Questions about the Slate

[Ravenwjf]

I received my Pixel Slate yesterday and I have been getting used to the Chrome OS vs Android tablet OS. I have no issues with the OS at all, just trying to learn it and find how to do things I was doing on my tablet.

With that being said, I do know that normal Play Store apps are hit and miss with working on Chrome OS, and I have found a couple of them, nothing major, but I just want to know if I am doing something wrong or it is something I have to accept as not working on this device. The first I already read about was Gboard, and I saw that Google will be working on getting it to work better...so no big deal.

The main question I have is that any app that would behave as a remote control will not work. Examples: Harmony Hub app, Asus router app, Marantz remote app, LG TV app. These all fail because they are not finding the devices on my network, even though in my router it sees the Slate, and I am connected PSK to my network, and I have excellent wifi strenght and connection. Will these apps not work as remote controls with Chrome OS or is there something I am doing wrong?

Not sure if anyone has experience with Chrome OS and has tried to do this, it may be just a limitation of the device and I am fine with that.....I just want to know mainly if I am doing something wrong. Thanks, and for anyone getting the Slate, I hope you enjoy it!! It works amazing for everything I have done so far!!

 

[Golfdriver97]

It might just be on the developer side of things. I would send them a feedback message about what is going on. I'm sure they will address it at some point, especially since Chrome OS using Android apps isn't going away.

If it were me, I would just take this as a temporary limitation.

Edit: Chrome OS is a really good platform if all you do is web based things like YouTube and checking emails.

 

[Nauga]

The main question I have is that any app that would behave as a remote control will not work. Examples: Harmony Hub app, Asus router app, Marantz remote app, LG TV app. These all fail because they are not finding the devices on my network, even though in my router it sees the Slate, and I am connected PSK to my network, and I have excellent wifi strenght and connection. Will these apps not work as remote controls with Chrome OS or is there something I am doing wrong?

If you haven't already, post your question on the Pixelbook Help Center page: https://support.google.com/pixelbook/?hl=en#topic=7504137

Woops. There's a specific Slate Help Center now:
https://support.google.com/pixelslate/?hl=en#topic=9116377

You stand a better chance of getting a more detailed response there... eventually.

For now, this statement by John Bowdrie in response to a question about Chromecast failures with the Pixelbook might help:

I'm not really surprised that it wouldn't work from the Home app. Android apps on the Pixelbook use an internal virtual network for connectivity; they aren't directly connected to your home Wi-Fi like they would be on a phone. This extra networking layer may prevent the apps from being able to accurately detect other devices on your network (like your Chromecast / smart TV).

Casting directly from the browser should work though. Let us know how it goes.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/pixelbook/nyxSPUPpeKc

 

[Ravenwjf]

Ah, yeah I have been reading similar stuff that the Android stack/layer may be the culprit. I am absolutely fine with that, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't the device or something I was doing wrong. Like I said, my first Chrome OS device, so I am still learning the quirks!!

 

[Seth Rosenblum1]

The Slate was advertised as having a full desktop browser with extensions. I received mine but not the keyboard yet (shipping delayed) and found that any of the text expander extensions do not work in tablet mode. Has anyone else tried this yet? I even tried a chrome app text expander and that doesn't work either.

 

[Incitatus]

I have been looking forward to the Slate since first hearing about it. I wanted to replace my Pixel C as it's coming close to 3 years old, but reading about the problems with Android apps and connectivity (inlcuding chromecast) I am not sure this is the device that will replace a Pixel C.

Visually, I like the docking bar but not the tablet mode view. Are there extensions to modify the tablet view?

What are the odds that they will keep making this device better? When I purchased the Pixel C, I had expectations that they would grow the experience, which they never did.

Is my viewpoint wrong?