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A look at some of Chrome OS's latest bits of polish
The release of Chrome OS looms ever closer, but still there are a number of enhancements and changes being rolled in that should make for a somewhat nicer experience, and TechCrunch has highlighted a few. Perhaps most major among those changes is the ability to browse the internet without signing in, but if you want to update your bookmarks or save any form data you'll still need a Google account. There's a new side bar that appears to give access to other apps, replacing tabs on top, and it also adds in battery and WiFi strength indicators. There's also something of a debate going on regarding whether Chrome OS should have support for compressed archives (.zip and .rar files and the like). Right now the OS has no support for those files, which, as one contributor points out, is rather unfortunate given that Gmail itself generates zip files when you click "download all attachments." Let's hope someone at the Googs finds time to add that in so that future users aren't locked out of the joys of extraction.
HTML5 speed test finds IE9, Firefox 3.7 lead the pack in Windows, Chrome a distant last
Curious to see how the latest preview release of Internet Explorer 9 stacks up against the competition when it comes to HTML5 performance in Windows? So was Download Squad, and it's now revealed its findings in some vivid, if not entirely scientific tests. The end result is that Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 3.7 were well ahead of the pack in the 1,000-fish stress test (with Firefox about 5 or 10 percent ahead of IE), while Opera was stuck somewhere in the middle, and Chrome placed a distant last (and maxed out the CPU) -- all with hardware acceleration enabled, of course, although that had to be done via command line switches in the case of Chrome. Head on past the break to check out the four-way showdown for yourself, as well as an earlier test with just IE9 and Chrome.
Dell confirms talks with Google about Chrome OS
When Google listed which companies were diving head first into the Chrome OS pool, Dell was surprisingly spotted standing around without its floaties on. Of course, that didn't stop the company from installing the OS on one of its netbooks just for fun. Now, hot on the heels of a Dell-specific Chrome configuration, we have word from Amit Midha, Dell's President for Greater China and South Asia, that the two companies are in talks regarding future use of the blingy OS. Midha isn't indicating just what that future use might be, saying only that his company just wants to be "one of the leaders" with the technology. With Acer seemingly ready to announce hardware any day now, Round Rock's best had better get rolling.
Google replaces hints of Chrome OS hardware from Acer, Dell, and HP with even better hints
As you may recall from a few days ago, Google offered some of the clearest evidence of Chrome OS hardware from major manufacturers yet by letting some build configurations for Acer, Dell, and HP slip out into its public code repository. Now, that wasn't too surprising considering that each of the companies have already made their Chrome OS intentions pretty clear, but Google seems to have done a bit of backtracking nonetheless. It's replaced the files with what you see above (the files, not the Caruso), which now suggest that Chrome OS hardware is coming from the likes of Amiga, Commodore and Atari. Way to raise expectations, Google.
Chrome OS build internals confirm Acer, Dell, and HP hardware coming?
We're getting closer and closer to Google's planned Chrome OS release this fall, but still the hardware side of the equation is looking a little less shiny. As of today we don't know exactly who will be bringing Google's little laptop OS to retail first, but now we have a few more clues. Google's code repository contains build configurations for Acer, Dell, and HP hardware, suggesting the OS is being tested by those manufacturers, and while this isn't hard confirmation of device support it does back up what we've heard previously. Acer was rumored to actually show hardware at Computex (it didn't), Dell has already shown Chrome OS running on a netbook, and HP was one of the many that Google indicated was aboard when Chrome partners were announced last year. In other words: no real surprises here, but it's an encouraging indicator just the same.
Google adding 'Chromoting' remote desktop functionality to Chome OS?
Well, this one's come a bit out of left field, but it looks like Chrome OS could be set to get a pretty big new addition: a remote desktop feature dubbed "Chromoting" (at least for now). That word comes courtesy of an apparently authentic message from Google software engineer Gary Kačmarčík posted on a Chrome OS mailing list, which goes on to explain that the feature would let you run "legacy PC applications" right in the browser, and that it would be "something like" Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection. No more details than that, unfortunately, nor is there any indication that the feature will actually be included in the initial release of Chrome OS that's launching this fall, with Kačmarčík only going so far as to say that Google is "adding new capabilities all the time."
