labs

Try Out Chrome's Space-Saving, Hidden URL Bar in the Canary Build

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 17:05

Netbook users rejoice: Google Chrome's Canary build recently added a new feature that completely hides the URL bar for serious vertical space savings. It's still there, you just have to click on a browser tab (or hit Ctrl+L) and it'll drop down, floating over your webpage. It isn't perfect (as it doesn't allow you to always see the URL you're visiting), but it'll be great on computers for which space is at a premium. This feature's only available in the Windows builds of Canary, and it isn't enabled by default. To enable it, just head to about:flags and toggle "Compact Navigation" on. Restart Canary, right click on the tab bar, then hit "Hide Toolbar" to use the compact version. [via Conceivably Tech] More »

Cloud Print now available in Chromium's about:labs

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 08:00

It's been a little while since we last heard anything significant about Cloud Print -- Google's effort to modernize and webify print queues. We know that HP has plans to deliver compatible printers and that bits of Cloud Print were visible in Chromium back in August, but there haven't been many visible changes since.

Until last night -- when the Cloud Print Proxy service appeared as an option in Chromium's about:labs page. Once enabled, a new option is added to your wrench menu > options > under the hood. Right near the bottom, you'll see:

 
 
Log in using your Google account, and a second button appears to allow you to manage your Cloud Print settings:

The manage button takes you to a Web dashboard, though that's where the fun ends for now.
Soon enough, you'll be able to actually connect your local printers to the Cloud Print proxy, at which point they'll show up on the print jobs page. You can, of course, install other people's printers as well -- those belonging to co-workers, family, friends -- for easy long-distance printing of photos or documents.

Let the "I can't believe you printed your cat picture on my preprinted check forms!!" hilarity begin!

 

Google Chrome gets outdated plug-in blocking

Submitted by admin on Tue, 10/05/2010 - 09:00

Firefox added built-in checking for outdated plug-ins a while back, and it was announced back in June that Google Chrome would soon add the feature. After all, surfing with older, unpatched versions of Flash, Java, or QuickTime poses a security risk, and browser security is a vital part of Chrome's core.

Following the update to 7.0.542.0 in Chrome's bleeding-edge Canary build, Windows users can now turn on outdated plug-in checking. To flip the switch, jump to the about:labs page and click the enable link. Unlike some other experimental features, the plug-in check doesn't require a restart.

Right now, the check is only available in Canary -- but this is the kind of feature Google tends to push to Chrome's other channels in short order.

Google Calendar gets Chrome desktop notifications, tempts Outlook users to switch

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/15/2010 - 15:51

 

Google Chrome. Google Calendar. They're two great tastes that now taste even better together, with the addition of Google Calendar desktop notifications for Chrome. Notifications are still in Labs, but you can turn them on right now to get Outlook-like alerts for your calendar events. Just make sure desktop notifications are on in your Chrome settings, and then enable the "Gentle Reminders" item in Google Calendar Labs. Sounds like the latest example of Google's web apps catching up to Microsoft's desktop products.

Lifehacker thinks notifications might be one reason people are staying with Outlook instead of switching to Google Calendar, and that this might be the proverbial last straw for many Outlook users. Having Chrome open all the time to get your notifications could be a sticking point, but I can't imagine many Google Apps users don't have a browser open at all times. You also have to manually click away the notification box -- instead of waiting for it to fade, as in Outlook -- but that might change by the time the notification feature leaves Labs. Besides, some people like their alarms a little more persistent!

Try Out Chrome's Side Tabs in the Canary Build

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 06:00

Windows only: If you keep a copy of Chrome's bleeding-edge Canary build on hand, you can check out Chrome's optional Side Tabs feature right now. Update Canary, activate a "Labs" feature, and you're a right-click away from vertical tabs. More »

About:labs lands in Google Chrome -- brings tab overview to Mac, side tabs to Windows

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 13:00

 

Chromium -- Google Chrome's open source cousin -- recently debuted the new about:labs page which brings easier access to bleeding-edge features. The Labs page provides a simpler, GUI-based system for enabling things like side tabs which you previously had to activate via command line switches.

In the latest Chrome Canary update, Labs has arrived. That means Mac users can now enable tab overview (an Expose-like feature which shows all your open tabs) and Windows users can play around with side tabs -- no switches required! Just enable the feature on about:labs and restart, and you're good to go.

Remember, this has just hit Canary -- but the dev channel shouldn't be too far behind.

Hopefully Google will begin adding other features to the page now that it's made the jump to Chrome. First on our wish list; hardware acceleration!

 

Google Chrome to get Gmail Labs-like experimental features

Submitted by admin on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 09:30

 

Many of our readers have been frustrated by having to add command line switches to Google Chrome in order to try out a new feature. In truth, it's really not a difficult procedure (though Windows and Linux users have it far easier than those on Mac) -- but wouldn't it be cool if you could just click something to turn them on?

Starting soon, you just might be able to do that. Google OS spotted a new addition to the Chromium browser: an about:labs page. Load it up, and you'll see experimental browser features which you can enable -- like side tabs on Windows and tab expose on Mac.

At least, very soon you'll be able to turn the features on via this page. Right now, it's not functional. Clicking enable on tabs on the left didn't actually activate the feature for me -- I still had to add the --enable-vertical-tabs switch to my shortcut.

The addition of about:labs is a nice touch, and will allow more users to kick the tires on cutting-edge features. That, of course, is a good thing for Google. A larger group of testers should allow them to tackle bugs more quickly and push features from the dev and canary builds to the beta and stable channels even more quickly.