Today documentation first spotted on Google+ has sparked conversation that the Chromebook Pixel, a quickly celebrated and dismissed concept computer shown off in a video clip, may not be as dead, or fake as once thought.
François Beaufort, who first uncovered the Pixel itself, found a piece of Google Chrome OS documentation that is includes notes on color patterns that are not consistent with current Chromebook models, but fit well with certain parts of the original video. Here’s the clip, in case you missed it:
We are operating far from the space of verified truth, but try the following on for size:
Use two-color lightbar scheme, with KB backlight for brightness
Yet another set of tweaks to the lightbar patterns:
At Startup or wake from sleep, Google colors cycle in.
While running, > 25% power level in the battery: All blue, in a breathing effect (cycle up and down 30%).
While running, <= 25% power level in battery: Same as above, but with red
Shutting down, or going into sleep: Cycle out the Google colors (Note: the effect is only visible for S0->S3, because shutting down kills power to the lightbar before we can react).
While sleeping: Similar to now, but only using Blue and red for battery indication as above.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
In the video, a short segment shows the Google colors – aligned in order – akin to what is mentioned above in regards to cycling hues.
The world took to the idea of the Chromebook Pixel as it was tipped to support a massive quantity of pixels, perhaps more than four million, allowing the laptop to have a 2560 x 1700 display. That, as part of a machine that the video intoned again and again was ‘designed by Google’ snapped the world to attention.
In an odd world in which software and service companies are becoming OEMs to compete, having Google enter this space with a machine under its own flag would be no small market event.
Even more, the Pixel could sport a touchscreen display. The video itself shows off a user touching the screen, pinching to zoom in on a jellyfish. As TNW’s Matt Brian reported in November, Google has been rumored to be preparing to launch an “own-brand Chrome OS-powered 12.85-inch touch notebook in the first quarter of 2013.” That jives with what the Pixel showed us, assuming that the spinning laptop in the promo video did indeed contain a display just under 13″.
The interest in the above documentation snippets is mostly based on the Pixel itself, in that they match certain parts of its supposed creation. However, it’s worth noting the code changes as they could, at least in theory, impact all Chromebooks, and not just the supposed, coming Google device.
Top Image Credit: Håkan Dahlström
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.