This newest version of Chrome is a stable release, this meaning it’s not a Beta like the mobile version is, and should have absolutely no glitches while you’re using it on a daily basis. This version has Google using their “Omnibox” term again to describe the URL bar, this being because of its ability to also search for items should you type in anything other than a url. Chrome’s newest desktop version here has two steps in the Onmibox:

1. You type in your url and it suggests what you’re likely looking for.

2. Your most likely option is pre-rendered as you continue to type, this giving you an extra few instants of time added to every query!

It’s brilliant! We’re hoping it works out to be as magical as it seems, of course. Chrome browser here also updates Security measures to warn you of malicious downloads. Chrome has for a while not checked on executable files such as EXE and MSI for you PC users, and now if the executable file does not match a whitelist of approved bits, the next step is taken. The next step is Chrome checking with Google for more information on the website you’re using, seeing if its been know to host malicious downloads in the past. You’ll be safe here, folks, safe as you can be!

Updates will be coming to Chrome OS soon as well, but for now everyone using the Chrome web browser on their desktop or laptop machine will be updated automatically or manually through the Google Chrome homepage – get your preload on!

The video you’re about to see shows both the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the ASUS Transformer Prime, each of them running Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich, each of them running this first public release of Chrome Beta. You’ll find the experiences to be very similar with slight changes in icons and text locations due to size of display, and the same ability to see other devices as well as pre-fetch data from webpages before they’re needed. Notice though the slight differences – the ability to use the voice recognition engine on the tablet and the same option not appearing on the phone.

You’ll find that the nicest looking (or perhaps just the most visually striking) feature is the tabs browser. As you hit the number next to your URL bar – or “Omnibox” as Google has taken to calling it – you’ll see several cards appear. These cards are you tabs, and they can be accessed by tapping, destroyed by swiping, and pushed apart or together – the coolness of this increased by your ability to turn on Tilt Scrolling. This appears to use gravity but actually uses your accelerometer in your device to make the cards appear to move on their own when you tilt your device.

Link Previewing is a feature that Google speaks about in their trailer for the browser but we’ve not encountered a use for thus far. It’s supposed to have links popping up in balloons, essentially, when they’d otherwise be hard to tap. Using these previews has been so off-and-on for us that we’ll wait to show it off in any real manner. Signing in works far better, it allowing you, again, to access the tabs you’ve been using on other machines with Chrome on the fly. Your Chrome iterations also learn from one another for smart URL completion, but watch out if you’re using your Transformer Prime and expect to be able to select one of these pre-typed selections with your arrow keys – that’s not yet integrated.

Another point of interest when comparing the two different sized versions here: Tilt Scrolling is an option for both, but there’s no card tabs in the tablet-based Chrome like there is in the smartphone-based Chrome. You can still push your tabs back and forth in a similar manner above your browser window, but they don’t slide exactly like the smartphone-based card tabs.

Bookmark syncing works between devices, and the whole experience is appearing already to be a much faster and more pleasing experience than the stock Android browser as it stands today. Check the gallery below for some benchmark results as we grab them, and don’t forget to download the browser for yourself. Chrome Beta is available on the Android Market right this minute for free, [download it instantly] for your Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and above device.

This new release promises three “S” words right from the start: Speed, Simplicity, and a single Sign-in. What you’re getting here is not just a general browsing experience, but a real Google-made and optimized experience for the Android environment. Google has both a Chrome web browser for all types of computers and a Chromebook which runs Chrome OS, that being a full operating system for a Chromebook (notebook) computer. This release of Chrome is a continuation of the browser and the OS and it based entirely online in a browser-like environment. Your experience in your Chrome on your computer will continue on in your Android tablet, smartphone, and everything in between – thus the ties between all Google devices begins (or continues, as it were.)

UPDATE: See our Full Review of Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 ICS live now!

Speed

As the desktop version of Chrome web browser promises as well, you’ve got speed on your side here: you’ll be going fast, “Chrome fast.” As you scroll through search results in Google, top results are loaded in the background as you type so you can roll out much quicker. All of your URL typing and searching is done from the URL bar, renamed here “Omnibox,” one you’ll be familiar with already if you’re used to using Chrome as a browser.

Simplicity

Designed specifically for the multiple screens it’ll be used on, Chrome for Android is made to work as a flip and swipe capable interface working with an unlimited amount of tabs. Tabs here will allow you to move through a collection of screens like a pack of cards, and much easier. Link Preview is another feature that’ll make your mobile browsing simpler, it automatically zooming in on links when they appear on a page.

Also made simple here is your Privacy settings, available for you in your menu, Settings, Privacy screen and also in incognito mode for any new tabbed window. You can browse and share or browse in silence, do as you wish. With that goes sign in, the universally loved sequence everyone uses to remember password sequences.

Sign In

You’re able to sign in on Chrome here, but you don’t have to. If you do, you can get your own personalized experience on your Android device, all synced up with your Chrome on your desktop and everything. You can view open tabs you left open on your desktop, get smart suggestions from your typing on your desktop (and vice versa) and sync your bookmarks.

Download Now

You can download Chrome now in Beta from the Android Market. This download is not available in all countries at the moment, but will be soon, and is limited to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and forward for your operating system. That means you’ll likely be rolling out on your upgraded Motorola XOOM, your Samsung Galaxy Nexus, your Nexus S if you’re lucky, or your ASUS Transformer Prime because you love power.

More images and hands-on looks coming soon!

The ChromeBox is smaller than most of the “ultra-small” Windows desktops, probably because it doesn’t need any serious storage or power requirements. The demonstration unit was connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, with full connectivity via Ethernet. On the front you’ll find just one power button, a headphone jack and a pair of USB ports, with the back populated by four more USB ports, a DVI port, Ethernet port, two Display Link ports and a power jack. We assume that two DL ports means this little guy can output to a dual monitor setup.

Chrome has remained the same: the browser user interface with a few extra bells and whistles. If you’ve used the Chrome browser, odds are pretty good you know how the Chrome OS interface goes – just subtract Windows or OS X. Quick boot times and web-friendly features are countered by a reliance on Google’s services and cloud storage.

It’s hard not to think of the Mac Mini when loooking at this diminutive hardware (the footprint is just 7.5 inches square), but the Chromebook doesn’t really compete there. We expect the Series 3 to come out sometime this year at around $200-$300 – unfortunately, Samsung didn’t have ant official price or availability information on hand.

HTC could be envisaging something akin to the Shift, the company’s UMPC from back in 2008 which could boot into both a customized version of Windows Mobile 6 and Windows Vista, allowing for smartphone-style and laptop-style use depending on your task demands. Rather than Microsoft’s platforms, however, the new device could switch between Android and Chrome OS, the former intended for internet browsing and content  consumption, while the latter would allow for content creation using Google’s cloud-based apps.

Alternatively, the “advantages” mentioned could refer to running Chrome OS on an ARM chipset, as Android phones use, rather than a more power-hungry Intel processor. The platform already has ARM support, but so far the only commercial hardware released has used Intel’s Atom CPUs. With ARM at its core, a Chrome OS device could likely run for longer on a single charge and still deliver high definition video and other multimedia benefits.

Acer and Samsung both cut the starting price for their Chromebooks earlier this week, in the hope that it would spur on consumer interest; even so, cumulative sales are expected to only reach 30,000 at most by the end of the year. Google also tweaked Chrome OS itself slightly, to make discovering browser-based apps more straightforward to discover. Back when we reviewed the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook we found it to be solid hardware but unable to compete with similarly priced notebooks when it came to flexibility of use.

The experimental Chromium touchscreen UI features many of the things you’d expect from a tablet interface, such as larger icons and widgets along with a virtual keyboard that has enough space for the meatiest of fingers. It also incorporates handwriting and screen rotation support.

It’s still in a very early stage and it’s not certain whether any of these features will indeed make it to the Chrome browser or the Chrome OS. However, there have been reports of Tegra 2 hardware being used to test the Chrome OS, including one that takes on a touchscreen tablet form factor and is codenamed “Seaboard.”

[via Engadget]

The AC700 is now on Amazon to purchase for $349. For the money, you get a netbook with an 11.6-inch screen with WiFi and an Intel Atom N570 processor. The machine has a matte display, which is very nice and sets it apart from the Samsung Chromebook on the market. Matte screens will produce less glare and make the machine more comfortable to use in bright rooms. The rig also sports 2GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD for storage.

