Google Leaps Forward and Misses the Platform

Posted by Kevin Hutto | Posted in General, News, distributions | Posted on 25-02-2010-05-2008

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For the past decade or more we have all become rather accustomed to the idea of operating systems that install directly to our hard drives, and of course it’s what we are all comfortable with. Google has chosen to challenge that with it’s new Chrome Operating system which is based upon it’s Chrome Browser. That is to say it IS the chrome browser. Is that a bad thing? Well that’s ultimately up for the end user to decide but we will do our best to fill you in.

First of all, the applications that are offered with the Chrome OS are completely web based. That’s right, there will be no installations to the hard drive, you will only be able to use the applications that are offered online. This can really be a pain, especially if there is something you need that just has not been created yet.

Of course at that point you will probably have a whole shelf of PC applications that you could be using, but of course the Chrome Netbook simply doesn’t have an optical drive or even a hard drive. So what’s the idea here? What even makes Google Chrome so desirable?

Well there is the fact that it will have that ‘instant on’ feature. People want their computers to ‘just work’, which means the Chrome netbooks will be great for those who need to check their e-mail on the go. It also begs the question though of whether or not the web browser will be a local application. What happens if the Google servers suddenly decide to go under the weather? You have all this data that you’ve saved online but you can’t access it! You have the latest in mobile computing, but it’s as good as a brick without the ability to do word processing or e-mail. You can’t even install a game to pass the time.

Having an operating system that is completely dependent on the internet is a bad idea at this point. This is for the reasons that were mentioned above, as well as a few others. Some of those other reasons include the fact that it is dependent on the internet! Really, what happens when someone suddenly cannot afford the internet, or maybe their internet goes out. They have a very expensive, and very attractive looking paperweight. This is not the computing of the future, this is lunacy.

Yes, there will come a point when computers can be web based. That will be the day when internet is given free to everyone and outages aren’t quite as common. That day is not here yet, and Google will find that it will be very difficult to force that day upon us.

For those who can afford the machine and can keep a constant internet connection wherever they go, the Google Chrome OS will be a great secondary device. But for right now that’s all it will be. A secondary device.

Kevin Hutto is an entrepreneur and internet business owner from Atlanta. He spent time in the investment banking world at Bear Stearns from 1992-1997. He has owned several online businesses and been doing search marketing services. You can also checkout his latest website on wheeled duffel bag which reviews and lists JanSport Wheeled Duffel from the finest manufacturers.

Author: Kevin Hutto
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

Google Vs Client Apps – What’s at Stake?

Posted by Eric Rowell | Posted in Browsers, General, Software | Posted on 24-02-2010-05-2008

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What does Google have against client apps? Simple. They can’t make money from them with advertisements. The more time people spend on the web, the more opportunities Google has to make money from search advertising and display advertising. That being said, what could Google possibly do to make people start using the web more and use client applications less? Or for that matter, what could Google do to completely rub out client applications all together so that all users are on the web 100% of the time? That’s simple too: create a new standard of HTML for rich internet applications (RIAs) and create a new operating system that only runs web applications. And that’s exactly what they are doing. It’s called HTML5 and Google Chrome OS.

HTML5

HTML5 is the next version of HTML that is currently being developed by Google. Just like Flash 4 and Silverlight, its purpose is to give web applications the same rich user experiences that a client application can deliver. But unlike Flash which has to run in Adobe’s player, and Silverlight which has to run in Microsoft’s player, HTML5 will run in any browser without a plugin. The open source version of HTML5 was released this last month (October 2009), and the official version is supposed to be released in 2012. You can read more about HTML5 here:

http://www.cmswire.com/cms/web-content/html-5-new-elements-new-draft-update-report-002819.php

Google Chrome OS

Google Chrome OS is Google’s new operating system, which is scheduled for release at the end of 2010. It will be a free operating system bundled with netbooks (the notebooks that are used only to connect to the web.) I think it is no coincidence that Google has recently released the Google Chrome browser because I suspect that the browser may actually be a sort of beta for the new operating system. After all, the Google Chrome OS is basically just a fancy browser.

Google’s Vision of the Future

So let’s put this all together:

1. Google releases the Google Chrome browser at the end of 2008
2. Google releases “beta” version of HTML5 at the end of 2009
3. Google releases the Google Chrome OS at the end of 2010
4. Google finalizes the specs for HTML5 by 2012 This looks like a very well coordinated set of releases if you ask me. By 2012, Google will have a free, solid operating system and its own version of HTML which everyone will be using. Google is obviously trying to eliminate the client application world. (Windows, Apple… be careful!)

Good luck, Google. We are rooting for you!

