE-2022-2163: Use after free in Cast UI and Toolbar. This build contains a number of bug fixes and security updates. Chrome OS Flex is finally ready for a wider rollout, Turn Your Website into an App with AppMySite, You can now get the Google Pixel 6a for free on Verizon. While CloudReady delivered a lot of the value of Chrome OS, the feel and some key features were still missing. The Beta channel has been updated to 104.0.5112.57 for Windows,Mac and Linux. These are still early days for Chrome OS Flex, and Google admits it hasnt done any large-scale testing just yet. The Chrome OS Flex is essentially a rejuvenation of the CloudReady, a Chrome OS-based operating system owned by a company called Neverware. XDA Developers was founded by developers, for developers. Interested in switching release channels? He has been writing about and reviewing consumer technology and software since 2000. You can now pre-order the Pixel 6a in the U.K. and U.S. Google Pixel 6a Review: Changing the mid-range Pixel philosophy, New Eve Motion gets a light sensor and is ready for Matter, [Update: Its coming back] Google removes Permissions list from Play Store app listings. You can see a partial list of the changes in the Git log. Google ended up buying Neverware back in 2020 to bolster its presence in the desktop OS market. This way, businesses andschools dont have to buy new hardware to support the latest operating system, they can just convert their existing laptops with Chrome OS Flex instead. Hi, everyone! The Extended Stable channel has been updated to 102.0.5005.167 for Windows and Mac which will roll out over the coming days/weeks. At Google, we were very tempted to just go big and to put it out to everybody, but over the years, weve learned that having a focus is good. When you have a device from your fleet nearby, follow these two steps to get started. Moreover, certain device drivers arent compatible with Flex; as a result, the webcam on some MacBook models wont function properly. It's now available on Google Play. At that time computers already running CloudReady will automatically update to Chrome OS Flex. The process typically takes around 20 minutes to complete. Our most loyal fans are those who tinker with it and try it out so what youll see is that you have an installer and can try it out yourself, Riedl said. Clickhere. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues. This might be the best way to keep a laptop out of a landfill. It's now available on Google Play. Those who want to give Chrome OS Flex a try can do so by loading it from a USB; this method gives you a risk-free way to try Chrome OS Flex before doing a full OS swap. It seems like ChromeOS flex is following the normal ChromeOS release schedule. You only need a USB drive to try out Chrome OS Flex on your device. Chrome OS Flex could be a saving grace for businesses attempting to operate with a mixed fleet of older Mac or PCs and newer Chromebooks. A partial list of changes is available in the Git log. "In terms of the user experience, what it feels like to open it up, log in, get started, and those administrative controls, one of our center pillars was to minimize the differences," Smith said. If you find a new issues, please let us know by filing a bug. And its easy to manage Chrome OS Flex devices alongside existing Chromebooks like Chromebooks, management and enrollment is all done with. It is designed to refresh older devices, increasing their performance for more efficient teaching and learning. Hi everyone! At this point I wouldn't say anything more than stable Flex will be out when it's ready. Find out how here. Architecture: Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device. loading the operating system on a thumb drive and figuring out the booting sequence by going to the BIOS menu. Please see the. This operating system is still in early accessyou may experience some instability while exploring. turn an old Windows laptop into a Chromebook, The Best Cheap Laptops You Don't Have to Wait a Month For, These Are the Best 2-in-1s That Are More Than Just a Laptop or Tablet. Interested in switching release channels? "One of the things we heard in the pandemic that we really wanted to solve is supporting those Family Link accounts," Smith said. Find out how here.

Chrome OS is available on Chromebook. Google today announced Chrome OS Flex, an effort mainly aimed at schools and businesses, that allows a version of Chrome OS to be installed on older Macs and PCs. Chrome OS Flex wont age as poorly and wont accrue that baggage over time, Forrest Smith, a product manager for Chrome OS, told Gizmodo. We are reader supported. We've just released Chrome Beta 104 (104.0.5112.37) for Android. This free-to-download operating system turns older Mac and Windows computers that are no longer receiving updates into Chromebooks. Oftentimes, Windows forces them [consumers] to use systems for shorter than they should. With such similar end-user and IT experiences, its also easy to transition from Chrome OS Flex to Chrome OS devices when youre ready to purchase new hardware: With Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, and Chromebases, youll experience end-to-end optimization across hardware and software with the strongest security and largest app ecosystem through the Google Play Store, Riedl wrote in a blog post. Make the most of your current hardware with early access to Chrome OS Flexthe fast, secure, cloud-first, easy-to-manage operating system for Macs and PCs. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. The Dev channel has been updated to 105.0.5176.3 for Mac, Linux and Windows. Hi everyone! We use cookies on our websites for a number of purposes, including analytics and performance, functionality and advertising. Google is definitely targeting enterprise applications for this, so large companies and school systems can update their entire stock of old laptops into idiot-proof Chromebooks. So the company offers business customers an enterprise upgrade to use Chrome OS Flex across their devices used for work in the organization. Google only guarantees Chrome OS Flex functionality on certified models. Find out how, The Beta channel has been updated to 104.0.5112.57 for, . [$16000][1336266] High CVE-2022-2477 : Use after free in Guest View. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com, Pixel 6a Review: Just in time to replace Pixel 3a, Google trade-in values for old Pixels skyrocket with 6a, Download: The Pixel 6a wallpapers are Google's best, Youre reading 9to5Google experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2022-2294 exists in the wild. According to Google, the following Apple Mac computers can use Chrome OS Flexnote that only the Apple MacBook Pro 9.2 (MacBook Pro 13-inch, Mid 2012) is verified to work without minor issues: The development comes after Google acquired Neverware in 2020, a company that enabled loading Chrome OS on old devices with its CloudReady software. Because the development team's main focus is managed enterprise fleet deployments, it concentrated on making that experience the best possible. And its easy to manage Chrome OS Flex devices alongside existing Chromebooks like Chromebooks, management and enrollment is all done with Chrome Education Upgrade and Google Admin Console. You can see a partial list of the changes in the Git log. Reported by Sergei Glazunov of Google Project Zero on 2022-06-27, Reported by YoungJoo Lee(@ashuu_lee) of CompSecLab at Seoul National University on 2022-07-04. Google acquired Neverware in December 2020, but there didn't appear to be any big changes coming for the OS.