Other features include a 1.3MP webcam, dual USB ports, HDMI output, and a battery good for six hours per charge. The AC700 weighs 3.2 pounds. A 3G packing version of the AC700 will land this summer sometime. What do you think of the price? I think the machine is cool, but I only see it appealing to hard-core geeks.

[via Netbooknews]

“Chromebook” sounds like a glitzy netbook for rappers

Actually, Google is positioning its new assault on netbooks and notebooks very much at the everyman audience. As we found in our review of the Cr-48, Google’s initial Chrome OS notebook targeted at developers, Chrome OS works best for those who already live their computing lives in the cloud: Gmail for their email, Chrome for their browser, Google Docs for their content creation and editing.

A Chromebook basically takes that Chrome OS platform and puts it onto specially designed hardware: it’s a new breed of laptops rather than one specific model. Google will be tightly controlling the specifications and services on offer, to make sure everybody’s Chromebook experience is consistent.

I’ve got a browser on my notebook already, what’s so special about Chrome OS?

There’s no denying that a regular PC or Mac notebook will be more flexible than a Chromebook. Basically, in Chrome OS you do everything through the browser, so all the apps, services and content is delivered from the cloud. “Cloud” services live on remote servers rather than running on your notebook itself: you see the interface, but all the heavy processing work is done far away at the data center.

That means the Chromebook itself doesn’t need as much power as a regular notebook, since it’s the cloud doing all the hard work. It allows manufacturers to use slower, more frugal processors, and that adds up to longer battery life: between 6 and 8.5 hours, depending on which model you go for.

On the downside, all that reliance on the cloud means you have to be connected to the internet to get a lot of things done. Chrome OS has some support for offline working – handy if you’re on a plane with no WiFi connectivity – but most of the time you’ll be looking for wireless hotspots. Some Chromebooks will have 3G modems built in, just like your cellphone, so that they can get online more easily, though they’ll be more expensive to use.

This summer, Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs will all get “offline support” for Chrome OS – i.e. you’ll be able to use them without a data connection. Netflix and Hulu streaming video support will also be added, though you’ll obviously need to be online for those.

Who’s going to make them?

Out of the gate it’s Samsung and Acer. Samsung’s Chromebook is the Samsung Series 5, while Acer has played it simple and called its the Acer Chromebook. The Samsung has a bigger, 12.1-inch display, while the Acer is a little smaller at 11.6-inches; both use one of Intel’s frugal dual-core Atom processors.

Connectivity includes two USB 2.0 ports, useful for connecting cameras or thumbdrives, a 4-in-1 memory card slot, and dual-band WiFi. Each will be offered as a 3G version. The Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port so that it can be easily hooked up to your TV, while the Samsung Series 5 has a regular VGA port for use with normal monitors.

Both get a full-sized keyboard – with some dedicated Chrome OS shortcut keys, for things like search – along with an oversized trackpad. There’s also an HD webcam above the display and a microphone. The smaller Acer is a little more portable, a 2.95 pounds, while the Samsung tips the scales at 3.26 pounds; still, that extra heft allows the Series 5 to carry a bigger battery, giving it up to 8.5 hours of continuous usage versus the Acer’s 6 hours.

Why is it better than a regular laptop?

It’s not necessarily better, at least not for everyone. As we said, Chrome OS makes the most sense if you’re already living your computing life in the browser. If the first thing you do is load Chrome, Firefox, Safari or IE9 to check your email, Facebook, YouTube and Google News, and don’t necessarily do much else, Chrome OS may be the platform for you.

If, however, you do system-intensive tasks like video editing, multimedia recording and processing, play “proper” games (rather than just Lexulous and Farmville) or write code, Chrome OS may prove frustrating. They’re still tasks better suited to a regular Windows or Mac notebook, as is anything which requires custom software: if your business relies on a special program for accounting, for instance, Chrome OS won’t run it.

Problem is, along with their flexibility, those regular notebooks also carry a lot of maintenance baggage. There are Windows or OS X updates to install, anti-virus software to load, update and scan, data backups to be considered, and plenty of other peripheral chores that can get in the way. It’s enough of a headache for a regular user, but even more so for schools and businesses which have to manage potentially hundreds of computers for their users.

It’s little surprise, then, that Google is targeting enterprise and education markets with the first Chromebooks, in addition to individual users. While regular consumers will pay an upfront price for their new Chromebook, schools and businesses can avoid that fee and pay a monthly charge instead. That monthly fee doesn’t just include the hardware, but a Google-provided technical support line and warranty, too (consumers will go direct to Samsung or Acer for their technical support and aftercare), along with automatic updates of the Chrome OS software. Since the apps are running in the cloud, Google takes care of keeping them up to date, virus- and malware-free, and of backing up each person’s data.

Basically, for users it’ll simply be a case of turning the Chromebook on, punching in their Google username and password, and seeing all their files, email and other data just how they left it. After they log out, someone else can use the same Chromebook but with their own settings and data. Since all the files are stored on the cloud, there’ll be no “which laptop did I save that document on?” headaches, or messing around with thumbdrives.

Although we’ve said Chrome OS won’t run local apps, like business-specific accounting software or Photoshop, there are ways to work around that. Google has worked with Citrix on a special version of its Receiver software, which allows users to log into a company server and access software running on that server as if it were loaded onto their notebook. In short, it’s a little like hosting your own cloud application, just like Gmail or Google Docs.

Of course, you’ll need a server capable of doing that and someone to set it up, which likely means regular consumers won’t be taking advantage of Citrix Receiver for Chrome OS. You’re also very dependent on the quality of your wireless connection, which may well be a headache if you’re online via 3G. It’s a workaround, but perhaps enough for business users who spend most of their time in email and Google Docs, and occasionally need some more esoteric software.

How much is it going to cost me?

That depends on who are are, and how many Chromebooks you want to buy. Regular consumers will pay either $349 upfront for the Acer Chromebook or $429 for the Samsung Series 5; that’s for the WiFi-only models – the 3G Samsung will be $499, while Acer is yet to confirm 3G pricing. The 3G versions will get 100MB of bundled Verizon data every month, though if you want any more than that you’ll have to pay. Chromebook users outside of the US will get some sort of carrier deal, but those will be announced closer to retail availability.

Education and enterprise users pay a monthly fee rather than buying their Chromebooks upfront, assuming they’re willing to sign up to at least 10 machines. Education institutions pay $20 per month, per Chromebook, while businesses will pay $23. The 3G premium hasn’t been finalized yet, but is expected to add a few dollars per month.

In return, Google expects a three-year commitment, basically just like signing up for a “free” cellphone with a carrier agreement. You’ll also need to pay the regular Google Apps for Business subscription fee, currently $50 per year, per user. Regular consumers and education users get free Google Apps services.

Okay, I’m sold. When can I get one, and where?

The first Chromebook hardware will go on sale on June 15, online at least, in the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Amazon and Best Buy will be leading the charge in the US, so hopefully there’ll be stores you can actually test drive Chromebooks against their netbook and notebook rivals. Other countries will get them “in the coming months.”

Google is also readying a desktop version, the Google “Chromebox”, about which little is known but that we’re assuming will bring the same Chrome OS experience to users not concerned about mobility. Since part of Chrome OS’ charm is that users can log in on any machine and get the same experience, schools and businesses could have a combination of Chromebox and Chromebook hardware and staff/students share them depending on where they were going to be working.

How successful Chromebooks end up remains to be seen, but we wouldn’t bet against Google on this one. Its enterprise and education play may turn out to be the biggest success, biting hard into Windows-based notebooks and netbooks. We’ll have to wait until next month to find out whether Acer and Samsung’s Chromebooks have polished off the Cr-48′s rough edges. More information on Google’s Chromebook project here.

June 15th is the release date for these new devices, and an email would be sent out to each person at the conference so they could claim their Chromebook “very very soon.” Whether or not that meant they’d be given the Chrome OS device sooner than the release date or not is still up to debate, but we’re guessing that vouchers will be sent out in place of actual units simply because the cost of sending out 5,000 devices is much more than the cost of sending out 5,000 slips of paper.

