Google brings Chrome browser to Intel smartphones

Chrome has made friends with Intel

You can now enjoy Chrome for Android on your Intel-powered smartphone, as the browser now supports x86 devices.

In the UK, the Motorola Razr i will be the first phone to take advantage of the new app, as its Ice Cream Sandwich software is compatible with Google's own-brand browser.

However anyone with an Orange San Diego won't be able to reap the rewards of the updated browser, as it only runs Android Gingerbread, and the Chrome app demands ICS or higher.

Limited appeal

Although this is a positive step forward from Google, the reality is that there are just a handful of smartphones with Intel inside in the world, but we expect more handsets to arrive next year.

Intel phones still suffer from app compatibility issues, as a number of applications in Google Play have been specifically coded to run on handsets with ARM chips.

This means only about 70 percent of apps in Google Play work with Intel phones, however we're told Intel is working closing with developers on porting over the remaining 30 percent.

The Intel-compatible version of Chrome is now available to download in the Play store for free.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/google-brings-chrome-browser-to-intel-smartphones-1100124

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Samsung rumored to be looking to develop a custom browser for Galaxy phones

Chrome on Android comes packed with features

On the heals of Apple's iOS 6 release and a host of Windows Phone 8 device announcements, rumor has it Samsung is hiring WebKit developers to create its own mobile browser for Android Galaxy devices.

WebKit is the open source browser engine behind Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome browsers.

The report comes from the Korean website IT Times, which claims that Samsung's U.S. R&D center in Silicon Valley recently hired WebKit devs to begin work on a Samsung mobile browser.

If the reports can be believed, then the Samsung browser will be designed to compete directly with mobile Chrome.

On a collision course with Chrome

Google's Chrome browser debuted on mobile devices in February, and has since become a popular choice for both Android and iOS users.

By July, Chrome had reached 1.5 percent adoption with iOS users, an impressive feat considering how long those users have relied on Safari alone.

Chrome is more advanced than the default Android browser, and Samsung's rumored browser will have to step things up even further if it wants to compete.

As CNET pointed out, a Samsung-branded browser, if powerful enough, could help differentiate Samsung's Galaxy devices from other Android handsets.

In response to a TechRadar query, a Samsung representative reminded us that the company doesn't comment on rumors or speculation.

That said, the Samsung rep informed us that this is the first he'd heard of a Samsung mobile browser, so take that as you will.

Opera wins globally

Globally, Opera is the most-used mobile browser, according to StatCounter, a global online statistics firm.

According to the StatCounter site, Opera also barely beats Android's browser and "iPhone," which we're guessing means Safari.

Reports claim that most users of web-capable phones simply use their devices' default browsers, and Opera has come pre-installed on various phones from Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Nokia, Sony, and more.

With modern browsers like Chrome mobile coming packed with features, including the ability to switch rather seamlessly between desktop and mobile browsing experiences, Samsung had better have some aces up its sleeves if it wants to stand out.

For more, check out TechRadar's comparison of eight Android browsers' speed and features.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/rumor-samsung-looking-to-develop-custom-browser-for-galaxy-phones-1099710

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