{"id":905370,"date":"2026-09-22T13:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/905370\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T13:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T13:22:11","slug":"googlebooks-will-live-or-die-on-the-loyalty-of-a-billion-android-users","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/905370\/","title":{"rendered":"Googlebooks will live or die on the loyalty of a billion Android users"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a reminder,\u00a0Inbox\u00a0is the tech newsletter that goes beyond the news cycle. We cover the most important 9to5Google stories from the last couple of days along with a few highlights from around the web. We publish every Tuesday and Thursday, and if you like what you read, please subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Inbox is written by Daniel Bader.\u00a0Read previous issues here<\/a>, and then catch up with Ben Schoon\u2019s excellent Weekender column<\/a> published every Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u2b50\ufe0f Starred<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been covering Google\u2019s multifarious hardware endeavors for nearly 20 years, from the early days of Nexus phones through this week\u2019s Googlebook unveiling<\/a>, and I see a few important parallels. Google has always wanted to assert some measure of control over the user experience, but that amount has ebbed and flowed depending on where its product sits in the funnel. <\/p>\n

The early days of Android were about growth, which meant leveraging established players like LG, Samsung, Huawei, and others to build its hardware while promulgating a free and open-source operating system that quickly supplanted giants like Nokia and Microsoft.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alongside Android, Google nurtured Chrome OS (which later became, confusingly, ChromeOS) as its laptop (and occasional desktop) operating system, that, like Android, became synonymous with cheap-and-cheerful hardware, particularly in schools. And while Google did the work to rid itself of that budget reputation on the phone side (though, arguably, Samsung did the bulk of the heavy lifting), it never really managed to do the same on ChromeOS despite numerous attempts to build premium hardware.<\/p>\n

Now, ChromeOS is being replaced by Googlebook, and its main appeal is quite simple to understand: \u201cHey premium Android users, we see you. Here\u2019s a product that can bring you Apple users\u2019 ecosystem benefits while retaining the openness and diversity of Android.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few questions jump to mind when I hear that:<\/p>\n

Yes, there are billions of Android users out there, but are enough of them clamoring for ecosystem unity to replace their existing laptops in order to entwine their lives even further with Google?<\/p>\n

Is that ecosystem unity actually additive in the same way that Apple has proven with iOS and macOS, or will it be more like the way Microsoft has tried to harmonize Android and iOS devices with Windows?<\/p>\n

Will the legacy of Google killing off seemingly healthy products turn people away from Googlebooks?<\/p>\n

Is this objectively the worst time to launch a new hardware brand?<\/p>\n

Also interesting is that Google\u2019s own hardware is absent from this ecosystem launch. Like Chromebooks before them, Googlebooks will be made by familiar companies like Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and ASUS, with internals from Intel, Qualcomm, and soon AMD \u2014 another reminder that Google is playing a very particular role here, that of software and AI vendor.<\/p>\n

That Gemini Intelligence integration, which has been teased from the start of the Googlebook announcement, is another differentiator not only from macOS and Windows, but also from Chromebooks. Google is positioning the Googlebook as the best place to interact with Gemini, whose increasingly agentic aspirations now tap into every corner of Google\u2019s product lineup. But it\u2019s also appealing to developers and vibe-coders alike with a native Antigravity app and 12 months of Google AI Pro, a subscription that comes with a substantial amount of coding credit.<\/p>\n

So is a Googlebook for Android users who want to code? Is it for fans of ChromeOS who want more integration with their phones? Is it for the Android faithful, the diehards who have been waiting patiently for their turn in the ecosystem sun? <\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have long to wait: Googlebooks hit the market early next month.<\/p>\n

\u2709\ufe0f Inbox<\/p>\n

The camera is my favorite part of smart glasses, but it just feels wrong now<\/a>. Ben\u2019s Weekender essay grapples with the realities of being a glasshole in 2026.<\/p>\n

Roku adding new apps & subscription bundles, homescreen redesign expanding<\/a>. Could Roku\u2019s smart TV OS get any more bloated and ad-infested? Of course it could.<\/p>\n

Galaxy Z Fold 8 saw a surge in popularity as soon as Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo<\/a>. No doubt that\u2019s why Samsung wanted to get ahead of the iPhone Duo\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

