Ubuntu to Chrome OS

Because of the problems and hassles my laptop gave me, I'm no longer interested in having a computer with an Ubuntu partition. However, I did gain a huge appreciation for what Canonical does, and for open source software in general. It's quite impressive to see support for a free, open source OS that has a growing user base.

Lately, I'm becoming more interested in what is to come through Chrome OS since it is integrated between all Google products. The apps in the Web Store are impressive, and the functionality as a solo OS is increasing quite fast. Of course, you can simulate Chrome OS right now by opening Chrome browser and never closing it, but the system is still running from Windows.

Samurai Champloo Chrome Theme

At this blog we like samurai. We also like anime. We also love Samurai Champloo, one of the greatest of all anime. So I created a Samurai Champloo Google Chrome theme. We also love Google Chrome and each of us has installed the theme and you should too if you use Chrome and like anime, samurai or Samurai Champloo.

Chrome 6 Is Out Today

Today Chrome version 6 was released to the stable channel. Two features that I'm excited about are extension sync and the single menu button. Extension sync is just a great addition to the already incredible sync feature and combining the two menu's into one saves some valuable space, especially for netbooks.

You can also hide the home button (I'm not sure if this was available in 5). Also - I have yet to test this out - I would imagine that the stable version for Ubuntu has now moved the window buttons to the left side. If you can verify this change to the stable version, please let me know in the comments.

Aeonian Samurai Web App

Check out the Aeonian Samurai web app for Google Chrome. You will most likely need the dev build of Google Chrome to install it. You may want to install the canary build if you do not want to give up your stable build.

First you want to enable web apps (instructions here). Once you have them enabled download the extension from the link below. If Chrome does not auto launch the installation, just double-click on the file and "open with" the chrome.exe. Enjoy.

Aeonian Samurai Web App

Chrome Web Store

As Chrome OS rapidly approaches features keep getting piled on. Last week web apps were introduced. Now the dev build of Chrome has added Chrome Web Store to the new tab page, which appears beside any web apps you have installed. The Chrome Web Store basically just a link to the extension gallery. It will eventually be a one stop shop for extensions and apps for Chrome OS, Chrome browser and maybe Google TV.

If you are interested in trying out web apps on Chrome but do not want to give up your stable version, Google also just released the canary build, which allows you to run a second browser that receives auto updates from the developer channel.

Google Chrome in Ubuntu on Mac

Time for an episode of Mabuntu Adventures.*

Problem: Chrome crashes when syncing bookmarks
One of the biggest reasons I use Google Chrome browser is because of the ability to sync bookmarks. Trying to keep the same bookmarks on my HP laptop, Mac OSX, and Ubuntu with a browser that doesn't do this would be painful. Currently, Chrome isn't quite stable enough on Mabuntu yet, but from what I gather from reading over forums, a solution could be coming soon. A particular problem is that syncing bookmarks can cause the computer to freeze, requiring a hard reboot.

Solution: What I do is this. I open Chromium and tell it to Sync Bookmarks. Once it does, I immediately tell it to stop syncing. This allows me to import my bookmarks and prevent crashes. If I add a bookmark on another computer and want it on Ubuntu's Chrome, then I just re-sync and de-sync. As a temporary fix, it works great and is barely inconvenient.

Problem: Hitting "Delete" on the Macbook's keyboard doesn't go back a page in Chrome.
Backspace is what I want to use to go back a page in my browsers, although my Microsoft mouse has a Back button that I use to go Back now. Anyways, Apple's equivalent key is "Delete", however hitting it doesn't take you back a page. It's possible to change Firefox settings to allow this to happen, but so far I haven't found a way to customize specific buttons within Chrome.

Solution: I decided to do what no man should ever have to do. Look at the manual. Browsing the Getting Started forum in Google Chrome's Help, I ran across this gem. A list of keyboard shortcuts. So the solution is that I have to hit alt + left to go back a page in Chrome. I'm okay with this, and I'm sure there are other Linux users who have been doing this for years. Now if I can only find out how to change what "Delete" does...

*Mabuntu is my Macbook 1.1 with Ubuntu 10.4 installed.

Chrome Web Apps

Today I installed the developer build of Google Chrome to test out the new web apps. First, I was pleasantly surprised that the dev build of Chrome, like Chromium, has moved the window buttons to the left for Ubuntu.

I continued to install the only three available web apps released thus far - Gmail, Calendar and Docs. They install like a standard extension, but are activated on the new tab screen. Once activated they appear as small icons and act as tabs. It seems to me that the idea is to have a similar feeling to a desktop environment, where desktop icons are ever present. On a Windows desktop, you have an Outlook Express icon sitting there and you open it when you need to check email. Likewise, Chrome will have a Gmail application pinned as a tab. If you need to check email you go to that "application" even though it is really just like any other tab.

