This part was originally supposed to have been written and posted yesterday (Wednesday the 5th of February) but due to a busy day on Tuesday I never had chance to get Tuesdays part finished and posted, so I'm running a day behind.
Google Now hits the Google Chrome OS Dev Channel
Google Now the intelligent personal assistant service that launched with the release of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in June of 2012, was added to the Development Channel of Chrome OS in January of this year. I switched to the Development Channel before last weekend and Google Now seemed to have issues with the location reporting as it was saying I was in Manchester when my Chromebook along with my Samsung Galaxy SIII Mini, Google Nexus 7 & iPhone 4S with Google Search installed are all in Sheffield.
[caption id="attachment_1910" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Chrome OS Settings showing Developer channel[/caption][caption id="attachment_1911" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Google Now on Chrome OS 34 Developer channel build[/caption]Google Now hits Google Chrome OS Beta Channel
On Tuesday Google Now hit the Chrome OS Beta channel ahead of a possible release to the Stable channel later this month. The Beta release brings some improvements to Google Now including better location reporting from other Google Now enabled devices meaning that you don't get Travel Cards showing up when they don't need to.
[caption id="attachment_1912" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Chrome OS Beta Channel showing in Settings[/caption][caption id="attachment_1913" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Google Now in chrome OS 33 Beta Channel build[/caption]Other improvements in Chrome OS 33 Beta build
There are other improvements to Chrome OS in Chrome 33 Beta including better handling of Window Controls in applications that are set to open in a Window, in Chrome 32 which is the current stable build the Window controls get overlaid onto the full-screen window meaning that things can get obscured in the top right of a Chrome application Window, in Chrome 34 Dev the controls get pushed to a pop out bar that can be slightly annoying if you mouse over the top of an application Window. In Chrome 33 Beta the Window controls are completely hidden from view and replaced by a floating pop out window saying that you are in full screen mode.
There is no sign that these other improvements will hit when Chrome 33 goes stable or if they're intact cosmetic indicators to the Dev & Beta Channels, but it would be nice to get the improved full screen Window controls handling that is present in Chrome 33 Beta.
Roland
Next Previous
