Tag Archives: Inside Chrome 6
Inside Chrome 6: Syncing
Posted on 23. Jul, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 
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This article on syncing is part of a series of posts that discuss the new features and technology that will come with the official newest release of Chrome browser – Version 6.
When someone thinks about syncing and Google Chrome, it doesn’t come as a surprise that not much comes to mind. But one needs to realize that being able to sync is an important step towards cloud computing. Syncing information from various devices is going to be important going forward, as hardware becomes less of an important element of mobile computing. It should no longer be the device we are using, but the platform by which we use the web. Because of this syncing will become an important, and hopefully transparent element to using Chrome.
Google realizes this, and they have made being able to sync profile information a priority in Chrome so that one can interface their personal data with several devices. One element of this is bookmark sync, whereby one can save a bookmark with their Google Account from one computer and easily transfer it over to a Chrome browser on another device.
Along with this comes extension sync. Since Chrome debuted extensions to offer a rival to Firefox add-ins, the Official Chrome Extensions site has seen over five thousand ways to extend the browser get approved for use. The great thing about Chrome extensions is that they are built using simple web standards – HTML, CSS and JavaScript. While I test many different extensions on a regular basis, take a look at my post about the top non-bloat non-annoying extensions that are useful to life on the web.
If you like using auto-form fills, expect a nice little surprise when Chrome 6 goes stable. That’s because you’re going to have the ability to transfer your information for various forms over to other devices. A useful feature for sure.
One thing I’d like to mention about syncing is security. Many people are concerned about their personal data in the cloud. Google takes this seriously, so here’s hoping that having the ability to transfer information using your Google Account is secure. After the Chinese hacking attacks last year, Google has implemented SSL on services such as Gmail, and they do take privacy with a serious state of mind. They should, since we are relying on them to protect us.
Google Plans to Accelerate Chrome Releases
Posted on 22. Jul, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 1 Comments
The Chromium blog has a post talking about their plan to begin releasing new stable versions of Chrome every six weeks. It’s a hurried pace, but the fact of the matter is that Google is ramping up Chrome to be used for a platform for technology in many different areas of the company’s strategy.
One of the reasons to increase the frequency of version updates is to make sure that the Chromium team is not putting out stable features just because there is a deadline to get a new release out. There are so many features being added or changed in the development build that it is hard to keep track of what is actually going to go into the stable build. Indeed, it seems the build is update almost every week as it is.
Chrome is going to be a central part of Chrome OS, of course, but it will also be a component of Google TV, arriving this fall on DISH Network. Technology such as the V8 JavaScript engine has also been ported over to Android’s browser as well. There are probably some other features of Chrome that are going to springboard other Google initiatives that we don’t even know of yet.
I guess I better finish up my Inside Chrome 6 series, the new stable release may be coming a lot sooner than I had anticipated.
Inside Chrome 6: PDF, Standard
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
This article on PDFs is part of a series of posts that discuss the new features and technology that will come with the official newest release of Chrome browser – Version 6.
One element of the web that has always been extremly annoying is the prevalence of plug-ins – sure we’ve always just had to deal with them, not realizing that there may be a better solution. But think about the fact that instead of the neccessary plug-ins for a browser have to be downloaded and updated separately. Who has time for that?
Google continues their alliance with Adobe in Chrome 6 by integrating a PDF client right into the browser. What that means is that you no longer have to worry about not having the Adobe Reader pluging to open up PDF files, oftent the standard document format for sending official files. In fact, the integrated PDF reader is Google’s own, devised from Adobe’s own reference specifications.
Due to the security vulnerabilities exposed by the PDF format this year, it seems like a no-brainer to add this into the update stream with Chrome 6. Unlike other browsers, when there is a possible malicious problem with PDF files Chrome can be updated quickly with a fix that can prevent a problem from possibly spreading. Since PDF files are so ubiqutious, this bodes well for overall web security.
Also consider the impact on Google Docs with PDF itegration. Not only can you open up a PDF and fill it our right in the browser quickly, there is potential to use this feature with other Google services. Vector print support was added for better viewing in Gmail. Also, recently a new feature has launched whereby PDF files can be converted for editing in Docs, indeed a useful feature. Here’s hoping other useful features come from Google on this.
Inside Chrome 6: Video
Posted on 19. Jul, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 2 Comments
This article on video is part of a series of posts discussing the new features and technology that will come with the official newest release of Chrome browser – Version 6.
The rise of video on the internet is going to really change the web – although that has been said for years, it’s taking advances in broadband and browser technology for it to happen. We’re getting close, and the fact that Google TV is coming later this year with a version of Android and the Chrome browser on top, new technology in Chrome 6 will propel web-based video even further.
Chrome 6 will support the WebM standard, which runs on the recently opened-up video codec called VP8. WebM is supported by Mozilla, Opera and Google among other technology companies. The early beta of Firefox 4 is the first browser to support WebM.
Earlier this year, Google bought On2 Technologies, which owned the patent to VP8. Once the acquisition was made, several open source groups such as the Free Software Foundation asked Google to open up VP8, and they did. The On2 acquisition was big for the development of HTML5 video in newer generation browsers. With WebM, HTML5 video is run through an open standard, a process that in the past has been handled by Flash and a video technology called H.264, which is not open.
So what does this all mean? Improved quality of video as well as overall performance, no matter where you are. Plus, we’ll see more capability to mash-up, modify and generally edit videos in ways we probably have not yet even though of.
Need some proof? Consider this Chrome Experiment called “Destructive Video” by Sean Christmann. Although it uses the Ogg video codec instead (WebM just came out), you are able to break up a clip into pieces whilst the video is play. Also, check out the YouTube mobile site, which is HTML5-based and very snappy. Although the codec used here is H.264, the WebM format will be introduced as mobile devices get WebM, which Android is expected have implemented later on this year.
