Google Chrome browser nears 10 percent share

CLICK to read article on Yahoo! News: "Google is making some ground in the browser market. In Nov. 2010, the browser hit a 9.27 percent market share, up almost a full percentage point from October, according to a report from Net Applications. The gain came at the cost of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which dropped by nearly a full point to 58.41 percent. Mozilla Firefox suffered a drop, but it was insignificant drop of .02 percent to land at 22.81 percent and Apple’s Safari browser rose a fifth of a point to 5.57 percent.

Chrome’s impressive month appears to have been caused by strong adoption of Chrome 7.0, the newest version of the browser. In a single month, 7.0 alone gained a 5.64 percent market share, the second largest monthly gain of any browser share since Net Applications began tracking. At this pace, 7.0 should almost completely replace 6.0 in two months time. Google’s new browser versions appear to have a quick adoption rate. Chrome 6.0 showed a similar two month replacement of 5.0.

Another reason for the gain could be attributed to the launch of Google TV, which uses a version of the Chrome browser. However, the actual numbers don’t reflect that. Google TV runs Chrome 5.0, the share of which actually fell from .26 percent to .20 percent in November, which was the first full month Google TV devices were on the market. This data doesn’t bode well for sales of the Logitech Revue and Google-powered Sony TVs.

Eweek points out that in November Google began running print ads in publications like the LA Times, which may have increased awareness of the browser.

Are you a Chrome user? It appears to be the browser of choice for the tech savvy and the only one that’s showing much growth.

- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Free Image Editors for Everyone--Even Experts

CLICK to read article on Yahoo! News: "You could spend hundreds of dollars on image-editing software. But before you part with your hard-earned money, consider one of these free photo-editing programs. No matter what your level of expertise, one of these eight photo editors will fit your needs and personality--as well as your budget.

Kodak EasyShare

ArcSoft Print Creations projects such as scrapbooks and calendars (ArcSoft's templates for 1/4-fold greeting cards and album pages are free). Although EasyShare is designed to support Kodak cameras and printers, it can work with pictures from any camera, and it outputs to whatever printer you have connected. The software also links to the free online Kodak Gallery for sharing or ordering prints and photo novelty items.

Download Kodak EasyShare | Price: Free

Photoscape

From the moment you launch Photoscape, the program is unusually appealing and approachable. Photo-editing tools are not extensive, but they work quickly and easily, with both auto commands and manual dialog boxes. Photoscape also includes batch processing, print package templates, RAW conversion (to JPEG), an animated-GIF maker, and other tools. Though the interface is quite nonstandard, becoming accustomed to it doesn't take long.

Download Photoscape | Price: Free

Picasa

Picasa is primarily an entry-level photo organizer, but it also has editing tools. Upon launch, Picasa makes quick work of importing all your photos from wherever you've saved them, and it groups people pictures for easy naming (to establish face recognition). The Tuning, Fixes, and Effects edit tabs are simple to navigate and use. It exports photos to a nice range of sharing options, such as creating a CD, making a movie, uploading to Picasa Web Albums, or sending to your blog on Blogger.

Download Picasa | Price: Free

Windows Live Photo Gallery

Use for making a movie, and sharing via Windows Live SkyDrive, Facebook, YouTube, or other sites.

Download Windows Live Photo Gallery | Price: Free

- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Buy these smart phones

CLICK to read Tech Holiday Guide - msnbc.com

"This smart phone thing has gotten out of hand. It used to be, there were two, maybe three, and they all cost $400, and were frankly not that hot. Now every carrier has 20 smart phones, all between the price of $0 and $300, and they're all pretty cool. Or at least, they seem so in those misleadingly upbeat feature lists on every carrier's websites.

We decided this year to not beat around the bush. Here we recommend two very different, very cool smart phones for each carrier. Take them or leave them. It's the only advice you need, should you choose to accept it.

- Sent using Google Toolbar"