ReadWriteWeb

Google just released an update to its cutting edge developer version of Google Chrome that adds a lot of polish to the way Chrome handles extensions. Interestingly, while the stable versions of Chrome are still stuck with the 2.x series, the versions in the developer channel are now already designated as 4.x versions. At this point, users of the developer channel version can already easily install extensions, change themes, sync bookmarks, and profit from a faster rendering engine, while users of the more conservative stable version don't have access to any of these features yet.

Opera today announced that the latest version of its browser, Opera 10, was downloaded 10 million times during the first week after its release. On its first day of release, Opera registered around 2 million downloads, up from 580,000 when the company released Opera 9 in 2006. Opera 10 launched to generally positive reviews and the company is already working on the next iteration of Opera 10, which will include Opera Unite, a web server and a number of web services that users will host on their own desktops.

It's been just over a year since Google surprised the world with a release of their very own web browser, Google Chrome, now the basis for the company's upcoming operating system. Despite its flaws (lack of RSS support, no extensions), the browser soon became a hit among the niche crowd of early adopters...at least those running Windows. Why Windows? Because Google has yet to publicly release versions for either the Mac operating system or Linux. However, a recent update to their Privacy Policy hints that may be about to change.

After numerous betas and two release candidates, Opera today released the final version of Opera 10, the company's flagship desktop Internet browser. Users who skipped all the pre-release versions of Opera 10 will be pleasantly surprised with the updates that Opera has brought to its browser. These include Opera Turbo, the company's compression technology that makes surfing on slower connections more bearable, visual tabs, a smarter spell checker, and a faster rendering engine. Opera also still features a built-in email client and RSS reader.

...but What About the Other Web Browsers?

We don't know much about the upcoming OS from Google, Chrome OS, so most of the news we read about it involves speculation or, sometimes, rather terrible attempts at faking some supposedly official screenshots. However, we recently stumbled on a tidbit of actual news that proves how tightly integrated the Google Chrome web browser will be with the operating system. Of course that makes sense - it is called "Chrome OS" - but it makes us wonder if Google will be required to support other web browsers on their new platform? After all, it's one thing to integrate your own browser with your OS (as Microsoft does with IE) but it's another thing to not even offer a choice. What will Google do? Will they go the "evil" route?

In the age of transparency, it appears some of us are embarrassed to be ourselves. Maybe you're a closet Perez Hilton fan, or you check Woot! at work, or perhaps as suggested by PC Pro, you like to bookmark your porn collection. In any case, a number of Firefox 3 users reverted back to version 2 due to the location bar's (awesome bar's) ability to search against browser history and bookmarks. A recent Mozilla blog post walks users through the privacy control enhancements of Firefox 3.5.

Yahoo announced its acquisition of Maktoob today in a deal meant to improve programming in areas like the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Wrote VP of Emerging Markets Keith Nillson, "We're committed to responsible global engagement. This means being sensitive to local laws, customs, and norms." As critical thinkers, are we going to sit back in our English-only culture bubbles or do we also want a taste of that global engagement? If you're a Firefox user and you're interested in accessing foreign language sites, you may want to try the Worldwide Lexicon's new Universal Translator Toolbar.

The Opera Mini application is now considered not only the world's most popular mobile browser, but also the world's most downloaded app. According to independent applications marketplace GetJar, the browser has been downloaded more than 25 million times from its store. "The fact that Opera Mini is the most downloaded app on an open app store like GetJar makes us proud," said Opera's Chief Strategy Officer Rolf Assev. "It proves that our vision of providing a browser that works on almost all phones will give millions a better way to access the Web."

Xmarks, the bookmark-syncing service which began its life as a Firefox add-on, is now adding yet another browser to its supported list. Already available for Firefox, IE, and Safari, the company announced yesterday that it will now support Google Chrome, too. The feature is currently in closed alpha testing, meaning there are a limited number of spots available, but you can sign up to get your name on the invite list now.

Google announced bookmark sync to the Chrome browser in a blog post earlier today. Chrome users can sync their bookmarks across various machines and store them alongside Google Docs. While the feature is not a new concept amongst browsers, the significance is that yet another player is storing your data in the cloud with the ability to distribute it across networks. As predicted by ReadWriteWeb and Forrester's Jeremiah Owyang, it appears that your social data is converging with the browser with potentially huge implications for data portability.