Chrome for iOS

[speedbird591]

A heads up for iPad users. Google's Chrome browser is now available for free download from the App store. If you use it as your PC browser it will sync the settings. Even if you don't it's a viable alternative to Safari!

Ian

[DarrenL]

I've tried it out, no quicker than Safari for me and not a patch on Mini Opera that I use now in terms of speed.

Google Drive is useful though

[speedbird591]

No quicker than the others but it's my preferred PC browser. I like the clean, modern interface. If, like me, you use Google as your main account (gmail, calendar, contacts, analytics etc.) then it's really useful that they sync across my laptop, phone and tablet. Now Chrome for iOS links my iPad to my laptop browser putting another piece in the jigsaw. As a standalone browser it's purely another option.

I'm not so sure about Google Drive, though. I currently use Dropbox to transfer files which works perfectly. But Drive doesn't allow me to download a jpeg into my iPad photo gallery. Other documents, such as PDFs, will download into iBooks but photos can only be viewed within Drive. Unless I'm missing something.

Ian

[TSR2]

You may as well give google you whole life and let them plonk it on the net, as much as I dislike Apple (personal preference) google are up there with Facebook... Dangerous.

[Tomliner]

I agree with you Ben.I just remember the 'eggs in one basket' saying. EricT

[speedbird591]

I agree with you Ben.I just remember the 'eggs in one basket' saying. EricT

Yes. I also put all my eggs in one basket! Do you think I should make a separate trip to the supermarket for each individual egg, which would be safer but less convenient? You've got me worried about my shopping habits, now

Even if Google were to find some evil use for the data they hold on me, I doubt that it would be of much interest compared to that of the billions of others who use it

Perhaps I should be more concerned about my accounts and investments with Barclays! What do you reckon? Under the mattress with it?

If Google ever does misuse my data, I'll find an alternative but until then I'll use it as the most convenient and efficient way of running my digital life. The alternative is putting all your eggs in separate baskets which I really don't have time for - unless I need to make an omelette

You don't think you're being just a little bit paranoid? I don't do Facebook, however, so I can't comment on that.

Ian

[Tomliner]

Oops,didn't mean to upset you Ian.I must admit that there is still a bit of the old dinosaur in me.Like you,I don't use social websites.
Ps meant to get back to re the iPad/ forum prob which I contacted you about.I just re-typed the URL and bookmarked it and all is ok.Best Wishes EricT

[speedbird591]

Oops,didn't mean to upset you Ian.

Sorry, Eric, I was trying to wind Ben up but by using your egg analogy it sounded like I was having a go at you. Ben and I agree to disagree about things from time to time and I thought this was a good opportunity. Sorry you got caught in the middle I was going to PM you to ask how you got on with the login problem so I'm glad it's sorted now.

As for Google, I find it really convenient having one identity for several useful programs and syncing them across devices makes my life much easier. I know it gives Google access to a lot of information about me and my activities but as I've got no skeletons in my online closet, I've made an informed decision to take that tiny chance against the convenience of using it. Using your grocery analogy, I do 95% of my shopping at Tesco using a club card and they have a huge amount of data on my shopping habits and lifestyle. But the timesaving, convenience and benefits from being in the Tesco club outweighs the minimal risk that the data may be misused. IMO. The egg basket analogy would have me buying from the butcher, grocer, dairy, baker, hardware shop, chemist, newsagent etc. etc. and paying cash. And carrying separate baskets for the eggs

Mind you, I'm not so casual about protecting my financial affairs.

Cheers

Ian

[TSR2]

lol, sorry about that Eric, just Ian and i playing tennis

My thing with google is that when they started out they were everyones friend and "we're just a bunch of guys who have come up with some cool stuff we want to give the world for free, etc etc etc"
It was really clever, get the world hooked and then try to screw everyone. Much as I'm no Apple fan boy, I do feel that the late Mr. Jobs was correct in that google screwed Apple over. The thing is, they are all wanting your data, Microsoft, Apple and the two bad eggs (IMHO) Google and Facebook. Haven't used google in years for anything as I don't believe they can be trusted and their new privacy policy basically gives them a free run on all the data you store with them, all indexed by their search engine (although not all searchable by the general public) and their data retention on files that you delete makes interesting reading.

I've no skeletons either, but i dont want to broadcast my data to the world.

[speedbird591]

Chrome browser is working very well on my iPad. 'If' anybody else decides to use it, you'll find that Apple won't allow you to change it to the default browser - so any links you tap will open in Safari.

Cyberbrat has found a workaround whereby you add a custom bookmark to your Safari bookmarks. So when Safari opens you just tap your 'open in chrome' bookmark (or whatever you name it) and hey presto, that's what happens.

http://lifehacker.com/5922387/open-in-c ... our-iphone

See - a university education is a great way to get a return on your £40k+ investment

Ian