Hasta La Gadget!

In August Google pushed out an update to its Chrome Beta channel that included quicker access to search by image via a long press or right click along with a slew of other features. Today, version 30 of the browser is hitting the stable channel, along with its revamp of gestures for the Android version. Over the coming days, users will receive an update on their handsets and tablets that moves all the gestures to the toolbar: swipe down to open the tab switcher and flip through open tabs by running your finger left or right. Chrome 30 also includes a host of backend improvements and access to new APIs such as MediaSource and DeviceMotion, for better integration between webapps and your handheld hardware. For more details about all the changes to both the mobile and desktop versions of Chrome, hit up the source.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google Chrome Blog

Most browsers will ask if you want your passwords saved so when you’re next jumping around the web, logging into sites is that bit easier. Of course, you’d like think those passwords are squirreled away where no one can dig them up, but in Chrome they’re pretty easy to find. As highlighted by software developer Elliott Kember recently, getting access to the list of saved passwords requires only that you point the browser at “chrome://settings/passwords” (or simply find the password management option in advanced settings) and click on one of the saved entries. A small “show” button will then appear next to the hidden password — hit that and it’ll be revealed.

Calling this a major security flaw, as some have, is obviously a tad sensationalistic. Nevertheless, recent attention has shown that making saved password access so simple is a concern for some. Several other browsers give users the option to protect that list with a master password, but Chrome does not — even if you sign out of the browser, data linked to your Google account remains visible on that computer. Justin Schuh, Chrome security tech lead, has responded to internet chatter on the topic, saying that once past the OS login stage, someone can theoretically find your passwords and all manner of other browser info out anyway, using various underhand means. His statement isn’t likely to calm those who’d like to see their passwords more secure, but perhaps the fact people are talking will force Google to consider some changes.

Update: This post has been edited with some additional context and commentary.

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Via: Business Insider

Source: Elliott Kember

As Google continues to work on improving Chrome for Android, today’s update for the company’s beta build of its browser appears to be a step in the right direction. Aside from the usual stability improvements and bug fixes, version 26.0.1410.26 adds two major additions. Lurking within this new software update is a data compression feature powered by Chrome for Android’s recently uncovered SPDY-powered proxy boost. When enabled, this feature optimizes HTTP traffic over an SSL connection and transcodes images to Google’s homegrown WebP format to reduce file sizes. In addition to turning your browser into a speed demon, this optional setting also uses Safe Browsing, which checks the sites you’re visiting against a list of potential threats for malware and phishing.

Further focusing on efficiency, this new update adds the ability to sync autofill and saved passwords across mobile devices. Google says it will deploy this new feature “in the coming days” and notes that you’ll also need the latest version of Chrome’s desktop beta in order to successfully sync your account. So, with that said, we suggest you wait at least a day or two before using your smartphone to go on a shopping spree, because those online checkout forms can be downright tortuous.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google (1), (2)

Good news, everyone: a safer and more robust version of Google Chrome has just been tipped for the masses. Like we’ve previously seen in the beta release, the stable version of Chrome 25 brings support for the Web Speech API. With this update, you’ll find the ability to create dictations and issue voice commands within any web app that taps into the feature. Also of significance, silent extension installs are now a thing of the past for Windows users in Chrome 25. While you’ll now need to consent to each add-on before it’s installed, we’re sure you’ll agree that the added security is worth the extra trouble. As you’ve come to expect, the update to Google Chrome will be rolled out to users via the browser’s auto-update feature, which means it won’t be long before you have a shiny new version number.

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Source: Google Chrome Blog

Needless to say, Adobe hasn’t had the best of times when it comes to the overall reliability of its Flash Player on Apple-made devices — so much so that Steve Jobs took it upon himself to write some thoughts about it a couple of years ago. Thanks to Google, though, Adobe can proudly say it’s famed Flash Player is now more secure than it’s ever been — well, at least on Chrome. According to Google, both companies have been working closely since 2010 to find ways to improve the security aspects of the famed plug-in, noting that some of the most recent enhancements can now be found in the latest Stable release of the browser — in which a novel plug-in architecture is used, allowing Flash to run “inside a sandbox that’s as strong as Chrome’s native sandbox.” The Flash plug-in improvements within Chrome aren’t just for Mac users, however, as Google has said Adobe’s Player is now fully sandboxed on Windows, Linux and, of course, its own Chrome OS as well.

Filed under: Software, Google

Google touts improved Flash Player security in Chrome for Mac, says it’s safer than ever originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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