Reported by anonymous on 2022-05-28, [$NA][1339844] High CVE-2022-2480 : Use after free in Service Worker API. Thomas Riedl, director of product for enterprise and education on Chrome OS, told us that Google invested heavily in ensuring that UIs are consistent across both operating systems and brought primary Chrome OS features, including the Google Assistant, Chrome browser, and cross-device Android tools, to Flex. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. Samsung is offering credit to anyone who makes a free reservation. A full list of changes in this build is available in the, . Unlike Chrome OS, its compatible with a wide range of PCs and Macs, making it the perfect choice for enterprises or anyone with outdated hardware. If you find new issues, please let us know one of the following ways. Well update this post with more details as soon as we learn more. We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but havent yet fixed. We collect this information to make it easier for you to upgrade your fleet to Chromebooks in the future. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Chrome OS Flex was available for end-users to try in the developer channel if they wanted to put in the effort of loading the operating system on a thumb drive and figuring out the booting sequence by going to the BIOS menu at the time of the system start. XDA News Brief Chrome OS Flex is finally ready for a wider rollout. The Dev channel has been updated to 105.0.5176.3 for Windows, Mac and Linux. which will roll out over the coming days/weeks. ChromeOS Flex can be installed over a network (ideal for fleets) or via USB device, which lets you boot directly and trial it first. We've just released Chrome 103 (103.0.5060.129) for Android: it'll becomeavailable on Google Play over the next few days. Find out how here. Reported by Chaoyuan Peng (@ret2happy) on 2022-03-21, ] Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing and other initiatives, Many of our security bugs are detected using, Interested in switching release channels? On Tuesday it announced Chrome OS Flex, a rebuilt, more robust version of CloudReady. XDAs official marketplace for buying and selling tech. Google says Chrome OS Flex can run efficiently on devices that are up to 13 years olda bold claim we are eager to try out once we can get our hands on an Apple PowerBook G4. By submitting this form, I consent to being contacted by Google and/or Google for Education Partners about news, product updates, and other information about Google for Education. Up to $200 Samsung CreditReserve the Next Galaxy Smartphone, Watch, and Buds for Free, The Absolute Worst Apocalypse Bunkers in Science Fiction. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Find out how. Yes, send me daily emails with Apple news!

Step 2: When you are ready, install Chrome OS Flex on your PC or Mac to replace your operating system. #hugs, Twitter Expands Safety Mode Feature to Canada and Other Markets, Claim Your $20 from the $30 Million Optical Disc Drive Class Action Payout, You Can Now Download iOS 15.6 for iPhone, iPadOS 15.6 for iPad, Ontario Company Saw Rogers Outage Coming Weeks Ago: Downtime Alerts Surged 50x, Rogers Replaces Chief Technology Officer After Nationwide Outage, Here are the Latest Cellphone Deals: Rogers, Telus, Bell and More from July 20, Netflix Provides Update on Paid Password Sharing, Launching in Five New Countries, Whats New on Netflix Canada: August 2022. And it's still going to be free for home use. It's now available on Google Play. Worldwide, 40 million tons of e-waste is generated every year thats like throwing away 800 laptops per second. Transform your schools existing devices with a simple and secure cloud-based operating system. Goodbye CloudReady, hello Google Chrome OS Flex. As we noted in our story in February, this lightweight operating system is built on top of CloudReady by Neverware, a company Google acquired in 2020. Google argues these systems could be revitalized by stripping out Windows or macOS and installing Chrome OS Flex, a lightweight operating system that can run on weaker hardware and remain stable for years due to its reliance on the cloud. The Dev channel has been updated to 105.0.5191.0 for Windows, Mac and Linux. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. And if you really need the fans running to stay cool, you can feel better knowing that devices that run ChromeOS Flex consume 19% less energy on average than other devices, the company said in a blog post.

Reported by Chaoyuan Peng (@ret2happy) on 2022-03-21. Many of our security bugs are detected using AddressSanitizer, MemorySanitizer, UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer, Control Flow Integrity, libFuzzer, or AFL. Note: Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues. Now, it releases a stable version of the operating system for people to use on their old machines. Want to know more about Long-term Support? Everyone probably has that one dying laptop that barely has enough juice to keep up with macOS MontereyorWindows 11. Samsung is offering credit to anyone who makes a free reservation. The Beta channel is being updated to 104.0.5112.57 (Platform version: 14909.79.0) formostChromeOS devices. Step 3: Deploy Chrome OS Flex to more devices in your organization via USB drive or over your network. Google announced today that Chrome OS Flex, its operating system for old PCs and Macs that can be loaded on a thumb drive, is now out of beta with support for more than 400 devices. But instead of being dead weight, Google is giving us the option to convert them intoChromebookswith its newChrome OS Flex. And if youre already using CloudReady, youll get an option to update to Chrome OS Flex once Google releases the stable version of the OS.