For more details on these devices, take a peek at both posts we’ve got up right this moment, one for Samsung and another for Acer. By the looks of it, the Samsung device may well be the one that’s going to be given out for free, but that’s also not guaranteed. You can follow along with the rest of our Google I/O 2011 coverage by hitting the [IO 2011 Portal] – stay tuned!

This is not the first Chrome OS notebook, in fact it’s now amongst three Chromebooks out very soon, the first of which we gave away for free here on SlashGear and over on Android Community like so: CR-48 for all! That contest is over and you’ll be wanting to “toss that device in the river” if you know what I mean now that these new ones are coming out. And what’s the best thing about this whole situation?

They’re encouraging you to jailbreak. June 15th is the day these devices come out, and attendees of Google I/O will be getting them for free. For free, I tell you!

Here are the specs for the Acer Chromebook:

• 11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit LCD
• 2.95 lbs.
• 6 hours of continuous usage
• Intel Atom dual-core processor
• Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
• HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
• High-Definition Audio Support
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• 4-in-1 memory card slot
• HDMI port
• Fullsize Chrome keyboard
• Oversize fully-clickable trackpad

This is not the first Chrome OS notebook, of course, there’s the developer tester version that came out a few months ago, the same one we gave away here on SlashGear and over on Android Community like so: CR-48 for all! Of course that giveaway is expired and now you’ll not be wanting it anyway. Who wants a few month old device? Also this newer Chromebook has much better hardware as it’s created for a much wider distribution than just a testing crowd.

Specs:

• 12.1-inch 1280×800-resolution 300 nit display
• 3.26 lbs
• 8.5 hours of continuous usage
• Intel Atom Dual-Core N570 processor
• Built in dual-band Wi-Fi and World-mode 3G (optional)
• HD Webcam with noise cancelling microphone
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• 4-in-1 memory card slot
• Mini-VGA port
• Fullsize Chrome keyboard
• Oversize fully-clickable trackpad

Jailbreaking on these devices is encouraged. Both of these devices will be trump cards for Chome OS, strides ahead of what’s been offered thus far (especially since these devices are available for sale to the public.) More information on this Chromebook (and the ACER Chromebook) will be posted on SlashGear soon, as additional events are planned for both.

It’s said to be “almost certainly” the forerunner to a similar enterprise deal, with Google looking to take on Microsoft’s Sharepoint and Office with a hardware component to its existing Google Apps for Enterprise. That currently costs $50 per year, but according to the Google exec it makes perfect sense to add a Chrome OS notebook deal to that. “Small and medium-sized businesses are banging on our doors to get something like this” he claimed, with enterprise believed to be tempted not only by the low pricing but by the controls over functionality and usage made possible by Chrome OS’ browser-based nature.

As we saw with Google’s first Chrome OS notebook, the Cr-48, the platform certainly has its successes – and its fair share of shortcomings. Those looking to do more than the text editing, browsing and multimedia playback basics might find Chrome OS to be too limiting – it’s certainly not going to be the platform for downloading dozens of torrents using your school’s high-speed connection, not that SlashGear would condone such wickedness anyway – but for those wanting to get online with minimal initial outlay then it could prove very popular.

SlashGear is at Google IO this week and will be bringing you all the details from the second day keynote. We’re also giving away a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in our Epic Unboxing showdown!

Other specs include 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth and WiFi, an integrated webcam and a Synaptics touchpad. That differs a little from Acer’s model, which has a 1366 x 768 display and seemingly uses one of AMD’s Fusion processors instead.

Samsung, Acer and ASUS are all among the company’s namechecked to be producing Chrome OS hardware for launch in the second half of 2011. However it seems likely that Google will do some sort of presentation of the latest hardware and software at Google I/O early next month.

[via Engadget]

That would undercut most mainstream tablets on the market, as well as even the cheapest CULV notebooks. Unlike some of the particularly budget-minded ARM-based netbooks we’ve seen, the new ASUS would use Intel’s Atom chips and might load Android 3.0 or Chrome OS in order to bypass Windows licensing fees.

Microsoft’s software tithe has always added to the bottom line of any netbook, though manufacturers looking to Linux or other platforms have generally found that consumer familiarity with Windows tends to make other OSes less appealing by the time they reach store shelves. ASUS is aiming to ship 6m netbooks this year, with a new mid- and high-end range on the cards as well.

Like with MeeGo, Android’s absence of licensing fees makes it a popular platform for system developers looking to minimize production costs. Android support for Intel processors isn’t new, but previously Intel has not taken particular interest in the project itself.

Meanwhile, the company is also believed to be “working aggressively” with Google on Chrome OS based notebooks. Google has so far pushed out the Cr-48, based on an Intel Atom CPU, but models from Samsung, Acer and ASUS are all expected in the second half of this year.

Of the pre-registered entries, only two had targeted Chrome. Moatz Khader and researchers named only as “Team Anon”. But even if someone does succeed in exploiting the browser, Google will only be on the hook for $10,000. The $20,000 payment was only to be paid for a hack on the first day of the festival.

If Chrome escapes without a scratch, which seems likely, it will set a record for surviving three consecutive Pwn2Owns.

Other browsers have not fared as well. Researchers were able to exploit both Safari and IE on Wednesday. The contest will continue until Friday, and researchers will be working to crack Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows 7 Phone and RIM’s BlackBerry OS.

[via ComputerWorld]

We reviewed the Cr-48 back in December, finding a notebook with plenty of promise but falling short of the functionality that even browser-centric users are reliant on. Chrome OS’ premise is that mainstream users can do most of their work using cloud-based storage and apps.

However, the occasionally sluggish performance and underwhelming graphics of the Cr-48 soured first impressions. Google has apparently addressed some of these things in this new update; the full list is below:

• 3G modem activation fixes
• 3G connection to the carrier fixes
• Wi-Fi connectivity/Out of the Box fixes
• New trackpad and sensitivity setting adjusted
• Auto update engine and debugging improvements
• Power optimizations
• GTalk video/chat optimizations
• Audio CPU utilization improvements
• Improved on screen indicators: brightness, network status, update icon

[via TechCrunch]

Market leader Internet Explorer from Microsoft still enjoys a comfortable lead at 56%, but saw its numbers drop slightly from 58.41%, while second place Firefox remained at 22%. Coming up right behind Chrome is Apple’s Safari taking in 6.3%, crossing the 6% barrier for the first time.

2011 is looking to be a big year for Chrome as Google is preparing to launch the ChomeOS on notebooks running the new OS from Samsung, Acer, and others by mid-2011. I’m sure Google is hoping the rising popularity of its browser will translate into similar results for ChromeOS in the competitive OS market.

[Via CNN]

Exact details of the Android install are unknown, so we don’t know exactly what’s running and what isn’t at present. Since the Cr-48 lacks a touchscreen, control will have to be done via the trackpad; as we saw on the Toshiba AC100 that’s not ideal.

[via Android Community]

R3 Media Network

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Android Community Google Cr-48 Giveaway Winners Announced! [WOWIE WINNERS]
Ben Heck cobbles up portable PS3 mod [WANT]
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Notion Ink sells out of Adam [IIINK]
Notion Ink Adam’s custom Mail’d email app gets video demo [MAIIIL]

SlashPhone
T-Mobile Ranked the Fastest Network Performance in Top 100 Markets
World’s Biggest iPhone Consists of 56 iPads Packed Together Lands in London
Palm Pre 2 Hit Rogers For CAD $99

Android Community
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play to be PlayStation gaming phone?
CasaTunes offers first Android app for controlling multi-room music
Android users can get app for annual ball drop in Times Square
Dell 7-inch Streak gets name-check on Vaja case site
RadioShack offers $99 Evo 4G and more this week
Viewsonic denies GTablet hardware defects; promises software fix this week
Notion Ink sells out of Adam as pre-orders snapped up
Android Community Google Cr-48 Giveaway Winners Announced!
HTC Desire HD Heading to Saudi Arabia
Sprint 4G Now Available in San Francisco and Surround Areas
Motorola Launches Tablet Teaser Site With Countdown
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iGloLEDset Android-controlled multicolor Christmas lights released [Video]
Notion Ink Demos Adam’s custom Mail’d App [Video]
HTC Desire HD Heading to Saudi Arabia
HTC Incredible HD AKA HTC Mecha Pictured?
Verizon Confirms Plans for a Motorola LTE Device in 2011

