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Pixelbook Go review: Google's laptop is designed to please - ZDNet

Posted: 25 Oct 2019 03:47 AM PDT

Pros

✓Sleek, modern fit and finish
✓Full desktop browser
✓Long battery life
✓Fast charging capability
✓3.5mm headset jack

Cons

✕More expensive than non-Google Chromebooks

10 days ago Google announced the Pixelbook Go to fill out its Chromebook line so we now have a Chromebook laptop, tablet, and convertible with prices starting at $649. For the past week, I have been using the Pixelbook Go as my primary computing device on the go; taking it on the train, on a plane, and in automobiles.

I've been using the Pixel Slate for the past year, but the Pixelbook Go may actually be a better device for me despite the few differences between it and the Pixel Slate.

The Pixelbook Go is designed for productivity and media on the go and with my 90 minute roundtrip train commute and regular business travel having this fantastic keyboard with Hush Keys may be just what I've been looking for. Long battery life, wide 16:9 aspect ratio for side-by-side apps, and a design that looks and feels good dominate the Pixelbook Go.

Also: One year with the Google Pixel Slate: My favorite computer and tablet for getting work done

Before using the Pixel Slate, I had a Pixelbook for a year and it is still a great device. However, the lower price, improved keyboard, and more modern design elements make the Pixelbook Go a better option for some. If you never use the Pixelbook in tablet orientation or tent mode then you should look to the Pixelbook Go.

Specifications (as reviewed)

Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i5
Display: 13.3 inch 1920x1080 pixels resolution LCD touchscreen (166 ppi)
Operating system: Chrome OS, launch version 77
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB internal storage
Cameras: 2 megapixel 60fps, 1080p front facing camera
Wireless technology: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2
Audio: Dual front-firing stereo speakers
Ports: Two USB-C (one on each side) and a 3.5mm headset jack
Battery: Up to 12 hours battery life, with fast charging to provide up to two hours of life in 20 minutes
Dimensions: 311 x 206.3 x 13.4 mm and 1061 grams (2.3 pounds)
Color: Just Black

Compared to the Pixelbook, we see a newer generation Intel Core i5 processor and two hours more advertised battery life, but without the ability to flip into tablet form or function with the Pixelbook Pen.

Hardware

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When I first saw the Pixelbook Go announced on stage at the Made by Google hardware event, I honestly didn't think much of it as it seemed like a rather expensive Chromebook when compared to others in the $300 to $500 price range. During the hands-on demonstration time I visited the Pixelbook Go area and was immediately impressed with the hardware as soon as I picked it up and starting using it.

First impressions are that it is very light with its painted magnesium body, the display looks great, and the Hush Keys keyboard is incredible. I'm able to type very fast on the keyboard with minimal sound while having excellent tactile response. For a device to help with productivity, having a top-notch keyboard is essential.

The battery has been getting me through a full day of work and more each day. There's a bug in the current release of Chrome OS 77 where the battery indicator in the bottom right corner doesn't update unless you plug/unplug the charging cable or wake their device from sleep. Google states this is related to how often the UI refreshes the battery status and is not related to hardware (the battery itself is still holding its charge as expected). Google has deployed a fix already which will be available in the next release (M78) that users receive automatically when Pixelbook Go starts shipping to customers.

In addition to the awesome keyboard, the other major feature that stands out from past Google-branded Chromebooks is the 16:9 aspect ratio. At first I didnt' think I would even consider using the Pixelbook Go as a daily driver since I grew so accustomed to the 3:2 aspect ratio of the Pixelbook and Pixel Slate. With that 3:2 aspect ratio, you don't have to scroll up and down as much. However, the 16:9 aspect ratio does work better for working with two sites or apps side-by-side and I'm finding my productivity seems to be increasing with this setup.

Also: Google Pixelbook review: Clean design with impressive performance you'll have to pay for

The display has minimal bezels on the two sides with larger bezels on the top and bottom. There is a central front-facing camera for video calls with no camera on the back.

The bottom has a unique design with a matte finish that looks a bit like corrugated panels found on some outside patios. The textured back makes it easy to grab onto the Pixelbook Go and keep it securely in hand.

While the Pixel Slate removed the 3.5mm headset jack, it is back on the Pixelbook Go and located on the left side near the USB-C port. There is also a USB-C port on the right side.

There are less expensive Chromebooks, but key design features of the Pixelbook Go help it stand out from the broader market of Chromebooks. These include the stunning keyboard, Google Assistant button, lightweight design, long battery life, quick charge capability with USB-C, and awesome stereo sound from each side of the keyboard.

Software

The Pixelbook Go runs Chrome OS and is currently running version 77 on the unit I am testing. After using Chrome OS full time for a year on the Pixelbook and then for another year on the Pixel Slate, I am convinced it is the best OS for most of my needs. It's fast, gets updated easily in the background, will get updates for more than six years, doesn't limit me at all with the full desktop browser, and lets me focus on work.