The main difference between one of these "apps" and a regular tab is the address bar goes away when that tab is active, making it feel like a self-contained desktop program. Obviously this addition is a result of Chrome becoming an operating system. The more Chrome OS feels like a desktop environment, the more likely people are to leave Windows for Chrome.

Chromium Updated for Ubuntu

On my lunch break today, I installed an Ubuntu system update. After it installed I was pleasantly surprised when my wife opened Chromium browser. Now the window buttons are on the left side to match Lucid's new style. Note that this change is only for Chromium browser at the moment, which is planned to be the default browser in the next netbook edition of Ubuntu. I'm not sure if Google Chrome will follow, but I do know Chrome beta doesn't have it yet (but perhaps the daily build does). It is likely that Chrome will get it too since the two are almost identical.

Chromium Default Browser for Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook

The open source version of Google Chrome will be the default browser in Ubuntu 10.10's Netbook Edition. Hopefully this decision will carry over to the desktop edition. If so, Chromium would get a skin change to make it compatible with the new Ubuntu look with the window buttons on the left side.

Tips For Twitter (and Buzz)

So you've said goodbye to Facebook and you've moved to fully to Twitter. You've messed with twitter some, but you want to be able to use it efficiently. For a while now, you have been navigating the UI catacombs of Facebook and you are ready for a streamlined social client where you can communicate quickly and effectively and get on with your day. Look no further than the extension gallery of Google Chrome.

Twitter has many good clients for all types of environments. Most of us, however, do most of our computing within a web browser. So I'm going to share a few Chrome extensions with you that allow you to use all of the functions of Twitter without leaving the webpage or minimizing your browser.

Chrowety - Chrowety is Bentok's twitter client of choice. It installs a button that displays the number of unread tweets you have. When you click the extension, it brings down a popup window with a very attractive UI. Reply to a tweet by clicking under it, which expands an area to type your response which has a Wave-esque feel to it. It has tabs across the top which show you all of your mentions, direct messages, favorites and lists. When you share a link with Chrowety it uses goo.gl to shorten it. [Click images to enlarge.]

Chromed Bird - Hammer's Twitter client of choice, Chromed Bird is a great extension for a Twitter newbie like myself. I can do everything I want without going to Twitter's website. Easy to use, too. Here are some features listed on the extension's main page:
* [NEW] Add and remove timeline tabs "on the fly" using the new right-click context menu;
* [NEW] Create custom search queries that will update automatically;
* [NEW] Preview image links by hovering them (Thanks to Takuo Kitame);
* See all your tweets in an unified timeline;
* Follow your timelines (including @mentions, lists, DMs and favorites) and navigate through your tweets;
* Compose, reply, RT, share, favorite and delete tweets;
* Create short URLs within the extension;
* Preview shortened URLs before clicking them;
* Track read / unread tweets;
* Notify user whenever new tweets arrive



Google Share Button - Click on this button when you are reading a good article and you want to share the link with your friends and family. You can share it on Google Reader (which in turn will be shared on Buzz) or on Twitter among a myriad of other networks.

Feedly - Feedly is an uber client for people who primarily use Google Buzz and Twitter as their social clients. Feedly opens a web page that displays all of your unread Google Reader and Google Buzz items in a very attractive magazine format. It is a very enjoyable way to read your friends' updates. It also displays the 7 most recent tweets of the people you follow on Twitter as well as the "karma" of your 3 most recent tweets. Karma just refers to how many people follow the links that you share on twitter, which gives you an idea of how people are responding to the stuff you are sharing.

Google Share Button for Chrome

The Google Share Button extension for Google Chrome allows you to share a web page on a social network without leaving the page. It supports Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Google Reader, Gmail, Blogger and dozens of other networks. I've posted a few articles on the blog from there.

Google Share Button

Chromium Flow OS

The latest build of Hexxeh's Chromium OS is here. I have had it for about a week now and I like it quite a bit. This build is particularly exciting because it now supports automatic updates. From here on out, most changes should be easily updated without having to install a completely fresh build. If you are not afraid to play around with pre-beta software, this is the time to jump on Chromium OS.

It is a very simple operating system. Simplicity, though, is what is so innovative about it. The OS is completely cloud based. There are no programs installed locally, no software updates to worry about. The pattern for operating systems seems generally to get more bloated with programs, features and services and to require greater hardware to support the unneeded features. Chromium is simple. It boots up in seconds and its very fast.