Honor confirms list of devices getting its Liquid Glass-filled Android 17 update [Video]<\/a>. This is egregious, even for Honor.<\/p>\n

Google \u2018AI contribution pilot\u2019 tests paying websites when they\u2019re used in AI results<\/a>. Any more money for publishers is a good thing, but I doubt this will end with more money for journalism over the long term.<\/p>\n

Google goes in-depth, and a bit NSFW, on Noto 3D emoji as Android rollout expands<\/a>. I love these so, so much.<\/p>\n

Motorola confirms \u2018Signature 27\u2019 debut next week alongside new Snapdragon chips<\/a>. It\u2019s giving old-school Droid Razr in the best way possible. This will be the first \u2018Signature\u2019 phone to come to the US.<\/p>\n

Clicks Communicator lands in December with 12GB RAM, two months of free data<\/a>. We feature Clicks\u2019 Kevin and Jeff in this week\u2019s Sideload episode<\/a>, and it was a really fun conversation.<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s battery upgrades for Galaxy S27 Ultra and Pro leak \u2013 is it enough?<\/a> More silicon, please.<\/p>\n

Gemini app for macOS adding send and read iMessage integration<\/a>. ChatGPT did it first, but it\u2019s still not a feature I\u2019d recommend enabling if you want your messages to stay private.<\/p>\n

Gmail adds \u2018Copy code\u2019 shortcut for 2FA on Android & iOS<\/a>. This is super handy, and I feel like I\u2019m going to use it all the time.<\/p>\n

Google confirms Gemini hacked into three companies during cybersecurity test months ago<\/a>. Apparently this happened in May, but Google didn\u2019t report it because the agents didn\u2019t do anything wrong.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the OnePlus 16 that you probably won\u2019t be able to buy [Video]<\/a>. Womp, womp.<\/p>\n

Xiaomi 18 Pro has a Privacy Display that does more than Galaxy S26 Ultra, launches this week [Video]<\/a>. This phone looks about as over-the-top as you can get (complimentary).<\/p>\n

Apple didn\u2019t give up on stylus support for iPhone Duo; Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Z Fold should take notes<\/a>. Amen.<\/p>\n

All about Googlebooks<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd1d Cc: Kevin Michaluk<\/p>\n

Welcome to a new project I\u2019m calling Cc:, where I ask interesting people in the community about what\u2019s making them happy both inside and outside the world of tech. This week, I\u2019m speaking with Kevin Michaluk, Clicks co-founder and former BlackBerry superuser.<\/p>\n

Who are you?
Kevin Michaluk aka @crackberrykevin \/ CBK<\/p>\n

What do you do for work?
How It Started: Founder at\u00a0CrackBerry.com<\/a>\u00a0& Mobile Nations (spent 15 years in tech media); How It\u2019s Going: Founder & President at Clicks Technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What do you do for fun?
Depends on the season! This summer picked up golf again (my obsession in my teenage years) and pickleball for the first time. I spend so much time working that some physical activities out of the house\/office and away from screens for a few hours a week feels like a necessity for my mental and physical health.<\/p>\n

What is your relationship like with technology these days?
More intentional than ever. I wrote the\u00a0first book on Smartphone Addiction<\/a>\u00a0back in 2008 and have been more acutely aware than most of the detrimental effects on individuals and society that smartphones, social media and tech can have. That\u2019s part of the reason we launched\u00a0Clicks<\/a>\u00a0in 2024 and\u00a0Communicator<\/a>\u00a0this year. We\u2019re building purpose built tech that helps people restore some of that balance with tech by building tools that respect their time. It\u2019s not about being overly restrictive, but building experiences that people love and ideally lead to a healthier relationship with their tech.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What are a few apps you can\u2019t live without and why?<\/p>\n

Whoop\u00a0\u2013 I\u2019ve had an on again \/ off again with fitness trackers over the years and have literally used them all\u2026 but this past year have grown to really love and rely on my Whoop. I jive more with their use of recovery score and strain goals over step count goals or trying to close rings, and I like that they have accessories to wear the tracker in. Sleeping with a ring or band on my wrist annoys me and ruins my sleep \u2013 with Whoop I literally own several pairs of their \u201cWhoop underwear\u201d that I put the tracker in and wear to bed. And as a guy who loves wearing real watches, I just don\u2019t like wearing a smartwatch on my wrist that could be better occupied by a mechanical watch. And even Whoop\u2019s new AI Chat feature I use more than I thought I would\u2026 it\u2019s come in real handy for when I\u2019m traveling internationally and trying to map out the best sleep and workout schedules to help me balance the time zone changes.<\/p>\n

