Google Chrome may come pre installed on Computers

Google is already working on Chrome’s Mac and Linux version, now it may come with pre installation with Windows XP, Windows Vista and all other Operating systems.

Google launched its beta version on 2 September 2008, I downloaded it very next day, I tested it, Liked it..The speed is good like a fast lightning. But it lacked some of the features which made me to stick to my Current Browser i.e. Mozilla Firefox. But things changed, after three months of its release, Google has removed the beta tag from Google Chrome.

With the final version released, it seems that Google will seriously consider setting up deals with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) which will see the Chrome browser pre-installed on new computers. This, of course, is how Microsoft’s Internet Explorer became the most popular Web browser.

Sundar Pichai, Google Vice President, Product Management, told The Times of London:

“We could work with an OEM and have them ship computers with Chrome pre-installed. We will throw our weight behind it. We’ve been conservative because it’s still in beta, but once we get it out of beta we will work hard at getting the word out, promoting to users, and marketing will be a part of that.”

Google certainly needs something to help Chrome gain any traction in a market dominated by two big players. Internet Explorer currently enjoys a 71 % market share, while Firefox, and has near about a 20 %share of market share and chrome with less than 1% of market share.

Internet Explorer seems untouchable purely because people bizarrely seem to trust Microsoft and so stick with the browser that is pre-installed when they buy their computer. This is why it makes perfect sense for Google to copy that strategy. However, taking any market share from Firefox may be easier.

I read on Matt’s Blog …he stated that Google Chrome could be a strong competitor to Mozilla Firefox, chrome is lacking behind because of add-ons and extensions which Firefox has, this is the reason why users are still sticking to Firefox and stopping them to switch browser. Once the beta testing is done and dusted, and the most obvious bugs have been squashed underfoot, then Google could turn its attention to providing the same level of usability and interactivity that Mozilla currently does with Firefox

If the end of 2009 finds us with a stable and bug-free version of Chrome which is being pre-installed on new computers and can be used with Mac and Linux operating systems, then I think it has a chance. Google very rarely fails in its quest to move in to new markets, so I wouldn’t bet against Chrome making it big yet, despite it having a less-than-auspicious start.

More on Google Chrome>>

Google Chrome is finally Out of beta

Google Chrome and its Missing Add-ons

Google’s Chrome gets control over Bookmarks

Mozilla bounces backs from Chrome challenge

Google's Geolocation API Comes to the Browser

RED HERRING AWARDS IYOGI FOR THE 2008 RED HERRING ASIA AMERICA 100

Award Recognizes the 100 “Most Promising” Asian Companies Driving the Future of Technology

Silicon Valley, CA, Dec 9th, 2008— Red Herring today announced that iYogi is a winner of the Red Herring 100 Award, a selection of the 100 most innovative private technology companies based in Asia.

iYogi delivers technical support services directly to consumers and small businesses and is the first, global, technical support brand based out of India with more than 50,000 customers. The company offers consumers an unlimited, annual subscription service for $119.99 per desktop that includes support for a wide range of technologies, including PC hardware, Microsoft Products Support, Windows Operating systems,Computer Support ,Software applications, MP3 players, Networking devices, Digital camera, Printers and scanners etc.

The Red Herring editorial board diligently surveyed the entrepreneurial scene throughout Asia and identified the top 100 out of more than 1,000 closely evaluated companies that are leading the next wave of innovation.

“Our winners and Finalists demonstrate that Asia is increasingly becoming a leader in innovation, contrary to common stereotypes", said Joel Dreyfuss, editor-in-chief of Red Herring. " It was tough to choose just the top 100 finalists from such a large list of excellent contenders, and we are very happy with the quality of the companies we selected as finalists."

“We believe consumers and small business owners should have low-cost access to the highest quality support available on the planet", said Uday Challu, CEO of iYogi. “We are thrilled that our innovative approach to solving everyday technology problems for consumers and our managed services for small businesses has been recognized by Red Herring’s keen-eyed leadership. We are continuously innovating in adding new services that includes PC recovery, anti-virus, anti-spyware, data back-up and PC optimization in providing the best tech support experience for our customers”, adds Uday.

