The ‘most popular’ PCs are getting e-SIM support and 5 other key features: All you need to know – Times of India

Google’s Chromebooks — which have recently become quite popular in the global PC market — are set to get a bunch of new features courtesy the new operating system update, Chrome OS 92. The internet search giant is adding new features to the Chromebooks enhancing the user experience. Here is a look at all the major improvements that are coming with the Chrome OS 92 update:
E-SIM support
With the Chrome OS 92 update, select Chromebooks will be able to offer support for eSIM for cellular connectivity. With eSIM, users will be able to download and switch between carrier profiles without having to insert or remove a physical SIM card from their laptop. This feature is only available on eSIM-compatible Chromebooks, including the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and Acer Chromebook 511.
Users will have to go to Settings, then “Mobile data” in the “Network” section, and add a connection to enable e-SIM on their Chromebook.
Pre-installed Google Meet ‘app’
The recently announced Google Meet Progressive Web App (PWA) will be pre-installed on all Chromebooks.
Google also claims that it will offer “performance improvements” that adapt calls to different network conditions and adjust video performance when screen sharing.
New shortcut and an emoji picker
A new keyboard shortcut (Search or Launcher key + Shift + Space) will bring up the compact emoji picker, from where users will be able to not only see recently used emojis but also scroll to discover others.
Updates to the Dictation feature
The Dictation feature now allows users to continuously dictate text, and, according to the company, it will only timeout if you stop talking. To enable dictation users will have to go to Settings > Scroll down to Advanced > Scroll down to Accessibility > Manage accessibility features > Scroll to ‘Keyboard and text input’ > Toggle Enable dictation
More ways to use Tote
Now users will be able to find downloads from their Android Apps, and from your Chrome “Save as pdf” in Tote.
An improved version of Zoom for Chromebooks
Recently Google had partnered with Zoom to launch an improved version of the app for Chromebooks on the Google Play Store. This new version is said to deliver faster performance, take up less storage and include the latest features such as breakout rooms, live transcription and a new background masking feature for privacy.
Chromebooks on the rise
In the past couple of quarters, Chromebooks have managed to emerge as the most popular PCs. Recent reports by both Canalys and IDC have outlined how Chromebooks’ market share grew
While the report by Canalys claimed that Google’s Chromebooks has outperformed the rest of the industry product categories, posting 75% annual growth and a shipment volume of 11.9 million units in Q2 2021, IDC said that Chromebook shipments grew 68.6% year over year with volumes reaching 12.3 million units which weren’t far off the prior two quarters, which shattered previous highs for the product category.
Back in February, a report by IDC had claimed that 2020 was the first full year in which Chrome OS took second place beating Apple’s macOS.