● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Googlebook Glowbar Lacks Chromebook Pixel's Battery Gesture
Key points
- Googlebook's Glowbar is a revival of the Chromebook Pixel's light bar.
- The Glowbar lights up to show battery status when plugged in.
- It lacks the 'knock-knock' gesture for checking battery when unplugged.
- The original gesture allowed checking battery without opening the laptop.
Glowbar's Missing Feature
Googlebook's new Glowbar, a four-piece light bar on the lid, brings back a design element from the original Chromebook Pixel. However, it notably omits a specific interactive feature: the 'knock-knock' gesture. This gesture on the Chromebook Pixel allowed users to tap the lid to see the battery charge status without opening the device or plugging it in.
Functionality of the New Glowbar
The Glowbar does light up when the Googlebook is plugged into power, providing a visual indication of battery status, which is more granular than on older hardware. It also features an animation when the lid is closed and interacts with Gemini. However, the utility of Gemini interaction is questioned due to the Glowbar's placement at the back of the display.
Chromebook Pixel's Legacy
The original Chromebook Pixel, launched in 2013, featured a similar light bar that served as a design element and indicated battery charge when plugged in. The 'knock-knock' gesture was a unique addition in both the 2013 and 2015 Pixel models, offering a quick way to check battery levels when laptops generally had shorter battery lives.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Googlebook's new Glowbar feature revives the light bar from the Chromebook Pixel but omits the 'knock-knock' gesture that previously displayed battery status without opening the laptop. While the Glowbar still indicates charge when plugged in and offers more granular status, it loses a distinctive user interaction from its predecessor.