The 100 winning companies have been announced at the Red Herring Asia event in Hong Kong. The CEOs of the winning start ups presented their innovative ideas and technologies to an audience of leading entrepreneurs, financiers, and corporate strategists at the event at the Hong Kong, JW Marriott Hotel earlier this week.

About iYogi

iYogi is the first direct-to-consumer and small business technical support service from India. Providing an annual unlimited subscription to technical support, iYogi now boasts of more than 50,000 customers. The company employs 600 professionals servicing customers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and fast expanding to 12 new geographies across the globe. iYogi’s resolution rate of 87 percent and customer satisfaction rate of 93 percent are amongst the highest published benchmarks in the industry. For further information, please visit www.iyogi.net.

iYogi Contact

Vishal Dhar
President Marketing, iYogi Inc.
Phone: 212 229 0901
Email: vishal@iyogi.net

Google Chrome is finally Out of beta

For years, Google’s Gmail has been in beta. And It has been just three months that Google made it official that Chrome is out of beta. But I want to ask a simple question….Where is Mac and Linux Version? And the answer is next year, may be in the first half of the year, but no assured date. Despite the word about the upcoming release of a Windows version, there's still no word on when a version of Google Chrome will be available for Mac or Linux.As for the Windows version, the reviews have mostly been favorable for chrome. As the Browser is good at speed and as Google claims that the speed is 1.4 faster than it was released 3 months ago. Users were complaining about the plug-ins and the performance of Google Chrome, And Google has fixed many of them.

A nice bonus feature is one that bundles all of the options that might impact a user’s privacy in one common place. Basically, if there’s a feature in Chrome that involves accessing or storing information that might identify you or something about you, it will be grouped with all of the other features that might have privacy implications so that users can find them easily and adjust the settings to their comfort levels.  In a blog post, the company said:

“We’ve taken security very seriously from the beginning and we will continue to look for ways to make Google Chrome and all browsers even more secure. Google Chrome’s unique sandbox technology creates an additional layer of defense against harmful software, while the Safe Browsing feature provides protection against phishing and malware attacks for many browser users.”

Just because the beta label has been removed doesn’t mean the updates are finished. The team says that work continues on other features and enhancements such as form autofill and RSS feeds, which are in the works. From here on out, the updates will pretty much come as they’re ready. Unlike Microsoft, which usually makes its upgrades and changes in a broad-swoop version update, Google tends to simply make the update whenever it’s ready to go live.

 More on Google Chrome>>

Firefox is leading the Browser Market

Google Chrome and its Missing Add-ons

Google’s Chrome gets control over Bookmarks

Mozilla bounces backs from Chrome challenge

Firefox is leading the Browser Market

I was going through Matt Cutts blog….few days back … he has written a post about Browser market. Honestly speaking I was not at all surprised to know that Firefox was leading the market. Personally I like Firefox… and who will not like a browser which has more than 300 add ons and extensions. I have downloaded many of them and they are wonderful. Like one of them is of colorful tabs, it will highlight the tab in which you are working and there is one more that you can change between tabs through keyboard… I know that you can do that in other browsers as well… but what you can’t do is …you can’t switch between the last tab you used and the one you are working on. When you press ctrl + tab, it will take you to the next tab which you have opened, but after installing that add-on, you can switch between the last tab you used and the one you are using currently. This add on is really helpful for the people like me, who open so many tabs in one window.

I felt bad for Internet Explorer it’s losing its market day by day… there was a time, when people only used Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer has 26.07% of market share. Safari is doing well with 6.48%. And Google Chrome is new market. I was wondering, Google knew well about the market and users…Google knew that browsers are so advanced with so many extensions and add ons, but still it launched Google with not much advanced features. What really amazed me is …still Camino is used in the market??

