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One of the main appeals of a Chromebook is its simplicity: You essentially have a row of browser tabs, with web apps running, minimal background activity going on and everything is instantly saved and synced to the cloud.<\/p>\n
However as Chromebooks have evolved, they have added more to this basic Chrome foundation. For example, they can now run Android apps, and they actually come with a number of pre-installed apps that are really useful. Open the launcher (Google icon, bottom left) to see what’s available.<\/p>\n
If you buy a new Chromebook Plus model, these are the best built-in apps you get right now \u2014 it’s a slightly more exclusive series, able to support all the Gemini AI extras that Google has been pushing in recent years.<\/p>\n
recorder<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\n\n Recorder provides simple recording and transcription.<\/span>
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThis is probably my favorite of the built-in ChromeOS apps. It’s a powerful voice recorder and transcription tool, similar to the recorder on Pixel phones, and it’s really easy to use: click the record button, start speaking, and you’re good to go.<\/p>\n
You’ll need to download some additional AI models to your Chromebook, but once you do, you can instantly transcribe speech to text, and even get AI-powered summaries and titles for your clips.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the app will identify individual speakers if you wish, and apply the correct labels based on sound speech pattern and style. All your recordings can be easily accessed within the app, and shared elsewhere if needed.<\/p>\n
screencast<\/h2>\n\n\n ![\"ChromeOS](\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01KRK7F4FKCC3DNMDFZ2VG7R58\/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1778761830.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n\n Screencast lets you save and share screen recordings.<\/span>
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nScreencast is a great tool for screen recording, and you can even choose to include your webcam video and microphone audio as needed. Whatever you need to share from your Chromebook display, Screencast enables you to do it.<\/p>\n
Recording is straightforward, and controlled via icons on the bottom shelf of the interface \u2013 there are also annotation tools here if you need to draw on the screen. When you’re done, any speech is automatically transcribed for you.<\/p>\n
There are also some basic editing tools included, so you can trim unnecessary parts of your presentation or tutorial (or whatever). You can also share your screencast with others via a customized link.<\/p>\n
Basic lesson<\/h2>\n\n\n ![\"chromeos](\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01KRK7F4FKCC3DNMDFZ2VG7R58\/images-3.fill.size_2000x1125.v1778761830.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n\n Text is a basic text editor and works offline.<\/span>
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nYou don’t necessarily want to always create entire Google Docs or even Google Keep notes just to jot down ideas, and that’s where Text comes in: It’s a basic, native text editor, the equivalent of Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on MacOS.<\/p>\n
Behind the plain interface, there are some useful features here. You get syntax highlighting for different programming languages, configurable fonts and tab sizes, and a simple search function. You also have light and dark modes to choose from.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/p>\n What do you think so far?
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\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Importantly, it can work completely offline, so it’s ideal for distraction-free writing or coding when you don’t want to have a dozen browser tabs open (or if your WiFi signal is lost and you need to remember something quickly).<\/p>\n
main shortcut<\/h2>\n\n\n ![\"ChromeOS](\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01KRK7F4FKCC3DNMDFZ2VG7R58\/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1778761830.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n\n Key Shortcuts lets you edit keyboard shortcuts as well as view them.<\/span>
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nKeyboard shortcuts are one of the best productivity hacks for getting more done in less time, and Key Shortcuts lets you see all the shortcuts available on ChromeOS \u2013 from opening notifications to changing screen zoom.<\/p>\n
However, this app is more than just a list of shortcuts: you can actually customize many of the shortcuts themselves via the pencil icon that appears on the right when you hover the cursor. Don’t like the full-screen screenshot shortcut? Change it.<\/p>\n
You’ll be limited in terms of certain keypresses and dedicated keys (for example, for volume) that are available on your particular Chromebook model, but key shortcuts give you a lot of flexibility while also being a handy reference.<\/p>\n
gallery<\/h2>\n\n\n ![\"ChromeOS](\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/imagery\/articles\/01KRK7F4FKCC3DNMDFZ2VG7R58\/images-5.fill.size_2000x1125.v1778761830.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n\n Gallery lets you work with images, videos, audios and PDFs.<\/span>
