Google's latest Android browser promises faster surfing

Faster Web browsing and lower data use might be on the cards for Android mobile phone users if they download a new version of the Chrome Web browser offered by Google.

The latest Chrome Beta for Android, which was made available on Tuesday, includes an "experimental data compression feature" that Google said could reduce data loads by up to 60 percent on some sites.

The system works by sending most Web requests through a proxy server, which sits in between the user's browser and the destination Web server. The server is running SPDY, a Google-developed protocol designed to reduce the data size of Web content.

It does this through tricks such as compressing the text in pages, sending multiple simultaneous requests to a Web server and by transcoding images into a more efficient format called WebP.

WebP is a Google-developed image format that is said to reduce image size by 26 percent against PNG (Portable Network Graphics) images and by between 25 percent and 34 percent against the JPEG format. Support for the format is already in Chrome, Opera and Android from version 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich," and can be added to Internet Explorer with the Chrome Frame plug-in.

The system works on all non-secure connections to websites using the HTTP protocol. Connections to secure sites using the HTTPS protocol are handled as normal and don't flow through the SPDY proxy. As an added advantage, non-secure connections are encrypted using SSL between the phone and proxy. Google's Safe Browsing feature is also enabled, which helps guard against malware and phishing attacks.

Users can find the beta version of the Chrome browser by following this link. It won't appear through a search of the Play Store.

Once installed, the system needs to be enabled. That can be done by navigating the browser to "chrome://flags" and setting "Experimental Data Compression Proxy" to on.

Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter at @martyn_williams. Martyn's e-mail address ismartyn_williams@idg.com

Nokia debuts Here, cross-platform location service

Nokia plans an ambitious expansion of its mapping and location-based services platform beyond its own smartphones to competing devices running OSes other than Windows Phone 8, it said Tuesday.

The move is being backed with the acquisition by Nokia of Earthmine, a California-based provider of street-level 3D imaging data, and will see Nokia going head-to-head with Google, Apple and dedicated mapping companies like TomTom.

"We want to give everyone with any type of device to ability to use this, the best location platform in the industry," said Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia, speaking at an event in San Francisco.

Nokia will use the "Here" brand name across its location platform.

The company hopes that by expanding its platform beyond its own handsets, it will benefit from the greater scale of the service and in turn make its own service better.

Nokia's platform includes mapping and satellite data, 75 million searchable points of interest, car and foot navigation data, and public transport information.

Nokia has already taken some steps towards opening up its mapping database. It has worked with car navigation system makers and other IT companies including Amazon and Oracle to license its maps, said Elop.

"We will do much, much more of this," he said.

As a first step, Nokia will launch on Apple's iOS in the coming weeks, said Michael Halbherr, head of Nokia's location and commerce division. The iOS version will be based on HTML5 but will appear to users like a native application, he said. It will offer maps, navigation, live traffic, public transport information and more.

Nokia has already submitted it to Apple's App Store, where the company plans to offer it for free.

The iOS version will offer turn-by-turn navigation for pedestrians but not for car drivers.

"When we look at turn-by-turn, we look at it in a different way," said Thom Brenner, vice president of Nokia's location and commerce business, in an interview. "Safety is very important and we don't think HTML5 is good enough for what we want."

Brenner didn't say if Nokia was developing a native iOS app.

A Here SDK (software development kit) for Android will be available in the first quarter of 2013. That will allow developers to embed Here Maps and make use of Nokia's location information in their own applications.

However, while software makers will be able to develop Android apps that make use of the location services, the services will only be available on handsets from companies with which Nokia has a licensing agreement, said Brenner.

That means Nokia's platform will only expand to Android devices if other handset makers -- the company's rivals in the competitive smartphone market -- license the technology.

Nokia will also work with Mozilla to bring a Here Maps app to the Firefox OS.

"People today already own multiple connected devices, so to have a proper solution for the consumer we need to make sure it works everywhere," said Halbherr.

Internet users can check out Nokia's new platform by looking at here.com, a freshly launched website that offers maps, satellite images and data on landmarks and shops. In a demonstration, Nokia showed a map of San Francisco that included 3D buildings and allowed the user to zoom and rotate the map in a similar fashion to Google Earth.

A mobile version of the site is available for cellphones.

