A promotional video for a new Chromebook built by Google hit the web last night. The “Pixel Chromebook” is a sleek looking clamshell notebook computer with an impressive 4 million pixel touch-screen display. Slinky, makers of the leaked video, have worked on promotional work with Google previously. This and several other videos were acquired by hackers following an attack on Slinky’s servers. The Google Pixel promotional video was uploaded to YouTube but quickly taken down, however the canny guys at Android Authority had already downloaded and shared the video on another video sharing site.
Commentators aren’t sure whether the Google Pixel Chromebook is some kind of elaborate hoax or a publicity stunt. Google has yet to issue any statements about last night’s leaked video. However a developer known to work on ChromeOS projects at Google has posted via his Google+ account saying “All I know is that the device is actually tested at Google right now.” He added some specifications; “It has a 4 Millions Pixels 4k Screen (2560 x 1700 = 4352000) and touch capabilities.” Only the naming of the new Chromebook didn’t tally with what he had seen/heard of before “This ‘concept’ may be the upcoming Google Link,” he suggested.
"Designed by Google, down to the last pixel"
The video hearalds “a new kind of computer, designed entirely by Google” and certainly looks impressive, though some have suggested it may be some kind of geeky fan video art project and you should view the video with a sceptical eye. The Google Pixel in the video looks like it has taken a lot of Apple MacBook influences into its design; the aluminium construction and chiclet keyboard, the screen even seems to match the Retina version of the MacBook at 2560×1700 pixels. After the mostly lower-budget targeted Chromebooks we have seen so far surely this one would be quite expensive.
There are some things that tie in nicely with other rumours we have heard recently though. The Chrome clad Android upon Google’s campus that appeared the other day might have been a hint. To use Android apps in Chrome OS a touch-screen would definitely be desirable. Android Authority concluded their news post suggesting “With Google I/O 2013 coming up in a few months, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Google trot out a new flagship device like this”. Hopefully we will see and hear more about this Google Chromebook Pixel or “Google Link” in the not-too-distant future.
