For those who already own or want a Chromebook the Chromebook Pixel line by Google is the ultimate device, if you have a Pixel you’ve got the best expression of a Chrome OS device. We were a little disappointed when there wasn’t a refresh to the Pixel 2 12 months after its March 2015 launch.
However, if you look at the 2 devices that have been released there could be a pattern forming. The original Chromebook Pixel was released in February 2013, the second in March 2015. Could the Pixel be a Biennial device? If a recent job advertisement for a ‘Quality Engineer, Chromebook Pixel’ is any indication then the answer could well be Yes.
You’ll notice the job advert overtly calls out Chromebook, not just a Pixel device. Now, Google could be obscuring the real purpose of the position, but if we take it on face value recruiting now for a product due out on about 9 months seems reasonable.
Here’s the introduction to the advertisement.
Google’s custom-designed equipment makes up one of the largest and most powerful computing infrastructures in the world. The Manufacturing Operations team is responsible for providing the manufacturing capability to deliver this state-of-the-art physical infrastructure. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you evaluate the product designs and create the processes, tools and procedures behind Google’s powerful search technology.
That all sounds exciting. With Android apps starting to roll out to Chromebooks we just may need Google to lead the way once more in showing other OEMS what the next generation of Chromebooks will need to succeed.
If a device is indeed in development what could it contain? Will the already premium specifications of the 2015 Pixel be expanded or simply iterated upon? Will an LTE model make a return? And most importantly will they finally be available outside of the US and the UK?
Assuming a new device is even in the works we don’t expect to hear anything from Google until at least September this year, if not sometime into 2017.
Would you buy a Chromebook Pixel if it was released in Australia? Let us know below.
