I wrote this blog without an internet connection

Just for the fun of it, I decided to write this blog on the Pixel without an internet connection.

I am doing this because I’ve read that some people think it is slightly insane to pay $999 for a “web browser.”

I think they miss the point, but I’ll play along. It is true that much of the functionality of this device is now disabled.

But it is also true that this is not stopping me from writing this blog in Google Docs, which is automatically being saved to my device. I will then cut and paste into Blogger when I am back on-line. If you are reading this, then it worked as planned.

Out of all the apps that are saved on my desktop, here’s the ones that I can access: Google Keep (as long as I’m not trying to click on any links that I have saved in there), Wunderlist (including my task list and passwords), I have access to my files that are in my desktop Folder, Google Drive, and Slides. In short, most of the real work apps are accessible.

Here’s the ones that absolutely do not work at all: Gmail, YouTube, Pandora, Google Calendar, Facebook, Blogger, Weebly, Google+, and Netflix. Most of those are not crucial for me in the day to day. Plus, I can access any of those through my phone if I need to.

So I can create and edit documents, review or use my saved powerpoint presentations, and gain access information I have saved in Keep, my task list, and my passwords. Hardly crippling.

And that is without downloading a single extension like the Gmail Offline app and the many other apps that also work on the Pixel or any Chromebook when you are offline. I haven’t really even thoroughly researched all of the extensions and apps that are available for offline use because I really don’t need to.

But the reason why I say the critics miss the point is that I’m really getting used to - loving actually - having everything in the cloud and NOT having to save everything in my old school office with my old school MS desktop or using an old school memory stick. True freedom, I think.

I love the fact that I can save a PowerPoint presentation document from work on Google Slides and now can access it from anywhere on any device. Same for documents and spreadsheets.

I also love that everything is so fluid between my Android Nexus 6 and my new home laptop, the shiny new Pixel.

Don’t believe you have to be on-line to use the Pixel; this blog is proof that it’s just not true.

Videos on the Pixel

 

A laptop is only as good as its video playback! Ability to edit videos is nice, too.

Primarily, I watch YouTube and Netflix. I also recently started playing around with the video editing app WeVideo.

I have pinned the YouTube and Netflix icons onto my desktop and with that one click after the quick start up, I watch clips and movies easily due to the Pixel's fantastic processor. I have not yet encountered a situation that the video stops in the middle to load more content as I would occasionally have to sit through on a phone or tablet.

Navigating YouTube presents me with the only situations where I instinctively reach for the touchscreen to skip through video content. It comes in handy, for sure.

My test video is Pink's 'Blow Me (One Last Kiss)'. The blacks are deep and the reds are vivid. The bright FHD screen is pleasing to the eye. Nature videos really come to life.

The speakers, however, are another story.

While passable, if they are turned near or at their highest volume, they sound tinny and unnatural.

Thankfully, you can hear the sound quite adequately when the volume is turned up halfway or a little higher than that. And it is acceptable quality at those middle levels.

Recently, I picked up my dog after he spent two months back in NC. I took a video on my Nexus 6 to capture the moment.

Editing the video on the Pixel with the WeVideo app was fairly easy. I trimmed the length down, added a title, some music, and a filter. Took about 10 minutes.

Overall, I'd say this thing handles video - both watching and editing - quite well.

MightyText lives up to its name

 

I'm not sure how I discovered MightyText, but I'm glad I did. It is the perfect companion for the Pixel Chromebook, or any Chromebook for that matter and it certainly lives up to its name.

I have used several Android apps that sync my phone with my tablets, but I have never used a desktop version, nor did I know it was available.

It really does make my Pixel even more valuable as a one-stop productivity tool because when I get text messages or phone calls on my phone, I don't even have to look at it. I can see who is calling or texting by the notifications at the bottom right corner of my Pixel (see photo). 

What really surprised me as an guy with average computing ability and knowledge, is that not only would MightyText messages and phone call notifications appear on my Chromebook, but they would also appear on my desktop at work, if I was logged in to Chrome. I just didn't know that would happen. 

I can also respond to the text messages and carry out a full out text conversations right from the Pixel or from any desktop computer if I'm logged in to Chrome. 

MightyText also gives you the option to have all notifications from your phone appear on your Chromebook. I had that on for a few days, but I found that to be too distracting, particularly while listening to Pandora on my phone while working on a Slide on the Pixel. So I disabled that feature. 

To add MightyText to your Pixel or Chromebook, simply go to the Chrome store, search for MightyText, and click "add on".

From there, download the app to your phone via the Play Store. The two easily sync.

There are also lots of additional things you can do with MightyText, particularly if you want the Pro version.

Every week I am discovering more tools that Google has made available to Chrome OS users and every day I am loving the Pixel even more as my primary computing device.