Eric Rowell (cofounder of http://www.adollo.com )

Author: Eric Rowell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

Chrome – A Browser For Google Users

Posted by Hannah Miller | Posted in Browsers, General, How To, Software | Posted on 24-02-2010-05-2008

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If you like Google for its speed and simplicity, you might be interested in their Internet browser, Chrome. Google created Chrome because they wanted to start from scratch on a browser made for today’s Internet. The Internet has changed a lot since the first browsers were developed. Chrome is simple and neat, but loaded with security, speed, and functionality features.

Google acknowledges their use of features already implemented on browsers, like Firefox Safari, to design Chrome. Chrome is an open source project, meaning that other can use from their ideas as well. One of the features you’ll recognize is bookmarks. You can automatically copy bookmarks or favorites from another browser and instantly save a new bookmark by clicking the star icon next to the address bar. These features are identical to those of Firefox.

Like Internet Explorer, Chrome as the option of tabbed browsing and reordering the tabs. However, Chrome allows you to drag tabs into their own windows, or drag windows to become a tab of another window. Chrome also has “Crash Control”, which lets each tab run individually to avoid shutting down the whole browser if one tab crashes.

Chrome carries Google’s tradition of personalizing and simplifying tasks, using the features from the homepage and Google toolbar. When you open a new tab, for example, you will see a thumbnails of previous and often visited websites to choose from, instead of a blank page. Also, while typing in the address bar, Google suggests visited sites and popular sites, or to run a Google search on the keyword(s) you entered.

Chrome was one of the first browsers to have a private searching option. While surfing “incognito”, pages are displayed as read-only, and nothing from these sites are saved on your computer. Google Chrome also has its own task manager. Just like Windows, Chrome allows you to track usage and running processes on the browser. You can detect what add-on, tab, or other process that is using the most bandwidth and end processes separately without disrupting the other processes.

Like many browsers, Google Chrome claims to be the safest and the fastest browser. There are so many ways to test this and different factors that effect actual speed, that this is difficult to prove. In fact, Chrome could work faster for some people or websites, where Internet Explorer or another browser would be faster in another area. Regardless, there is no doubt that this browser is well made and is preferred by a small group of users.

If you just want a fast engine and don’t need a bunch of buttons and toolbars, Google Chrome might be just right for you. To read more details about Chrome features or to download the latest version of Chrome, go to google.com/chrome.

Written by Hannah Miller, Director of Online Marketing and Customer Service Rep, Copper.net.

Copper.net is a nationwide Internet Services provider that is all-American owned and operated. Call today, 1-800-336-3318 or sign up online. Check out my blog for this and more great articles! http://www.copper.net/wire

Author: Hannah Miller
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Information

Google Chrome OS, Microsoft and Cloud-Computing

Posted by Lauren Bridges | Posted in General, News, Software, Ubuntu | Posted on 22-02-2010-05-2008

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By now you’ve probably heard: Google is on the warpath with the announcement of Chrome OS. Just a mere 12 hours after the information was posted on The Official Google Blog, everyone is buzzing about the new operating system, what it means for Microsoft and how the public will react.

Well, it seems they already are. Within 10 minutes of sitting down at my desk, when I was able to finally access my mail, sign on to Instant Messenger and open Chrome, I was bombarded with articles, tweets and IMs about Chrome OS. Maybe this is the reason why. According to the Google Blog, the Google team is “designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds.” The difference is that the Chrome OS will run on the web, versus cluttering up your computer’s performance. This concept of cloud computing isn’t brand new- both Good OS and Microsoft have tooled around with a cloud-based OS. Good OS’s Cloud was released last year and hasn’t caught the attention of the general public, but Cloud 1.0 has been “optimized for netbooks” and is coming soon. (Unfortunately, any chance of widespread popularity was just usurped.) Microsoft’s Azure is a services platform, which may be a terrific tool for developers, but for those of us who ‘don’t do code,’ Azure has very little value (at the moment anyway.) What’s interesting is this quote from Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie, regarding the future of applications and computer use:

“All of us are going to be standing on their shoulders” as the technology industry transitions from offering and using traditional software run in enterprise IT networks to running more applications on the Internet via cloud-computing environments hosted by large vendors…” — Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service

However I think they anticipated Microsoft being the “large vendor.” The cloud, aka The Internet, the virtual highway- is it still virtual? With the concept of widespread cloud computing, and an entirely web-based operating system, the interactive space seems to become palpable. With all of our information, our manageable life existing entirely online, it seems we’re moving into virtual real estate. (I may be exploring the outer limbs here, but it’s a big tree.) One of my biggest concerns, and one I think the general Internet community will also harbor, is that of safety. Google claims that the Chrome OS “should just work.” No viruses, no malware… No identity theft? And although voicing different concerns, the recent announcements for all-in-one telephone application Google Voice also stirred questions of security. 1– I know a ton of my information is already on the web, but everything? My comfort level is questionable, even though I know myself and my love for Google’s simplicity. 2– What is Google doing with all this data? Google Voice will have the ability to record your phone calls for data purposes– don’t you think they’ll cache your spreadsheets, presentations, photos and SSN? Now, Google gets data when we use their web based apps and desktop products. With the Google Chrome OS, every action you take is on their system. What do you think about the issue of security, data sharing and the new Google OS? Drop me a line!