SlashGear
Pixel Qi & CPT partner to boost transflective display production; 7-inch due in Q2 2011
Apple TV to break 1m sales mark before Christmas
3DMark 11 gets an update to version 1.01
Pioneer offers new white CDJ-350 and DJM-350 DJ gear
Ben Heck cobbles up portable PS3 mod
Haxor hacks AirPlay to run on XBMC Linux rig
Evo 4G for $99 at RadioShack and more deals this week
Gynormous Kno dual screen and single screen tablets ship today
Apple prunes WikiLeaks app from App Store
Nexus One getting Gingerbread in coming weeks
Motz Tiny Wooden Power Speaker isn’t made by Geppetto
Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser mouse has an interesting design
Notion Ink Adam pre-orders sell out
Trendnet unveils new 450Mbps Wireless N access point
Acer, ASUS & Lenovo Sandy Bridge ultraportables to borrow MacBook Air display design?
T-Mobile HSPA+ 4G mobile hotspot due Feb 2011
Viewsonic GTablet sales yank blamed on Android/Tegra/Flash “user experience”
Apple takes on Adobe Flash with free iAd Producer tool
Porn ban “technically not possible” warn ISPs
SEC investigating ex-HP Mark Hurd over insider info & expenses allegations
Gmail Google Voice calls free through 2011 for US users
Apple TV HD download problems caused by Google DNS?
Apple shuttering OS X Download site on Jan 6 as Mac App Store takes over
No Hulu Plus or Netflix for Cable TiVo DVRs
SlashGear Google Cr-48 Giveaway WINNERS ANNOUNCED! [WIN WIN WINNERS]
Google Cr-48 Chrome OS notebook [REVIEW]
Over 1.5m Windows Phone 7 sales in first 6 weeks confirms Microsoft
EA 99 cent game promotion wins them 8/10 in the iTunes chart
Roku sales doubled as Apple TV brought halo effect to streaming media
Verizon LTE SIM-lock potential could dampen 4G fun
Microsoft to Announce an ARM Processor Compatible Version of Windows OS
Lonely Planet Gives Several City Guide Apps Away Free During 2010 Holiday Season
Unnamed Sony VAIO tablet PC Found at FCC
iPad is the New Christ
Amazon Likely to Break 8 Million Kindle Units Sold This Year
FCC Net Neutrality Vote Commented on by Verizon, Steve Wozniak, and More
PalmPad Tablet on the Horizon from HP, New WebOS Inside, Hardware Like iPad
Most Terrifying iPhone Cover EVER Released
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Israeli Hospital Using Apple iPad to Help Treat Patients with Help of Microsoft’s Chameleon
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Tegra 2 Isn’t Enough [COLUMN]
Notion Ink Adam’s custom Mail’d email app gets video demo
Viliv X7 & X10 Android tablets and X70 Windows 7 slate due at CES 2011

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

First there was Tom Yu!
then there was Anthony Domanico!
directly after that there was A.Plotko!
several hours later there was Tiffany Craun!
and finally there was Richard Heck!

We’d like to thank everyone on behalf of SlashGear, our friends at Android Community, and our friends at Google! We hope you had a rock and roll electronic good time entering the contest, finding us on Facebook, pumping up the links up on Twitter, all that fun stuff, and hope that you’ll stick around while we wind up the cranks and get the cannons ready for the next folly, because we’ve got more giveaways around the bend!

Hardware

The Cr-48 isn’t for general sale, instead being distributed as part of Google’s preview program for Chrome OS, and as such there’s not a huge amount in terms of accessories in the decorated cardboard carton. The removable battery, AC adapter and power lead – together with the Cr-48 itself – just about covers it, in fact.

At 3.6 pounds it’s not the lightest ultraportable we’ve seen, though we’re big fans of the rubberized matte black coating applied to the chassis and keyboard. At first glance you could easily mistake it for a Colorware-treated MacBook, in fact, and build quality seems strong. The 12.1-inch display runs at 1280 x 800 and is a fair panel, if not the best we’ve seen; its matte finish makes colors appear a little more muted than we’re used to from glossy displays, but we’ll gladly trade that for more resilience to reflections. Unfortunately the webcam above it produces dark, generally murky photos unless you give it plenty of light.

Google’s keyboard modifications extend to the function key row – which has been replaced with a line of navigation controls, window, brightness and volume buttons – as well as the Caps Lock key being swapped for a dedicated Search button (that opens a new tab in the process) and oversized CTRL and ALT buttons to the left of the spacebar. It’s a decent typing experience, too, thanks in no small part to the textured coating. Underneath, the single-panel trackpad isn’t quite up to Apple standards, but is still reasonable; you can call up a context menu with a two-finger tap.

Ports are limited to a single USB 2.0, a VGA output (you can either use the Cr-48′s LCD or an external screen, but not both simultaneously), a full-sized SD card reader and a headphones socket. No optical drive, obviously. The SIM card slot for the Gobi combo EVDO/UMTS modem lives inside the battery compartment; Verizon grabbed some attention by promising 100MB of 3G data per month to Cr-48 users. That deal is good for the first 24 months of ownership, after which you’ll have to pay if you want to use it.

Plans start at $9.99 for a single day’s access (and unlimited usage), or you can opt for a Verizon monthly agreement. $20 gets you 1GB per month, $35 gets you 3GB or $50 gets you 5GB. It’s worth noting that, even if you don’t plan on using anything more than the bundled data, you’ll still have to enter billing details and a credit card.

Software

A cold boot takes around 15 seconds to reach the login screen, and the Cr-48 takes your regular Google credentials. Subsequent resuming from standby proved almost instantaneous. The Chrome OS software environment takes some getting used to; for the first few minutes we found ourselves pushing the mouse to the edges of the display, trying to call up a hidden Start menu or Dock. Neither exists, however: instead, you get a grid of apps, most recently visited sites and recently closed tabs similar to the regular Chrome browser’s launcher tab. Verizon’s 3G and the Cr-48′s WiFi are easily managed with a drop-down panel in the top right hand corner; that’s where the clock and battery status also live.

If you’re familiar with Google’s web app offerings, you’ll probably feel at home in Chrome OS. Internal storage is just 16GB of SSD memory, but you’ll keep all of your content in Google’s cloud since there’s no provision for actually saving media files like photos, video and music to the drive. Unfortunately, there’s a distinct lack of applications in Google’s Chrome App Store – unsurprising, perhaps, given the relatively young age of the platform – but it leaves using the Cr-48 difficult for anything more than the basics.

For mainstream consumers, the glaring omissions usually kick in when you try to integrate the Cr-48 into the rest of your digital life. Although a digital camera was recognized over USB, and we could upload photos to Picasa, there’s no support for iTunes sync with iPhones, iPods or iPads; similarly, there’s no Windows Phone 7 sync client or Zune Desktop app, and no provision for Android management suites like DoubleTwist.

If you need FTP access or anything slightly out of the ordinary for business, such as VPN support, you’ll also have a tough time getting things done on the Cr-48. Skype won’t run, and right now there’s no USB drive support. Document creation and editing is catered for with Google Docs, but if your company requires any specific software then you’ll soon find yourself reaching for a regular PC or Mac.

Performance

Performance is mixed, with Gmail feeling snappy on the single-core Atom N450 processor but Flash-based sites, although functional, proving less than impressive. Adobe has confirmed it’s working on Flash 10.1 for Chrome OS, but until then there’s no hardware acceleration of Flash content. That means jerky YouTube video and higher-bitrate video on sites like Vimeo are often non-starters.

It’s not the only streaming media issues we’ve faced, though at times it’s Chrome itself that’s the stumbling block. Some sites – such as Netflix – simply won’t work with Google’s browser, instead suggesting you use another; obviously that’s not possible on the Cr-48. In time, we’d expect content providers would get up to speed with Chrome, but for now there’s no workaround.

The limitations on local media shortage mean it can be similarly frustrating trying to work with your own photos, video and audio too. Since you have to upload it before you can work with it, you’re reliant on a decent network connection; there’s no slapping in an SD card from your camera and quickly cropping and tweaking a few stills.

