This post is mostly for myself, as a reminder, for the next time I need to do this.

Seems like this Chromebox was actually a GVC unit. Google has this thing where devices auto-install the Google Meet app and autoload it at boot. Officially, it's called CfM (Chrome (or ChromeOS?) For Meet). It requires a separate licence in your Google Admin to get this to work.

GVC is actually Google Video Conference. We called anything "Google Meet" simply GVC. A GVC unit, jump on a GVC, the GVC room, etc.  

Anyhow, GVC units aren't all that useful and while you can cancel the Meet app from launching at boot (Ctrl, Alt, S I think), it's annoying as it requires that combo at every boot.

I remember there used to be a way to move them back into the main track (instead of the GVC track), but here my mind gets a bit fuzzy. It was a key combo and/or an internal tool that would move the serial number to the stable channel.

It also seems ChromeOS is now at 116 and in my time at Google we were somewhere between version 60 and 85. So, needless to say, things have changed.

So I tried the usual way of powerwashing/wiping the device (move it to developer mode and back again), etc. It kept asking for the corp enrolment (and I was certain the device was no longer corp enrolled). Apparently, GVC units just, by default, ask for corp enrolment now because you can't really use them without the special license anyway.

There were some hacks that didn't work for me.

Turns out this Reddit post had the answer. Basically:

• get ChromeOS version 88 (or lower?),
• burn it to a USB stick,
• boot into recovery mode and restore it.
• It'll reboot,
• and then you can sign in right away with a Gmail account (as opposed to a corp (GSuite/GApps) account) and it'll boot the stable channel (running CrOS v88).

At this point, you can upgrade safely to the latest CrOS version.

It has been a few years since I last saw a ChromeOS device. Oh, the memories...

While I really tried to get the Pixelbook to replace my Mac, I never quite succeeded (even got an SSH server running in Docker to use as jump box with all my tools etc)... I missed too many of my shortcuts, habits and full-fledged terminal to make it work. I guess it was a bit like an iPad: great device, can be useful, but for anything serious I always yearned back to my Mac.

Looking at my NextDNS logs on the other hand... Damn, this device is noisy. An avalanche of requests to Google domains. Even when it's not doing much...

I don't mind recommendations if...:

a/ they are useful (i.e. I don't see how kid shows are something I'd be interested in; and Google has no idea Ila exists, and she's at least 2-3 years too young to watch those shows anyway).

b/ the recommendations would be for apps and subscriptions I actually have. Don't recommend me something on Amazon Prime if I don't have Amazon Prime installed, nor an active subscription. Idem dito for Disney+.

Google had recommendations before but at the bottom of the app list. It was not so much in your face. Now it's all the way on top and I need to click 2x down on the remote before getting access to the apps (Netflix, Kodi, Youtube, etc).

So far the best method I found was to enable your Google TV in apps-only mode. It turns off ALL recommendations (so your home screen becomes rather bare; but at least less clicking). Note that the article doesn't mention rebooting the device; but I had to restart it to get rid of all the ads recommendations.

Turn on Apps only mode:

1. On a Google TV device, from the home screen, scroll to your profile.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Accounts & Sign In.
4. Select your profile.
5. Select Apps only mode and then Continue.
7. Reboot the device

Interesting to see that many years after Apple started creating their CPUs for the iPhone (and now laptops/desktops), so many companies are following. Google is not new to building their chips (TPU, Titan (used in security keys and as encryption module for servers/Pixel phones), and likely more), but quite new to more generalised computing CPU for phones and laptops.

And it makes sense -- a lot of the generic CPUs were too generalist and not that great at their job (and are plagued with bugs). It came with heavy power usage. Having a ML/AI chip, a GPU chip, a generalist CPU chip (or two, one focussing on high performance, and one on efficiency, like the M1), one for security/encryption (Titan/T2), etc.

Curious to see how much of a head start Apple really has, and very eager to finally see some real innovation in the CPU space (sorry AMD with Ryzen: too little, too late).

Let's see if Intel and AMD will be able to adapt and reinvent themselves and what it means for ARM (and the ARM IP issue in China), and if other architectures like MIPS are making a chance.

• Google.be lags on new features
• no +1 in .be
• no social integration
• no instant search
• probably a million other experiments that run on .com but not on .be
• The black-bar is entirely different on .be, don't know why
• Better G+ integration, not that I would ever use it
• .be lagged on https as well, and I'm a https fan.

In Chrome: surf to settings > Manage search engines.

Then either delete the default one:

{google:baseURL}search?{google:RLZ}{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}
{google:searchFieldtrialParameter}{google:instantFieldTrialGroupParameter}
sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%s

Or just add a random website from the list below, and rename it to “Google”, “Google.com” and add this in the last column:

https://www.google.com/search?{google:RLZ}{google:acceptedSuggestion}
{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}{google:searchFieldtrialParameter}
{google:instantFieldTrialGroupParameter}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%s

When copy pasting, make sure it becomes one line (e.g. no new lines).

And be sure to make it https and www.google.com (not http://google.com for example), this will increase speed significantly.

My Chrome version: 19.0.1084.52 (mac)

Surf to: chrome://flags/

I enabled following flags, and so far it’s still working great:

• Threaded compositing Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS
• GPU Accelerated SVG and CSS Filters Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS
• HTTP Pipelining Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS
• Built-in Asynchronous DNS Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS

There are a bunch of other cool experiments to play with, and be sure to check it out after every major Chrome update.

By the way, check out this if you haven’t done so yet: chrome://chrome-urls/

Well, let’s see if Google Chrome gets in that list. If only they’d release it for other OS’es too… :( Seems like good ol’ Windows isn’t that popular anymore.