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Sunday, August 2, 2020

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Technology - Google News


Google Has 5 Exciting Upgrades For Google Chrome Browser Users - Forbes

Posted: 02 Aug 2020 06:47 AM PDT

08/02 Update below. This post was originally published on July 30

Chrome is the world's most popular browser, and Google just gave its two billion users five more great reasons to keep it that way. 

MORE FROM FORBESGoogle Reveals Gmail's Most Ambitious Ever Upgrades

Google has revealed performance, feature and security enhancements for Chrome across desktop and mobile. Let's break them down.

08/01 Update: Google's fast paced Chrome upgrades continue with TechDows spotting that Chrome Canary has added the ability to share images via creating a QR code - a helpful feature for saving time and bandwidth. For Chrome Canary users, it works thanks to a new context menu option when you right click on an image: 'create QR code for this image'. You can then share this and the camera on iPhone and Android smartphones will be able to detect and open the image. This is not just a handy feature, but also a useful privacy addition as it means users can share images without those images being immediately visible to others. There is no timeline for its integration into stable versions of Chrome, but I wouldn't expect it to take long.

08/02 Update: While Google continues to add a ton of new features to Chrome, it has also announced a popular extension for the browser will be scrapped. Picked up by 9to5Google, Google is removing its Chrome Password Checkup tool, which was introduced in 2019 to detect breaches of your passport data by third parties. To do this, Google monitored data breaches around the web and also alerted you with a pop-up, if you visited a site with a compromised login as well as if you use the same password on another site. It was a popular feature, but the reason for its demise is sound because Google has quietly integrated this functionality directly into Chrome.

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Read Later

An important catch-up feature first spotted by TechDows, Chrome is adding a Read Later feature on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS which enables users to save web pages for - well - reading later via the touch of a button. Currently flagged in Chrome Canary, users can find it by typing chrome://flags in the browser and searching for 'Read Later'. 

Shared Password support

(Via MacRumors) Google is now bringing support for Chrome to share its passwords with different apps on iOS. Considering the split many iPhone owners experience with their data stored either with Google or Apple iCloud, this will create a far more seamless experience for millions of Chrome users. To enable it, go to Passwords & Accounts > Autofill Passwords > Chrome.

Tab Collapsing / Power Saving

Chrome beta now allows users to collapse all tabs into a group when you enable the following flag: chrome://flags/#tab-groups-collapse. This enables you to quickly hide all tabs within a Tab Group to save space by clicking on the group name. Building on this, TechDows spotted that Google has added a further flag: 'Tab Groups Collapse Freezing' which will instantly allow users to save battery life and memory by freezing all collapsed Chrome browser tabs. Clever. 

Smart Shortcuts

Picked up by TheWindowsClub, Chrome will soon support smart contextual actions when you use progressive web apps (PWAs). For example, if you install the Twitter PWA using Chrome Canary (the developer build) the browser will automatically offer Compose, check notifications, send direct messages and Explore trends options just by right-clicking on the icon. This brings the kind of smart functionality Android and iPhone owners have enjoyed for years when long-pressing on app icons. 

Enhanced Biometric security

Spotted by 9to5Mac, Google has announced the rollout for biometric support when paying by card in Android. Previously users had to find their card - even if it was previously saved - and enter their CVC number. Now Chrome will simply use your phone's fingerprint scanner / facial recognition technology, allowing you to skip this step. Expect this to roll out for laptops and desktops with biometric security in future. 

Combine all these additions with Google's new drive to make Chrome more streamlined, as well as Chrome OS's renewed assault on Windows, and the browser wars are hotting up once more. 

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More On Forbes

Google Reveals Gmail's Most Ambitious Ever Upgrades

Google Reveals Massive Chrome Browser Performance Upgrades

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Baidu completes its computer for self-driving cars - Engadget

Posted: 02 Aug 2020 01:20 AM PDT

FUZHOU, CHINA - MAY 06: A Baidu Apollo vehicle is on display at the Baidu stand during the 2nd Digital China Summit & Exhibition at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center on May 6, 2019 in Fuzhou, Fujian Province of China. The 2nd Digital China Summit with the theme of 'IT application: new growth drivers for new developments and achievements' is held on May 6-8 in Fuzhou. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)
VCG via Getty Images

Baidu is on the cusp of making self-driving cars more practical. The Chinese tech giant has revealed that its Apollo Computing Unit, billed as the "world's first production-ready" autonomous driving computer, is ready for use on the streets. It's an unassuming box (see below), but it can handle massive amounts of data from five cameras and 12 ultrasonic radars.

It's based on Xilinx processors and boasts microcontrollers from chip maker Infineon.

You'll see the ACU in use quickly. It will power Apollo Valet Parking, a team-up with WM Motor that will automatically pick you up and otherwise streamline valet service without requiring drivers. It's due to launch in the second half of 2020 and could be helpful during a pandemic, when you probably don't want other people touching your car.

The firm isn't the only one working on self-driving computers. NVIDIA is quickly landing deals with GM, Toyota and others that could make it a powerhouse, for instance. However, Baidu might be the first to put a platform into real-world (albeit limited) use. That, in turn, could spur competition and increase the chances you'll experience driverless cars first-hand.

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