A new update for Google’s Chrome browser has been pushed out today, and although nothing significantly special has been added, change notes show a good amount of bug fixes, flash updates, and other added performance increases to improve browser speed. Cosmetic-wise, nothing much has changed, other than a much needed bookmark search tool, accessible via the Chrome omnibox.

In other news, Google has now added a new Beta channel application to Google Play, allowing users to test out current in-dev functions and features for both the smartphone and tablet.

When using the Chrome Beta channel, users will see new content early and will get to test it out for themselves.

So far the Beta channel includes some interesting HTML5 features such as CSS filters, as well as an Octane benchmark performance boost of 25-30%, and although features for the Beta channel are currently quite sparse, Google’s development support for Chrome on Android is growing progressively so there is plenty of potential to see new content before others in the future.

Google has made it clear in their Beta notes that the channel may include new functions that are a little rough around the edges, which is obviously expected from a Beta channel. Users can submit bugs and problems with the app to help developers as well.

Have you updated your Chrome PC browser yet? And what are your opinions on Google’s new Beta channel for Android? Will you be using this channel from now on, or will you stick to the more stable public build?

[Source]

The post Google brings out fixes for Chrome, adds Beta Channel for Android appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Yesterday, François Beaufort discovered “Issue 11412291: Creating a skeleton for Google Now for Chrome implementation”. The issue pertains to the structure for showing Google Now cards in Chrome with Chrome Notifications.

In short, Google will be bringing Google Now cards to Chrome with Chrome Notifications soon. Google Now’s card style of displaying information is already somewhat in use in Google Search. More specifically, if you were to Google “new york giants”, you would receive a list of the Giant’s upcoming games as well as their past games.

Making Google Search more personal would be a huge change for Google Search. If Google Now were to break free of its mobile constraints, it would become accessible from anywhere Google is.

Keep an eye out for changes in Google Search. The search giant is constantly improving its website and products in addition to making them faster and faster.

Will you use Google Now when it comes to Google Chrome? Do you even use Google Chrome as your browser? Let us know in the comments below.

[ Source ]

The post Google Now Coming to Chrome Notifications And the Desktop appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

How much thought do you put into the kind of mobile browser you use? Odds are that you probably use what is already there. The same kind of attitude was persistent in the PC world for years, until Internet Explorer started showing some real problems and alternatives like Firefox OS started getting positive attention. Even so, both in the mobile and desktop world, browser choice isn’t that important as long as you can get to the pages you want.

All iDevices come standard with Safari. All Android devices generally come with Chrome or the older Android default browser- though certain carriers and brands use alternatives. Samsung wants to change things up a bit with their own offering.

No one will be surprised by this revelation, but the truth is that Samsung Android devices represent a pretty large chunk of all phones and (to lesser extent) tablets out there. If Sammy replaced the default browser or Chrome with its own WebKit-based alternative, few would do anything to remove it and Samsung would quickly rise up as one of the biggest mobile browsers for the Android platform.

For those that don’t know, both Chrome and Safari are based on WebKit. This means that Samsung’s browser would likely not seem much different from either of these offerings. It’s just another way that Samsung wants to take deeper, customized control over their smartphones.

Does the idea of Samsung mobile browser interest you, or are you indifferent to the idea?

[ source ]

The post Samsung Working On Its Own Mobile Browser appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Google has decided to challenge the iOS powerhouse that is Safari with the new Google Chrome for iOS app. Google Chrome for iOS is an alternate browser for your iPhone or iPad that includes all of the browser basics, plus some of your favorite Google Chrome features. When I first heardthat the Google Chrome browser was released on iOS, I rushed to my iPhone to download it immediately. My favorite PC web browser available for my iPhone? I could not wait to try it. While I do use Google Chrome for iOS as my main iPhone browser (aside from any link in an app that automatically opens to Safari), it does have a few flaws that keep it from being everything I want it to be. I chalk this up to the fact that the app is relatively new and needs some updates to get it perfect, and Google has been doing just that since the app has released.

