Feb 19
It’s just 126 days until Google I/O 2014, the company’s annual developers conference that’ll once again be taking place at Moscone West (aka the Moscone Center) in San Francisco, California. … Continue reading
Dec 03
Google is developing Chrome apps support for iOS and Android. Chrome apps are Web apps that operate independently and offline. They use HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS, as well as Chrome-branded APIs. Currently, Chrome apps are only available for the desktop. But by January they may also be available for mobile devices, if The Next Web‘s […]
Nov 29
Ever want to test a Chrome Web Store app without installing it? You may get your chance if a new Chromium feature find its way into Google’s commercial browser. Mountain View is experimenting with support for “ephemeral” apps that launch like regular Web Store titles, but don’t leave a footprint in Chrome or Chrome OS. Users wouldn’t even have to visit the Web Store in the first place — a recent Chromium build lets surfers launch an app directly from a Google search result page. There’s no certainty that the new try before you buy (or at least, try before you glorified bookmark) capability will actually land in Chrome’s stable channel, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise us.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Via: The Next Web
Source: Francois Beaufort (1), (2)
Nov 22
Google has just released a stable version of Chrome OS, and while it’s (sadly) not as huge as Chrome OS 32, it still comes with feature boosts for your device. Perhaps most notable is its newly added initial support for USB-connected Braille displays. Other than that, this stopgap follow-up to OS 31 tweaks the platform’s looks, starting by letting you drag the Shelf (or the app dock) from the bottom to either side of the screen. The company has also moved the launcher icon to the bottom left and made it, along with the app icons and status tray, more touch friendly for Pixel users. What’s more, if you use an avatar for either Chrome OS or Google+, you’ll find your profile picture preferences synced between the two. Almost everyone can now download these changes, which come bundled with the usual security and performance fixes. If you own an Acer C7, an HP Chromebook 11 or an HP Pavilion Chromebook, however, you’re going to have to sit this update out — better luck next time.
Source: Google Chrome Releases
Nov 19
Windowing has been a familiar sight in Chrome OS for a while now, but it hasn’t always been easy to find the window you’re looking for. That search should be much quicker if you’re running the just-launched Chrome OS 32 beta, though. The test release brings Vista-style window thumbnails when using Alt-Tab to switch tasks, and the overview button now shows an organized view of all those panes. Early adopters can get the beta today, although it’s not currently available for either the original Acer C7 or the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook.
Source: Chrome Releases
Nov 15
Acer gave its Chromebook line a welcome tune-up when it launched the Haswell-based C720, but the $250 starting price was no doubt disappointing to those who wanted the C7’s $200 entry point. The company is accommodating those spendthrifts today with its $200 C720-2848 variant. The only sacrifice is a lower 2GB of RAM; owners still get a 1.4GHz Celeron processor, a 16GB solid-state drive and that vaunted 8.5 hours of battery life. Should you want to save a cool $50, or are just frustrated that you can’t buy a Chromebook 11, you can pick up the new C720 today from Amazon or Best Buy.
Sep 05
Chrome apps gain native powers and desktop launcher on Windows and Chrome OS, Mac, Linux versions to follow
Posted in: Today's Chili
The line between native and web apps has been blurring more and more with the advent of HTML 5, and now Google’s taking things even further with what it’s calling a “new breed of Chrome apps.” These new apps, while built with web technologies and the Chrome browser, appear and act like native apps. In fact, Google is rolling out a Chrome app launcher for Windows to allow users to launch these new apps directly from their desktop. Windows and Chrome OS users will get first crack at using these apps, with Mac and Linux folks getting them a bit later.
To give these apps a native feel, Google has given devs a whole host of new tools. Apps work offline, can save data locally or in the cloud, provide desktop notifications and can connect with any device hooked into your computer via USB or Bluetooth — meaning games can be designed to use external controllers. And, apps won’t look tied to the browser as they won’t be saddled with tabs, buttons, text boxes or any other browser-esque visual cues. The idea is to create Chrome apps that are nigh indistinguishable from their locally installed counterparts. For now, there are over 50 such apps available in the Chrome Web Store, with offerings including games, basic photo editing and task tracking apps, among others. However, we have a sneaking suspicion that Google’s going to ensure that number grows exponentially in the near future.
Source: Google Chrome blog
Sep 05
Chrome OS beta adds touchscreen support for selections, drag and drop (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili
We don’t know when Google plans to release another device like its Chromebook Pixel, but Chrome OS support for touchscreens is continuing to improve. A new update in the beta channel brings support for both touch enabled text selection and touch enabled drag and drop on touch based devices. Right now the Pixel is the only Chrome OS laptop that supports it, but who knows what could be around the corner. Google “Happiness Evangelist” François Beaufort noted the new feature in Chrome OS’ dev channel a couple of weeks ago and recorded a demonstration video, which you can check out after the break. Otherwise, Chrome OS users living on the not-quite-bleeding-edge can also expect tweaks like an audio source selector in the tray menu, ability to share folders and files from the Files app and an improved UI for the release channel switcher.
Source: Chrome OS Releases
Aug 26
Google testing search-friendly tabs in stable versions of Chrome and Chrome OS
Posted in: Today's Chili
Google has been testing search-enabled tabs in Chrome since December, but you’ve had to run test versions of the browser to see those tabs in action. That changes today: the company is expanding its trials to include a small number of users running stable copies of Chrome and Chrome OS. If you’re part of that exclusive group and use Google as your default search engine, you’ll see a search box appear in every new tab. The page also supports other providers through a developer API. While Google doesn’t say if or when the new search feature will reach every Chrome user, it notes that previous tests have been “encouraging” — don’t be surprised if your tabs get the same treatment in the near future.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Chromium Blog
Aug 22
The stable channel of Chrome OS has hit version 29, and with that tick comes a few new features we saw in beta just a month ago. Most notable is an “immersive” mode that hides the toolbar and shelf for a truly full-screen browsing experience. And, just like on the standalone browser, you need only hover at the top of the screen to bring those UI elements out of hiding. Pinning apps to the launcher has also been simplified with drag-and-drop — something so intuitive and obvious that we’re surprised it’s taken this long to implement. The app launcher’s search feature has also received a pretty impressive update, with the ability to pull in results from the web store as well as locally “installed” apps and it will dynamically learn from your searches to deliver the most relevant results. A few more minor tweaks have also been baked in, such as monitor scaling, wallpaper syncing and “two-finger history navigation” (which we’re pretty sure is fancy talk for a back and forward browser gestures). The update should be rolling out now to all Chrome OS devices, with the exception of the Thinkpad X131e.
Source: Chrome Releases
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