Split-screen mode works very well on the wide display of the Pixelbook Go. Split-screen is similar to Windows 10 where you simply drag an app or Chrome tab over to the left or right side to have it pop into mid-screen orientation. You can then drag it to realign it if you want.

In addition to using the browser with multiple tabs and web apps, I also use several Android apps on the Pixelbook Go. These include Outlook, Telegram, Twitter, Messages, Text, and more. I love using the Files app with a direct connection to my Google Drive storage too.

Also: Pixel Slate review: Google tablet vs iPad or Surface? It's beyond compare

Another major benefit of a Chromebook is the integration of Google Assistant. Simply state "OK Google" or "Hey Google" to launch Google Assistant and then let the Assistant go to work. You can also press and hold on the dedicated Google Assistant key right on the keyboard.

Price, availability, and competition

You can currently order the Pixelbook Go in two different configurations; $649 for Intel Core m3 with 8GB RAM and 64GB internal storage and $849 for Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Available colors include Just Black and Not Pink. An i5 model with 16GB of RAM and 128GB will be available for $999 while an i7 model with 16GB of RAM, 256GB internal flash storage, and 4K 3840x2160 pixels resolution display will be released for $1,399 in the near future.

I encourage readers to visit the Chromebook shopping site that will walk you through options to select the best Chromebook for you. The Pixelbook Go is a sound option that gets you a high quality Google-designed device at a reasonable price. I didn't get to test the Core m3 model, but it should perform the same for most tasks as the i5 model.

Daily experiences and conclusions

The Pixelbook Go has far exceeded my expectations while the Pixel 4 disappointed me. People were expecting a Pixelbook 2 as the successor to the Pixelbook, but that is not what we have here in the Pixelbook Go. This model is designed to fill the laptop-only mode and come in at the lowest starting price of a Google-branded Chromebook. The Pixelbook and Pixel Slate are still offered for buyers looking to different form factors.

There is usually something in a device that disappoints me, but after a week of use I haven't found a single thing that bothers me about the Pixelbook Go. Frankly, it is serving me very well and I may be looking at it as my next Chromebook. While in my home office I also connect it to an external monitor and it performs flawlessly in this desktop mode as well.

The Pixelbook Go is a very well constructed and designed Chromebook that focuses on helping you work efficiently and enjoy media on the go.

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17 malware iPhone apps removed from App Store after evading Apple’s review - 9to5Mac

Posted: 25 Oct 2019 04:16 AM PDT

Apple has confirmed that 17 malware iPhone apps were removed from the App Store after successfully hiding from the company's app review process.

The apps were all from a single developer but covered a wide range of areas, including a restaurant finder, internet radio, BMI calculator, video compressor, and GPS speedometer …

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The apps were discovered by mobile security company Wandera, which said that the apps did what they claimed while secretly committing fraud in the background.

The clicker trojan module discovered in this group of applications is designed to carry out ad fraud-related tasks in the background, such as continuously opening web pages or clicking links without any user interaction.

The objective of most clicker trojans is to generate revenue for the attacker on a pay-per-click basis by inflating website traffic. They can also be used to drain the budget of a competitor by artificially inflating the balance owed to the ad network.

Although no direct harm was done to app users, the activity would be using up mobile data, as well as potentially slowing the phone and accelerating battery drain.

Wandera said the malware iPhone apps evaded Apple's review process because the malicious code was not found within the app itself, but the apps were instead getting instructions on what to do from a remote server.

The apps communicate with a known command and control (C&C) server to simulate user interactions in order to fraudulently collect ad revenue […]

Command & Control enables bad apps to bypass security checks because it activates a communication channel directly with the attacker that is not within Apple's view. C&C channels can be used to distribute ads (like the ones used by the iOS Clicker Trojan), commands, and even payloads (such as a corrupt image file, a document or more). Simply put, C&C infrastructure is a 'backdoor' into the app that can lead to exploitation if and when a vulnerability is discovered or when the attacker chooses to activate additional code that may be hidden in the original app.

Apple says it is improving its app review process to detect this approach.

The same server was also controlling Android apps. In at least one of those cases, weaker security in Android meant that the app was able to do more direct harm.

Android apps communicating with the same server were gathering private information from the user's device, such as the make and model of the device, the user's country of residence and various configuration details […]

One example involved users who had been fraudulently subscribed to expensive content services following the installation of an infected app.

The apps were all from AppAspect Technologies.

iOS aims to guard against this by sandboxing. Each app gets its own private environment, so cannot access system data or data from other apps unless using processes specifically permitted and monitored by iOS. However, Wandera cautions that there have been examples of the sandbox failing, giving three examples of this.

Wandera is the same company that warned how a Siri feature could be used for phishing non-technically knowledgeable iPhone users. Apple confirmed the removal of the 17 apps to ZDNet.