That given, it’s easy to burn through the 100MB of bundled data if you don’t have WiFi access. Thankfully Chrome OS prioritizes WiFi over cellular data, but the limitations of the platform are stark when you’re out of your allowance. Cached data for things like email and calendar mean you’re not entirely cut off, but relying on cloud storage for multimedia does leave the Cr-48 feeling underwhelming when you’re offline.

Battery

Google estimate around 8hrs of runtime from the Cr-48′s battery, or alternatively up to eight days of standby. In practice, the frugal Atom CPU and the fact that the notebook automatically goes to sleep after three minutes of inactivity meant we were able to reach that target.

Wrap-Up

It’s going to take time to get used to seeing the notebook as merely a window to the cloud, but the Cr-48 certainly has us curious. The hardware itself isn’t the story here – after all, it’ll never actually go on sale, only be used to bring developers up to speed. We’re hopeful that by the time Chrome OS notebooks are launched commercially in mid-2011, the dual-core processors Acer and Samsung intend to use will leave the experience brisker. By then, too, Adobe should have been able to polish GPU support for Flash Player, tidying up the online media experience.

Nonetheless, the audience for whom Google Chrome OS is suitable is surprisingly small. Only the very basic of business use is catered for, and we imagine most network admins will shy from the prospect of entrusting Google’s servers with all of their users’ data. Mainstream consumers would ostensibly seem a better fit, but Chrome OS’ absent support for PMPs and other devices undermine its usefulness as a main computer.

Like with the iPad, Chrome OS doesn’t do enough to replace your notebook or netbook full time. Yes, you could take the Cr-48 away for a weekend and get along fine, checking email and the like, but you’ll likely return with a list of tasks – media editing, etc – that you’ll have to reach for a regular computer in order to complete. Too often we began tasks on the Cr-48, only to give up part way through and return to our regular notebook when the limits of Chrome OS became clear. As a concept it has clear strengths, but Google has plenty to do before the full Chrome OS launch next year to make the platform a realistic competitor.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters [BYE BYE]
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010 [ZUCKERBERRRRRRRG!]
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder [RUH ROH]
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut [GEEEEAR]
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone [LOOK FAMILIAR?]

Android Community
GMail Creator Predicts Android Will Eventually Kill Chrome OS
Honeycomb Won’t Require Physical Buttons, Home and Navigation Built into the UI
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters
HTC LTE handsets coming H2 2011, Mecha anyone?
Broadcom outs new Android platform for mass-market smartphones
O2 Dell Streak Froyo update releasing today
Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile Interview Video Available Now
Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included
Android Community Google Cr-48 Giveaway REMINDER [WIN WIN WIN]
Posterous Micro Blogging Service Introduces Android App
HTC Scorpion Appears on GameLoft’s Compatible Device List
Android 2.3 Gingerbread to Appear in AOSP After Nexus S Day
iLuv Introduces Samsung Galaxy Tab Accessories
Meizu Launches M9 M9 Christens Site, Full Specs Detailed
Dolphin Browser Mini Now Available in the Android Market
HTC Evo 4G Update Now with NOVA demo game and Swype
Samsung Vibrant and Samsung Galaxy Tab Prices Slashed Down
10-inch Android Tablet by the name of Olivetti OliPad
Gingerbread Being Assessed on Verizon Phones
Google TV Updated: Dual View Mode, Voice Search & Netflix Improvements [Video]

SlashGear
CrucialTec ultra-slim Optical TrackPad wants your finger
Apple GPU supplier Imagination promise “cinema quality 3D” after ray-tracing acquisition
Gigabyte and SOYO AMD Zacate mainboards leak
Quik Pod gets longer and works with DSLR cameras
Sanyo PLC-HF1500L large venue projector has 15K lumens
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010
HTC LTE smartphones inbound for second half of 2011
The Convergence Con [COLUMN]
Notion Ink Adam pre-order status slips to mid-January 2011 [Update: only 50 customers affected]
Smartphone Coasters hold your smartphone up on the cheap
Silicon Power debuts tiny microSD card reader
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone
Verizon iPhone sales will come mostly at AT&T’s expense says analyst
MIC Store unveils 3-in-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit
Urbanears Tanto headphones get better
Broadcom outs new Android smartphone platform
AirPlayer opens Macs to AirPlay streaming from iOS [Video]
XFX outs new HD 6970 and HD 6950 video cards
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder
Apple TV 4.1.1 update fixes picture problems & download errors
VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX board promises 1080p HD in tiny footprint
Three pushes true unlimited data on refreshed The One Plan
Pioneer BDR-206MBK BDXL burner is $199 world’s first
Novatel MiFi 4082 WiMAX mobile hotspot clears FCC
Toshiba denies Apple Retina Display plant investment
Facebook for Android updated: Chat and push notifications
AMD Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 get official
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut
Facebook Maps the World via Social Networking Relationships
Gmail Delegation Introduced: One Account, Multiple Users
Samsung Camera Concept with a Plug Twist
Misa Kitara Guitar with Touch Screen Strings up for Pre-Order
What Happened to Innovation? [COLUMN]
Tablet Sales in Business World to DOUBLE [iPad Right on Top]
Why I Don’t Have A Favorite Game Console [COLUMN]
Windows Phone 7 Mango Update Coming Late 2011, Source Claims
Gesture-Controlled Robot Arm Watches Video, Reacts in Near Real-Time [Video]
iTunes Updates to 10.1.1
Willow Garage Announces Expansion of PR2 Robot Community
Chrome for a Cause Donates to Charities for Each Opened Tab
Call of Duty: Black Ops Receives Patch, Infuriates PS3 Owners
Google Fiber Project Selection Process Delayed
SEGA Toirettsu Brings Video Game to Men’s Urinal [Video]
Apple May Incorporate NFC Into Many Products
Olivetti OliPad Tablet Features 10-Inch Display, Android OS
Verizon and Sprint Windows Phone 7 launches in January 2011?
T-Mobile eye Long Term HSPA Evolution for 650Mbps 4G networks
MetroPCS 4G LTE turned on in Boston, NYC and Sacramento
Logitech Revue update released: Netflix & Dual View improved [Video]
GoldenEye: Source multiplayer mod for Half Life 2 ditches beta
SlashGear Google Cr-48 Giveaway REMINDER [WIN WIN WIN]

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

Get entering as fast as you can!

To enter this contest, you’ve only to do a couple things: first, sign up as a fan of our SlashGear Facebook page, then two, share the link to this competition on your Facebook wall with a post saying why you’d like to have a Cr-48 notebook for your very own.

We’ll draw the first SlashGear winner at random on Thursday December 16 2010 at midnight PST, the second on Friday December 17 at midnight PST, and the third on Sunday December 19 at midnight PST. Unfortunately, due to the terms of Google’s pilot scheme, only US entrants can be accepted. Good luck! ALSO remember that if you don’t win the first time, you’ll still be eligible for the next!

Rules:

Competition is open to residents of the US over the age of 18. Family members of Google and SlashGear/Android Community are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified SlashGear Facebook page; entries left in the comments section of this or any other post will not be recognized. One entry per person (and yes, we check). Winners of the SlashGear Cr-48 giveaway are ineligible to win the Android Community Cr-48 giveaway, and vice-versa.

Prize consists of three Google Cr-48 notebooks to be shared between three winners. There is no cash alternative. Should this prize become unavailable, SlashGear and Google reserve the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters [BYE BYE]
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010 [ZUCKERBERRRRRRRG!]
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder [RUH ROH]
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut [GEEEEAR]
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone [LOOK FAMILIAR?]

