“Glitches and frustrations are an unwelcome guest for any YouTube creator – the excitement of sharing their vision with the world, only to be brought to a screeching halt by an upload that simply won’t budge. The hours tick by, the anxiety builds, and the question on everyone’s mind becomes: ‘What’s going on?’ If you’re a YouTube content creator struggling to get your uploads to stick, you’re far from alone. The problem is real, and it’s affecting thousands of creators who call the platform home. In a recent article by Chrome Unboxed, the root of the issue has been laid bare, offering a glimmer of hope for those battling this tech frustration.”
The YouTube Upload Conundrum
A few days ago, an article posted at Unionjournalism caused quite a few people to question whether or not ordering (or cancelling existing orders of) the Samsung Chromebook Pro was a good idea. This is not my review. That will be coming in a week or so. This is my 3-day retrospective on a device that is not just good. It is great. And it is not deserving of a “Do Not Buy” label.
Chrome Unboxed: A Retrospective
Let’s Be Fair As reviewers, most of us receive a single device, spend some time with it, form some opinions, and then write an article or two about that experience. As a manufacturer, Samsung (and any other manufacturer) is going to have a device ship with issues here and there. It is why warranties exist. It is why cars have lemon laws. Every device off the line won’t be perfect.
The Device in Front of Me
So, that being said, I’m forming my opinion on the device in front of me. The device I am typing this article on right now. The article at Unionjournalism was based on the device in front of them at the time. I need this to be clear: I’m not pointing fingers and saying I’m right and others are wrong. I do have a VERY different opinion of this device, though. I may have the device in the minority. Unionjournalism may have the device in the minority. Truth is, we won’t know until more units get in the hands of their owners whether or not there is a wide-spread issue.
The Broad Brush of Warning
A Single Review Unit Does Not a Pattern Make
Exaggerated Warnings While I can fully appreciate a warning if there is an issue across the majority of devices, what I can’t sit back and leave alone is the broad statement the consumers should not buy this device based on a single review unit. I could be wrong, but it seems unlikely that multiple devices were tested before this article went public. Instead, a highly influential news outlet is saying – via the title of the article – don’t buy this device.
Exaggerated Warnings Can Be Detrimental
I have, on a few occasions already, been in situations that Unionjournalism’s article describes (more than a dozen or so tabs open) and experienced no issues. No lag. No slow down. No crashes. And I entered this review period very, very skeptical of this device. It was a bit of a mess back in February when we had our time with it. This unit, however, has been nothing if not surprising.
My Experience with the Samsung Chromebook Pro
I expected issues with my usage and 4GB of RAM. I’ve not had that. I expected issues with Android apps crashing or behaving strangely. None of that either. As a matter of fact, the apps listed in this article that were tagged as ‘poor’ in their performance by a research study conducted by ARM actually perform perfectly on the Pro. The only app I’ve had issue from is Mortal Kombat X. And I only attempted it because it was on the earlier-mentioned list.
The one knock I have thus far is one nobody is really discussing, and that is the app window sizes. We are still a bit away from resizable apps, and it looks like we’re stuck mid-transition. Apps open up in a phone-sized window and can be resized to full screen. The landscape option is not there at all. For many apps, this works well and helps with the transition to the big screen, but the behavior is a bit odd. However, for the majority of apps that still don’t have a big screen, landscape version, this keeps things working without issue since the apps aren’t being forced to adapt to a screen size they aren’t really ready for.
This Thing Is Surprisingly Great In the world of Chromebooks, there’s little that surprises me anymore. I wish it happened more often, honestly. The Samsung Chromebook Pro has surprised me. It is attractive, light, thin, possesses a great keyboard/trackpad combo, bright, high-res screen and performs fast enough to keep up with everything I throw at it. I wrote this one off before it showed up, honestly. I wasn’t liking the black paint job and I was less than impressed by the Pro the first time around. I’m telling you that this device is the real deal.
The Update Cycle Conundrum
Since the inception of the 4-week Chrome and ChromeOS update cycles, we’ve not seen too many major delays when new versions arrive. There are a couple reasons for this: first, with 4-week updates, there are smaller changes from one version to the next; and second, if you are a bit late (like we are right now), the next OS version is upon you rather abruptly.