People of Lava's Android TV gets tested, only your pocketbook feels the burn
When we heard an upstart named People of Lava were going to beat Google to the punch with an all-in-one TV set, we were confused, amused and skeptical all at the same time. Thankfully, Expert Reviews made a special trip to Sweden to see the company's Android-powered television in action, and now we know what the unit actually does -- it switches between an Android interface and a discrete TV mode without actually mixing the two in any appreciable fashion. Disappointing as that might seem, the publication rather enjoyed the Android side of things, which features not only the above widgets but also a full Chrome web browser, a TV app marketplace, spacious Google Maps page and more. Before you pull out your wallet, though, know that the edge-lit, LG-powered display is intended for the sub-lux crowd; when the Scandinavia ships in September, it's expected to run as much as £2,000 (around $2,898) for the basic, 42-inch model -- or roughly $2,700 more than just sticking with your existing TV and adding a Bonux box for Android functionality.
How-to: push Chrome / Firefox links to your Android 2.2 Froyo device (video)
While we absolutely adore our Nexus One -- now that it's got a bellyful of that fabulous frozen yogurt -- one of the most exciting Android additions shown off at Google I/O isn't actually slated for Froyo: the ability to push apps and music over the air from computer to phone. The underlying framework apparently is, though, and thus a bite-sized version of the functionality is already available at Google Code. If you're one of the lucky few running Android 2.2, you can get an extension for Chrome and Firefox web browsers that will let you push URLs, Maps and YouTube video links direct to your device using a Google Account. You can think of it as an early foray into a Continuous Client, perhaps, sharing with yourself before you head to a business meeting. Better yet, share an account with a group of friends and push interesting items to everyone on the go. See how (and see it in action) right after the break.
Opera parodies Google's Chrome speed tests mercilessly (video)
This, dear friends, is the height of comedy. Opera's pair of Scandinavian browser testers are back, this time applying some extremely high-tech speed tests to determine whether the Norwegian browser is faster than boiling a potato. Seriously, if you're not laughing at this, you either work for Google or you have a funny bone missing. In more concrete news, the acceptance of Opera Mini to the iPhone has accounted for a cool 70 percent of the Mini's growth over the month of April, with 2.6 million Apple users downloading the software worldwide. But that's not what you're here for, you're here to see the epic video, which awaits after the break along with Google's original. [Thanks, Ian G.]
Google Chrome hits version 5, brings stability to Mac and Linux
You've been biding your time, enduring the evils of Firefox, Safari, Opera and perhaps even Internet Explorer (dare we speak its name), slowly summoning your courage to give Google's alternative a try. Well, kiddo, we've got good news and bad. The good news is that if your box lovingly depicts fruit or a well-dressed penguin, you'll no longer get short shrift: Chrome 5 is out of beta and stable across Mac and Linux for the first time, with browser sync and a host of new HTML5 functionality to boot. The bad news is that Chrome has some quirks of its own... but hey, let's not spoil the experience -- no matter what platform you try it on, the WebKit browser is definitely speedy. Those flyin' french fries aren't just for show.
Chrome for Mac out of beta
Google has taken the "beta" adjective off of the Chrome for Mac browser, signifying that it's ready for primetime. The beta was originally released last December. Google Mac says it's ready for a stable release, and that the browser "provides not only the stability, performance, and polish that every Mac user expects, but also a seamless native Mac application experience that Mac users will feel instantly at home with." Additionally, the new release allows for full-screen mode (by hitting Command + Shift + F) and will synchronize bookmarks across computers (something I currently have to rely on Xmarks for in Firefox). And since it's Chrome, the update also adds speed bonuses and brings the HTML5 magic, including drag and drop file transfers for those sites that support the feature. Google also notes that support for a baked-in version of Flash Player will be present in future releases of the browser. It's a little buggy right now (heh), but they're aiming to have it ready and out by Flash 10.1. You can still install and use the current version of Flash, if you want to. [via TechCrunch]
Sony Internet TV, DISH first with Google TV this fall; Adobe, Logitech and others along for the ride
Sony will be first out of the gate with a Google TV powered device, with its "Sony Internet TV" devices -- in the form of either an HDTV or a set-top box with Blu-ray player -- arriving on shelves this fall. The rest of the partners were just as the rumors indicated, with Logitech adding a QWERTY Harmony remote, "companion box" to bridge the gap to existing home theater equipment and eventually video chat capabilities, Intel providing the CE4100 Atom processor at the heart of the devices and an Android 2.1 OS with Chrome browser brings it all together. DISH Network and Google have admitted to their ongoing trials but there's no word on any release date,(Update: We didn't catch it onstage, but DISH just announced it will enable "advanced integration" via HDMI on all of its HD DVR receivers this fall, details after the break) while Best Buy is already on board to sell all of this and inevitably offer to hook up those IR blasters for a fee, while Adobe is just happy to see another device that runs Flash 10.1. The rest of the details are in press release and video form after the break, but you can sign up for updates at Google.com/tv (developers check in here) or check out our ongoing liveblog right from Google I/O. Update: Vic Gundotra just confirmed in a post-keynote press conference that TV will go international next year.
