Google may soon be bringing support for voice commands. While users wait to wake up their Chromebooks with "OK Google," they can now start transferring their files to Google Drive.
Google Engineer Francois Beaufort announced on Google+ that Google is experimenting on adding OK Google, to Chromebook. The feature is available via the "Dev channel," which means users will have to switch from the default "Stable channel" if they want to try out how voice search works in Chromebook.
"Try out the experimental new version of the 'OK Google' experience by toggling the chrome://flags/#enable-hotword-hardware flag," says Beaufort. "Restart your device, go to Chrome OS Settings and check 'Enable 'OK Google' to start a voice search' to train your device to respond to the sound of your voice by saying three times 'OK Google.'"
Anytime the Chromebook is unlocked, users can ask questions by voice. Beaufort does not specify when users can see OK Google working as a permanent feature on their Chromebooks, but it will likely start rolling out in the consumer version once Google smoothens out any kinks discovered during the beta trial.
In the meantime, Intel has offered a new tool that aims to help people migrate their files from other devices to Chromebook. One thing that has held people back from buying Chromebooks is the lack of adequate built-in storage for their files, a feature that Google has steadfastly held on to in an effort to bring personal computers to the cloud.
With Intel's new Easy Migration app for mobile devices running on Android and iOS and computers running on Windows, users can migrate their files to Google Drive, which connects with Chrome browser to make the files easily accessible to a Chromebook.
Easy Migration offers two migration settings. One is for Quick Migration, which covers all files eligible for transfer on one device, including contacts, photos and bookmarks, which are sent to Google Drive and then to the user's Chromebook. The other is for Custom Migration, allowing users to choose which files, including documents, music and videos, to migrate to their Chromebook.
The app also includes a pause function and shows the user how much of his Google Drive is taken up. Currently, Google offers 1TB of cloud storage on Google Drive free for two years.
There are, however, a few caveats. First off, Easy Migration does not work on all Chromebooks. The app is limited to Chromebooks with Intel inside; meaning owners of ARM-based Chromebooks will not have the same convenient tool to access all their files on Chromebook.
Moreover, Easy Migration won't be able to help users replace desktop and mobile apps with web-based versions, nor will it allow them to add their migrated music to Google Play Music. The app is also limited to Google-only services. If, for instance, a user wants to transfer files to Microsoft's OneDrive, Easy Migration won't be able to help him do that.
