Table of Contents
Highlights
- Fluoride Bluetooth Stack on Flex Devices: ChromeOS M135 update modifies the ChromeOS Flex, which now supports the Android-based Fluoride Bluetooth stack, offering improved connectivity and a smoother pairing experience for Bluetooth devices, especially on older hardware.
- Image Content Search in Launcher: Users can now search for images based on their visual content directly from the Launcher, eliminating the need to remember specific filenames.
- Enhanced Accessibility with Face Control & Mouse Keys: Face control gets a clearer UI with active status alerts and an easy-off button, while Mouse Keys allows full pointer control using the keyboard, both improving accessibility for users with different needs.
Google has started to release the ChromeOS M135 upgrade to the stable channel, which will give Chromebooks and ChromeOS Flex devices several new features and enhancements. This edition, which builds on recent advancements, prioritizes accessibility, connectivity, and more intelligent search capabilities.
Android Bluetooth Stack Comes to ChromeOS Flex
The addition of the Android Bluetooth stack, sometimes referred to as Fluoride, for ChromeOS Flex users is among the most significant modifications in M135 to date. Fluoride, which was first released in version 122 for common ChromeOS devices, now offers enhanced Bluetooth dependability and performance to older Flex-running hardware. Google guarantees a smooth transfer while maintaining the current pair of devices. The new stack can be turned off with a Chrome flag at chrome://flags/#bluetooth-use-floss if users experience any problems.
Smarter Image Search in the Launcher
With M135’s introduction of picture content search in the Launcher, users can now locate photos by recognizing visual content instead of just filenames. This AI-powered improvement makes it easier for users to find media, which is particularly helpful for people who have a lot of images in their library or who have trouble remembering specific file names.
Fast Pair for Mice
ChromeOS M135 expands on the Fast Pair feature introduced in M134 by continuing support for Bluetooth mice that are Fast Pair compatible. When such a mouse is brought near a Chromebook, users receive an instant pairing prompt, streamlining the connection process.
This enhancement reduces setup time, improves user convenience, and ensures a seamless, hassle-free experience for peripheral device management. This minimizes the hassle of peripheral setup by automatically prompting users to connect with a single click when such a device is brought close to a Chromebook.
Accessibility Features Get a Boost
ChromeOS M135 enhances accessibility by refining tools that cater to users with diverse needs. Updates include a clearer Face Control interface with active status alerts and a convenient toggle, allowing easier management. Additionally, Mouse Keys continues to offer full cursor control via the keyboard, empowering users with motor impairments to navigate effortlessly and enjoy a more inclusive computing experience.
- Improvements to Face Control: Users now see a clear “Face control active” statement along with a simple button to turn the feature off. When Face Control is turned on, a notification also shows up, improving awareness and control.
- Mouse Keys Expansion: Originally included in M134, Mouse Keys are still there in this update and give users with motor impairments the ability to navigate and operate the mouse cursor with keyboard keys.
Gradual Rollout and Feedback Encouraged
M135 will be released gradually, much as all other ChromeOS updates. To assist in improving future updates, Google invites users to provide comments and report any problems via community forums or official channels.
ChromeOS M135 aims to enhance the overall user experience by introducing features that strike a balance between smart functionality and intuitive design. With improved Bluetooth performance, AI-driven image search, and expanded accessibility tools like Face Control and Mouse Keys, the update ensures greater inclusivity, faster interactions, and smoother workflows across ChromeOS Flex and Chromebooks, catering to users of all abilities.
