Google is rolling out an update for Chromebook users that adds tight integration with the recently launched Google Drive online storage service.
If you’re running Google’s “dev channel” software on an Aceer AC700, Samsung Series 5, or Cr-48 Chromebook, the latest update will add Google Drive integration to your file manager.
That means you should now be able to save files directly to your Google Drive as if it were local storage, or open files saved in your Google Drive account.
What makes Google Drive different from local storage (aside from the fact that your files will survive if your laptop is destroyed in a fire), is that once your files are saved online you can access them on any device with a supported web browser. If you have a computer with the Google Drive app, you can also automatically synchronize those files.
So save a file from your Chromebook to Google Drive and it will be waiting for you on your Windows PC.
Unfortunately TechCrunch reports that the Google Drive integration with Chromebooks appears pretty basic for now. While Google Drive shows up as a folder in the file manager, there’s no simple way to download files from your online storage to your local device or upload files using the file manager. You’ll have to use the web app to do that.