Category archives: WebBrowser

 

 

Google Chrome 19 beta brings live tab synching to the fold

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You know the score. You’ve stepped away from your desktop, and then you think to yourself, “Damn. If only I could remember that website I’d just visited.” Now, users of Google Chrome’s latest beta will no longer have that worry. The latest incarnation of Google’s web browser gives users immediate access to all of their tabs, across all devices, which can be found within the new tab window. Here, users will discover an “Other devices” menu that gives quick and easy access to all those sites you just visited — yet for the life of you, can’t seem to remember. According to Google, beta users will see this feature gradually roll out over the coming week. Not a moment too soon, either. Google Chrome 19 beta brings live tab synching to the fold originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Google Chrome Blog | Email this | Comments

 

Google updates Gmail's 'people widget,' now includes previous images

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When it comes to an ideal conduit for minor announcements, Google’s found a home on its very own social network. And this time, it’s telling the world about a small update to the people widget — that bar currently occupying real estate on the right-hand side of gmail.com . Along with showing the pertinent contact information from an email chain’s participants, the peep widge will now reveal the last three images sent to you by the displayed contacts. As one might expect, clicking on the pics will whisk you to its associated email, and provide a little extra context to that candid, landscape or Lolcat you’re staring at. Not the most exciting of additions, we’ll admit, but a little extra functionality never hurts. Right? Google updates Gmail’s ‘people widget,’ now includes previous images originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink 9to5Google | Google Plus | Email this | Comments

 

Dropbox enables drag-and-drop uploads on web browsers

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Finished convincing friends, family and perfect strangers alike to sign up to Dropbox — and selfishly upping your own storage in the process . The cloud storage service has just made changes to its web-baser interface, adding drag-and-drop functionality from your folders and desktop. The feature works across Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers and once the site detects the movement, it’ll start uploading to that ethereal data cloud in the sky. You can start dragging those files around at the source now. Dropbox enables drag-and-drop uploads on web browsers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Next Web | Dropbox blog , Dropbox | Email this | Comments

 

VMware's WSX promises to bring virtualized desktops to the web browser with HTML5

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It’s not quite ready for widespread use just yet, but it looks like we could soon have yet another way to virtualize one computer desktop on another device. Tentatively dubbed WSX, VMware’s latest option relies on HTML5 to do away with plug-ins or dedicated applications altogether (a “lightweight Web server” acts as an intermediary), which means that you’ll need nothing more than a web browser to run Windows or other operating systems on any capable device. As of now that includes laptops and desktops running Firefox, Chrome, and Safari, as well as iPads, but not Android devices (though that is apparently in the works). What’s more, while it’s still described as experimental, it apparently offers “near-native quality and framerates” when viewing 720p YouTube videos, and VMware is already toying around with optimizing it for the new iPad’s Retina display. Those interested in a sneak peak can try it out with VMware’s Workstation Tech Preview for Linux, although there’s no word yet on a wider release. VMware’s WSX promises to bring virtualized desktops to the web browser with HTML5 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink Wired Cloudline | ChipLog | Email this | Comments

 

Microsoft PSA: Internet Explorer 9 can do more than download other browsers (video)

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See that up there? It’s called inertia, and it’s what the crew at Microsoft is trying to overcome. For the past 17 years, Internet Explorer has been little more than meme fodder and a litmus test of whether you knew how to navigate the web — and let’s be honest, the addition of the ‘Go’ button in IE5.5 only reinforced the stigma. Sure, Internet Explorer 9 was a huge leap in the right direction, but it’s done little to restore the product’s lousy reputation or stem its dwindling user base. Fortunately, Microsoft knows how to poke fun at itself , and the company’s latest ad campaign fundamentally screams: our product’s no longer awful, so please use it for something other than downloading another browser. Yeah, it smacks of desperation, but now that Mammon’s awoke and realized, “Lo! It was naught but a follower,” we can appreciate its sense of humor. Follow the break for a good laugh, and just for the hell of it, use IE while you’re at it. Continue reading Microsoft PSA: Internet Explorer 9 can do more than download other browsers (video) Microsoft PSA: Internet Explorer 9 can do more than download other browsers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Verge | The Browser You Loved to Hate (Microsoft) | Email this | Comments

 