Find out more about Microsoft Azure and Cloud 1.0

Visit the USO Networks for more articles on search engine news. The USO Networks Blog focuses on internet marketing news and information, with an emphasis on the trends in online video, social media marketing and search engine optimization tips and techniques.

As an SEO Manager and Copywriter for USO Networks, Lauren N Bridges manages link building, directory submissions, blogs and onsite SEO for a number of clients, as well as writing video campaign voice overs and metadata while managing, writing and promoting the USO Networks Blog.

USO Networks Blog: http://www.USONetworks.com/blog/all
Follow me on Twitter: @USOBlogger
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Author: Lauren Bridges
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker

Why Google Chrome is Great For Domain Investors

Posted by Morgan Linton | Posted in Browsers, General, Software | Posted on 21-02-2010-05-2008

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This week has marked a proud moment in domain history for domain developers – that’s right, the announcement of Google Chrome. For those unfamiliar with my domain flipping methodology I will explain this first so that this post makes sense. (If you are a regular reader feel free to skip to the next paragraph)

When I flip a domain I do not buy a domain and then sell it quickly. Instead, a flip for me is the process of buying a domain in a category I feel has good growth potential. Next I spend some time researching the market, understanding the top keywords using tools like Wordtracker, and finally – creating a game plan for what I think would be most effective on the given domain. Then I develop a high-quality website with interactive features that keep users coming back. By writing high-quality, keyword-rich content I create websites that rank well in search engines like…Google.

So how does Google Chrome help domain flippers/developers? Easy – all of those domainers that have been getting hits through typo’s will now lose their traffic as the typo’s now become search terms plugged-into the Google search engine. Google then determines it was a typo and suggests what the user was actually looking for. What does this mean? More hits for legitimately developed websites.

This means that flipped/developed domains will now get significantly more traffic as ranking well in a search engine will become far more valuable than having a typo similar to a popular keyword. At the end of the day this is also a better service to the end-user who can actually find what they are looking for rather than the typical parking page found on typo domains.

So domain flippers, developers, investors of the world rejoice! Let’s face it – Google is the undisputed king of the Internet and when the king makes a browser the masses will use it. This will represent a change that over time will help make domain development the new wave of domain name investing.

Author: Morgan Linton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty on LCD/Plasma TV

Top 10 Google Chrome Extensions

Posted by Andrea Sumner | Posted in General | Posted on 16-02-2010-05-2008

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Over the past few years Firefox has been rising in market share in the Internet browser market due to its speed and support for extensions, but that tide may well be about to change. Google this week announced that user-installed Chrome extensions will now be fully supported – meaning that Google Chrome presents the strongest competition ever to Firefox.

Although there haven’t been many released yet, here are the top 10 Google Chrome extensions:

1. AdBlock – If you are tired of seeing ads while you are browsing the web, then this chrome extension is perfect. Block ads and reduce both clutter and load time while you surf.

2. IE Tab – For those websites living in the past, IE Tab allows you to open an Internet Explorer-rendered page within Google Chrome, meaning you don’t have to re-open a new browser.

3. Google Mail Checker – A small Chrome extension to display the number of items in your Gmail inbox. A handy tool to reduce the amount of visits you make to the Gmail website.

4. Chromed Bird – A fantastic little Twitter account inside your Google browser – this chrome extension allows you to keep up to date with your time line.

5. Google Similar Pages (beta) – Following a similar concept to StumbleUpon, Similar Pages allows you to view similar pages to the one you a currently browsing.

6. Facebook for Google Chrome – This unofficial Facebook extension allows you to view your feed, wall and update your status without having to visit the Facebook website.

7. FlashBlock – This Google Chrome extension allows you to block flash on websites. You can block all flash, be selective or setup an embedded white list.

8. TooManyTabs – Tabs are obviously a big part in the Chrome browsing experience, and this extension lets you manage all of your tabs when you have one too many open.

9. Wikipedia Chromium Edition – A Wikipedia extension that allows you to quickly search the encyclopedia in seconds, allowing you to have all of the information at your fingertips.

10. Ibrii – A social extension that allows you to ‘snip’ everything from pictures and videos to web pages. You can share all of your findings on Twitter, Facebook and more.

So there you have it. The Top 10 Google Chrome extensions that are currently available. As support for extensions hasn’t been available for very long, this list will probably become outdated as time goes on – so grab them while they’re hot! Obviously the above list contains a broad range of plugins that are mostly to do with day-to-day browsing. There are many great ones available that are specific to certain areas, such as ‘FireBug Lite’ for web development/design, ‘Amazon Deals’ for shoppers and ‘Slideshow’ for photographers.