Android Community
GMail Creator Predicts Android Will Eventually Kill Chrome OS
Honeycomb Won’t Require Physical Buttons, Home and Navigation Built into the UI
Google Launches Nexus S Into Space to Test Sensors at 30,000+ meters
HTC LTE handsets coming H2 2011, Mecha anyone?
Broadcom outs new Android platform for mass-market smartphones
O2 Dell Streak Froyo update releasing today
Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile Interview Video Available Now
Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included

SlashGear
CrucialTec ultra-slim Optical TrackPad wants your finger
Apple GPU supplier Imagination promise “cinema quality 3D” after ray-tracing acquisition
Gigabyte and SOYO AMD Zacate mainboards leak
Quik Pod gets longer and works with DSLR cameras
Sanyo PLC-HF1500L large venue projector has 15K lumens
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg named TIME’s Person of the Year 2010
HTC LTE smartphones inbound for second half of 2011
The Convergence Con [COLUMN]
Notion Ink Adam pre-order status slips to mid-January 2011 [Update: only 50 customers affected]
Smartphone Coasters hold your smartphone up on the cheap
Silicon Power debuts tiny microSD card reader
Fossil watch concept uses Bluetooth to pull info from your smartphone
Verizon iPhone sales will come mostly at AT&T’s expense says analyst
MIC Store unveils 3-in-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit
Urbanears Tanto headphones get better
Broadcom outs new Android smartphone platform
AirPlayer opens Macs to AirPlay streaming from iOS [Video]
XFX outs new HD 6970 and HD 6950 video cards
FBI backdoors in OpenBSD claims covert coder
Apple TV 4.1.1 update fixes picture problems & download errors
VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX board promises 1080p HD in tiny footprint
Three pushes true unlimited data on refreshed The One Plan
Pioneer BDR-206MBK BDXL burner is $199 world’s first
Novatel MiFi 4082 WiMAX mobile hotspot clears FCC
Toshiba denies Apple Retina Display plant investment
Facebook for Android updated: Chat and push notifications
AMD Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 get official
Nike Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleats & Pro Combat Uniforms debut
Facebook Maps the World via Social Networking Relationships
HP ENVY 17 3D Laptop Hands-On and Unboxing [FEATURED]

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
AIDS cure with stem cell transplant found claim German doctors [MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE]
Japanese dudes skydive Google Earth style [WOWIIIE]
KAIST sells eight HUBO 2 robots to US and Singapore [ELECTRONIC SUPERSONIC]
Voim Smartphone Concept for the Visually Impaired [FUN FOR EVERYONE]
Electronic Chip to Block Pain Signals Being Developed in Australia [ZAPPED!]
TRON Skatecycle is DIY Treasure [Video] [BWOOMMM]
Apple accused of Japanese iBooks piracy [STEALERS]
ESRB Ratings App for Android – Parental Simplicity [SCANNING NOW]

Android Community
Lotus Notes Traveler hits Android
RSA offers new security tools to make Android eCom and enterprise friendly
SuperShuttle app hits Android to get you a ride to the airport
Nexus One Android 2.3 Gingerbread ROM is unofficial work-in-progress
Advent Vega Flash Player 10.1 pulled over missing certification
Vodafone HTC Magic gets Android 2.2.1 OTA update
Google acquire NFC startup Zetawire for mobile wallet ambitions
Words with Friends Port for Android Coming Soon
Swiftkey Updated, 5 new languages and HD skin included
Gameloft Issues an Apology for Billing Errors
Nexus S Kernel Source Available Now
Angry Birds Adds new Video Advertisements on Startup
Facebook for Android Updated, Push and Chat included
Skyfire for Android Updated
Motorola Everest Launch Party Superbowl Sunday?
Two New Accessories for myTouch4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab
ESRB Ratings App for Android – Parental Simplicity
Nexus S Launch Quantities Leaked
Google Updates Voice Recognition for Android, Makes it Personal
Android Community Google Cr-48 Giveaway
Android Ad Impressions Hit Plateau with Millennial Media Network
Dell Streak for O2 UK Update to Android 2.2 Rolling Out This Week
NOOKcolor Getting Update to Android 2.2 in January [Update]
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Could Feature NVIDIA Chip, Analyst Claims

SlashGear
AIDS cure with stem cell transplant found claim German doctors
Google Chrome OS is “careless computing” warns GNU founder
Dell Venue Pro delayed until Jan 6 2011
Toshiba unveils enterprise class SSD
Hitachi 3TB HDD ships to OEM
Acer Iconia dual-touch laptop arrives UK on Jan 14 2011 for £1,499
Nokia E7 delayed until early 2011 [Updated]
eLocity A7 tablet now shipping
IBM Watson supercomputer to challenge all time great Jeopardy champions
Chevy Volt loaded on to car carriers and on way to first customers
EFO outs Rechargeable mini loud-speaker
Advent pull Flash Player 10.1 from Vega tablet until “early 2011″
Japanese dudes skydive Google Earth style
Verizon 4G LTE modem gets Mac OS X hack
KAIST sells eight HUBO 2 robots to US and Singapore
Final bids are due for Nortel Network patent treasure trove
Colorful offers up special edition single slot NVIDIA GTS 450
Samsung Tegra 2 tablet for 2011 tipped
RunCore offers SSD specials for Christmas
Google attempts to Teach Parents Tech (so you don’t have to) [Video]
Comcast Xcalibur smart TV trials tip Google TV rival
Toshiba Retina Display LCD plant gets Apple investment
HP webOS tablet due March 2011 tips analyst
Samsung Gloria & Dell tablets to star in Ballmer’s CES 2011 Microsoft keynote?
Google acquires NFC specialist Zetawire for “Walleto” e-wallet tech
Best Buy Nexus S sales plans detailed: 2 per buyer from 8am on Dec 16
CLEAR iSpot and Spot 4G mobile hotspots price-slashed
LG Optimus 2X (aka Korea’s LG Star) gets video demos
Amazon Windowshop for UK, France & Germany hits iPad App Store
Dell Makes Official Statement on Venue Pro Delay
HP ENVY 17 3D Laptop Hands-On and Unboxing [FEATURED]
Phil Taylor Power Play Darts App Mini Review
$45.8Million Awarded to Lockheed Martin by US Navy for Unmanned K-MAX Helicopter
Sony Demonstrates Solar Power Window Panels
Voim Smartphone Concept for the Visually Impaired
Electronic Chip to Block Pain Signals Being Developed in Australia
Windows Phone 7 Gets Silverlight Enhanced Movie Apps from Paramount Digital Entertainment
Five 80s Tech Movies That Deserve a Refresh [COLUMN]
Acer Aspire One 721 Features AMD K145 CPU in Czech Republic
Google Contacts Now Lets You Restore Deleted Entries
MeeGo User Interface Shown Off on a Tablet [Video]
Carbon Design Group’s Domino Clock Concept Uses Huge Domino Blocks to Tell Time [Video]
SlashGear Google Cr-48 Giveaway [FEATURED]
TRON Skatecycle is DIY Treasure [Video]
Nexus S [REVIEW]
OnLive patent cloud gaming tech
Google Voice adds iPad and iPod touch support
Amazon MP3 for BlackBerry released for OTA music downloads
Apple accused of Japanese iBooks piracy
Nokia 2011 smartphone plans revealed: 1GHz, dual-core & more

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

To take part, all you have to do is sign up as a fan of the SlashGear Facebook page, and share the link to this competition on your Facebook wall with a post saying why you want a Cr-48 notebook. Remember, Google is pushing their cloud apps in a big way with Chrome OS, and the Cr-48 is all about cutting ties and going mobile.

We’ll draw the first SlashGear winner at random on Thursday December 16 2010 at midnight PST, the second on Friday December 17 at midnight PST, and the third on Sunday December 19 at midnight PST. Unfortunately, due to the terms of Google’s pilot scheme, only US entrants can be accepted. Good luck!

Rules:

Competition is open to residents of the US over the age of 18. Family members of Google and SlashGear/Android Community are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified SlashGear Facebook page; entries left in the comments section of this or any other post will not be recognized. One entry per person (and yes, we check). Winners of the SlashGear Cr-48 giveaway are ineligible to win the Android Community Cr-48 giveaway, and vice-versa.

The winners will be announced on SlashGear and contacted via email; they will be expected to respond within 24 hours else their prize may be forfeit and another winner selected. Editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winner agrees that their name and details of their entry may be used for promotional purposes by, but not limited to, Google and SlashGear.