Following is the market share of Browsers >

Firefox            57.58%

IE        26.07%

Safari   6.48%

Chrome           5.11%

Opera  2.35%

Mozilla            1.44%

SeaMonkey     0.48%

Mozilla Compatible     0.18%

Konqueror       0.13%

Camino            0.04%

More on Google Chrome>>

Google Chrome and its Missing Add-ons

Google reveals Chrome extensions plan

Google’s Chrome gets control over Bookmarks

Google's Chrome will change how we surf the net

Google Chrome and its Missing Add-ons

The reason of Google’s low market share is missing add-ons and extensions. No doubt Chrome browser is a fast Browser. But since its launch, it has lacked add-ons and extensions that provide additional functionality -- one of the key features found in Mozilla Firefox. Mozilla has the highest market share in the market. Mozilla is loaded with extensions and add-ons.

Few days back, Google launched its bookmark manager, hmm…  I think finally Google has realized that to get position in the market , it has to launch add-ons and Extensions for the user who are already using Mozilla’s Firefox and its add-ons.

Today, Google Chrome still doesn't have extensions, but Google developers now have a design document that signals the start of a roadmap leading to extensions.

And it's taking a different approach from Mozilla. Firefox 3.x has made great strides in improving how its extensions are more secured, and Mozilla continues to expand that effort. Chrome's developers, however are trying to start with a secure mechanism for obtaining and updating extensions from day one.

Initially, SSL, signed extensions and a central repository for auto-updates and validation all appear to be part of the plan. Also included are

"We will provide a service designed to reduce burden to developers by reducing traffic costs and providing a robust, secure mechanism for auto-updates that they can easily leverage rather than having to handle the logistics on their own site," Chrome's developers wrote in the document. "It would also provide authors with a way to easily create and verify their extension packages and manifests."

"However, developers will always have the option to package, sign, and host extensions on their own site," they added.

The approach also entails a blacklist of known malicious or harmful add-ons, which will be disabled by the browser. The blacklist will be maintained by Chrome's central service, according to the document.

Despite the additional steps to simplify and layer more security on the process of rolling out extensions, the news still indicates the lack of a cross-browser standard API set for add-ons/extensions, which could enable build-once, deploy-everywhere scenarios.  

Google reveals Chrome extensions plan

Google has published its plan to build into Chrome what is arguably its most requested feature: the ability to accept extensions that can customize how the open-source Web browser operates.

And guess what? Google's dependence on advertising notwithstanding, one of the extension examples the company points to is the ability to block advertisements.

The Chrome extensions document, spotlighted Saturday by Google programmer Aaron Boodman, doesn't include a timeline, but it does shed light on why the project is a priority for Chromium, the open-source project behind Chrome.

"Chromium can't be everything to all people," according to the document. "User-created extensions have been proposed to solve these problems: the addition of features that have specific or limited appeal; users coming from other browsers who are used to certain extensions that they can't live without; bundling partners who would like to add features to Chromium specific to their bundle."

When Google launched Chrome three months ago, it promised a Chrome extensions framework. Extensions are a popular feature of Chrome's most likely rival, Mozilla's Firefox, and one very popular extension is AdBlock Plus.

And AdBlock makes a specific appearance on the list of extension uses that Google said it would like to support eventually:

• Bookmarking/navigation tools: Delicious Toolbar, StumbleUpon, Web-based history, new tab page clipboard accelerators.

• Content enhancements: Skype extension (clickable phone numbers), RealPlayer extension (save video), Autolink (generic microformat data--addresses, phone numbers, etc.)

• Content filtering: AdBlock, Flashblock, privacy control, parental control

• Download helpers: video helpers, download accelerators, DownThemAll, FlashGot

• Features: ForecastFox, FoxyTunes, Web of Trust, GooglePreview, BugMeNot

Demand for extensions is real.

source - download

Google’s Chrome gets control over Bookmarks

After getting so much of criticism, Google has decided to make chrome a better browser to surf the web. It has already launched a new version of Chrome 0.3.154.9 and now it launched a new version on Monday night. The new updated version 0.4.154.25 of chrome, with the new bookmark manager.

