Google today shared some information on updates that it is making to the address bar (or search bar) on mobile devices and the web, with these updates aimed at making it easier to find the website that you're looking for. When you make a typo when putting in a URL, Chrome can detect the typo and show you suggestions of the site you might actually want to visit based on your previously visited websites. Chrome is also smarter at autocompleting URLs, filling in suggestions based on sites you've visited in the past. If, for example, you have visited https://www.google.com/travel/flights in the past, just typing in "flights" will see Google bringing that website up as a suggestion to visit. The typo…

Google today announced that it is adding updated generative AI capabilities to its search functionality, with the aim of helping users to "better learn and make sense of information" on the internet. With the Google Search app for Chrome, there is now a beta option to summarize a long article. Chrome is able to provide "key points" from a webpage, along with a "Explore on page" section with questions and answers pulled from the content. Google says that the new "SGE while browsing" feature is meant to help people "more deeply engage" with long-form content from creators. It shows key points on articles freely available on the web, and will not summarize articles that are paywalled. As of now, the…

If you own a Mac, iPhone or iPad, you gain a lot by using Apple’s web browser, Safari, instead of Chrome. (via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)

Google today announced a new Chrome downloads experience for its desktop browser, with the update aimed at making it easier to interact with recently downloaded files. Chrome's updated download tray is located to the right of the address bar, and it replaces the interface at the bottom of the display. The new look is closer to the Safari download window, which is also at the top of the browser. When a download is in progress, an animated ring will provide a quick way to monitor the download at a glance, and when the download has finished, the tray will open up briefly before dismissing itself for uninterrupted browsing. The download tray houses Chrome downloads from the past 24 hours, and…

Apple’s Mac shipments surged 10.3%, even as worldwide PC shipments declined 13.4% year over year during the second quarter of 2023 (2Q23), according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. This was the sixth consecutive quarter of contraction brought on by macroeconomic headwinds, weak demand from both the consumer and commercial sectors, and a shift in IT budgets away from device purchases. The overall weak demand has caused inventory levels to remain above normal for longer than expected. This includes finished systems at the channel level, as well as the supply chain. So far, no PC maker has been immune to the challenges presented by the market. Except for Apple and HP,…

Macworld Mozilla celebrated the Fourth of July with the release of Firefox 115.0, which includes a number of new features and security fixes. Of note is that this is the final version that supports macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, and macOS 10.12 Sierra. Users of those operating systems will update to the Extended Support Release (ESR) version of Firefox 115. ESR versions are basically maintenance releases; they get security updates and stability fixes, but Mozilla does not provide new features. If you’re using a version of macOS older than Sierra, then you’ve already been switched to an ESR Firefox release. Here is a list of the new features, according to the release notes. Migrating from another browser? Now…