PROS

• “Most Visited” sites are visible when you open a new tab. One of my favorite features of Google Chrome on PC are available on Google Chrome for iOS. When you open a new tab, six of your most visited websites on Chrome will appear and you can quickly reopen one just by tapping on the site of your choice.
• Chrome for iOS introduced “Incognito Tabs.” If you want to be secretive about a site you are visiting, you can open the options and select to open an “Incognito Tab.” This hides the tab from your recently visited list and from your browser history.
• If you sign in to your Google account, your last pages visited after closing or after a crash will automatically reopen.

CONS

• Sometimes the browser can be slower than Safari, but again, that could just be bugs that have to be worked out on Google’s end. The current version, 21.0.1180.80, is significantly faster than the release version.
• The fact that the browser lacks a refresh button is bothersome. I am not sure if it was an oversight, but it is inconvenient to have to tap the URL bar, have the keyboard open and the screen change just to refresh a website.
• Google Chrome for iOS does not have the same sharing options as Safari. While you can email, Tweet or Facebook a link, you cannot print a website from browser, which is a highly practical use.
• Chrome for iOS is still having some mobile site compatibility issues, per user reviews as of the current version, but future bug fixes and maybe some changes from the website developers’ side will change that.

Overall, despite its flaws, Google Chrome is still my browser of choice on my iPhone. Google has consistently updated when needed since the app has launched, and I have faith that they will continue to do so. Besides, if you are unsure if you will like it, Google Chrome for iOS is free from the App Store. There is no harm in not trying it out. Get the app here for iOS.

The post App Review: Google Chrome for iOS appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

We do know that syncing will work, and will allow browser settings across multiple devices when they’re signed in using their Google credentials. What this means is that you can start browsing in Windows, open a few tabs and then log into Chrome on your iDevice. When you start Chrome all the same tabs will be open and ready.

Beyond the announcement of Chrome, it seems that Google’s Drive storage, which allows storage and sharing of documents, will also now work with iOS. By adding Chrome and Drive to iOS, Google hopes to create a more uniform experience for all Google web apps and features across all platforms from Windows to OSX and iOS, and of course Android.

While it isn’t out yet, it sounds like Chrome will arrive sometime later today.

[ source ]

The post Google Chrome On Its Way To iOS appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Available as a free (of course) download through the Google Play Store, Chrome for Android is currently only compatible with devices running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (or higher). It’s unclear whether Google will eventually port it to Honeycomb and Gingerbread, since they’d rather you keep upgrading to the newest version of Android anyhow.

You can expect to get tabbed browsing, of course, but Chrome for Android also has incognito. There’s also the ability to sync your open tabs with your desktop to read later and the ability to switch tabs “the way you would fan a deck of cards.” They’ve made some minor UI adjustments that are meant to make the browser better for tablets too.

[Source]

The post Chrome Browser for Android Exits Beta, Available Through Google Play appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

This comes by way of Statcounter and it looks at the week of May 14 to May 20, 2012. During that time period, Chrome had a higher traffic share than IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or any other web browser. More tech-savvy people have a higher likelihood of using Chrome, but regular consumers still dominate the market of course.

In North America, Internet Explorer (37%) is still the leading browser (Chrome has 26%). The same can be said in Asia where IE has over 50% in Japan and nearly three-quarters in China and South Korea. IE continues its massive lead in Oceania too, whereas Firefox is the leader in Europe. So, where is Chrome making up its numbers? As it turns out, South America is where it’s at: Chrome has nearly a 50% market share there and along with incremental growth everywhere else, that was enough to dethrone Microsoft’s browser.

[Source]

The post Google Chrome Becomes Most Popular Browser in the World appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Sergey Glazunov is now $60,000 richer for having successfully hacked a PC running the Chrome browser. What has prevented earlier attempts is that Chrome has something called a “sandbox” that is designed to stop hackers from accessing user data even if they compromise the browser. Glazunov found an exploit to get around that, bypassing the security and successfully hacking into the PC.

As part of the competition, all successful hackers must tell Google how they did it, effectively giving Google the opportunity to patch up the security flaw before real hackers take advantage of it in real life. Interestingly, a security firm also hacked Chrome at HP’s Pwn2Own event, doing so in just five minutes. Chrome is still pretty secure, but this does show that it’s not invincible.