Google TV turns on at I/O: runs Android and Flash, partnered with Sony, Logitech, and Intel
As expected, Google just announced Google TV at I/O. There's four billion TV viewers worldwide, making it the biggest market in the world, and Google's after it in a big way -- it's a $70 billion ad market in the US alone, after all. According to Google, "video should be consumed on the biggest, best, and brightest screen in your house, and that's the TV." The idea is to merge the web and TV without compromising on either the web experience or the video experience, with a focus on discovery and personalization. Of course, since it's Google, the interface is search-driven, so you can just type in things like "30 Rock" or MSNBC" to find channels and content -- including upcoming content to record and content from the internet. Yeah, it's kind of like the TiVo Premiere's swivel search, but prettier -- and there's a Hulu logo on the screen, which is extremely intriguing. Google's not sharing hardware specs, but we're told Google TV devices will have WiFi, HDMI, the Intel CE4100 processor, and... some will have an IR blaster to tune your cable or satellite box, which is just sad. (Like, 1997 sad.) The input devices will all have keyboards, and you'll also be able to use Android devices as a remote, including using voice search to find content and sending content from the phone to the TV. The software is based on Android with Chrome as the browser and full Flash 10.1 support. Since it's Android, there's a version of Android Market -- any app that doesn't require phone hardware can run on Google TV. There will also be a Google TV-specific Android SDK launching in "early" 2011, along with the Android Market for Google TV. As for partners, it's just as we heard: Sony will launch Sony Internet TVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV in the fall, and Logitech will introduce a set-top box with a Harmony remote and an HD camera for video chat at some point in the future. Dish Network will also launch a Google TV box at some point, while Best Buy will promote the platform as a whole in-store. Make sure to keep up with the latest from I/O in our liveblog! %Gallery-93396%
Google claims Froyo has the world's fastest mobile browser
You heard it here first, folks. Google has just come out with the strident claim that the web browser in Android 2.2, aka Froyo, is the world's fastest for mobile devices. Having implemented the V8 JavaScript Engine that's already made an appearance in its desktop Chrome browser, Google's reporting JavaScript performance that's somewhere in the vicinity of two to three times better than what you can get from previous Android versions. We'll give this geek cabal some style points for the double equals sign up top, but will certainly be putting its bold assertion to the test in the very near future.
Google to digitally distribute games through web-based app store
[Engadget] Former Joystiqer Ross Miller is currently on the ground for Engadget at Google's annual dev conference "I/O" in San Francisco, where the company just revealed its web-based app store for Chrome and Chrome OS. Aside from a handful of regular ol' apps and an interactive version of Sports Illustrated (paper? what's that?), Google debuted games for purchase, playable in-browser. Plants vs. Zombies and Lego Star Wars are explicitly mentioned in the piece, but we can also spot Bejeweled 2 (also by PopCap), as well as Poker Rivals, Scrabble, FIFA World Cup 2010, and Who Has the Biggest Brain? (all by EA) -- a LucasArts rep clarified for us that the version of Lego Star Wars seen is actually this already available online game. We're not sure how much the games will be going for or even exactly how it'll work just yet, but we'll let you know just as soon as we do (there's a bit more info on the FAQ page). The web store is set to go live for developers "soon," but hasn't been dated for the general public just yet.
