Chrome May Lose Its URL Bar

Could Google be dropping the URL bar next? It could.
It's noZoomt like Chrome is a particularly heavy browser as far as its UI is concerned, but Google is apparently thinking about removing even more elements from Chrome's surface to give web content more space. In this latest move, there is the idea that the URL bar, called Omnibox, could be eliminated from the browser UI, which would give Chrome more vertical space for web pages and applications.  
However, it isn't a done deal yet and Google specifically mentions that users would have an opportunity to switch between the old "classic" layout and the new "compact" version. And even if the URL bar disappears, it is not eliminated in its entirety. The URL bar would simply be integrated into open tabs and could be edited in those as well.
Strangely enough, Google is planning to do more with the URL bar in the future than it has in the past, which questions the chances of the removal of the URL bar. Chrome 11 or Chrome 12 are set to receive an Omnibox extension that will allow users to launch web apps directly from the URL bar. 

IE9 To Launch On March 14

We are a bit speculating here, but we have a very good reason to believe that Microsoft's new browser will launch during festivities held at SXSW on March 14.
ZoomWe are a bit speculating here, but we have a very good reason to believe that Microsoft's new browser will launch during festivities held at SXSW on March 14.
Microsoft sent out invitations to select journalists last week and invited bloggers to participate in the event that will "celebrate the beauty of the web." It's not just the event, it is also the fact that Microsoft's advertising team has been extremely busy and has been, as we hear, scouring the web for favorable quotes to be used in the launch campaign.
Also, March 14 would be just about one year after the introduction of the first Platform Preview of IE9 and we remember that Microsoft also used about one year to take the development of IE8 from start to finish. While we have no official confirmation we feel confident to say that the launch of the browser is imminent and will, most likely, take place on March 14.
In the meantime, we enjoy listening to a battle of words between Mozilla's Paul Rouget, who recently claimed that IE9 is an old browser. Microsoft's Tim Sneath responded by lecturing Mozilla how a modern browser should really look like.

U.S. Military Cyber Chief Calls For Cyber Force

The nation's military cyber chief says it is time for greater investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs to keep up with other countries.
ZoomIn a speech held at the RSA Security Conference, General Keith Alexander, Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) said that the United States need to create a "cyber force" to be able to withstand attacks targeted at the nation critical infrastructure. Threatpost quoted the General stating:  "We need to concurrently push STEM and educate the public about what goes on these networks so that we can fix it as a team. We need your help to do that."
According to Alexander, a cyber force could be a band between government agencies and the private sector, in which early warning signs could be detected and defend the country against "sophisticated adversaries and malicious insiders." He envisions a team-based collaboration to counter trends in a world where "cyber offensive- and defensive operations are the keys to military victory."
Alexander called for a greater focus on education at the elementary and secondary level:  "We can't let the advantages we've had in the past erode the future," he said.

Report: HP TouchPad to Go on Sale in April

Perhaps we won't have to wait until summer, after all?
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It’s been a few weeks since HP revealed the TouchPad, a 9.7-inch tablet packing WebOS 3.0. Though pricing and availability were not elaborated upon, the company whipped people into a frenzy talking up the tablet and its new version of Palm’s WebOS platform. However, today we learn that the HP TouchPad could come as soon as April.

According to Digitimes, HP is planning an April launch for the 9.7-inch device with shipment deliveries hitting sometime at the end of next month. Citing sources from HP's upstream component partners, DT reports that HP is aiming to ship between 45 and 48 million notebooks and tablets in 2011. Subtracting HP's notebook shipment forecast, it would appear as though HP is projecting 4-5 million units shipped for the TouchPad series.

Still no word on pricing but we’re sure it’ll be in or around the $400-500 mark that’s fast becoming par for the course in the tablet world (barring the Motorola Xoom of course).

Lenovo Launches Six New ThinkPad Not

Lenovo today updated its ThinkPad series giving the laptop line a sleek new look and Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge chips.
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Though the last couple of weeks have been more LePad than ThinkPad, Lenovo has shaken things up this morning with the launch of the ThinkPad T, L and W notebooks. All told there’s six new notebooks, the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520.

In the updated T series, Lenovo is promising improved boot times, along with improved battery life. While the super-slim T420s will supposedly deliver a 30 percent boost in boot times, the T420 will deliver up to 30 hours of battery with a standard 9-cell (15 hours) and an optional 9-cell slice battery. The 15.6-inch T520 is a little bulkier but packs the same power as its two smaller siblings. All boast the latest Core CPUs, (i5 and i7) and Nvidia graphics (GeForce 4200M GPU, 1GB of VRAM).

Lenovo is touting the W520 (pictured) as a mobile workstation and with options for up to the quad-core versions of Intel’s Core i-series, Fermi graphics, support for up to 32GB of DDR3 and USB 3.0, the W520 definitely lives up to that classification. It’s got a 15.6-inch display, so it’s not a behemoth, but it’s a hefty old girl with a weight of just under 6 lbs, so it’s probably for the best that this isn’t a 17-incher.

Lastly, there’s the 14-inch L420 and 15.6-inch L520. These represent the newest arrivals to the Lenovo’s entry-level business line. Both come with the new Core i-series chips and can be configured for up to 8GB of DDR3. No USB 3.0 here, but USB 2.0 out the wazoo with four ports on each.

All six machines will be available in March and pricing for the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520 starts at approximately $1,329, $779, $909, $719, $719 and $1329, respectively.

Confirmed: iOS and Android to Get Minecraft

Minecraft is about to get a whole lot more popular.
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Apple has long touted the proficiency of the iPod, iPhone and iPad when it comes to gaming and the latest news on the iOS gaming front is sure to help Cupertino’s cause. Minecraft studio Mojang has confirmed that it will be releasing iOS and Android versions of the game later this year.

Markus Persson, founder of Swedish Minecraft developer Mojang, this week confirmed to Gamasutra that the hugely popular indie game will be heading to Android and iOS devices. Mojang has a new recruit, Aron Neiminen, to develop the port but Persson warned that the iOS edition would not receive every update that users of the original browser and download version see. Instead, the suitability of each feature will be assessed for iOS’s touch-screen platform.

Meanwhile, Kotaku’s citing Mojang head of business development, Danial Kaplan, who says they’re also working on a port for Android. No word on whether or not Neiminen will be working on that too, but the Android version is expected this year as well.

MacBook Pros to Launch on Steve Jobs' Birthday?

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Steve Jobs might be off on sick leave, but the Apple CEO has been seen out and about around the Apple campus and remains involved in day-to-day operations. Now it looks as though Apple is planning to celebrate their CEO’s birthday with a new line of MacBook Pros.

According to reports, sealed packages of MacBook Pros are being delivered to retailers along with instructions to open them on February 24, Steve Jobs’ 56th birthday. Apple Insider cites sources familiar with the matter that say Apple is gearing up to announce new MacBook Pros this week and has warned retailers that opening the boxes earlier than Thursday could result in the store losing their licence to sell Apple products.

Apple’s annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for February 23, Wednesday, so it’s possible Apple will announce the laptops tomorrow, and start selling them on Thursday.  Not much is known about Apple’s plans for the MBP but rumors of Light Peak integration have been rife over the last week. We’ll have to wait and see.