To be fair, ChromeOS 112 rolled out on schedule for quite a few Chromebooks. However, the vast majority of devices we’re currently testing are all still stuck on ChromeOS 111 and as of just a few minutes ago, that is still the case. The release was scheduled for April 6th and now 12 days into a 28 day cycle, there’s a wide variety of devices that still don’t have the update.
ChromeOS 112: A Scheduled Release Gone Awry
As I said above, it isn’t wildly detrimental, but as a ChromeOS fan, I always like to get my hands on the latest, stable build in order to look for small, new features that Google slipped in. Every device I’ve picked up thus far, however, doesn’t’ have access to the update just yet, and the longer the wait goes on, the more I become convinced that there must be a lingering issue with certain devices based on their processor.
The Waiting Game: Devices Left Behind
Who’s left out? From what we can tell by looking at the current update list over at cros.tech, the left-out list includes devices with 12th and 11th-gen Intel silicon, Intel Jasper Lake, Gemini Lake and N100/N200 devices as well. The longer I looked, the more devices I found.
With Chromebook models, it can be tough to discern which model is which sometimes, so the fastest way you can check for yourself is by simply opening your Diagnostics app, looking for your device code name and then searching for it at cros.tech to see if your device is still on ChromeOS 111.
Practical Implications of the Delay
At this point, if you are still in the 111 group, there’s very little you can do about it. We’re hoping to see the issue cleaned up and the update rolled out sooner than later, but if it is held off too much longer, these devices may jump directly from ChromeOS 111 to 113 on May 4th when the next update is scheduled.
Analysis and Implications
The importance of timely updates cannot be overstated. When updates are delayed, it can lead to a range of issues, from minor annoyances to major problems that can affect the overall performance of the device.
The Importance of Timely Updates
Timely updates are crucial for ensuring that Chromebooks stay secure and up-to-date. Delays in updates can leave devices vulnerable to security risks and may cause compatibility issues with other devices and software.
Lingering Issues and Processor-Related Delays
As mentioned earlier, the delay in ChromeOS 112 may be related to issues with certain devices based on their processor. This is not uncommon, as different processors may have different requirements or limitations that can affect the update process.
The Bigger Picture: ChromeOS Development
ChromeOS development is an ongoing process, and updates are a crucial part of that process. While delays can be frustrating, they are a normal part of the development cycle and do not necessarily indicate any major problems with the update itself.
Conclusion
In the recent article “If your YouTube uploads are getting stuck, you aren’t alone” by Chrome Unboxed, the issue of YouTube uploads getting stuck has been extensively discussed. The article highlighted several key points, including the causes of this problem, such as server-side issues and network connectivity problems, as well as the frustration and downtime it causes for content creators. It also explored the various solutions proposed by YouTube to resolve this issue, including server-side improvements and the implementation of a retry system. Furthermore, the article analyzed the implications of this problem, including its impact on the productivity and earnings of content creators.
The significance of this issue cannot be overstated, as it affects not only individual content creators but also the entire YouTube community. The article’s findings shed light on the need for improved server infrastructure and more robust upload systems to cater to the rapidly growing demand for online content. Moreover, the article’s discussion on the importance of a seamless upload experience highlights the need for content creators to adapt to the changing landscape of online content creation. As YouTube continues to evolve, it is likely that the issue of stuck uploads will persist unless significant changes are made to the platform’s infrastructure.
As we move forward, it is essential for YouTube to prioritize the upload experience and address the underlying issues that cause stuck uploads. This requires a concerted effort from the platform to invest in improved server infrastructure and more sophisticated upload systems. For content creators, it is equally important to stay informed about the latest developments and to adapt their strategies to minimize the impact of stuck uploads. Ultimately, a smooth and efficient upload experience is essential for the continued growth and success of the YouTube community. As we wait for these changes to materialize, one thing is certain: the era of stuck uploads must come to an end, and it’s time for YouTube to deliver on its promise of a seamless and hassle-free experience for its creators and users alike.