Prize consists of three Google Cr-48 notebooks to be shared between three winners. There is no cash alternative. Should this prize become unavailable, SlashGear and Google reserve the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
AIDS cure with stem cell transplant found claim German doctors [CAUTIOUS EXCITEMENT]
Japanese dudes skydive Google Earth style [WEEE]
KAIST sells eight HUBO 2 robots to US and Singapore [HUMAN AFTER ALL]

Android Community
Lotus Notes Traveler hits Android
RSA offers new security tools to make Android eCom and enterprise friendly
SuperShuttle app hits Android to get you a ride to the airport
Nexus One Android 2.3 Gingerbread ROM is unofficial work-in-progress
Advent Vega Flash Player 10.1 pulled over missing certification
Vodafone HTC Magic gets Android 2.2.1 OTA update
Google acquire NFC startup Zetawire for mobile wallet ambitions
Words with Friends Port for Android Coming Soon

SlashGear
AIDS cure with stem cell transplant found claim German doctors
Google Chrome OS is “careless computing” warns GNU founder
Dell Venue Pro delayed until Jan 6 2011
Toshiba unveils enterprise class SSD
Hitachi 3TB HDD ships to OEM
Acer Iconia dual-touch laptop arrives UK on Jan 14 2011 for £1,499
Nokia E7 delayed until early 2011 [Updated]
eLocity A7 tablet now shipping
IBM Watson supercomputer to challenge all time great Jeopardy champions
Chevy Volt loaded on to car carriers and on way to first customers
EFO outs Rechargeable mini loud-speaker
Advent pull Flash Player 10.1 from Vega tablet until “early 2011″
Japanese dudes skydive Google Earth style
Verizon 4G LTE modem gets Mac OS X hack
KAIST sells eight HUBO 2 robots to US and Singapore
Final bids are due for Nortel Network patent treasure trove
Colorful offers up special edition single slot NVIDIA GTS 450
Samsung Tegra 2 tablet for 2011 tipped
RunCore offers SSD specials for Christmas
Google attempts to Teach Parents Tech (so you don’t have to) [Video]
Comcast Xcalibur smart TV trials tip Google TV rival
Toshiba Retina Display LCD plant gets Apple investment
HP webOS tablet due March 2011 tips analyst
Samsung Gloria & Dell tablets to star in Ballmer’s CES 2011 Microsoft keynote?
Google acquires NFC specialist Zetawire for “Walleto” e-wallet tech
Best Buy Nexus S sales plans detailed: 2 per buyer from 8am on Dec 16
CLEAR iSpot and Spot 4G mobile hotspots price-slashed
LG Optimus 2X (aka Korea’s LG Star) gets video demos
Amazon Windowshop for UK, France & Germany hits iPad App Store

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

“In the US, you even lose legal rights if you store your data in a company’s machines instead of your own. The police need to present you with a search warrant to get your data from you; but if they are stored in a company’s server, the police can get it without showing you anything. They may not even have to give the company a search warrant.” Richard Stallman

In fact, Stallman sees Chrome OS as another example of governments pushing for easier access to user data without having to jump through too many legal hoops. “The US government may try to encourage people to place their data where the US government can seize it without showing them a search warrant,” he suggests, “rather than in their own property.”

Google, meanwhile, is arguing that users are better served by not having to worry over hard-drive maintenance, local backups and other day to day chores. Indeed, for some users, those benefits may well outweigh any potential privacy concerns. Still, it’s the flipside to cloud computing that we seldom hear about, and could give many Chrome OS users pause for thought before they pick up a machine in mid-2011.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Brand New Android Marketplace User Interface Available NOW (via ripped APK) [NEATOID]
Atari and Cryptic Studios launch Star Trek Online Season Three: Genesis contest [JEAN LUC BLOW UP THE DAMN SHIP]
A Week With the L1 v2 Laser Pico Projector : Hands-on and Unboxing [YIPEE!]
Clark Griswold has nothing on the Faucher’s Christmas light show [EMERGENCY RADIOACTIVE POWER]
Verizon’s Motorola Android Honeycomb tablet leaks [SO LEAKY]
T-Mobile G2 Now Only $49.99 [AMAZING DEAL, TRUST ME]

SlashPhone
Verizon iPhone is on Apple’s hired engineers handle
LG Optimus One Series Will Be Receiving Android 2.3

Android Community
Galaxy Tab Luxury Edition to cost about $1000
Angry Birds looks for new ways to make money
Pantech P8000 surfaces with Android onboard
Nexus S UK pre-orders open ahead of “end of Dec” delivery
$100 Dell Streak as Best Buy crank up the subsidies
Maps 5.0 on the Nexus S Demoed by Google
Unofficial Gingerbread Port for Droid X Available Now
LG Star Unofficially Previewed
Huawei Australia Unveils IDEOS X5, X6 Android Smartphones
Brand New Android Marketplace User Interface Available NOW (via ripped APK)
Nexus S Questions Answered by Best Buy
Twidroyd Now Ad Free And Available In The Android Market
Words with Friends Port for Android Coming Soon
Best Buy Details Nexus S Launch Plans
Walgreens Mobile App Now Available
T-Mobile G2 Now Only $49.99
eLocity A7 Tablet Shipping Now
NOOKcolor can now use Android Market (If you’re Rooted, that is) [WOOT]
LG Optimus Mach LU3000 Stocked with Original Ennio Morricone Music
Creative ZiiO appears at the FCC
Android make its way onto Fanboy and Fangirl’s wedding cake
Huawei Ascend for MetroPCS Launched for $179
White Samsung Galaxy S Arrives in Germany
HTC EVO Shift 4G Shows Off Keyboard, Release Date Believed to be January 9th

SlashGear
Roku add 1080p HD to XR streamers with 2.9 firmware update
KIN Studio shutting down as Verizon pulls plug in January 2011
LED Christmas lights hacked into huge IM status display [Video]
Intel pricing Huron River out of the game as Calpalla stocks won’t shift?
Clark Griswold has nothing on the Faucher’s Christmas light show
Google Latitude hits App Store again
Gogo and SkyMall offer free store access on flights
Tamron debuts world’s lightest and smallest 15x DSLR zoom lens
Gear4 offers Angry Birds cases for iPhone 4
PS3 gamers get exclusive playable Kratos character on Mortal Kombat
Kaleidescape reveals Modular Disc Vault for Blu-ray movies
Atari and Cryptic Studios launch Star Trek Online Season Three: Genesis contest
HP and Rossignol team up for special edition notebooks
Mini iPad rumors reignite as half-size model tipped
Justbeats headphones launch as Best Buy exclusive
VW rocks out with Fender Premium audio in select models
Amazon deny hack attack as Euro sites go offline over weekend
Nexus S UK pre-orders open ahead of late-December delivery
Paul Allen patent case against Google, Apple, Facebook & more thrown out
PS3 ITV Player and Channel 4 4oD streaming due this week
Cydia Mac App Store alternative due in just a few weeks time
MacBook Air USB Ethernet adapter glitch prompts network headaches
ASUS Eee Note EA800 gets video unboxing; user-guide goes live
Verizon’s Motorola Android Honeycomb tablet leaks
LG VL600 LTE modem [REVIEW]
Nexus S unboxing and hands-on [FEATURED]
A Week With the L1 v2 Laser Pico Projector : Hands-on and Unboxing [FEATURED]
Why I’m Willing to Give 3D TV A Try [COLUMN]
Is webOS 2.0 Coming to Palm Devices in Q1 2011?
Hidden Gamepad Underneath Chameleon X-1 Mouse
Hybrid Sweet Sweeper Allianz 4000 is World’s First
Solar Powered Watches Updated by Casio at ECO Product 2010
Mozilla Demonstrates Potential of HTML 5 at LeWeb via Floating Ships and Spacecraft [FEATURED]
Apple Attempts to Acquire Patents to Fix for Your Snapshots
MLB At Bat Highest Grossing App for iOS in 2010
LG E90 LED Monitor Landing in the UK Before Christmas
Movie Review: Tron (1982) [COLUMN]
Coloud R2-D2 Themed Headphones Available Now for $49.90
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Breaks Record, Sells 3.3 Million Copies in 24 Hours [Wow!]
iPhone for Verizon Said to be an LTE-Based Device, Launching Right After Christmas
Amazon Sells Millions of Kindles in Just 73 Days, Publicly Thanks Purchasers
Mass Effect 3 Launching Holiday 2011 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 & PC Simultaneously
World Darts Championship to be Filmed With 32 Cameras, Shown Off in 3D
“Emotional” phones hold your hand, blow on you & kiss you [Video]
What is a Chrome OS notebook? [COLUMN]
Intel Light Peak to debut with copper cables not fiber-optic?
Orb Music MP-1 [REVIEW]
HALO DIY obstacle-avoidance system is low-cost radar for visually-impaired [Video]