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLast but certainly not least, we have the excellent Gallery app. This is where you can edit images and PDFs, watch videos, and listen to audio. Each of the different components is relatively basic, but they all work well, and all work offline too.<\/p>\n
For example, with the image editor, you can crop, rotate, and resize pictures, as well as annotate them with a variety of pen sizes, styles, and colors. Basic adjustments for exposure, contrast and saturation are also available.<\/p>\n
The PDF editor covers some of the main functions you might want to perform on documents such as: adding text, annotating pages, and inserting your signature. You can also get AI summaries of PDF documents.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Recorder provides simple recording and transcription.<\/span> This is probably my favorite of the built-in ChromeOS apps. It’s a powerful voice recorder and transcription tool, similar to the recorder on Pixel phones, and it’s really easy to use: click the record button, start speaking, and you’re good to go.<\/p>\n You’ll need to download some additional AI models to your Chromebook, but once you do, you can instantly transcribe speech to text, and even get AI-powered summaries and titles for your clips.<\/p>\n Additionally, the app will identify individual speakers if you wish, and apply the correct labels based on sound speech pattern and style. All your recordings can be easily accessed within the app, and shared elsewhere if needed.<\/p>\n \n Screencast lets you save and share screen recordings.<\/span> Screencast is a great tool for screen recording, and you can even choose to include your webcam video and microphone audio as needed. Whatever you need to share from your Chromebook display, Screencast enables you to do it.<\/p>\n Recording is straightforward, and controlled via icons on the bottom shelf of the interface \u2013 there are also annotation tools here if you need to draw on the screen. When you’re done, any speech is automatically transcribed for you.<\/p>\n There are also some basic editing tools included, so you can trim unnecessary parts of your presentation or tutorial (or whatever). You can also share your screencast with others via a customized link.<\/p>\n \n Text is a basic text editor and works offline.<\/span> You don’t necessarily want to always create entire Google Docs or even Google Keep notes just to jot down ideas, and that’s where Text comes in: It’s a basic, native text editor, the equivalent of Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on MacOS.<\/p>\n Behind the plain interface, there are some useful features here. You get syntax highlighting for different programming languages, configurable fonts and tab sizes, and a simple search function. You also have light and dark modes to choose from.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What do you think so far? Importantly, it can work completely offline, so it’s ideal for distraction-free writing or coding when you don’t want to have a dozen browser tabs open (or if your WiFi signal is lost and you need to remember something quickly).<\/p>\n \n Key Shortcuts lets you edit keyboard shortcuts as well as view them.<\/span> Keyboard shortcuts are one of the best productivity hacks for getting more done in less time, and Key Shortcuts lets you see all the shortcuts available on ChromeOS \u2013 from opening notifications to changing screen zoom.<\/p>\n However, this app is more than just a list of shortcuts: you can actually customize many of the shortcuts themselves via the pencil icon that appears on the right when you hover the cursor. Don’t like the full-screen screenshot shortcut? Change it.<\/p>\n You’ll be limited in terms of certain keypresses and dedicated keys (for example, for volume) that are available on your particular Chromebook model, but key shortcuts give you a lot of flexibility while also being a handy reference.<\/p>\n \n Gallery lets you work with images, videos, audios and PDFs.<\/span> Last but certainly not least, we have the excellent Gallery app. This is where you can edit images and PDFs, watch videos, and listen to audio. Each of the different components is relatively basic, but they all work well, and all work offline too.<\/p>\n For example, with the image editor, you can crop, rotate, and resize pictures, as well as annotate them with a variety of pen sizes, styles, and colors. Basic adjustments for exposure, contrast and saturation are also available.<\/p>\n The PDF editor covers some of the main functions you might want to perform on documents such as: adding text, annotating pages, and inserting your signature. You can also get AI summaries of PDF documents.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nscreencast<\/h2>\n
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\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBasic lesson<\/h2>\n
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\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nmain shortcut<\/h2>\n
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\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\ngallery<\/h2>\n
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\n Credit: Lifehacker<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n