This is what Google's new era of laptops looks like: Googlebooks will be powered by Gemini, an intelligent cursor, and Android integration

For more than fifteen years, Google has been trying to penetrate the laptop market with Chromebooks built on the ChromeOS operating system. While they have found their place primarily in education and among less demanding users, they have never gained a truly mass market position in the fight against Windows and macOS. Now, however, it appears that a fundamental change of course is underway in Mountain View. Leaked slides revealing an entirely new category of devices called Googlebook have appeared online just before the start of the Android Show I/O Edition event, which kicks off tonight. The Videocardz server, citing a now-deleted XDA article, and the PCGUia portal drew attention to them. We have asked Google for comment.

Gemini, Magic Pointer, and Custom Widgets: AI in the Lead Role

If the Googlebook platform is to truly differentiate itself from the competition, it’s the integration of the Gemini assistant directly into the operating system. The slides mention several specific features that should significantly transform the way we interact with laptops.

The first of these is called Magic Pointer and was developed in collaboration with the Google DeepMind team. In practice, it is an intelligent cursor that understands the content on the screen and suggests next steps itself. In the example Google presents on the slide, the system can combine two images into a music band poster. Similarly, it should be able to, for instance, create a meeting from a date found in an email or combine photos so you can view a given object in different environments, writes the PCGuia website.

The second announced novelty is Create My Widget. As the name suggests, this will be a tool that allows users to create their own widget simply by using a natural language text prompt. Gemini can access services like Google Calendar or Gmail and compile a compact information panel from them. So, if you want to track upcoming meetings or unread emails, for example, you just need to ask, and the widget will apparently generate itself.

Cast My Apps: Android Phone and Laptop Hand in Hand

Crucial for Googlebook will also be the connection with Android phones, which Google would ensure seamless functionality for, at least within its own Pixel series. The feature called Cast My Apps is intended to allow users to access mobile applications directly from their laptop, without the need to install them locally.

The sample image shows applications such as Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Airbnb, Canva, CapCut, Duolingo, Google Keep, Lyft, Maps, Meet, Netflix, Roblox, Spotify, Uber, YouTube, or Google Photos. Ultimately, this is a practical solution in situations where a given service does not have a full-fledged web version or when the user simply needs to quickly continue work started on their phone.

Glowbar: A Light Bar as a Common Element

The slides also show how Googlebooks could visually differ from the competition. A common distinguishing feature is to be a light bar called Glowbar, which uses Google’s traditional colors. Recently, information emerged about a very similar-looking Pixel Glow feature for Google Pixel smartphones – according to that report, the light signaling should react to calls from favorite contacts or interactions with the Gemini assistant. It can therefore be assumed that the so-called Glowbar will work similarly.

Under the Banner of Acer, HP, and Others, Already This Fall

Among the official hardware partners, we find familiar names: Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. These are largely the same manufacturers who already collaborate with Google on Chromebooks today. Individual devices should hit store shelves this fall, but specific dates and prices are not yet known.

What Happened to Aluminium OS?

However, one detail remains a question mark: For the past several months, there has been talk that Google is preparing a unified platform for Android and ChromeOS under the name Aluminium OS. Alleged user interface and official wallpapers have also leaked.

However, on the leaked Googlebook slides, there is no mention of this system. Therefore, we do not know for sure whether Googlebook is the name for devices that will use Aluminium OS, or a completely different platform.

Officially (Perhaps) Today

We assume that Google will officially introduce the Googlebook platform in its Android Show I/O Edition presentation today. Simultaneously, within it, we expect an answer to the question of whether the laptops will run on the aforementioned Aluminium OS or on a completely different platform. The live broadcast will start today at 7:00 PM Central European Time on the Android YouTube channel.

What do you think about the new Googlebook platform?

Sources: Videocardz, PCGuia, Reddit