Time will tell if Google succeeds in prevailing over Mozilla in the browser wars, but it is certainly looking like Firefox has got a strong competitor. One good thing about the release of extended support for Google Chrome is the (hopefully) soon demise of Internet Explorer users.

Author: Andrea Sumner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

The New Google Chrome Web Browser – Is it Up to Scratch?

Posted by Martin Simmons | Posted in Browsers, General, News, Software | Posted on 14-02-2010-05-2008

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First impressions of Google Chrome web browser -”It’s simple to use; clean in appearance and really user-friendly”.

Look: When I first opened Google Chrome browser, I didn’t know what to expect; I found an internet browser that is very clean in appearance. Google has gone for a minimalistic approach which is perfect. The overall design of the web browser appears to be sleek and modern.

Functions: Google Chrome offers striking new features. When the browser is first opened, a gallery will appear – showing which sites you have visited most. This is a very handy feature if you don’t like continually typing in website addresses, or having to use a search engine to find what you need.

Tabs are also used in the web browser; however, the tabs are positioned at the very top of the browser, this is quite handy, as it reduces clutter between the website address and the main web page. The tab functions similarly to Internet Explorer 8.

In addition, Google has added a new Task Manager feature, which allows you to monitor individual websites’ CPU usage. This comes in handy when you find a website that uses a lot of resources and may crash your browser. This program is useful for avoiding web browser crashes.

Another feature is Incognito mode – aka “privacy mode”. Incognito mode allows you to browse the web anonymously because your web browsing activity won’t be recorded in your web history folder; however, it won’t stop websites from collecting information about your browsing activity. You will notice a dark grey window when Incognito mode is turned on.

Google Chrome also has a quick bookmarking function. To bookmark a website, just click the star button next to the website address bar; this couldn’t be simpler. Google Chrome also has a simple downloading interface. When downloading a file, the file downloading progress will show in the browser, once the download has finished, you can drag the file onto the desktop (within the browser window) to add to your desktop.

Verdict:

Google Chrome is such a useful web browser: its sleek design and ease of use, makes it very versatile browser. I prefer Google Chrome browser to Internet Explorer 8.0, because it is so simple to use and the minimalistic approach allows you to concentrate on what you are looking for, rather than a browser with loads of unnecessary gadgets (Internet Explorer).

What are you waiting for? Try it for yourself!

Author: Martin Simmons
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

The Benefits of the Google Chrome Web Browser

Posted by Samuel Crasnick | Posted in Browsers, Software | Posted on 13-02-2010-05-2008

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What is Google Chrome?

Google Chrome is the web browser released in September 2008 by the Google Team, which thrust Google into the already crowded Web Browser market. At the browser’s introduction, Internet Explorer held about 75% market share, Firefox was at around 15%, and Safari was at around 3-5%. The rest of the market was made up of smaller specialty browsers like Opera or Flock.

So What’s the Big Deal?

Well, Google had been fairly adamant in stating that they were not developing a web browser when it was initially rumored that they would enter the market. Industry insiders suggested Google would release a browser as the company had been slowly but surely venturing into new territory. Google had developed a webmail program with Gmail, a calendar web app, a document and spreadsheet app, an rss feeder, and plenty more. It was believed that it was only a matter of time before they developed a browser to house all of these web applications. In September 2008, 4 years after rumors initially began, Google entered the market.

Ok, Well What Makes it Different?

Chrome was developed with the intention of getting out of the user’s way. The development team had decided early on that the content that was being interacted with by the user should be the entire focus. This is reflected in the user interface of Chrome, which has a small “frame” size, and for the most part, lacks any shiny distracting functions.

In addition, the Chrome team developed the browser with speed in mind. The framework of the browser is based on the WebKit platform, which is also the basis of Apple’s Safari. WebKit is typically very fast and efficient, and served as a great starting point for development of Chrome. The altered WebKit framework specific to Chrome is called Chromium, which is an open source platform.Because of the complexity of some of the web applications on the Internet, the Chrome developers believed that it would be important that the browser could maintain stable whilst interpreting these applications. The team created a system which gave each tab its own process which could be killed if it became unresponsive, without effecting the other tab processes.The browser also offers Incognito, which is a private browsing feature. When Incognito is activated, no cookies, cache, or history is saved. After the Incognito browsing session is completed, there will be no record of that session saved. This is especially useful for public or shared computers.The browser also utilizes a JavaScript engine known as V8, which was developed from scratch by Google. V8 was designed to simplify JavaScript which is simultaneously becoming more prevalent and more complex in the web today.