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Google Hotpot NFC stickers will work with Nexus S [NFC SUPER COOLNESS]
Notion Ink prompting concerns with lack of hardware demo, sky-high return fees [Updated] [ZIP UP YOUR WALLETS AND WAIT]
Google smash, freeze & burn 25 Cr-48 Chrome OS notebooks in praise of the cloud [Video] [KILL EM ALL! BUT KEEP ONE FOR ME]
Speakal outs Cool iPig iPhone dock system [SO CUTE PIGGY PIGGY]

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LG Optimus One Series Will Receive Android 2.3

SlashGear
Novatel sue ZTE and Franklin Wireless over alleged MiFi patent infringement
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Rock Paper Robot “Float” table is tactile bundle of magnetic cubes [Video]

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

Video destruction after the cut

There’s also death by burning – including a craftily toasted marshmallow – and the liberal application of ice cream to the 12.1-inch ultraportable. All very tongue-in-cheek, but it does give Chrome UX designer Glen Murphy an opportunity to highlight how handy it can be when all your documents are safe on some remote server.

An Engadget tipster, meanwhile, sent them in some rather more useful teardown shots (we’re guessing they were motivated by actually wanting to reassemble their Chrome OS notebook afterward). If you’re looking on in horror and thinking that you could’ve put a Cr-48 to better use, then stay tuned to SlashGear; we’ve got some interesting news later on today.

According to Kessler, “the build quality on the Cr-48 is mostly great, all rubberized plastic but the damn battery doesn’t sit flush with the bottom.” Google has purposefully left the 12.1-inch notebook generally unmarked and logo-free, targeting it solely at pilot users while commercial variants from Acer and Samsung are expected in mid-2011.

Previous leaks have suggested that Google ordered around 60,000 Cr-48 notebooks from OEM/ODM Inventec, though the search giant has warned that stocks are limited and not everybody who applies will be successful. The online application process is in part a test to see how web-centric your daily PC activities are, important given the cloud-nature of the Cr-48.

Kessler isn’t the only person to have received a Cr-48, with a quick Twitter search turning up at least two others claiming to have taken delivery today.

[Thanks Tony!]

R3 Media Network

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iPad 2 Launching in the “Next 100 Days”
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Google Chrome OS Cr-48 notebook detailed

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

The Cr-48 will be larger than the Chrome OS notebooks offered by other manufacturers, however. While Google has opted for a 12.1-inch screen (and a full-sized, customized keyboard), Acer’s Quanta-made Chrome OS machine – which is likely to arrive in mid-2011 – reportedly has a 10.1-inch display. Acer is supposedly conservative in its estimates for sales, however, blaming consumer reluctance to change their PC habits.

“If you really need Caps Lock so you can post an INSIGHTFUL COMMENT ON YOUTUBE, click the wrench, click Settings, and then go to the System section to change the Modifier Key from a Search key to a Caps Lock key.” Google

The Caps Lock isn’t the only key change Google has implemented. Where the function key row would normally be found, Google has taken a leaf out of Apple’s book and instead used those buttons for more everyday controls. Left to right, you have Esc, Back, Forward, Reload, Full Screen, Next Window, Decrease Brightness, Increase Brightness, Mute, Volume down, Volume up and the power button

The search button automatically pulls up a Google search in a new tab, probably a sensible control given that Chrome OS is all browser-based. Meanwhile the trackpad is also like on Apple’s MacBooks, clicking all over its surface and using two-finger taps for the contextual menu. More on the Cr-48 here.

[via istartedsomething]

There’s also an integrated Qualcomm Gobi 3G chip, for use with Verizon’s network while in the US. The carrier will bundle 100MB of free data with every Chrome OS notebook bought in the US, for 24-months, or for an extra $9.99 there’s a day’s worth of unlimited access.

If you’re happier getting online in a more ad-hoc way, there’s the usual dual-band WiFi b/g/n, plus there’s a webcam and an “oversized” trackpad. Google reckons the Cr-48 will boot in just 10 seconds, resuming from sleep almost instantly.

The Cr-48 won’t be available in retail; instead, Google is throwing open the doors to a test-drive program, offering business, education, developer, non-profit and individual users to take their web-centric lives onto Chrome OS. You can find out more details and apply here, if you’re in the US, though the search giant does warn that it only has a limited number of units to offer.

We’re expecting out Cr-48 review unit in later this week, so expect full coverage soon!

This makes Chrome the only browser that runs Flash Player in a sandbox for Windows XP, this first version for Windows users allowing them to take advantage of a modified version of Chrome’s already existing sandbox tech. What sandboxing does, in a nutshell, is to protect the users most sensitive resources from being accessed while at the same time allowing apps to use the lesser sensitive ones. Common malware be shushed!

Soon this functionality will be available on on platforms, Google says, while those on the dev channel for Windows will be automatically updated soon. They encourage you to leave them loads of feedback of course, too. AND if you’re completely uninterested in such functionality, they’ve added a disable command “–disable-flash-sandbox” if you’d like to plug that into your command line and sit around all non-sandboxed.

[Via Official Chromium Blog]

They begin by demoing on a Windows machine. Then straight to a Google Chrome OS notebook. This machine goes from startup to ready to use in under 60 seconds. Take a peek at the startup pics in the gallery below.

They emphasize the ability to access all of your materials, especially apps, anywhere, from any machine running Chrome OS, anywhere anytime, same experience. Same Experience Anywhere.

“A True Cloud Computing Device.” Speed in starting up, booting, re-booting, waking up, everything instant. Friend’s Log feature allows you to look through the web in true incognito mode (incase you’re on your friends computer, for example).

They note how this OS, even though it’s based in the internet, you’ll be able to work offline just fine. On the other hand, a Google Chrome OS notebook will be able to connect with 3G and eventually LTE. With these connections, a person can use their cloud connection to the rest of their devices “cloud print” and have their document ready at home having printed it from a taxi cab.

“100MB free data every month for 2 years on Verizon, no contracts. pay for what you need. Plans from $9.99. No activation, ovrage or cancellation fees. Easy self-activation process.”

Security includes not only the castle that is the Chrome browser, but in Chrome OS – Seamless, automatic updates, Sanboxing, User separation and instant encryption for all data, and most important Verified Boot. Copies of everything are kept incase something goes wrong.

CIOs businesses are also interested in Chrome OS, their interests boiling down to three points: Security, Simplicity, and TCO Total Cost of Ownership.

Citrix Systems works with businesses and suggested the ability to download updates on security systems and additional software directly from the device.

He mentions Flixter as a lovely tool to find new apps and work with them. How will this affect the future of the Chrome Web store?

Gallery is the heart of Chrome Web Store. If you check out the NPR app, their first example, looks lovely, a neato gallery-style app that plays items instantly. Next they reveal Sports Illustrated SNAPSHOT. A visual-rich experience. You can personalize via your area, whatever you like.

If an app costs $1.99, for example, you just purchase it in under 10 seconds using the Google account you’ve already got set up. Your apps are displayed in a way you’ll already be familiar with if you’re into Android, iOS, whichever.

“Primary purpose of the Web Store is to showcase partners of Google.”

NYTimes for Chrome allow you to browse with 10 skins to begin, your way. Browse headlines, read in the same way you’d read a physical copy, browse galleries of images, Priority View in order of importance as selected by editors. Stories “have never looked more beautiful or more engaging.” Very fast, up to the minute updates, “only the beginning of what we can achieve.” — Works offline!

EA Games comes to speak about Pogo.com, a place where web-based games live, a flagship being Poppit! Poppit! has been converted to HTML5 in less than 5 hours. Super neato technology converting this game to a smooth, excellent experience. Poppit! is embedded in the new Chrome version, downloaded in the games section of Chrome’s new Web Store.

Amazon presents Windowshop.com as well as an update for Kindle. Inside Kindle for the Web, they want the technology to dissapear as you immerse yourself in the books. All of this is built inside the web.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/ should be up today!

Original Google I/O Video on May 19, 2010 (start at around 3m 28s)

More updates as we get them!