The bookmark manager appeared in Chrome 0.4.154.18, a less tested developer-oriented version released less than two weeks ago. It has other new features as well like a refigured pop-up blocker, consolidated settings for privacy options and security features as well. It was mentioned by Mark Larson, the Program Manager, in an e-mail announcement.

In addition, the built-in version of Gears, a collection of Google browser extensions for features such as offline browsing and geolocation, has been updated from 0.4.24.0 to version 0.5.4.0, and the V8 JavaScript engine has been updated from 0.3.5.0 to 0.3.9.2, Larson said.

Google typically posts further details at its Chrome release notes page, though it's not yet updated for the latest version. Hopefully …it would be done soon.

Google's Chrome will change how we surf the net

Browsers matter because we all use the internet, at work and at home. We know that not all browsers are equal: some are slow, some are selective about which websites they work with and some just don't look as nice as others. Google's new browser aims to start again, quietly manipulating code in different ways so that it works at speed, with stability and reliability.

It uses your computer's memory in a different way so that when you close a page, the memory saved is more efficient, keeping the whole thing moving faster and preventing inefficient freezes or crashes. If one page does crash, it shouldn't affect the others.

So should you switch? After all, it looks different from other browsers – there's no toolbar and URL address bar at the top because the page tabs are there instead. Text entry happens in a box that is both address bar and search tool. You enter a URL or search term and it offers suggestions.

Once you're used to the styling it is accessible, logical and straightforward. And because it's so intuitive you can get used to its basics before moving on to the sophisticated additional features.

Such as the way you can simply click and drag a tab so it becomes a separate window you can place wherever you like. Handy if you want to see two windows at once. You can drag it back, too.

Chrome is certainly fast, too, with benchmark tests showing speeds of 35 per cent faster than rival Firefox, for instance. It's also particularly suitable for web applications, like Google Docs, providing good performance for them, too.

Don't be put off by the fact that it says Beta in big letters – the excellent Google Mail program still says that now and it's been stable and highly usable for over four years.

If there's a negative, it's just that you can only use it with Windows. Mac and Linux versions are promised, and Google says they're being designed by engineers who are passionate about the platforms, not just guys tweaking the Windows model. Still, it's a shame they weren't ready sooner as this is a great browser.

More on Google's Chrome>>

Google Chrome: Plug In Support Updated; Watchdog Slams ‘Privacy Threat’

Mozilla bounces backs from Chrome challenge

Google's Geolocation API Comes to the Browser

Google Chrome browser losing marketshare after initial surge

Google Chrome: Plug In Support Updated; Watchdog Slams ‘Privacy Threat’

We’ve been loving the speedy operation of Google’s Chrome browser, but a few glitches - mainly to do with plug in support - have been holding us back from making it our number one browser.

The lack of an adblock plugin has been annoying us, and as power users we still prefer the power and flexibility offered by Firefox’s arsenal of plug ins and add ons.

Google has acknowledged that there’s been problems with Chrome’s support for plugins used to play videos and show PDFs and have just released a new releases which they claim is “packed with plugin fixes,” with early developer-channel users noting a dramatically improved plugin performance.

More on Google Chrome>>

Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure

Google's Chrome browser

Mozilla bounces backs from Chrome challenge

Mozilla bounces backs from Chrome challenge

Firefox surpassed a 20% share of the browser market last month, breaking its own records.

The figures, reported by web metrics firm Net Applications, reveal that for two weeks in October the company accounted for 20.6% of all monitored browser traffic.

Despite this, Firefox closed the month with an average traffic share of 19.97%, falling just short of the magic number.

The report will come as good news to Mozilla, which has seen its share bounce back following a half percentage point fall in September, due to the introduction of Google's Chrome browser.

At the contrasting ending of the scale, dominant browser Internet Explorer has seen its share fall 71.52% to 71.27%. The fall marks it out as the browser with the fastest declining market share.

