Google Chrome 3 Brings More Speed and Features to the Stable Release

Windows only: Chrome turned one year old just a couple weeks back, and as a belated celebration, the folks at Google have just pushed out a brand new stable release in the form of Google Chrome 3.

Those of you who haven't been eager to play on the bleeding edge of Chrome releases have a lot of nice improvements in store for them in Chrome 3, including:

• Speed Improvements: Chrome 3 is faster than any previous stable release on both the V8 and SunSpider benchmarks. (Google's calling it a 150% increase in Javascript performance since their first beta.) In the current Chrome 4 dev release, Chrome continues to outshine other browsers on most speed benchmarks.
• The New Tab Page: Again, this is only new to those of you who've been sticking to stable releases, but the new tab page is more customizable, allowing you to rearrange thumbnails via drag and drop and pin thumbnails you want to keep around permanently.
• Better Omnibox: Firefox has its awesome bar, Chrome has its omnibox. As of the stable Chrome 3 release, the omnibox adds contextual icons to help you see whether autocomplete results are suggest sites, searches, bookmarks, or sites from your history.
• HTML5: Google has been pushing the envelope with what developers can do with HTML5, the new standard set of tools in the next evolution of HTML (the backbone of web pages). In Chrome 3 stable, HTML5 is standard—meaning support for video, audio, and canvas tags that bring a rich web experience to your browser without the need for third-party plug-ins like Flash.
• Themes: We've highlighted a handful of the great new Google Chrome themes already, but now they're available to the stable channel users, as well.

Of course, none of this is all that exciting if you've been using the beta or dev channels for your Chrome updates, but if your workplace, for example, won't let you use anything but stable releases of software, the stable Chrome update is very welcome. Chrome 3 stable is a free download, Windows only.

(Note: Google continues its rather speedy version number jumping here—having dropped three "major" releases in just over a year. It may seem a little silly that it's now on the same version number as Firefox and looks like it'll easily beat Firefox to 4.0, but keep in mind that version numbers are largely arbitrary, so while Google may well hit Chrome 10 in another year or two, it has little bearing on how it compares to other browsers.)

Google Chrome [via Official Google Blog]

Google Book Downloader

Google Book Downloader is a free utility that lets out download any book that's available in "full view" from Google Books. Of course, most of these books also feature download links right on the web page, but Google Books Downloader lets you queue up multiple jobs and convert all of the downloaded books to PDF files.

The application is available for Windows and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. You can either install Google Book Downloader or download a portable version which you can simply unzip and run from your hard drive or a removable disk.

In order to queue up a book for download, just open the "add book" dialog in the file menu and copy an paste the book code, link, or ISBN number, click search, and then select the book that shows up. To begin downloading, right click a title and hit "start." and to export a file as a PDF, right-click and hit "export."

You can find more instructions in the tutorial.

 Download

The Best Way to arrange, resize your Windows

Windows 7 already provides several handy keyboard shortcuts for moving and resizing application windows and of course that what I'm enjoying using it right now. If you're running an older version or want a more exhaustive set of commands at your fingertips, take a look at WinLayout.

The free, open source application is built on top of AutoHotkey and adds some serious arrangement kung fu your under-loved numeric keypad.

For its basic moves, WinLayout slices your screen up into a 3x3 grid (think tic-tac-toe board). Hold the Windows key and tap the corresponding key to send an app to that spot on the grid - 7 = top left, 5=center, 3=bottom right, etc.

Windows can also be resized and moved in single-pixel increments. Word of warning: not surprisingly, some commands do interfere with those built in to Windows 7.

GeeMail desktop client for Gmail provides offline access

GeeMail is a desktop client for Gmail based on Adobe AIR. In other words, it can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X as long as you have Adobe AIR installed. At its most basic level, GeeMail is a standalone application that you can use to check your email, send, or sort messages without opening a web browser.

But GeeMail also supports offline Gmail access. In other words, you can compose messages while you're away from an internet connection. When you go online again, GeeMail will send them. Google also provides limited offline support to users who install Google Gears.

GeeMail lacks a search box, which is a bit limiting. But what it does provide is super-fast access to your Gmail inxbox.

[via CNet]

Google Redesigned Updates, Adds GReader Redesigned

The crafty skinners at Globex Designs have officially released Google Redesigned 0.2, a Firefox extension that gives a whole-cloth new look to Gmail, Google Calendar, and, new to this release, Google Reader.

Here's a look at each of the sites that gets skinned under the Redesigned extension (click for the even-bigger view):

Google Reader Redesigned:

Gmail Redesigned:

Google Calendar Redesigned:

Here's what the folks at Globex, possibly headquartered in Cypress Creek, have to say about what's new in 0.2:

• NEW STYLE! GReader Redesigned
• Support for Mozilla Prism
• Extension options dialog support
• Support For Status Bar Icon Hide (activated in the add-on options dialog)
• Optimized update system
• Localization support for Bosnian, Czech, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish languages
• Code optimization

Users with Google Redesigned already installed should see an update ping the next time they launch, but can also manually grab the newest skins by right-clicking the Google Redesigned tray icon and choosing "Check for Style Updates."

Wish another Google Product got the Redesigned treatment? Tell us about it in the comments, or at Globex Designs' forums. Thanks Hanchen!

Google Redesigned [Globex Designs]

Google Reader for Beginners

Have you ever had a friend or family member who you know would love using Google Reader? Have you ever had trouble explaining to that same friend or family member just how using Reader could make their lives easier (and more fun)? We sure have, so if you're anything like us then we have some useful tools in store for you.

The Google Reader Team is proud to introduce several new help resources designed specifically at introducing beginners to using Reader: Google Reader Help Videos and the Google Reader Getting Started Guide, both accessible directly from our Help Center.

Feel free to let us know what you think by commenting on the videos or by leaving feedback in our Help Forum. Although the videos are aimed at beginners, we're hoping to eventually cover even more advanced and lesser-known features in the same visual and step-by-step manner.

Now get watching, Readers! And don't forget to send the link along to your favorite beginner, newbie, or visual learner!