You can run Chromium OS from a USB drive without making any changes to your computer. The download and instructions here. If you think you may like to stick with it you may want to dual boot, which is what I will most likely do. You can find instructions for dual booting here.

Useful Chrome Extensions

With the growing number of extensions for Google Chrome, it can be a little overwhelming when deciding which ones to install on your browser. Extensions for Chrome are very helpful and enhance the functionality of your browser. Unlike Firefox, installing an extension in Chrome does not slow down your browser because the extension is a unique instance running in Chrome's task manager. Here are a few of my favorite extensions.

Google Mail Checker - One of the first extensions created for the browser. Made by the chromium developers. This extension adds a Gmail icon beside the omnibar that tells you how many unread emails you have.

Google Voice Checker - The coolest Chrome extension yet. If you have Google Voice you can't pass this one up. The extension scans web pages for phone numbers. Each phone number then appears as a link. When you click on it, you will get a Google Voice pop up which allows you to call or text that number from your GV number. It also tells you how man unread sms's and unheard voice mails you have.

Google Reader Checker - Just like the other two, it tells you how many unread feeds you have. You can click on the icon and a drop down will show you a preview of what's waiting for you.

RSS Subscription Extension - A good companion to the Google Reader Checker. If you are on a site that has an RSS feed, the icon for this extension pops up. If you want to subscribe to the RSS in reader, just click on the icon. Google Reader is the default RSS reader for this extension, but you can change the default to one of a few others.

Google Similar Pages beta - Ever been to a site and wanted to find another site that has similar content? With this extension just click on the icon and it will report 4 similar sites to the one you are on with impressive precision.

AdThwart - Now that Chrome has AdBlock Plus, not as many people are using this extension. I stuck with it though. If you don't want the extension scanning the site you are currently on for ads, you can simply click on the extension's icon to turn it off. Now it will never scan that site again. I do this for https sites because I don't like extensions scanning sites that contain sensitive info.

Google Dictionary - I like this because I use dictionary sites fairly frequently when writing, especially while writing poetry. This adds a dictionary icon to your omnibar. All you have to do is click on the icon, type your word and it gives you the definitions in a drop down window.

There are thousands more extensions to browse through, but these are my favorites so far. If you don't like extensions that are made by the Google devs, you can get most of these same extensions made by the community as well.

Check out the photos of my set up below. Also, if you think it is a little too cluttered you can get a single extension called One Number that checks Gmail, Google Voice, Reader and Wave all in one extension.

Chrome Is Now Beta on Mac

Chrome has finally reached beta on Mac. Now you have access to extensions, fully functional flash and all the slick features that Windows and Linux users have had access to for a few months now. Now you have no excuse to keep using Safari or Firefox!

Watch YouTube in HTML5

If you are using Google Chrome and hate Flash you can watch YouTube in HTML5 with a nifty extension called HTML5-ifier. You can also join the YouTube HTML5 beta without installing the extension. Vimeo offers videos in HTML5 without an extension as well. Of course, you will need a modern browser (ie. not IE). Say hello to a lovely Flash-less future!

Google Chrome Themes for Ubuntu

Can't wait for Google Chrome? These smooth Chrome themes for Ubuntu may tide you over until a nice stable version is released.

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/google-chrome-themes-for-ubuntu.html

Chromium Zero OS

Hexxeh has a new build of Chromium OS. The list of compatible devices is growing as well as the list of features. Check out the following link for a list of compatible netbooks, notebooks and desktop machines and also instructions for making a bootable Chromium USB key.

http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/wiki/doku.php

Chrome Is Now Beta on Linux

Good news! Chrome is now officially beta on Linux and Mac. More good news! It supports extensions. With flash and extensions, Chrome can now be a great default browser on these two platforms. Also, with the extensions running Chrome on a Linux netbook will essentially be the same as running Chrome OS.

I have the Gmail and Google Voice checkers installed. Take a look at the gallery here and see what extensions are good for you. To get Chrome for Linux click here.

True Innovation

Who can look at this message and deny Google's innovation?

Ubuntu and Chrome

Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) just posted their excitement of Google Chrome OS on their blog. They are lending some development to Google's aid with the operating system. Here is what they said regarding the consumer:

On the consumer side, people will ask about the positioning of Chrome OS and Ubuntu. While the two operating systems share some core components, Google Chrome OS will provide a very different experience to Ubuntu. Ubuntu will continue to be a general purpose OS running both web and native applications such as OpenOffice and will not require specialised hardware.

So 2010 looks set to be a very exciting year. In addition to delivering Ubuntu experiences with both existing and new OEM partners, we will be working with Google on Chrome OS based devices.

Source: Google Chrome OS and Canonical