Chrome was also hit by Firefox's gain, with the buzz surrounding its September launch fading, resulting in its share falling to 0.74% from 0.78%.

Indeed the only other browser to to gain during October was Opera, which jumped from 0.69% to 0.75%.

More on Chrome Browser>>

Chrome Version 0.3.154.9 Released

Google Chrome browser losing marketshare after initial surge

Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure

Google's Chrome browser

Source - pcpro 

Chrome Version 0.3.154.9 Released

On Wednesday Google released the third Chrome beta Version 0.3.154.9.

 Version 0.3.154.9 fixes a security issue that allowed address spoofing in pop-up windows. 

"The window's address bar could be manipulated to show a different address than the actual 

origin of the content," explains Mark Larson, Google Chrome program manager, in his blog 

post.

Version 0.3.154.9 also enables laptop touchpad scrolling, improves plug-in and proxy 

performance and reliability, fixes a PDF crash generated by closing a tab, and eliminates 

the storage of data from secure sites.

The updated Chrome also has benefited from some housekeeping and interface changes. The menu 

commands "New incognito window" and "New window" now always open new windows, privacy 

protected and normal, respectively. The spell checker now works on text input fields and 

allows users to add words to the spell check dictionary. And file downloading has been 

changed to make it more secure.

Chrome is currently a distant fourth in terms of market share. According to Net 

Applications, the global browser market-share breakdown, as of Oct. 30, is as follows: 

Version 0.3.154.9 also enables laptop touchpad scrolling, improves plug-in and proxy 

performance and reliability, fixes a PDF crash generated by closing a tab, and eliminates 

the storage of data from secure sites.

The updated Chrome also has benefited from some housekeeping and interface changes. The menu 

commands "New incognito window" and "New window" now always open new windows, privacy 

protected and normal, respectively. The spell checker now works on text input fields and 

allows users to add words to the spell check dictionary. And file downloading has been 

changed to make it more secure.

Chrome is currently a distant fourth in terms of market share. According to Net 

Applications, the global browser market-share breakdown, as of Oct. 30, is as follows: 

Microsoft Internet Explorer (71.52%), Mozilla Firefox (19.46%), Apple Safari (6.65%), Google 

Chrome (0.78%), and Opera (0.69%).

Chrome is currently available for Windows XP and Vista; Google is planning to release a Mac 

version in the coming future.

Chrome users can also expect an automatic update soon.

More on Google Chrome>>

Google's Geolocation API Comes to the Browser

Google readying fix for Chrome file download flaw

Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight

Google's Chrome browser

Google's Geolocation API Comes to the Browser

The Geolocation API can run on any browser that has Google Gears and automatically will run on Android and Google's browser, Chrome.

Google currently knows your approximate location for when you do searches only via IP data, personalized search data or other, less exact methods. But now, if the browser can detect wifi locations and/or cell towers, Google will know where you are, almost to your exact location. GPS is supported, but most laptops or desktops do not have GPS devices built in yet (yes, yet).

The reaction to this from advertisers and searchers are split. A WebmasterWorld thread has advertisers excited that Google's geolocation capabilities will be able to target their ads better. But searchers are not yet 100% comfortable with Google knowing their exact whereabouts, at all times while using Google properties. Personally, I am not about privacy - I actually am considering wearing a GPS enabled device with me at all time to track me where ever I go .

More on Google Chrome>>

Google readying fix for Chrome file download flaw

Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight

Google's Chrome browser

Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure

Source- seroundtable 

Google readying fix for Chrome file download flaw

Just hours after the release of the Google Chrome browser last month, researcher Aviv Raff discovered that he could combine two vulnerabilities — a flaw in Apple Safari (WebKit) and a Java bug — to trick users into launching executables direct from the new browser. (Here’s a demo showing how Google Chrome users can be lured into downloading and launching a JAR (Java Archive) file that gets executed without warning.