Author: Samuel Crasnick
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Creditcard Currency Conversion Fee

Google Chrome Operating System

Posted by Richard P Harrison | Posted in General, Open Source Devices, Tablets, distributions | Posted on 10-02-2010-05-2008

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Introduction
Google, the world’s premier Search Engine Company have announced the development of a new operating system labeled Google Chrome.

The company unveiled plans to develop the new system on the 7th of July. Google has now officially made clear their intentions of directly competing with Microsoft in the Operating System market.

Chrome is listed as being a Linux derivative and will be free to use. It will first be launched with netbooks, with a mid-2010 release schedule.

Manufacturers working with Google include:

Acer
Adobe
ASUS
Freescale
Hewlett-Packard
Lenovo
Qualcomm
Texas Instruments
Toshiba

The graphical design is based on the Google Chrome browser, launched 9 months ago, and is being developed as a lightweight operating system with the Internet as its primary priority.

Chrome is focused on consumers who place a lot of emphasis on using the Internet.

Security & Privacy
Google has claimed that the security built into Chrome will shift from the dependence upon Security updates, and that Chrome users won’t have to deal with virus and malware infections. They claim that it will just work!

Their bold claims however remain to be seen. It’s foreseeable that for the time being no computer system can be completely impervious to security problems.

Some individuals have also questioned their privacy and the protection of personal information by Google. We should bear in mind, however, that similar concerns have been raised about other companies that operate in this field.

A Brief History of Google
The Google Search Engine was started in 1996 as a research project by Larry Page, latterly joined by Sergey Brin. Together they devised an algorithm with which to rank websites according to relevancy in Internet searches.

In 2000, the advertising product AdWords was launched. AdWords enabled businesses to purchase keywords for small adverts which could be placed alongside search results.

2004 saw the birth of Google Earth, the result of an acquisition of Keyhole, Inc who pioneered the initial software.

In 2006 Google bought online video repository YouTube.

Since it’s small beginnings Google have continued to offer more services, like iGoogle, GMail, Google News, Talk!, Picasa, AdSense and many more products.

FAQ’s
Q. What is Google Chrome Browser?
A. Chrome Browser is Google’s answer to competing web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.

Q. What is Linux?
A. Linux was developed to be a free alternative to the once widely used commercial UNIX operating system, and is now also competing with Microsoft. In 1991, Linus Torvalds began work on the Linux Kernel (The ‘brain’ of a computer’s control software).

Q. What are Netbooks?
A. A netbook is a low-cost type of laptop computer designed mainly for wireless communication and access to the Internet.

Conclusion
Expect to hear more news about the development of Chrome OS later this year, we’re waiting with anticipation to see what Google’s’ offering will bring.

Author: Richard P Harrison
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Latest trends in mobile phone

Google Chrome Extensions

Posted by Sammy Till | Posted in Browsers, General, How To, Security, Software, Ubuntu | Posted on 10-02-2010-05-2008

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Chrome is the newest browser that is available for people to use on the Internet, and the ‘next big thing’ in terms of addons and applications will be Google Chrome extensions. When Chrome was first released, it was extremely fast and had many features which Internet users had been looking for for a long time. The browser market, however, is already dominated by two major organizations – Microsoft and its Internet Explorer software and Mozilla with Firefox.

How was Google going to position itself in this already slightly saturated market? They went for optimization of their code, making what is sometimes called slow (the browser) and making it lightning fast. They realized that the everyday user online cares only for retrieving information quickly, and that boot-up speed and flexibility was a big factor for people when surfing online.

The launch of Chrome was a huge fanfare, but after a few months they were having problems breaking through the 5% level in terms of overall users. So what was the reason that people were not trying and then sticking with Chrome? The answer was customization.

Internet Explorer’s major advantage over the competition in the browser marketplace was some decidedly shady tactics that Microsoft employed over the last twenty years in terms of supplying their own browser in new installs of its operating system, Windows. This practice has since been challenged in courts around the world, and MS has been forced to pay huge amounts of money in compensation to certain companies, and indeed probably caused the bankruptcy of many, many others.

The Internet generation grew up with Windows and Internet Explorer, and it became the de facto standard software for people who knew no better. It was a huge monopoly which looked as if it would continue unchecked in perpetuity. Then Firefox was born.

Firefox began as an open-source project to create a new, better, faster browser – to try to avoid the drawbacks of a monopoly caused by Microsoft. IE was by no means perfect, and was becoming slow and susceptible to attacks by virus writers and makers who targeted the dominant brand. Firefox was supported by a huge number of organizations and people, especially tech-savvy netizens who demanded more from their product. Google itself invested in the non-profit which was developing Firefox, as well as the once-defeated Netscape organization.

Firefox flourished, and its popularity has grown more and more over the last few years as even regular Internet users have realized that there is an option to using Internet Explorer at home and in the workplace. Communities of people began working on extending the functionality of Firefox ahead of IE, and these add-ons that were written became more widely distributed until they were seen as standard by the surfing population.