[Source]

The post Russian Student Cracks Chrome, Claims Top Prize at Google Hackathon appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

That Chrome OS CR-48 netbook Google has sent out to developers and some lucky beta testers has just received an update to R10 release 0.10.156.46. I have been using one off and on for the last few weeks and noticed lag and inconsistency with the trackpad. Last night I did an update and found it was much more responsive. The up and down arrows seemed to be disabled, but they fixed themselves automatically. Google is listening, so if you have a problem let them know. The CR-48 is a testbed and Google is not slacking off when it comes to addressing customer needs. I personally like to mess around in console but have yet to figure out a way to get a package manager installed, anyone have any tips?

These are the most recent updates:

• 3G modem activation fixes
• 3G connection to the carrier fixes
• Wi-Fi connectivity/Out of the Box fixes
• New trackpad and sensitivity setting adjusted
• Auto update engine and debugging improvements
• Power optimizations
• GTalk video/chat optimizations
• Audio CPU utilization improvements
• Improved on screen indicators: brightness, network status, update icon

[via Google Chrome Blog]

The post Google Fixes Chrome OS CR-48 Netbook Trackpad Issues appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

In 2009, Google announced that it was readying to step into the OS ring, which has been dominated for the most part by Microsoft and Apple. Tuesday was essentially the weigh-in for Google’s Chrome OS, accompanied by the Google CR-48 netbook.

The Hardware

The Cr-48 has entered with its 12.1-inch screen and matte black finish, not unlike the matte black MacBook many grew so fond of not so long ago.

It boasts 8 hours of useful life on a full charge, and for our less patient readers, it starts up in only 10 seconds.  Waking from sleep is instant, almost as though it is already on, and it also remembers your last activities before you shut it off and resumes your programs upon turning on again.  It won’t cook you breakfast, or make you toast, but it will never forget anything.

Google has skipped out on traditional platter hardrives and instead opted to go with flash memory. A great choice on their part, simply because efficiency is more valuable than size since Chrome OS is cloud-based you’ll never run out of room now will you?

Like most laptops and netbooks nowadays it has a webcam, but unlike laptops and netbooks nowadays, no Caps Lock key. To me, this means stop yelling on discussion boards, and keep searching for what you want.  It also has a large, clickable touchpad, again, similar to a MacBook. And familiar to Mac fans, 2 fingers does the right click.

Cloud Computing

Google has taken the meaning of a “netbook” to the next level, and really, all hardware aside, it doesn’t matter what this CR-48 looks like. You could litterally torch it on the barby — as Google did in the video below — because there’s nothing on there to lose. Google makes a strong point that hardware is indispensable, trust the one who holds your data.

With cloud-based computing and cloud storage, basically your whole computer is tied directly to your free Google account. If you lose that netbook, light it on fire, drop it out of a plane, or more typically, just want to use a friends computer — assuming it also runs Chrome OS — you’ll be greeted by all your installed apps, themes, inbox and bookmarks just the way you’re used to. Sort of like a corporate intranet with user profiles, just taken globally, which is what Google plans to do. And it’s all possible because it’s hanging out in the “clouds.”

Cloud Computing is the future, I won’t deny that, but a  major hurdle it currently has to overcome is the “always-connected” requirement. It’s a setback for the Chrome OS and the Cr-48, and is due in part to a 3G connection.   If you thought Android was a data hog, wait till you see Chrome OS. It introduces a whole new kind of flexibility, but what about where there is no 3G? You’ll be basically looking at a blank screen, no data will be present whatsoever, just an empty shell. Currently the CR-48 is setup for Verizon’s 3G network in the US, Google has not announced any plans in other countries, but I’m sure they are in the works.  Verizon’s data plan includes 100MB a month free, anything beyond that will cost users $20 (1GB), $20 (3GB) or $50 (5GB) per month. That’s pretty steep if you ask me, and could hurt the devices sales.

Conclusion

The Google Chrome OS and CR-48 show a lot of promise. They have the potential to become huge in the market of bringing the app model to desktops, all the while appealing to users who are on the move and primarily use a computer for the web, docs, and emails.   It will also ease the minds of users about ever losing data again, because it’ll be safe in the Google cloud.  

See the commercial below.

The post Google’s Chrome OS makes hardware indispensable appeared first on Mobile Magazine.