Now, it looks like Google is finally taking the threat seriously with the release of a new Chrome version to developers that change the download behavior for files that could execute code.

From the changelog:

·          This [version] adds prompting for dangerous types of files (executable) when they are automatically downloaded.

·     The file is saved with a temporary name (dangerous_download_xxxx.download) in the download directory and the user is presented (in the download shelf and the download tab if opened) with a warning message and buttons to save/discard the download.

·          If discarded the download is removed (and its file deleted). If saved, download goes as usual. 

 Dangerous downloads not confirmed by the user are deleted on shutdown.

More on Google Chrome>

Google Chrome browser losing marketshare after initial surge

Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure

Google's Chrome browser

Google Chrome browser losing marketshare after initial surge

NewScientist tracks down data suggesting that the bloom is off rose for Google's Chrome browser.
After initially seeing its share of the browser market jump as high as 3.1 percent, Chrome is now down to about 1.5 percent.
What led those users to dump the browser after giving it a test drive?
My wild guess: no Adblock Plus or equivalent.
Chrome is functional and attractive in almost every other way, but it's competing for the same tech-oriented user as Firefox. And Firefox has Adblock Plus.
With no other major distinguishing features (the speed difference is likely negligible to most users), why switch?
I suspect Google will be content to let Chrome molder in the background when it comes to desktop users.
But the company likely has much bigger plans in the mobile arena.
The G1 Android phone will use a modified version of Chrome, as will presumably other Android phones when they're released.
At that point, Chrome usage will likely soar, and that's the market Google wants to corner.
More on Google Chrome >>
Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure
Speed test: Google Chrome Wins the race and beats Firefox, IE, Safari
Google's Chrome browser
Source- techblog.dallasnews

Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight

The biggest rival for Microsoft's next-generation Silverlight Web technology will be JavaScript, not Adobe Systems' ubiquitous Flash, according to experts speaking at Microsoft's Tech.Ed conference here.

"I think that the next 18 months we're going to see a 100- to 1,000-fold speed increase in JavaScript as Google and the guys at Mozilla are going to kick us all in the arse and make our JavaScript jittered," Microsoft senior program manager Scott Hanselman told the audience Friday, days after Google released its Chrome browser, which features faster JavaScript technology.

Jonas Follesø, senior consultant at Cap Gemini, agreed, saying that JavaScript would continue to get speedier and that Chrome will become "massively" faster than it is.

"Now Google has stepped up and released a browser with jittered JavaScript and JavaVM, making this really, really, really fast," he said.

ZDNet's Sumi Das and Sam Diaz talk about the perks and pitfalls of the
newly released browser from Google.

The consultant said that whenever he thought people had reached a limit about what could be done inside a browser using just JavaScript, some "cool JavaScript writer" came up and showed him how to do more.

"It's going to be hard to tell if it's going to be Silverlight or JavaScript we're going to use for our applications," he said. "I think in the end JavaScript is going to be a bigger competitor to Silverlight than Flash is."

An audience member questioned the panel of experts later on whether he should "be out buying JavaScript books" now the language had been "put on steroids."

Harry Pierson, Microsoft program manager, answered that he thought "JavaScript is a very odd language for most developers" and that it was more interesting to do higher-level development and if necessary compile it down to JavaScript.

Hanselman had a different opinion, saying that although it was a "freaky, weird language," it was possible to do object-oriented programming. "The JavaScript I used and hated in Netscape 4 is not the same JavaScript we have today," he said. "So yeah, I think you should get some JavaScript books."

Follesø said that even if souped-up JavaScript became dominant, he thought Silverlight was going to be big, especially in the enterprise when "fun" Web 2.0 applications come to roost. "For the intranet, when the users expect the same kind of user experience it's not that easy to really build that stuff in HTML and JavaScript, so Silverlight might be a lot easier alternative," he said.

More on Chrome Browser>>

Google's Chrome Browser Not Yet Secure

Speed test: Google Chrome Wins the race and beats Firefox, IE, Safari

Google's Chrome browser