Cloud services are great until you can't access an important file while you're on the road with frustratingly slow internet connection. Google Drive introduced offline mode for Documents, Slides and Spreadsheets as a solution for that. Now, it's also testing the capability to save PDFs, images, Microsoft Office and other non-Google files stored on Drive offline.
Google is currently accepting applications for a new beta that will allow testers to mark the non-Google files they want for offline access. Unfortunately, only G Suite organizations can apply to be part of the testing period, and those who do get the chance to use it early can only take advantage of the feature if they're using the Chrome browser. They have to enable offline mode from within the Drive or Docs settings first and then sign into the account associated with the approved G Suite organization before they see the option to save files offline.
Google says the current version of the feature doesn't work with Chrome OS, but it's working to bring it to the platform in the future. No word yet on whether it's also coming to other browsers other than Chrome -- let's just keep our fingers crossed for wider compatibility when it's ready for rollout.
Cloud services are great until you can't access an important file while you're on the road with frustratingly slow internet connection. Google Drive introduced offline mode for Documents, Slides and Spreadsheets as a solution for that. Now, it's also testing the capability to save PDFs, images, Microsoft Office and other non-Google files stored on Drive offline.
Google is currently accepting applications for a new beta that will allow testers to mark the non-Google files they want for offline access. Unfortunately, only G Suite organizations can apply to be part of the testing period, and those who do get the chance to use it early can only take advantage of the feature if they're using the Chrome browser. They have to enable offline mode from within the Drive or Docs settings first and then sign into the account associated with the approved G Suite organization before they see the option to save files offline.
Google says the current version of the feature doesn't work with Chrome OS, but it's working to bring it to the platform in the future. No word yet on whether it's also coming to other browsers other than Chrome -- let's just keep our fingers crossed for wider compatibility when it's ready for rollout.
That’s not to say you should be kicking yourself for spending $1,000+ on a new desktop workstation. At $35, the new Raspberry Pi 4 is the last thing you’ll want to rely on for tasks like Photoshop, video editing, or gaming. But it’s now packing a Broadcom 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A72 quad-core processor and the option to step up from 1GB of faster LPDDR4 RAM to 2GB for $45, or 4GB for $55, which should go a long way to making the Pi 4 more viable as a web browsing and email machine straight out of the box.
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The Raspberry Pi 3's standard sized HDMI port has been upgraded to a pair of micro HDMI ports on the Pi 4, allowing the tiny computer to power a pair of 4K displays at 30 frames per second, or a single 4K display at 60 frames per second—thanks to the board now adopting developer Eric Anholt’s Mesa V3D graphics driver. Onboard you’ll also find a pair of USB 2.0 ports and a pair of USB 3.0 ports, but microUSB is nowhere to be seen. It’s been replaced with a power-only USB-C port, adding an extra 500 mA of juice. On the wireless front, the Raspberry Pi 4's Bluetooth has been upgraded to the 5.0 standard, and wifi now supports dual-band 802.11ac.
Originally designed as both a tool for tinkerers and those wanting to learn more about how computers work, the Raspberry Pi has become an essential tool for industrial applications, according to the company. The latest iteration of the hardware has many upgrades that have come at the request of business customers specifically, including improved I/O speeds across the board. But in an interview with the Next Web, Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton promises that education is still part of the company’s focus. “While our sales into education are smaller than into industry, we still estimate we sold over 1 million units into that market in 2018 alone,” he claimed. Upton also believes, “What’s changed with Raspberry Pi 4 is that in addition to being a device for learning about computing, it’s also much more suitable than its predecessors for use as a general-purpose classroom computer.”
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To that end, the Raspberry Pi 4 will also include some welcome operating system upgrades that will be based on the upcoming release of Debian 10 Buster. The polished UI should be less intimidating to those already familiar with commercial OS products like Windows and MacOS, and that also goes for the included applications like the Chrome 74 web browser.
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As the brains powering your next highly customized smart home upgrade, the Raspberry Pi 4 seems like an easy choice. It remains to be seen, however, how viable the hardware will be as a basic desktop machine (will it be able to run Windows 10 S like other barebones systems?), but the updated specs seem to indicate that the Pi might have finally graduated from being a tool for just hackers, hobbyists, and tinkerers.
Microsoft could release a radically different Surface as early as the first half of 2020. Rumors about a dual-screen tablet have been circulating since last year, and the company reportedly showed a similar device to employees earlier this month. Now, market research firm IHS Markit told Forbes that the device will be ready sometime in the first six months of 2020, and it's expected to run both Android apps and Apple's iCloud.
According to IHS Markit's "supply chain info," the new Surface could have two 9-inch screens and a 4:3 aspect ratio, and it will reportedly use Windows Lite OS. We knew Intel was "working closely" with Windows on a foldable tablet, and IHS Markit claims this device will come with Intel's 10-nanometer Lakefield processor. It's also expected to have always-on connectivity via LTE or 5G. We don't know how much the dual-screen tablet could cost, or if it will be capable enough to win over early adopters. But other companies are definitely interested in building dual-screen devices, so it's not surprising to see Microsoft get involved as well.