When Chrome was launched, people remembered how fast Firefox was when it was first released. Many thought that Chrome would become the new alternative to IE due to this speed, but they failed to realize that the reason it was so quick was because it had a standard installation with zero add-ons and extensions. This was not a good thing for Google.

The Chromium project (who are in charge of developing both the Chrome browser and new operating system) had to adapt, and so they decided to themselves allow extensions to their browser, so that independent developers could advance the functionality of the software and users could be able to use features which they were now used to in their browser.

The first few Google Chrome extensions that were shown off were developed by Google themselves, and include some very simple add-ons as well as a couple of more complex ones. The functionality of adding a site’s RSS to your reader is seen as standard to most people, but it was unavailable until the Chrome extension was released. They also released a ‘check Google mail’ plug-in which would tell you how many messages are in your inbox, and it gives one-click access to your inbox.

The best extension that was revealed early is Bubble Translate – which allowed ‘on the fly’ translation (using Google’s translate facility) of webpages. Obviously these are just the tip of the iceberg, and there will be huge numbers of add-ons, plug-ins and extensions for Google Chrome to come in the near future. We will then see how it fares against its two, well established rivals.

Author: Sammy Till
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Make PCB Assembly

Google Chrome Browser Security Features

Posted by Sara Moses | Posted in General, How To, Security | Posted on 09-02-2010-05-2008

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Currently, IE (=Internet Explorer) is the most popular Internet browser. As such, malicious hackers made it their number one target and set out to exploit its flaws. It also has the disadvantage of relying on ActiveX technology, which allows web sites to run executable programs on your PC via your browser. Although there is an improvement in security in IE7 and IE8 compared to older versions, this technology is still vulnerable.

In order to improve security you may choose to use a less popular browser such as, Mozilla’s Firefox or Google Chrome.

Both Firefox and Chrome use a different technology from Internet explorer. They both built on open source code from other platforms. Chrome browser is based on the open-source Webkit engine, which is an open-source web browser layout engine developed by the WebKit Foundation. Firefox is based on the open source Gecko engine, which is a layout engine currently developed by Mozilla Corporation.

For now the most popular alternative to Internet explorer is Firefox. I have a lot of respect to Mozilla and the open source community, but when I have tried to use Firefox 3.5 I had a frustrating experience. It has kept crashing down on me, crashing my PC along with it.

As result of this experience I have decided to give Google Chrome a chance. Google Company has stated in many occasions that Chrome browser has innovative security features.

When investigating these announcements I have noticed four major security features in Google chrome.

  1. Safe browsing software (it is also being used by Firefox browser) – Safe browsing features protect users against phishing and malware attacks. It uses a blacklist approach that gets downloaded to the user’s PC on a regular basis. How does it work? Well Google is constantly crawling the web, finding new and changed websites. During this crawling if they encounter a suspicious site that seems to be a phishing site (designed to steal personal information of unsuspecting users), it is being added to a list of suspected phishing websites. If a site contains hints to potentially malicious activity, Google tracks this site for a while and if a clear evidence of malicious activity is discovered, such as, computer viruses being downloaded and installed, it is being added to a list of suspected malware-infected websites.

    If you use Chrome browser and you have safe browsing mode enable, then Google Chrome will contact servers at Google, approximately every half hour, to download updated lists of suspected phishing and malware websites. These lists are being stored on your PC so when you surf the Web each site you browse to is being checked against these black lists locally (This is designed to offer performance). If the requested site is in the black list a warning message will appear stating that the requested site is suspected to be a phishing site or a malicious site and the user can choose to go back to safety.

    This feature seems to help the fight against malware and phishing, but there is a disadvantage. A few bloggers have raise questions about privacy implications. Bloggers have notice that every few hours when an update of the black lists is being done, two parameters are being sent to Google servers – “machineid” and “userid” – both computed information based on machine/user information. This information is sent along with a bunch of other browser information to ask Google if they should download an update. This information can be used for tracking. Google is of course obligated to privacy agreement with Internet users stating it will not use any of the personal information being collected, but would this obligation stand against a court order? I really don’t know. In short, safe browsing seems like a great security feature fighting phishing and malware attacks, but users who are passionate regarding their privacy should think twice before using it.

  2. A privacy mode (Incognito) – this feature manages privacy settings and designed to suit users who use public computers, or otherwise wish to keep their browsing habits confidential. When enabled (Click the wrench menu -> Select New incognito window menu item) Chrome browser will not remember visited pages, form and search bar entries, passwords, download List entries, cookies and cached files.You can still create bookmarks, and these will be retained when exiting incognito window.

    A similar feature exists also in Internet Explorer 8 browser and Firefox 3.5 browser. These features probably make live easier for Internet users who want to keep their surfing habits to themselves, but in the same way it helps the adults in the group it also may allow children to surf unsupervised. Internet savvy kids can easily hide their Internet activities from their parents. So it is very important for parents to understand that monitoring of their children Internet activities by viewing the browser history on the child’s PC might not work.

