ChromiumPC

At Google I/O earlier this month, Google introduced (briefly) a Samsung-labeled Chrome desktop box. But while it looked a lot like the Mac Mini, there still aren't any true details to show people what it may be capable of. Google also stated that they'd continue to push Chromium for those who want a taste of Chrome on a non-sanctioned machine, and it looks like Xi3 is jumping on that notion to make a timely announcement.


The Xi3 Computer isn't new; those following desktops will likely recognize the form factor here. But there's a new twist to this -- the ChromiumPC computer is a cube-like, small form factor, low-power (20Watts) dual-core modular computer that can be adapted to run other operating systems or to perform specialized functions. In other words, this is just an x86 system, but they'll happily support Chromium if you'd like a Chrome OS-like experience on a small, mobile desktop. It's a strange way to market this, but probably a smart one.

The Xi3 Computer Architecture is designed to support any x86-based operating system, including Windows, Linux, Unix, and other open source-based operating systems. In other words, if someone chooses to switch their ChromiumPC to run a different operating system, it’s as easy as swapping out one of the three boards inside the computer. The company's expected to make these available in early July, but there's no mention yet of a price.

Unlike traditional computers, however, the Xi3 Computer Architecture makes it possible to change the so-called personality and/or functionality of an Xi3 Modular Computer, including the ChromiumPC. This is done in eight easy steps:

1. Power down and disconnect the Modular Computer from all external connections
2. Remove the four screws from one of the honeycomb-shaped and chrome-plated sideplates
3. Remove the sideplate from the Modular Computer chassis
4. Slide the three interconnected modules out of the chassis
5. Remove one of the I/O Modules and replace it with a new I/O Module
6. Reinsert the three interconnected modules back inside the chassis
7. Reattach the sideplate to the chassis
8. Reconnect all external connections and power-up the Modular Computer

All it takes is a little bad publicity. Google is rolling out a fix to remedy the authToken security flaw we wrote about earlier.While Google early rolled out a client-side fix for Android 2.3.4 and higher, that left 99 percent of Android users still vulnerable. Considering how hard it is to get a new version of Android out to devices, Google is fixing the flaw on the server side.


“Today we’re starting to roll out a fix which addresses a potential security flaw that could, under certain circumstances, allow a third party access to data available in calendar and contacts. This fix requires no action from users and will roll out globally over the next few days.”

The server-side fix means the concerns we raised about fragmentation and how Google would manage to fix the issue aren't a real concern. It's interesting, however, that Google did not address this until it was publicized. After all, they obviously knew about it since they fixed it in Honeycomb and Gingerbread.

However, the fix only addresses the ClientLogin issues with Calendar and Contacts, while the problem with Picasa remains. Google still has no fix for it, though it confirms it is working on the problem.

Google said Wednesday that it had revamped its Android Market, with an eye toward putting a greater number of popular, quality apps in front of users.

The new features, which include "Editor's Choices" and other editorial recommendations, are currently live on the Web version of the Android Market, and will be arriving on tablets and phones "soon," Google said in a blog post and an announcement at Google I/O, its developer conference in San Francisco. "The Web version of the Market allows us to iterate quickly," said Chris Yerga, director of engineering for Google's cloud services.

The new version of the Market includes five new features: new top app charts, the "Editor's Choice" lists, a list of top developers, related apps, and trending apps.

Google made the announcement after its morning Google I/O keynote, where Google announced its first Chrome OS "Chromebooks", complete with per-user, per-month plans for businesses, schools, and governments.

And that was after the first day of Google I/O, which included the formal disclosure of its next Android releases, improved video services, and the so-called future of Android, or Android@Home. Google also launched its Google Music Beta, possibly including anti-piracy protections. It also disclosed that it could pay up to $500 million to settle a Department of Justice investigation.

"Surfacing" as many apps as possible is Google's goal. "The reason we wanted to introduce a bunch of different lists is that we did a lot of work on what type of lists would be best used to surface an application," said Eric Chu, who oversees the Android Market for Google.

Google said that Android applications have been installed over 4.5 billion times to date, covering 200,000 discrete apps. The idea, of course, is to elicit more. Google takes a 30 percent cut of all Android Market sales, and Google's keynote pitch to add in-app payments through a single line of code provides it another route to higher revenues. Chu said that Google didn't have any plans to cut its revenue share to 5 percent, as it will do for the Chrome App Market.

The new top app charts will rank apps by country. The top free and paid apps will also be available on the main Android Market page, as will a list of the top revenue generators, by gross revenue. A list of trending apps will highlight those on a sharply upwards "hockey stick" growth curve.


The "Editor's Choice" list will include picks by the Google staff. In a related note, Google will also highlight its preferred developers (in terms of quality and popularity) and give them a special star next to their name. The first list will include 150 developers.

The Android Market will eventually come to the Google TV, but Yerga said that he didn't want to steal any of the thunder from the Google TV team with any announcements. He did say, however, that it will be "designed to be a 10-foot experience, not a two-foot experience, one that scales really well for a remote-control device and a pixel density that you would expect for the TV."

Yerga also said that Google may be making some changes to the refund window associated with new Android applications, which currently allows just 15 minutes for a refund after the app is downloaded. "We're going to be making some changes to start at the appropriate place," Yerga said.