Nokia also said it will open up the augmented reality platform used in its Nokia City Lens software. Called LiveSight, the data and software engine allows cellphone users to hold up their phones to see a live view of the world around them through the phone's camera with locations marked and overlaid on the image.

Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter at @martyn_williams. Martyn's e-mail address ismartyn_williams@idg.com

Top 7 Smart Mobile Apps for Commuters

Having to do a daily commute isn’t the sort of thing many people relish and in many cases it can be the worst part of the working day. Much of that is down to stressful journeys, perhaps in a car, train, bus, or plane.

No matter what type of commute people have to endure every day, there’s no doubt that it can be an arduous adventure in most cases.

However, now that we have increasingly powerful mobile communication and devices that allow us to stay connected pretty much wherever we go, then it is slowly becoming much more enjoyable to commute. In fact, since apps have been developed, commuting in some cases can actually be turned into something altogether more palatable.

Alongside that, the development of apps and other software for this generation’s smart mobile devices has also meant that the commute itself is now much easier than it used to be.

If you have any kind of journey to carry out in order to get to your desk and back again then you’ll know many snags you can often encounter along the way. Therefore, picking a few choice apps might just get you there in much more timely fashion.

Here are top 7 smart mobile apps that would help your commuting much easier.

1. Beat the Traffic

App Home | Download (available for iPhone/iPad, Android and BlackBerry)

If you use the car to any degree then the Beat the Traffic app is one that’s well worth investigating. This app will give you the best ways for navigating your way to work while avoiding the ones that have too much traffic or are susceptible to jams and snarl-ups. This is an app that is also bang up to date as it uses dynamic data to ensure that the roads you’re going to be heading down are clear.

2. Heads Up Navigator

App Home | Download (available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad)

If you’re heading off to work on foot then even that can be an occasionally stressful operation, so the Heads Up Navigator app will make sure that you enjoy the best possible routes by giving you a 3D augmented reality guided tour. This one also comes in handy for other locations, such as if you have to go out of town on business or pleasure.

3. City Maps 2Go

App Home | Download (supports iPhone, iPod touch and iPad)

It’s always a good idea to have an excellent map at your disposal and the City Maps 2Go app is perfect for giving you all the information you’ll ever need on some 7,800 cities. The data is certainly comprehensive and should allow you to navigate your way through any area that you’re not sure about, as well as giving a great overview of the best routes to take in order to avoid the main snarl-up areas.

4. Bike Maps

App Home | Download (designed for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad)

Meanwhile, bike riders are growing in numbers, as are the people who use two wheels to get to their place of work. The Bike Maps app is a great choice if you’re looking to find the best way to your next destination, be it a daily commute or perhaps a social engagement after work. The app can be used offline too, so if you don’t have a connection to the web then you’ll still be able to enjoy its incredibly powerful potential.

5. AllSubway

App Home | Download (compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad)

Unfortunately, many more commuters have to get to work using the subway and that too can be a pain in the proverbial unless you've got an app that can see you though the worst of what underground rail travel has to offer. Try exploring the potential of the AllSubway app, which so another program that makes use of a massive database of information about subways all around the world. Again, this one is made even more of a success because it doesn't need to have an internet connection to work properly either.

6. WeatherBug

App Home | Download (iPhone/iPad, Android, BlackBerry and all the other major mobile devices/OSes)

As a commuter, you might be aware of the importance of ever-changing weather conditions. With WeatherBug app on your mobile device, you have key to all the local climate information you need. Be geared up and know before severe weather hits! With real-time updates from the world’s leading weather network, find out the pluses of having the swiftest weather alerts and the top forecasts on the go. Moreover, whether you are at home in New York, interested about business/clients in France or preparing travel to India, WeatherBug has you covered.

7. Lookout Mobile Security

App Home | Download (available for iPad, iPhone, Android tablets/smartphones)

Ask any daily commuters, one of their major fears might be losing their smartphone/device or had it stolen. There’s nothing to worry about. Lookout app assists you to track your missing/stolen device quickly, restore, or wipe your data if needed. You can locate your missing phone on a map from your PC or another smartphone. Apart from this, Lookout provides all-in-one guard, quality security to defend your device from viruses, malware and spyware, and the facility to backup and restore your data.