Chrome OS Hidden Code Shows Notification And Google Now Future Support

After a major update to its Chrome OS last year with Aura, Google appears to be readying a new feature: a Notification Centre. François Beaufort has spotted templated notifications in the latest Windows Chromium build, part of a new Notification Center. The notifications can be enabled by togging a flag in Chrome's settings, paving the way for users to create their own notifications within a Chrome extension.

Beaufort speculates that that the Notification Center could become a hub for future Google Now support in Chrome OS. A recent code revision to Chromium appears to hint at Google Now card support, with a 'skeleton' framework for the predictive search service. Chrome OS has long supported notifications, but they have been largely hit and miss — supported by a small number of apps. Any move to support Google Now in Chrome OS would bring synergy to Google's ecosystem in a similar way to Apple's move to bring its iOS-like Notification Centre to Mountain Lion. With support from major OEMs, Chrome OS looks to be the next major operating system player. [TheVerge]

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Lenovo Joins The ChromeBook Bandwagon With The ThinkPad X131e

Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup has been one of the best and best-known series of Windows computers over the last two decades, but it looks like Lenovo's expanding the brand: the company has just released the ThinkPad X131e Chromebook, its first computer powered by Google's web-based Chrome OS. There's already a Windows-powered X131e, and it looks like Lenovo hasn't changed much besides the operating system. The Chromebook is primarily designed for students, and Lenovo's touting its rugged design (there's a bumper around the edge in case it's dropped, and even the hinges are extra sturdy) as much as its specs. The four-pound, 11.6-inch laptop comes with an Intel processor — Lenovo doesn't specify which, but it's a safe guess to say it won't be a high-powered Core i5 or i7 — plus a 1366 x 768 display, HDMI and VGA ports, a webcam, and a battery that Lenovo says will last "the entire school day."

For a while, "the Chromebook" was a single device, from one company that worked with Google to show off what its cloud-based OS could do. Now Lenovo marks the third manufacturer, after Acer and Samsung, to make inexpensive laptops running Google's software. Lenovo's announcement of the laptop cites data about how much easier Chromebooks are to deploy and maintain than Windows machines, and how much more practical the OS is becoming as Google Apps become more prevalent in schools — if that's all true, it could be a significant shot across Microsoft's bow in a key market. The X131e will be available February 26th, but there's no telling if or when it will be available to non-education customers. Guess it's time to go back to middle school. [TheVerge]

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