Thursday, September 05, 2013

Chrome apps gain native powers and desktop launcher on Windows and Chrome OS, Mac, Linux versions to follow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/chrome-apps--native/

Chrome apps gain native powers and desktop launcher on Windows and Chrome OS, Mac, Linux versions to follow

The line between native and web apps has been blurring more and more with the advent of HTML 5, and now Google's taking things even further with what it's calling a "new breed of Chrome apps." These new apps, while built with web technologies and the Chrome browser, appear and act like native apps. In fact, Google is rolling out a Chrome app launcher for Windows to allow users to launch these new apps directly from their desktop. Windows and Chrome OS users will get first crack at using these apps, with Mac and Linux folks getting them a bit later.

To give these apps a native feel, Google has given devs a whole host of new tools. Apps work offline, can save data locally or in the cloud, provide desktop notifications and can connect with any device hooked into your computer via USB or Bluetooth -- meaning games can be designed to use external controllers. And, apps won't look tied to the browser as they won't be saddled with tabs, buttons, text boxes or any other browser-esque visual cues. The idea is to create Chrome apps that are nigh indistinguishable from their locally installed counterparts. For now, there are over 50 such apps available in the Chrome Web Store, with offerings including games, basic photo editing and task tracking apps, among others. However, we have a sneaking suspicion that Google's going to ensure that number grows exponentially in the near future.

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Source: Google Chrome blog

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Chrome OS beta adds touchscreen support for selections, drag and drop (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/chrome-os-beta-touchscreen-select-drag-drop/

Chrome OS beta adds touch based text selection, drag and drop video

We don't know when Google plans to release another device like its Chromebook Pixel, but Chrome OS support for touchscreens is continuing to improve. A new update in the beta channel brings support for both touch enabled text selection and touch enabled drag and drop on touch based devices. Right now the Pixel is the only Chrome OS laptop that supports it, but who knows what could be around the corner. Google "Happiness Evangelist" François Beaufort noted the new feature in Chrome OS' dev channel a couple of weeks ago and recorded a demonstration video, which you can check out after the break. Otherwise, Chrome OS users living on the not-quite-bleeding-edge can also expect tweaks like an audio source selector in the tray menu, ability to share folders and files from the Files app and an improved UI for the release channel switcher.

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Source: Chrome OS Releases

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Mozilla's 'Phone for Apps' initiative hits phase two, lures devs into porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/mozilla-firefox-os-phone-for-apps-phase-two/

Mozilla's 'Phone for Apps' initiative hits phase two, lures devs into porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS

Firefox has certainly taken some pretty huge steps since Mozilla initially announced its "Phone for Apps" program back in May. Still, the browser maker knows there's a lot to be done before the mobile OS becomes more of a household entity. To help it achieve that, Mozilla's launching phase two of the "Phone for Apps" initiative, offering developers a Firefox OS device -- in this case the Geeksphone Keon -- in exchange for porting their HTML5 apps to the young platform. More specifically, this qualifies devs who have "already built and shipped an HTML5 web app and have the time now to port that app to the new Firefox OS." Is this you? Then here's what's left to do: click the source below to peruse the rest of the guidelines, fill out the application and, if you're amongst the chosen group, expect a confirmation to reach your inbox sometime thereafter.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Mozilla

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Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: Basically a Perfect Upgrade

Source: http://gizmodo.com/lenovo-yoga-2-pro-basically-a-perfect-upgrade-1256038591

Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: Basically a Perfect Upgrade

Last year's Lenovo Yoga was one of the better laptops we've ever used, and certainly right at the top of Windows 8 convertibles. This year's Yoga 2 Pro refines the hell out of that notion, and adds a super high res screen on top.

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Sony Made the First Curved LED TV, and It's Worthy of Your Lust

Source: http://gizmodo.com/sony-made-the-first-curved-led-tv-and-its-worthy-of-y-1254853239

Sony Made the First Curved LED TV, and It's Worthy of Your Lust

Sony unveiled a mountain of new gear at its IFA press conference yesterday, but for whatever reason it decided to quietly slip this beauty out under all the noise. Comparable to the 55-inch OLED set that Samsung unveiled at CES, Sony's new 65-inch, 1080P, S990A is the first set to put a gentle curve on LED flatscreen technology. And since LED sets are pretty common these days, it means the S990A is available for pre-order right now for just $4,000, compared to the $9,000 that Samsung wants for its curvy offering.

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