Google Chrome logoGIVEN THAT MOST of this week's Google updates revolve around April Fool's jokes, up with which we shall not put, especially as it's 2 April now, it has been a relatively quiet week for Google news.
However, a quiet week for Google is a busy week for just about anyone else, so there's still plenty to talk about. Coming up: some retro games are coming to Android, every Android app is coming to Chrome, and Chrome is coming to your Android TV Box.
But first, as we reported yesterday, Google For Work products are getting bolstered security including monitoring of events on domain machines and the ability to block features like downloading, sharing and printing.
The company has also banned security certificates issued by the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) meaning that websites using them for 'secure' credentials will have to rethink, after it was discovered that they may not be as 'secure' as you'd like. CNNIC has branded the decision "unacceptable".
Not strictly Google, but worth noting that a whole bunch of titles are about to get Android ports. Specifically Tomb Raider I, which is available now, and the Nintendo world will be breaking out of its proprietary bubble as the Japanese company confirmed that ports of Mario, Zelda and co are in the pipeline.
While we're off-on Google, another app worth mentioning is WhatsApp, which is getting a full rollout of its VoIP service this week.
Back at Google Towers and there's big news for Android developers as Google finally releases an Android Runtime for Chrome kit, meaning that, for the first time, any Android app can be ported to any operating system capable of running Chrome.
The initial test apps released over the past six months were a little less than inspiring, and there have been many homebrew attempts to introduce other apps to the ecosystem (we successfully got Skype working on a Chromebook), so this should be big news for a lot of brands that want to support Chrome OS without coughing up the extra to develop for it.
To support this, a Chrome Stick has been announced by the good folk at Asus. Quite separate from the Chromecast an the myriad of cheap Chinese Android sticks already on the market, the Chrome Stick will create a full Chrome OS powered environment on any screen with an HDMI port.
Expect to see that later in the year. Before we go, a quick reminder. From 21 April it is believed that Google will change its algorithm (yes, again) to penalise websites that aren't mobile friendly, lowering their appearance in search results. Web teams, you have been warned.
Finally, it's happy birthday to Gmail which was 11 years old yesterday. You don't look a day over 10.
As part of the birthday celebrations, the Android app has had a tweak which creates a Universal Inbox view across all your accounts, POP3 and native. That's this Week in Google. More next Thursday.
Cr. The Inquirer
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