  3. Clear Browsing Data – There is a feature in Google chrome which allow the user to clear browsing data, such as, browsing history, downloads history, cache, cookies, saved passwords and saved form data (Click the Wrench menu -> select Clear browsing data -> Select the checkboxes for the types of information you wish to remove). This feature allows you to keep your browsing habits to yourself even if you are not using the Incognito window. Parents should be aware that similar to the Incognito mode their kids can use this feature to delete their browsing history so parents should not rely on browsing history as something that can help them get involved in their children Internet activities.
  4. Sandbox security mechanism – This feature, as I see it, is the most significant one. A sandbox is a security mechanism used to run an application in a restricted environment. Browsers are dealing with malicious attacks on a regular basis. The most popular vectors for browser attacks are HTML Rendering and JavaScript execution. The sandbox security mechanism is designed to protect the user’s PC and files against these kinds of malicious attacks. If there is an attack that exploits the browser vulnerabilities and an arbitrary code is being executed on the machine, it will be executed in an isolated environment and the user’s PC will not be harmed. This security mechanism will also prevent access to the user’s files. The sandbox mechanism itself is not a new security model; It uses the security features of Windows extensively. You should be aware that since the sandbox mechanism relies on Windows to achieve its security, it is impossible for it to protect against a flaw in the OS security model itself.

In a nutshell, these four security features seem to be helpful and contributing to a safe Internet experience, but I am not seeing any innovative new security models here. Three of these features – Safe browsing software, privacy mode and Clear Browsing Data, already exist in IE8 and Firefox 3.5, and the sandbox security mechanism can be added to IE8 and Firefox by a plugin/addon.

I think the greatest advantage of Google Chrome is that currently it is not targeted as much by malicious individuals, as IE and Firefox are. Additional advantage is in the usability factor which seems to be in my opinion better than IE or Firefox, but I think this issue is a matter of taste…

For now, if you are looking for a less targeted browser, Google Chrome seems to be a good alternative.

Author: Sara Moses
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Benefits of electric pressure cooker

Web Site Promotion – What Will Be the Effect of the Google Chrome Operating System?

Posted by John Lombaerde | Posted in News | Posted on 08-02-2010-05-2008

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Web Site Promotion – Google Chrome Operating System

What will be the effect of Google’s new Chrome Operating system on web site promotion efforts ? The simple answer to this question is that it probably will have little or no effect. Google’s search engine rules and methods will not change appreciably under a new operating system. What will be the impact of a new Chrome Operating System on the computing world ? It may significantly affect the type of computer you buy in the future. It may also have a significant affect on Microsoft, and this is why.

We have yet to see really low-cost netbooks hit the market, but it is quite possible that we will see sub $ 200.00 netboooks in the very near future. We already see cell phones with multi-function capability, namely Internet and e-mail capability, and this trend will likely continue. We probably will also see hybrid types of devices that are not quite a computer, but more than a cell phone.

In order to keep the price of netbooks and hybrid devices as low as possible, it will necessary to eliminate the cost of software. The only practical way to do this is to use Open Source software with this type of appliance computer. It is quite impossible to bundle any of Microsoft’s operating systems, or Office Productivity software in at such a low price. Windows plus any other piece of software is already more than $ 200.00 retail, even in OEM versions.

Linux is an alternative, but it doesn’t quite measure up to Windows in terms of usability and user-friendliness. It has been around for quite a while, and although servers run Linux quite effectively, Linux has not really shown it’s strength as a personal computer operating system in the way it has as a network operating system. Google Chrome actually sits on top of a Linux kernel, but it is not Linux itself, but something new.

If you think for a moment about how many computers are used mainly to access the Internet, read e-mail, and for some kind of simple office-related task; that accounts for a very large number of computers, easily fifty percent, or more, of the PC’s in use right now. Microsoft products dominate this market today, but 5 or 10 years from now, there may be a much different looking landscape in the world of personal computers. There are computers in libraries, schools, second and third family computers at home, Internet cafes, and guest computers in offices, that really have no compelling reason to run Windows or other Microsoft software. (Sorry Microsoft, but that’s the way I see it).

It is these types of shared computers, that would benefit the most from a Google Chrome Operating System. Especially if this kind of computer could be made to access the Internet faster, start nearly immediately on boot-up, and run on-line applications faster than the equivalent software running under Windows, wouldn’t that be rather obvious choice to opt for the free, (and faster), alternative ?

The keys to the success of this new operating system are threefold.

1) It must run an Internet browser and Internet applications faster than Windows.

