Google has just introduced the world to the brand new Chromebook. The Chromebook is unlike most laptops because it is optimised for web use. Google arent interested in making software, so they have decided to basically turn Google Chrome into the operating system for a new laptop.
Google Chromebooks will be available for sale from June 15 in U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Spain. In the U.S., buy Chromebooks online from Amazon and Best Buy.
It seems as though Google has simplified the Google Chrome logo yesterday. Goodbye 3D and now we have a sexy flat logo.
The new logo has been appearing in a number of areas, but there is still no official word from Google (unlike Google).
The new logo was added just before Google Chrome adds a lot of great new features. Its rumoured that Google Chrome will be adding the ability to select multiple tabs, which is handy for managing the tab chaos some of us suffer, and abbreviated tab titles to better distinguish similar pages.
Here is an awesome Google Chrome theme that is inspired by Grooveshark. This Chrome theme comes with a great yellow and blue design (that I will be using on Chrome from now on).
Remote Desktop for most power and/or IT users represents the way of accessing a remote’s computer desktop by reaching it using an IP address; but is more than that. Using Remote Desktop protocol, users can access their applications, installed on a remote computer, without actually installing them locally.
This functionality, without an official announcement by Google, appeared in a Google forum; made by software designer inside the developing of Chrome: “We’re adding new capabilities all the time,” wrote Kačmarčík. “With this functionality (unofficially named ‘chromoting’), Chrome OS will not only be [a] great platform for running modern Web apps, but will also enable you to access legacy PC applications right within the browser.”
For me, almost anything representing legacy or an interoperability support sounds like a good idea; especially in today’s market when some are thinking that by being more restrictive they will win.
Google Chrome team is preparing a new release of their browser, 4.1. And you can access to the beta where you can try on some of the new features, including the auto translate option.
The auto translate option works in a very simple way, when you are browsing your sites, Chrome will detect which is the language that is displaying and pop the question to you: Would you like for me to translate this? Here’s a short video about the feature.
Some of the other features that this beta includes:
NoScript: The possibility to configure some sites where you can exclude them to run any type of script.
New privacy features: You’ll get the chance to use incognito mode, where you won’t leave any track of the websites you are visiting (one of the most wanted features).
New control panel: Better control of cookies, images, plug-ins and pop-ups.
Microsoft’s answering the European Commission after a lot of struggling and starting tomorrow, March 1st, Windows users will have the chance to decide which browser will be your default in your machine.
Web Browser Ballot will be available in Windows XP, Vista and 7 operating systems as a Windows update. Soon as you download the update, a window will appear where the browsers will be listed randomly from which you’ll select your default browser.
I found very interesting the feature available for randomly listing the browsers, which avoids any suggestion that could induce a user to make a pick according to the location in your screen of the browsers. Here’s evidence of the random is actually working:
Internet Explorer 8 showing third in browser’s list.
Internet Explorer 8 showing first in browser’s list.
From what we know, the ballot will only appear to users that have Internet Explorer as the default browser; if you have any other as default, the list won’t appear to you.
Google Chrome extensions continue in showing us some interesting ways to interact everything in our world with Google’s browser. That’s why now we can easily check friend’s status in Facebook and even update our own with the Facebook’s Google Chrome Extension.
The usability is really simple since integrates directly with your Gmail account, placing the Facebook logo right under the Google Buzz icon. The interaction with Facebook is the same as any other API, using Facebook connect; you just need to log in and you’ll instantly get access to the updates.
Here’s an important note made by the creator, if you want to update your status you must click on the image.
Some of the previous versions of this extension seemed that had a lot of problems, now the latest build 0.0.2.1 is more stable but according to some users still is a little buggy.
I guess when there’s a lot of anticipation on something, sometimes things might get faster. We’ve talked before about Google Chrome OS announcement, and we’ve also said that users might get hands on it in the second half of 2010. But now, a Chinese netbooks manufacturer seems that is planning to release netbooks with a previous version of Chrome later this month.
Shanzai is announcing that the devices with the Loongson-CPU will have Google Chrome OS installed, and released by Lemote hardware manufacturer. And even though these are only rumors, there have been some snapshots available in the web of what seems to be Google’s OS:
The anticipation is increasing significantly, since we don’t have much data around this operating system. We know that it will be focused on netbooks, open source with a Linux kernel and user interface based mainly in a web experience.
Sounds good to me if an Asian hardware manufacturer is taking a chance with this new OS. We are all waiting for the moment to install and use Chrome OS.
Does anyone remember during the .com boom when everyone was rushing onto the net and the ‘browser wars’ started. This was when loads of companies began making browsers for a share of the growing market. Many perished with IE having much of the spoils given its advantage of being pre-installed on every Windows PC and Mozilla being the browser of choice for the more ‘power user-ish’ people. Well when Google introduced Chrome late last year fuel was pored over the smouldering remains of the browser war and now its back again in all it raging fury.
Chrome now controls 2% of the market which is pretty good for a new comer. However, they’re looking for more as the Chrome team target a more specific section of people – the entertainment junkies. They are creating a new accelerator add-on for the browser that will enhance graphics for things like watching movies, playing games and using applications. I think this is actually a good tactic as browser games, web applications and streaming videos are becoming very popular. Just look at Quake Live.
“The O3D team is working on getting O3D integrated into the Chromium build, and we’re close to being able to complete our first step towards integration,” said programmer Greg Spencer. “I’ll be making the Windows build of Chromium be dependent upon building O3D as part of the build process.”
The upcoming Chrome OS will indeed be much of Linux under the skin however it will also have much of its workload centred on online applications. An improvement in graphics and the power of the Google Chrome Browser can only mean a bright future for the daring Chrome team.
Are you a Chrome user? I bet you are; because since last september, when the browser was released, the response from the users was fenomenal according to Google. This light weight browser easly slide away inside the market, bringing a high performance option for not only the “anti-IE” users, but for all users (including those who said that there was no match for Mozilla Firefox or Safari).
Well now Google hits again, they are planning to release a new Chrome version that will increase the browser performance up to 30%. How? New version for WebKit and a JavaScript engine (V8) update. They even have a benchmark report that was executed comparing the new and old Chrome version:
But that’s not all. This new beta build will also include:
Removing Thumbnails from New Page: A very requested feature (specially Safari users) that will let you to select the pages you want to see every time you open a new tab. I bet you were expecting this one, to remove “those” sites that you don’t want other people to know you visit a lot.
The only thing I wonder if this build will be more stable on Windows 7; that would definitely place Chrome as my preferred browser.
One thing is for sure, this is not a good news for IE8 that just started struggling for user’s acceptance, and with the bonus that IE8 appears as a “selectable” feature on Windows 7, no longer a mandatory installation for Windows operating systems. Looks like it’s going to be a long and a painful trip for IE to continue at the top.
It seems as though Google has simplified the Google Chrome logo yesterday. Goodbye 3D and now we have a sexy flat logo.
Microsoft’s answering the European Commission after a lot of struggling and starting tomorrow, March 1st, Windows users will have the chance to decide which browser will be your default in your machine.
Does anyone remember during the .com boom when everyone was rushing onto the net and the ‘browser wars’ started. This was when loads of companies began making browsers for a share of the growing market. Many perished with IE having much of the spoils given its advantage of being pre-installed on every Windows PC and Mozilla being the browser of choice for the more ‘power user-ish’ people. Well when 
Are you a Chrome user? I bet you are; because since last september, when the browser was released, the response from the users was fenomenal according to Google. This light weight browser easly slide away inside the market, bringing a high performance option for not only the “anti-IE” users, but for all users (including those who said that there was no match for Mozilla Firefox or Safari).