Shopify\u00a0\u2013 I mean, when you\u2019re building a company and one of your biggest sales channels is DTC, it\u2019s hard not to spend a LOT of time in Shopify.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOP SECRET\u00a0\u2013 No, that\u2019s not the name of the app\u2026 but ask me about it again in early 2027 and I\u2019ll share the details on the newest app I\u2019m using that I actually can\u2019t live without. It\u2019s changed my life \u2013 I can\u2019t imagine not having it on my phone. I\u2019m not allowed to talk about it right now, but as an early private beta user\u00a0can\u2019t wait for others to start using it too!\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is a gadget that you love right now?
Clicks Communicator, obviously!<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a recent song or album you loved?
My song of the summer was literally\u00a0Summer on the Inside\u00a0by warner case. Puts me in a good mood whenever it comes on \ud83d\ude09\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a recent TV show you loved?
Reacher\u2026 cuz.. Reacher.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a recent book you loved?
Grow by Mike Fata. Written by a local and successful Winnipeg-based entrepreneur and friend of mine (who I like to golf and\/or drink Chianti with!), and it\u2019s just an easy and motivating read for founders, whether aspiring or already in the thick of it.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a recent movie you loved?
Watched MayDay on a whim (had no expectations when I hit play) and laughed a bunch. Ryan Reynolds meets Top Gun vibes.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a recent game you loved?
Building Clicks! I think of business as a Team Sport. Every day is like a new match \u2013 with a new challenge or opportunity presented and you play with your teammates to try and win the day. I love the people I work (err\u2026play?!) with and while it\u00a0is a lot of work, it\u2019s also a ton of fun.\u00a0\u00a0(Ed. I\u2019ll allow it.)<\/p>\n

What\u2019s something offline you do every day that brings you joy?
Hanging with my wife and dog\u2026 don\u2019t ask me which I love more! \ud83d\ude03<\/p>\n

Thank you, Kevin, for reminding me that you can always turn onions into lemonade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u27a1\ufe0f FWD:<\/p>\n

This section has some of our favorite stuff from around the internet. Great videos, weird memes, fun reads, recommended apps, whatever.\u00a0Send us your recommendations<\/a>!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always admired Aaron Sorkin\u2019s ability to elevate dialogue into an identifiable characteristic. You can immediately tell when he\u2019s the writer behind the characters in a show or movie, and you can see where that naive optimism comes from by watching this recent interview with the NYTimes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

On the eve of Sorkin\u2019s new movie, The Social Reckoning, it\u2019s also a good idea to revisit The Social Network, a brilliant movie<\/a> that boasts one of the best scores ever<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc4b P.S.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, CNN reported<\/a> that back in the spring, a US intelligence report partially created with AI hallucinated that a Chinese boat was carrying nuclear weapons components through the Middle East and \u201calmost started a war.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Netflix just released the newest trailer<\/a> for David Fincher and Quentin Tarantino\u2019s THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH (yes, that\u2019s how it\u2019s written), which looks incredible.<\/p>\n

And Xiaomi just released MiMo-V2.6<\/a>, its latest set of low-cost, high-performance AI models that, along with DeepSeek-4.1-Flash<\/a>, should keep the American labs sweating for a few more weeks.<\/p>\n

Like what you just read? Subscribe to Inbox<\/a> today and get it in your email every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Got feedback? Send us an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also support us by becoming a 9to5Google Pro member<\/a>, starting at just $5\/month. You get bonus podcast episodes, access to our members-only Discord server, and lots more.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading, and have a great day. Talk to you on Thursday.<\/p>\n

-Daniel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As a reminder,\u00a0Inbox\u00a0is the tech newsletter that goes beyond the news cycle. We cover the most important 9to5Google…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":905371,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[49,48,190,61],"class_list":["post-905370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-mobile","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=905370"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905370\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/905371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=905370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=905370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=905370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}