Google on Wednesday detailed some changes to its Chrome Web Store to make it easier for users to search the tens of thousands of apps and extensions. The changes include a new Trending filter that will show the most commonly downloaded apps. The early version of the feature will categorize apps by 'warm' to 'on fire' to indicate their rate of growth.
Rovio iPhone; $3, iPad) and the ad-sponsored Android version (Google Play) along with desktop versions. The company didn't give a breakdown of which versions were most popular, although iOS has historically outperformed Android, even with the paid versus free split.
Chrome OS is vulnerable both to extensions and, to some extent, to Google's own approach to security, WhiteHat Security experts led by Matt Johansen revealed in a presentation at the Black Hat conference this week. Because extensions have to reach outside sites and the OS depends on this code for extra features, it's possible to compromise the OS itself by installing a malicious extension. While not an issue by itself, CNET noted that extensions have shown up in Google's own Chrome Web Store explicitly meant to steal information, and others get deep access that could be misappropriated.
Google teamed up with Virgin America in an unusual promo Thursday to spur on early adoption of Chromebooks. Special areas known as Chrome Zones at the departure gates of flights in either direction between San Francisco International and Boston's Logan International, Chicago O'Hare International, and Dallas-Fort Worth International will both serve as pitches for the Chrome OS systems as well as give an opportunity to check out a free Chromebook for their flight. The promo not only gives use of the portable but free Wi-Fi from that system for the whole flight.
During the day two keynote at Google I/O 2011, the company revealed its Chrome Web Store has been launched to 160 million users of the browser and in 41 languages. There is good news for developers too, as Google will only take a five percent cut, with 95 percent of app revenues going to the developer's pocket. Those outside the current markets will only have access to free apps, at least initially, however.
Google today posted a finished, stable version of Chrome 9. The update is the first non-beta to have the Chrome Web Store built-in and lets anyone in the US reach it through a new browser tab. The store packages apps in a way that Flash, HTML5 or other code behaves more like a conventional app download or sale with a list of installed apps to match.
Microsoft will try to force itself back into the tablet market again in 2011 with a repeat of its HP Slate demo at CES this year, a new leak detailed today. CEO Steve Ballmer will once more demonstrate examples of Windows 7 tablets and is expected to highlight both an unnamed Dell example and the Samsung Gloria. The Samsung device depends on a slide-out QWERTY keyboard in landscape but uses an on-screen keyboard in portrait mode, the New York Times heard.
Google today is holding its promised Chrome event, where it's now virtually known to be unveiling a more finished version of Chrome OS for netbooks and the opening of the Chrome Web Store for both Mac and Windows users. Please check our live coverage page at 1:30PM Eastern (10:30AM Pacific), when we'll be providing details directly from the San Francisco event.
Google's internal Chrome OS netbook may be unveiled at a special event on December 7 if a rumor proves true. The computer would still only be limited to about 65,000 units for "friends and family" and would be running a beta release. Engadget in getting the details raised doubts about whether it would be public facing at all, however, since invitations still haven't been sent to the press and it would overlap with AllThingsD's imminent mobile event.
Google today quietly released a finished version of Chrome 8. The stable release adds a new built-in PDF viewer that, like Safari, saves having to use a companion app. The tool is sandboxed to prevent a rogue PDF from compromising the browser and posing a security threat to the rest of the system.
Google has shown another preview of its Chrome Web Store, a portal for web-based games and other titles. The system will provide a central location for users to find, purchase and download content directly from the browser. Google representatives highlighted the discovery features, Chrome performance, and utilities that guide developers through the process of publishing on the app store.
