Last week, Chrome OS 88 began rolling out to users worldwide. This update contained some very useful front features for users, but undoubtedly the most talked about is the new screen saver in Chrome OS. Formerly called ambient mode, the screen saver function has been in operation for over a year and a half and is now available to you on the Chrome OS Stable channel.
Before we dive into the new Chrome OS screensaver, let’s talk a little about what it is not. Several publications have referred to the new feature as a way to turn your Chromebook into a smart display. Although the screen saver offers useful information, it does not offer the functionality of devices like Nest Hub or Lenovo Smart Display. In its current state, the screensaver does some interesting tricks. First, it allows you to customize the images that appear on the screen when the monitor is idle for a period of time. As a Chromecast, users can choose between images from Google’s curated art and photo albums, or you can activate Google Photos and select from their personal photo albums.
In addition to the customizable images, you will get basic information about the weather, the time and a clock in the upper right corner of the screen that displays the media you play when the screen is idle. All of this is very useful and gives your Chromebook a truly personalized feel. That said, you can say “Hey, G” and wait for your Chromebook to become an Assistant-enabled smart display. You will not be able to control your home devices or ping the Assistant with a question about your favorite team’s scores. This is not to say that this is not in the script for the Chrome OS screensaver. It just isn’t there at the moment and I don’t know if it will ever be. Personally, I don’t know if I want my Chromebook to become a smart display when the screen goes idle. I suppose, with Voice Match, it wouldn’t be much of a problem, as long as there was a way to prevent other people from interacting with my device. Anyway, it is not a thing, so it is not a concern at the moment.
OK. If you want to enable the screen saver on your Chromebook, it’s as easy as 1,2,3. Go to the Chrome OS settings menu. You can do this by clicking on the quick settings menu in the lower right corner of the screen. At the top of the settings, you will see a gear icon. Click on that. You are now in the settings menu. In the menu on the left, click on the “customization” tab. The last setting in the list should be “screensaver”. If not, you can still be on Chrome OS 87. To check, click on the “About Chrome OS” tab in the menu on the left and select “check for updates”. Return to the screen saver. You can switch between Fahrenheit or Celsius, depending on your personal preference. To set your photos for the screensaver, click Art Gallery if you want to see Art and photography from Google. That’s it. When your screen goes idle, you’ll see images just like the ones you see on your Chromecast or smart display.
If you want a more personal experience, you can select “photos” and choose from which album you’d like to see the photos on your Chromebook. You can choose as many albums as you like. If you want to show a specific set of photos selected just for your Chromebook, just go to Google Photos and create a new album just for this task. Click the Albums tab and click “create album”. Name it as you like. Then find the photos you want to use on your Chromebook and add them to the new album. Once you’re done, go back to the screensaver on your Chromebook and your new album should be available as an option for viewing the environment. That is all there is to do. I hope it was helpful. I like the new screen saver option and I think it is a great addition to the ecosystem.