The new Raspberry Pi 4 packs added power, keeps the same $35 starting price.
Raspberry Pi Foundation
Raspberry Pi is getting an upgrade.
On Monday the Raspberry Pi Foundation dropped a new model of its popular Raspberry Pi line. Aptly named the Raspberry Pi 4, the new PC board boasts several significant upgrades. Among them:
A new 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU that the group says is three times faster
1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM
Two USB-A, full-size USB 3 ports (in addition to two USB 2 ports)
Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi AC
Two micro HDMI out (as opposed to one full-size HDMI) capable of driving two 4K displays
USB-C for power input (as opposed to micro-USB)
The new computer retains its $35 starting price for the 1GB board (a 2GB board is $45, 4GB is $55), with casing available for an additional $5. A USB-C power supply is available for $8, while those upgrading from an older Pi can buy a $1 micro-USB to USB-C adapter.
A case for the Raspberry Pi 4 costs $5.
Raspberry Pi Foundation
In addition to the hardware improvements, the Raspberry Pi Foundation says the new PC will have an "extensively modernised user interface" including an updated Chromium 74 web browser.
It should have been Microsoft posing the main competition to Apple in mobile platforms, not Google, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates commented in a recent interview.
"In the software world, particularly for platforms, these are winner-take-all markets," Gates told venture capital business Village Global, cited by The Verge. "So the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is. That is, Android is the standard non-Apple phone platform."
Mobile "was a natural thing for Microsoft to win," he continued, though further admitting that the margin for success is slim.
"It really is winner take all," he said. "If you're there with half as many apps or 90% as many apps, you're on your way to complete doom. There's room for exactly one non-Apple operating system and what's that worth? $400 billion that would be transferred from company G to company M."
Microsoft was already in the smartphone OS business prior to Apple and Google, having launched Windows Mobile in 2003. Even after Google bought Android in 2005 and Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, however, Microsoft was slow to react, only debuting a modern OS — Windows Phone — in 2010.
The company never caught up to Apple or Google in terms of features, apps, or popularity, even after its Nokia takeover, ultimately ending support for Windows Phone in 2017.
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer infamously dismissed the iPhone's chances because of its lack of a keyboard, which in 2007 was de facto on top-end smartphones.
Windows remains the dominant OS in desktop and laptop PCs, despite inroads by Macs. The platform seized the lead in the early 1990s and remains difficult for Apple to unseat. Low-end Dell PCs for example can cost as little as $380, whereas the cheapest new Mac is a $799 Mac mini. Additionally, Apple doesn't ship discrete graphics in anything on the lower end of its product lineup.
This morning we’re getting our first glance at the new Raspberry Pi 4. The latest rendition of the popular microcomputer delivers upgraded specs, more I/O, and 4K support that makes it arguably the most powerful release to date. It will stay at the same $35 starting price as the previous-generation model, but with a bevy of notable upgrades for power users and tinkers alike. Raspberry Pi 4 offers a handful of configurations, headlined by a 4GB configuration which should be able to handle most everyday tasks like web browsing and email. If true, this means that Raspberry Pi 4 goes beyond a niche piece of tech to a piece of technology that could bring the internet and more to the masses with previously unseen affordability. More below.
Raspberry Pi 4: Loaded with 4K, I/O and more
The Raspberry Pi foundation appears to remain committed to its $35 price tag for the long haul while continually adding new specs within each iteration of its microcomputer. Raspberry Pi 4 features a slew of modern day must-haves, including support for 4K and an impressive 4GB of RAM (a 4x increase from the previous generation). Raspberry Pi has already established itself as a viable option for Plex and media servers, but adding support for ultra HD content and the RAM boost makes it all the more capable for this use case.
Raspberry Pi 4 is centered around Broadcom’s BCM2711 SoC, which sports four 1.5GHz CPU cores. That’s a notable upgrade over the previous generation model. While the price starts at $35, adding additional RAM means this number will move up as specs improve. The base configuration delivers 1GB of DDR4 storage, while jumping up to 2GB or 4GB will increase the price to $45 and $55, respectively.
Numerous upgrades over the previous generation
Raspberry Pi has serious stepped up the specs from the previous generation. In fact, the list is pretty long. A few notable standouts include jumping from 1.4GHz to 1.5GHz, introducing a VideoCore VI GPU that’s 100MHz faster, and four USB ports (double Pi 3.) Also, Raspberry Pi 4 sports impressive wireless connectivity, including Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
The new Raspberry Pi 4 is available for purchase today starting at $35 from select authorized retailers.
9to5Toys’ Take
Raspberry Pi has always offered stellar value and a great starting point for tinkers, as well as various STEM applications. The $35 price tag coupled with a number of notable upgrades makes Raspberry Pi 4 even more compelling than the previous generations. Look for microcomputing to continue to expand in the coming years as a viable alternative to pricier PC builds out there.