Microsoft patent application details branded web browser frame

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Originally filed in the halcyon days of 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has just published a web browser-centric patent application from the fine folks in Redmond. Microsoft ‘s “Branded Browser Frame” app details a “computer-readable storage media” that can be specifically executed (presumably by surfing over to a website that’s capable of handling said execution), and then used to present a varying interface based on what the underlying instructions are telling it to do. According to the independent claims put forth, we’re told about a “control layout area… wherein one of the selected controls comprises a website-branded control that serves as a website’s homepage button, and a navigation control that provides an input field.” In lay terms, that sounds a lot like a browser function that would enable many of the typical graphical elements we see atop our URL bars today to be adjusted and dynamically tweaked based on inputs from whatever address it was currently on. We aren’t putting words in the applicant’s mouth, but we’re envisioning a top bar in Internet Explorer that turns red and features DVDs as the forward and back buttons when surfing over to Netflix.com (perhaps a stretch, but you catch the drift). IE9 does a bit of that color changing today, but it’s possible that more is in store. Naturally, it’ll take some time to see if this here app is actually granted, and it’s possible that it’ll look / function quite differently in its final form, but there’s no doubt that someone at Microsoft is dreaming about a sexier (if not more sellable ) browser bar. Microsoft patent application details branded web browser frame originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | US Patent & Trademark Office | Email this | Comments

 

Mozilla outlines plans for Firefox in 2012: less emphasis on version numbers, more focus on user experience

We’ve already seen Firefox move to a more rapid release schedule, and it looks like we’ll soon also see far less emphasis placed on those rapidly increasing version numbers (much like Google has already done with Chrome). That’s one detail revealed by Mozilla in a blog post today, which recaps its activity in 2011 and outlines some of its goals for 2012. That includes silent updates in the background to counter what Mozilla calls “update fatigue,” as well as a number of efforts to make web apps more integrated into Firefox (and complement the Mozilla Marketplace ). More on that and some additional technical details can be found at the source link below. Mozilla outlines plans for Firefox in 2012: less emphasis on version numbers, more focus on user experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Next Web | Mozilla | Email this | Comments

 

Metro-styled build of Chrome in the works for Windows 8

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Windows 8′s impending metro/desktop split means some programs may be pulling double duty in your task manager — one for its classic environment, and one for its fancy facade. Google, not to be outdone by Mozilla , recently told Mashable that it’s building a version of Chrome optimized for Windows 8′s more stylized setting. “Our goal is to be able to offer our users a speedy, simple, secure Chrome experience across all platforms, which includes both the desktop and Metro versions of Windows 8.” a Google spokesperson said, “To that end we’re in the process of building a Metro version of Chrome along with improving desktop Chrome in Windows 8 such as adding enhanced touch support.” The representative didn’t say when the Metro version of the app would be ready, but hopefully it won’t too far from Windows 8 ‘s own launch day. Metro-styled build of Chrome in the works for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Mashable | Email this | Comments

 

StatCounter: Android web browser claims biggest user share

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Android’s native web browser can now lay claim to being the most popular mobile browser, according to StatCounter ‘s latest survey. Mapping use over the past year, Google’s mobile internet browser has grabbed around 23 percent of all users, up from just over 14 percent back in February 2011. The phone and tablet-based browser may have soaked up BlackBerry and Nokia users on its way to the top, with the two companies dropping browser share to six and 11 percent, respectively. Opera continues to hold its own, with a stable market share of around 21 percent throughout 2011, while the iPhone’s Safari isn’t far behind, notching up 20 percent by the end of last month. Conspicuous by its absence, Windows Phone’s Internet Explorer hasn’t made the table just yet and Google is surely hoping to see its mobile version of Chrome enter the table soon — presumably once it’s available on more than one device . StatCounter: Android web browser claims biggest user share originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink TNW | StatCounter | Email this | Comments

 

Chrome now easily opens email links in Gmail, thanks to some HTML5 magic

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The next time you open up Gmail in Chrome keep an eye out for the prompt above, which uses HTML5 to finally close the gap between the way Google’s browser handles mailto: links and its popular email service. Our only question about the change is what took them so long? Using extensions or simply copying and pasting email addresses as Gmail blogger and software developer Michael Davidson has been doing were available workarounds, but they won’t be needed any longer — no DRM necessary . Hit the source link for more info on what it’s doing and how Chrome allows site handler requests. Chrome now easily opens email links in Gmail, thanks to some HTML5 magic originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Official Gmail Blog | Email this | Comments