Ask Chrome Questions

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Gwen

Chrome 27 browser from Google has “conversational search” – “click the mic in the search box, ask your question in a natural way, and get spoken answers”. Here’s the video from Google [2:57 min]. Guess we’ll have to be careful what we say while using Chrome.

See Google’s conversational search arrives with new Chrome, Stephen Shankland, CNet (May 22)

Danny Sullivan called it impressive – Google’s Impressive “Conversational Search” Goes Live On Chrome (Search Engine Land – May 22) Speak your search and get the answer back – in audio!

“That’s cool and impressive, speaking a search and getting an answer read back to you. But that’s not the real magic. What’s really special is that you can continue your search “conversation” by asking further questions in a way you could never do with regular search, by making use of pronouns and other shortcuts that reference things in your previous query.”

Security Measures on Chrome

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Gwen

Google Chrome: Best security tips for safer browsing at PCWorld (Mar 18) – one can never be too safe, I suppose.

This article recommends blocking javascript – and what – not use web pages? I think that’s going too far. OK to control plugins, but javascript is used too widely.
If you’re syncing Chrome data across devices or computers there is merit to setting up an additional passphrase for security if the extra level doesn’t irk you. Or securing your Google account.
There are also extensions such as AdBlock that can help.

Browser wars 2013

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Gwen

Decisions, decisions. This PC Mag review of the five main browsers gives Chrome a very slight edge over Firefox, the new Internet Explorer 10, something called Maxathon (all tied in second place), and Opera in last place.

Browser Wars: Chrome vs. IE10 vs. Firefox by Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine (March 8)

Maxathon is dubbed a “cloud browser” because if syncs everything, and you “download” the web pages to the cloud rather than your computer.

If the idea of being able to take a screen capture of a webpage, download video, or switch to a dark view for night viewing appeals to you, give Maxthon a download.

The surprising news was how well IE10 scored. Windows 7 and 8 users may want to enjoy its speed (much better than IE9), its very fast start up time, and its reasonable compliance with html5 (whereas IE9 was poor).

Points in the article:

speed for display
speed for startup – but differences won’t be noticeable
standard’s compliance - Maxathon soars.
the appearance – depends on how minimalist you like it.
security and privacy - IE did best on download protection
syncing – they all do it – across computers and mobile devices.
extensions – Firefox is still in the lead.

Chrome just got safer

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Gwen

Chrome 25, just released, will automaticlly disable third-party add-ons that you didn’t install – the ones that other applications add on the fly. Skype, Norton, and Yahoo are three that come to my mind. Google patches Chrome browser, bans stealth add-ons (Greigg Keizer, PCWorld, Feb 22)

Google’s move follows a similar one made by Mozilla more than a year ago, when it, too, crippled silently-installed add-ons. In November 2011, Mozilla debuted Firefox 8, whichautomatically blocked browser add-ons installed by other software.

Other changes include speech recognition capabilities, and patches to security.

Making Chrome Go Faster

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Gwen

This PC World article will show the keen Chrome user many more ways to browse fast and furiously – but have to be comfortable adding apps and tweaking. Google Chrome: How to make it faster, smarter and better than before (Feb 18)

Viewing The Google Cache

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Gwen

Use cache at Google to see a copy of the page as Google indexed it. Quickly access Google cached pages in Chrome (Nicole Cozma, CNet, Feb 15) tells us why (mainly because the page you click through to doesn’t seem to have your search terms, or the webpage is not available), and where to look.

For where to look – mouseover that double chevron on the right of a search result to get the page preview – you can do that in any browser. But in Chrome, you can also use the address bar and put cache: in front of the URL. Digital Inspiration has a short video to demo this. People using other browsers can also use cache: but put the query in the Google search box, not the address bar.

Custom Search from the Browser

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Gwen

Speed up searches at individual sites or at a selected search engine directly from your browser. Chrome and Firefox are especially well suited for creating custom searches.

Five Custom Searches You Should Enable In Your Browser Right Now by Whitson Gordon, LifeHacker (Dec 28)

“These custom searches are very easy to set up. In Chrome, just right-click on the address bar and choose “Edit Search Engines.” You can edit existing ones or add your own, giving them a name, URL, and a keyword that you’ll type to initiate the search (like the example of lh above. Firefox users just need to create a bookmark with the necessary name, URL, and keyword, and it’ll work like a custom search engine when you type that keyword into your browser.”

Armed with that knowledge, follow the examples given in the posting of setting up custom searches on date ranges, particular topics, dictionaries, favourite sites.

Web Search Guide and Internet News

Web searching with Gwen Harris

Tag Archives: Chrome