Google unveils Chrome web store, Sports Illustrated app impresses
Interested to know how you were gonna fill up that Chrome OS app page? Google just announced its new online web app store at I/O. So far they've shown off Dark Room for image editing, a pretty slick version of TweetDeck, and yes, like every other platform known to man, there's Plants. vs. Zombies and Lego Star Wars. Paid-for software will be offered -- Dark Room is $4.99, if you want to go ahead and put that money aside. No word on a launch date, but we'll keep pushing for more. We were just shown a demo of Sports Illustrated's interactive magazine, and we gotta say, it's mighty impressive -- embedded video, fully searchable, and some pretty clever tricks with geolocation that frankly exceed most anything we've seen on the iPad thus far. The web store -- for Chrome and Chrome OS -- will hit the dev channel "soon." %Gallery-93302%
Acer holding global event at end of May, no Chrome OS devices planned to launch
Thinking that early June / Computex will see the launch of Acer's Chrome OS devices? That's what we heard yesterday, but after doing a little digging of our own, our advice is simply, don't hold your breath. A source within Acer has told us that the company has no plans to hold a press conference at the Taipei show, and that a global launch event will be held in New York on May 25. The "significant news" Acer has to share this spring will be revealed then, but it doesn't seem like it'll entail Chrome OS devices either. So, what do we make of all of this? If we had to bet, we'd say that Chrome isn't quite ready for prime time yet, as others have been reporting. But Acer has been known to show early prototypes of devices behind glass at trade shows -- we saw the Android Aspire One under lock and key at Computex last year. Who knows what will happen in the next few weeks with Google I/O, this Acer event and Computex, but we just have a feeling we'll be waiting a bit longer for the company's Chrome OS systems to hit the market. Though, that doesn't mean it won't launch them in the second half of the year like originally promised.
Acer to launch Chrome OS devices at Computex?
Acer said it would be first to market with a Chrome OS netbook, and it's looking like it may meet that lofty goal. Sources told VentureBeat that the company will debut multiple new products featuring the cloud-based operating system at Computex in June, less than three weeks from now. Then again, Chrome OS has been slated for the second half of 2010 for some time, so Acer may not be alone in introducing insanely-quick boot times at the show. We could even see devices earlier; we've been invited to an Acer press event in NYC on the last week of May, and it's not too late for Samsung, Asus or Verizon to show off a partner device at Google I/O. It's going to be a exciting few weeks, eh?
Google's Native Client SDK developer preview provides helpful reminder of plans for world domination
It's easy to forget some of Google's "we will own you and your children" initiatives: there are simply so many of them. One particular gambit that has been flying under the radar is Google's Native Client, which allows the Chrome browser to execute x86 code natively. This has big implications for moving those beefy, number crunching desktop app holdouts to the browser, which would not only be a boon for Google's ability to make Microsoft and Apple-beating web apps, but a big win for Chrome OS as well. Right now the Native Client is only working with the developer-oriented Chromium browser, with ubiquitous support a distant dream, but Google has already worked out ARM processor code portability, has plans to be completely processor agnostic in the future, and will be updating the SDK "rapidly" in the coming months. Basically, it's on. Check out a video demonstration of some "hello world" code after the break, along with a brief demo of a 3D shooter.
Verizon confirms it's working on a tablet with Google (Update: Android!)
Not much by way of detail here, but Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam just confirmed that his company is working on tablets with Google in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Unfortunately, that's all we've got to work with at the moment -- McAdam said tablets are "part of the 'next big wave of opportunities,' but didn't say what OS the Google devices would run, just that Verizon's "looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience." That sounds like something Google's been working on for a while, so we'll take a guess and say it's Android-based, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a Chrome OS tablet or netbook make the scene at some point in the future. We're also wondering who'll build this thing: any number of companies from Dell to Toshiba to MSI have already started working on Android tablets, and we're sure HTC and Motorola would totally jump at the opportunity. A nice crisp confirmed fact wrapped in layers of chewy speculation -- just how we likes it. Update: Bloomberg scored some more details in an interview with Marquett Smith, Verizon's VP of corporate communications; the tablet is said be Android-based, and more details will be released later this week. Let the wait begin!
