Following the release of Google Chrome for Android, the search giant has pushed a long awaited updated to the Stable Channel, tagged as version 17.

As reported earlier, the following build introduces a couple of new features that will improve the overall browsing experience.

Google Chrome 17 Changelog

First of all, it will pre-load the web sites that you are likely to visit when typing them in the URL bar before even hitting the Enter button.

Finally, am improved feature from the Google Chrome 12 will protect you from the malicious downloads with a simple notification.

However, those are not the only changes, Google Chrome 17 also includes a new Extensions APIs and about 20 security bug fixes.

Download

Google Chrome 17 Final (Stable)

[Thanks, Ichann]

That delicious Ice Cream Sandwich.

As it was just a matter of time anyway, Google has finally launched the Beta version of Google Chrome for Android, which is currently compatible with the 4.0 version only.

So what does it bring to the table?

Well, just like with its competitors, you can synchronize your tabs and bookmarks between your PC and a handheld device, but it also includes few features that are not yet widely available.

First of all, you can swipe between the opened tabs just like a deck of cards, which, depending on the number of opened tabs, can be quite useful.

Secondly, incognito mode has made its way to the Android version as well, providing an extra layer of privacy for those in need.

Least but not last is a superb feature called Link Preview. As you might know, clicking on small links can be quite painful, especially in the winter period when you are wearing gloves and can’t be bothered to take them off. Thankfully, Link Preview will automatically zoom in the links, making them easier to click on.

Google Chrome for Android 4.0 also includes search suggestions that can be personalized, omnibox and few other goodies.

For a complete list of features, see the following post.

Download

Google Chrome Beta for Android.

[Thanks, Blake Sening]

BSI (Bundesamt fuer Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik), Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, which has a habit of issuing software recommendations, has picked Google Chrome as the most secure web browser.

Complimenting various Chrome’s features, such as: silent update (which also updates Adobe Flash Player), BSI officials also stated that other web browsers are behind in this area, “This sandbox protection is implemented most consistently in Chrome…and similar mechanisms in other browsers are currently either weaker or non-existent”

Google Chrome on the other hand was “particularly honored” after such recommendation and were happy that their efforts for secure web browsing experience were recognized by such institution.

[Thanks, Blake Sening]

[Via ComputerWorld]

- Right click on the video
- Click “Stop Downloading” before you close the tab
- Job done

[Via reddit]

Where are they headed?

According to the search giant, all of them will be delivered to the Iowa, Illinois and South Carolina states. Furthermore, as Google focuses on specific schools, pretty much every student will receive one.

Chromebooks make our 1-to-1 computing dream a reality. Teachers don’t need to add ‘help desk’ to their job description, and they save valuable class time knowing they can instruct students to close the Chromebooks to stay on task and they won’t have to wait when it’s time to open them again. Furthermore, we’ve seen that any behavior issues become an absolute non-issue because the technology is so compelling.

So, in case you want to receive a brand new Chromebook, just head over to one of these schools and pretend to be a student, even if you are a 40 year old man.

If everything goes according to the plan, Rust, Mozilla’s experimental programming language that has been in development since 2006, could slowly replace C++, which is currently used by the open source organization.

Just like Google’s Go programming language, Rust syntax is similar to that of C and C++ and destined to provide memory safety, greater security and good concurrency support.

Although Mozilla still has a long way to go, if you are curious enough, feel free to download the alpha version of Rust 0.1 compiler, which has been just released.

With Google, Mozilla and Microsoft developing their own programming languages, it looks like the future of web browsers will be very exciting.

When most of the popular sites are down due to SOPA boycott, here is another HTML5 game for you to try.

SKiD Racer, a WebGL based 3D racing game, not only provides entertainment value but also demonstrates what’s possible with the web browsers technology, that require no additional plug-ins nor any configuration. How good is it? See the video above.

So, in case you are up for a challenge, head over to the Google Chrome Store and check it out.

[Thanks, Shane Bundy]

Tagged as 18.0.1003.1, Google Chrome 18 Alpha is mostly bug fixes so far. Excluding those, there are also few minor improvements worth noting.

From now on, Google Chrome will reject weak RSA and DSA keys when validating certificate chains for HTTPS and do a better job at error handing in audio wave out.

Although this is just the first of many v18 builds that are yet to come, judging by the size of changelog, it looks like Google is gearing up for quite a release.

Google Chrome 18 Alpha (Dev) Changelog

• Updated V8 – 3.8.4.1
• Fixed several crashes
• When a profile is synced, use GAIA name + GAIA photo for avatar – Use Google OAuth userinfo API to get profile information
• Added support for manifest_version attribute for extensions
• Eliminate drawing glitch on WebUI radio controls
• Fixed regression with extension omnibox API where whitespace would get trimmed
• Fix page zoom for plug-in documents
• Fix race condition in extension service that causes extensions installed
• Folders in the wrench menu and application menu are greyed out
• Better error handling in audio wave out
• Made URL filter for web request API mandatory
• Reject weak RSA and DSA keys when validating certificate chains for HTTPS; related UI

For a complete list of fixes, see the following post.

Update: starting from build 18.0.1010.0, Google Chrome 18 also includes ability to “Rotate Clockwise” and “Rotate Counterclockwise” when viewing PDF documents.

Download

Google Chrome 18 Dev

Out of curiosity, how many of you are using dev builds?

In an effort to “boost” employees productivity around the globe, a group of programmers have decided to port a popular Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (MAME) into Google Chrome and thanks to that, you can now play pretty much all the classics directly from your web browser.

While you might encounter some compatibility issues with few games, the majority of them should work fine and if you need any ideas, just head over to the MAME’s web site for some nostalgic moments.

In case you are not keen on testing them, Google Chrome Store already includes the ones that are compatible, for example: Robby Roto.

[Via: PCWorld]

[Thanks, Ichan]

With the release of Google Chrome 17 Beta, we go hands on to see the latest and greatest new features and other improvements.

As this is our first try, expect the quality of videos to improve over the weeks to come. This time: two new features that we could not test :)

Feel free to provide us with a feedback and any tips you might have.