Chrome for Android now updated to Version 32 Visit Play Store in your Android smartphone or tablet to check whether the update is available for you or not. If there is no update for your Chrome for Android, you probably have to wait one or two days, because Google rolls out Android app updates in stages. What are the goodies in Chrome for Android v32? Based on the blog post, the new features in this Chrome for Android update include: Add web page shortcuts right to your home screen more easily from the menu Reduce data usage in Chrome up to 50%.… Read More
It was teased in 2011. Yes, it was in 2011 (not a typo) when Microsoft unveiled the first preview version of IE 10 for Windows 7. The second preview also can run on Windows 7. But after that, IE 10 has been for Windows 8 only. Apparently, Microsoft attempted to use this IE 10 as a teaser for Windows 8 upgrading. It seems the attempt failed: instead of upgrading to Windows 8 to get IE 10, most users chose Chrome or Firefox. Developers also accused Microsoft actually was holding back internet, because IE 10 supports more web standards. Yes, IE 10 finally… Read More
Chrome for Android was just updated to version 25.0.1364.123. If you have an Android phone or tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) or Jelly Bean (4.1 and 4.2). You can grab the update from Google Play Store. So, the version on desktop and Android is similar now. For older versions of Android, Chrome is not available. Previous update of Chrome for Android was released in November, and the version was 18.0.1026311. It is easy to find out this is a major update (from V18 to V25), and now the Android one reaches the identical version of the desktop. This implies Chrome for Android will be… Read More
As a Chrome user, you probably know the Omnibox, the combined search and address bar in Chrome. But you probably did not notice the difference in search when you signed into Google and when you did not sign into Google. If you sign into Google, the search is encrypted, i.e., the search is sent through https. But if you are not signed in, your search will be sent through plain HTTP, which means your search can be easily monitored/intercepted by others. So, this can be a privacy concern for some users. Of course, you can always get encrypted search through: https://encrypted.google.com. But… Read More
Do you know or even heard about Netscape Navigator? It has been the best browser from its initial launch in December 1994 to its death (almost dead, and bought by AOL) in 1998. It was buried by AOL in 2008. Netscape Navigator was not defeated but was murdered, by Micro$oft. Sometimes, this is often referred to as the First Browser War. As a long time user of Navigator, I always believe Navigator was murdered. The murder is Mirco$oft. The ammunition used by the murder mainly includes: 1). monopoly in the PC operating system; 2). huge cash pile; and 3).the uninformed mass. So,… Read More
Last week, Amazon issued a software update 6.3.1 for its Kindle Fire tablet. One of the notable updates is adding password protection and other parental controls. Now Kindle owners can enable password-protect purchases, disable access to specific content libraries, and block access to the Silk web browser. Parents now can control what their kids can use by blocking adult contents, some apps or movies. Of course, they can also block any purchases by kids, the major concern of many parents. These actually are the major missing feature as a content consuming tablet when Fire debuted in last November. Similar to previous updates, this is also an over-the-air update.… Read More
We all know Internet Explorer sucks. We always recommend our readers to use alternatives, e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Opera, SeaMonkey. Even the old Netscape or Mozilla is far better than the IE. Today, I read a report claiming Internet Explorer provides the best browser battery life (i.e., drain your battery at a slower pace). It sounds like an April 1 joke. Usually, I did not pay much attention to such benchmarks: I rely on my own "experience". That's the major reason I switched from Firefox (which is far better than Internet Explorer) to Chrome (which is currently my favourite browser). User experience… Read More
Recently, Google has been in the crosshair of privacy groups. It was revealed that Google can bypass Safari's privacy settings. Then Microsoft cried out that Google also bypassed the privacy settings of IE very easily (and naturally). It seems people suddenly start to concern about their privacy. Do Not Track becomes a popular word, although most people do not really understand it. Even the politicians want to express their interest in solving this issue. The White House last week unveiled a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights”. Mozilla reminded us that they invented Do Not Track in February 2011. If it was Apple, it… Read More
IE privacy setting is just a joke, now this is clear. In our safe surfing guide series (part 4), we recommended you to dump IE and choose a better web browser, e.g., Chrome or Firefox, or SeaMonkey. Today, you get another reason to dump it forever! On Feb. 20, Microsoft claimed that Google has been bypassing the user-defined privacy settings in Internet Explorer by using incorrect P3P identification terms: Technically, Google utilizes a nuance in the P3P specification that has the effect of bypassing user preferences about cookies … By sending this text, Google bypasses the cookie protection and enables… Read More
It is not a joke. Micro$oft did it again. Last year, Microsoft Security Essentials tried to Google Chrome by deleting it. According to some reports, Microsoft Antivirus and Security products ( Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials) started to mark google.com as being a severe threat called Exploit:JS/Blacole.BW on Valentine's day. A V-day gift for Google. Surely, Microsoft quickly (4 hours) fixed the issue, and as usual, explained this is another technical issue. Of course, I was not affected because I am using Avast!, one of the best free antivirus software. We used it for many years without major issues. I… Read More