Chrome

How to download files with Google Chrome on iOS

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

Just a few minutes ago, a new tweak entitled Chrome Download Enabler appeared on Cydia. Excited about the prospect of finally being able to download files via the Google Chrome Browser on iOS, I quickly paid the somewhat steep $2.00 asking fare, and jumped in.

What did I find? Chrome Download Enabler works well, allowing you to download files that you ordinarily wouldn't be able to in Google Chrome. It's not pretty like Safari Download Manager, but as you'll see in the following video walkthrough, it does get the job done...

Chrome accounts for 10.3% of third-party browsers on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 20, 2016

Google pushed out its widely popular Chrome browser to iOS last month to much fanfare. In fact, it took less than 24 hours for the app to reach the #1 spot in the App Store's list of top free offerings.

Now here we are, nearly a month later, and the initial buzz has warn off. So how many people are still using the browser? A new report from online advertising firm Chitika gives us some insight...

How to add a Google Chrome inspired Omnibox to Safari

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

As you all have probably figured out by now, I'm a huge fan of Google Chrome. There are many reasons why I prefer Chrome over any other web browser, and one of the foremost reasons has to do with the Omnibox.

The Omnibox in Google chromes combines your normal address box with a search box for an all encompassing box that conveniently performs both functions. Other browsers have been slow about adopting this obvious improvement in navigation, but at least Apple is starting to show some signs that they plan on heading in that direction — Safari on OS X Mountain Lion features an Omnibox, after all.

When it comes to iOS, though, Safari is still lagging a bit behind. Even the iOS 6 beta version of Safari lacks this feature. That's where this new jailbreak tweak plans to step up to the plate. Safari Omnibar is a recently released tweak that adds an Omnibox to Safari, whether Apple plans to do so or not.

ChromeURL allows you to use the standard web keyboard with Google Chrome

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated August 30, 2023

One of the few big complaints about Google Chrome is the fact that Google inexplicably left out TLD (top level domain) keyboard shortcuts in favor of their own custom keyboard layout.

In mobile Safari, these shortcuts allow you to tap and hold the ".com" button to bring up an alternate list of TLDs like .org, .net, etc. On Chrome, however, Google opted for a different styled keyboard that lacks these shortcuts.

As usual, the jailbreak community has come to the rescue with a fix — this one in near record time. The fix is called ChromeURL, and it's a free jailbreak tweak downloadable from Cydia's BigBoss repo. Its purpose is to perform one function, and one function only — replace the Chrome keyboard with the same keyboard present in the stock mobile Safari browser...

Chromizer adds full screen mode, pull to refresh, and better tab switching to Google Chrome on iOS

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated August 30, 2023

Chromizer is a free jailbreak tweak that will be available tomorrow on Cydia. Its purpose, as its name not-so-subtly alludes to, is to add additional functionality to the recently released Google Chrome browser for iOS.

A tweak that's compatibile with both the iPhone and iPad, Chromizer seeks to add a few missing features to the browser's otherwise excellent stock feature set. For its initial release, Chromizer focuses on adding three new functions to the iPad: Pull to Refresh, full screen mode, and iPhone styled tab switching. For the iPhone, you'll get the full screen mode and pull to refresh, since it already has the tab switching area covered.

Is Chromizer a tweak that you should consider if you have a jailbroken iOS device, and Google Chrome is your browser of choice? Check inside for the answer...

How to easily use bookmarklets in Google Chrome for iOS

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated August 30, 2023

A few minutes ago John Gruber tweeted about the lack of bookmarklet support in Chrome for iOS. I responded to him stating that support is indeed there, it just wasn't as straightforward as it is on Safari.

To tell the truth, I too thought that bookmarklets, or the lack thereof, was simply a medium sized oversight made by Google; after all, such things are instrumental when it comes to using tools like LastPass, Instapaper, etc.

After some tinkering around, however, I was able to confirm that bookmarklet support is indeed included in the version of Chrome that shipped a few days ago. In fact, using them is a fairly straightforward exercise. Check inside for the full how-to...

How to open Home screen shortcuts with Google Chrome

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated August 30, 2023

Earlier in the day we covered BrowserChooser, a jailbreak tweak developed by Ryan Petrich, which allows you to assign Google Chrome as your default web browser.

It's a great tweak, and works exactly as expected; it was even recently updated with a few new additions such as the ability to have a dialogue to select your browser of choice when opening a link, and the ability to make the dialogue sheets say "Open with Chrome" instead of "Open with Safari".

One thing BrowserChooser doesn't do, however, (at least for the time being that is) is allow you to open Home screen shortcuts/bookmarks created via Safari with Google Chrome. Browser Changer is a tweak that's been around for a very long time, and it was recently updated to allow you to do just that.

Check out our hands-on walkthrough inside...

Google’s Chrome is already No. 1 free App Store app

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 29, 2012

In less than 24 hours following its official introduction, Google's Chrome browser for the iPhone and iPad has risen to become the No. 1 free app on the App Store. That's a remarkable achievement, one clearly highlighting the popularity of Google's excellent web browser. Although it doesn't use the speedy Safari Nitro engine, Chrome for iOS is very zippy (speed test here) and enables seamless synchronization of browsing preferences and open tabs across desktop and mobile installations via your Google Account...

Make Chrome your default browser in iOS with BrowserChooser

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

So that didn't take long. It hasn't been 12 hours since Chrome popped up in the App Store, and there's already a jailbreak tweak available that allows you to make it the default browser in iOS.

BrowserChooser comes courtesy of jailbreak developer Ryan Petrich. And if you're a fan of Google's mobile browser, you're going to want to download this package as soon as possible...

Car maker Ford creates remarkably effective password manager app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 5, 2017

Being overly paranoid about my passwords, I've traditionally resorted to using a bunch of tools to keep my login credentials safe, ranging from brute force solutions that involve keeping passwords in an encrypted text file up in the cloud to pricey utilities such as 1Password.

The problem is, these time-sucking tools involve daily management and require that I adapt my workflow. Wouldn't it be nice if my Mac could automagically recognize me by way of my iPhone? Enter KeyFree Login, an iPhone app from car maker Ford that puts all password managers to shame with its ubiquity and simplicity. It's magic, really.

By enabling Bluetooth on both your Mac and iOS device, you'll be automatically authenticated to Facebook, Twitter and whatever websites you use, each time the two devices are in range, no setup required whatsoever, just by standing next to your computer...

Ahead of iOS launch, Chrome beats out IE to become #1 browser globally

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2012

Google's Chrome has beaten Microsoft's market-leading Internet Explorer to become the world's leading web browser, according to research firm StatCounter.

Chrome has been on the rise since its September 2, 2008 release, steadily chipping away market share from Microsoft's product which has been losing ground for years now.

For the week ended May 13, 2012, Google's product has managed to match Internet Explorer on a global scale for the first time...

Google takes aim at Safari, allegedly readying Chrome for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

Color me skeptical, but I'm still scratching my head over over a surprising report by Macquarie analyst Ben Schacter which has it that Google's Chrome browser is coming to iOS some time during the June quarter of this year or, if not, then "definitely this year".

If true, this would be a big news as Chrome ended 2011 within spitting distance of market-leading Internet Explorer. Heck, it even overtook Microsoft’s product to become the world’s most popular browser for a day and is certainly expected to become the top browser this year.

The big question is, will Apple allow Chrome into the App Store and let Google own all the searches? Bear in mind that the search giant currently pays Apple an estimated 60 percent revenue share for the searches done through Safari's search box...