2) It must be more stable than Windows. This means it must have bullet-proof security. This is a tall order for any operating system, but it should have built-in protection against viruses, spyware, and other type of intrusions. This could easily be the key differentiation between Windows and Chrome. since Windows has had, (and continues to have), so many security vulnerabilities. It should be a top priority for Chrome.

3) It should run the widest possible array of software programs. Google has done a good job of providing internet applications up until now, but there needs to be a Chrome, (or online) application to match, or nearly match most of the software that currently runs on Windows. Chrome will not go head-to-head with Windows across the software spectrum, but the wider the choice of Internet-based software available, the more success Chrome will enjoy. It it not intended to be a network server operating system in the same way that Windows server is, but just the operating system of choice for computers connected to the Internet.

Google is probably the only company in the world today with the resources to be able to develop and maintain an operating system like Chrome. On the other hand, since it is open source, Google may be content to manage from the sidelines and eventually let the Open Source community take it over. Note: At least that way Google may not be tempted to have sponsored links pop up on your screen as you work. (lol – Sorry Google)

It is true that Google as a company cares little how you access the Internet. In other words, they are computer hardware and operating system neutral. Of course, I’m sure Google’s management and software engineers will be smiling ear to ear if they are able to compete head to head with Microsoft, (Google’s main search rival), on Microsoft’s home turf of the PC operating system. Nothing would be sweeter for Google than to have Google Chrome enjoy a resounding success in the marketplace. Google has everything to gain, the more computers there are on the Internet, and nothing to lose.

We will have to wait until the second half of 2010 to see Google Chrome, according the Official Google Blog. It is possible that the most significant beneficiaries of Google Chrome will be thirld world computer users. The dream of a $ 100.00 computer is not yet a reality, and remember that 75 % of the world’s population does not yet have e-mail.

The availability of free computer operating systems and software is essential to begin to close the gap between have’s and have not’s in this world. This author, for one, hopes that Google Chrome becomes the operating system of choice for many of the world’s PC’s, and helps to hasten the day when the vast majority of the word’s people have access to computers and the Internet.

Good Luck in all your web site promotion efforts.

Author: John Lombaerde
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Can Google challenge Microsoft’s dominance in 2010?

Posted by reco | Posted in General | Posted on 27-01-2010-05-2008

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In 2009, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. were fighting for each other’s market share and revenue stream by introducing new products and updated versions of existing ones. Various analysts predict that the year 2010 will see more action between the two giants as they compete in the fields of Internet search, operating systems, enterprise applications and web browsers.While, Microsoft leads in operating system, enterprise applications and web browsers market, Google holds the lead in search arena. However, in the field of web based applications, Google is slowly snatching the market share from Microsoft. For Google, it’s all about expanding, but for Microsoft, it’s about sustaining the lead in the world market. Meanwhile, few analysts believe that Google is the only one that could rattle Microsoft.Here, we discuss various territories, where the two giants fighting head on.Internet Search ShareAs per the November market share, Google remained the dominant leader with 65.6% share, whereas Yahoo and Microsoft’s Bing reported 17.5% and 10.3% share. Besides real-time search interface, Google has also introduced new up gradations in its search engine, which include Google Goggles (a photo-based search), Instant Voice Translation, Location based search and Near Me Now service. Further, the company also introduced its faster variant called Google Caffeine.Google earns 90% of its revenue from web-ads, therefore to check the company prospects; Microsoft has to cut their ad revenue. Therefore, against Google’s monopoly, Microsoft and Yahoo had joined hands in the search and Bing will become the default search engine on Yahoo, creating a search player with close to 30% share compared with Google’s 65%. Further, Microsoft has developed the feature-rich updated version of its Bing maps and introduced another application, called Local Lens to figure out exact location as well.Operating systemsMicrosoft is presently enjoying 92% share in the OS market, whereas Google is under the process of developing its Chrome operating system for light PCs like netbooks. Last month, Google had released its source code for developers. It is reported that the search giant will also release its Android OS based netbook and Smartphone in 2010. The new systems based on Chrome OS will support cloud computing and will be web-connected via Wi-Fi and play only web-based applications such as Google Docs. Hence, Microsoft has to formulate suitable technologies and up gradations to counter the Google emergence in the OS arena.Web-based AppsIn last two-three years, Google has twisted the pattern of Microsoft’s Office market share. Consumers are now using web based apps of Google, which is available for as low as @ $50 per user, per year.Microsoft is aware of the growing threat from the search giant, and will counter it in Office 2010. The new productivity suite will include Web-based versions of its most commonly used applications, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for the first time. Microsoft holds more than 90% share of office tools.

Web browserAccording to December market share report, with 4.63% share, Google’s Chrome web browser has surpassed Apple’s Safari (4.46%) to become the world’s third-most popular browser in just 16 months after its debut. In comparison, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) has posted a drop of 0.92% to 62.7% in December. Further, IE reports continuous slip in its share since the second half of 2009.