As you’ve probably heard by now, Google Chrome (beta) has finally come to Android. The wait is over! At least it is if you’re one of the lucky ones already running ICS. For the rest of our devices that haven’t made the leap to Android 4.0 or never will, we’re stuck on the outside looking in. And the Honeycombers and Gingerbread men and women are jealous.

When I first switched to Android I was very surprised to find that Chrome wasn’t already the default browser. As a dedicated Chrome user in spirit from the day they posted their famous pre-launch comic, it has been my primary browser ever since. Well, until I switched to Android. Now with my tablet (soon to be ICS), and handset (sadly among the relics that will forever be confined to Gingerbread-land) the main ways that I interact with the internet, I miss my Chrome. I miss it for my bookmarks, the nice Google integration, better speed and stability.  But the wait continues.

Why did it take so long for integration-mad Google to bring the official Google browser to Android?

Were they waiting for specific breakthroughs to the OS itself that ICS made possible? If that’s the case, then the outsiders may be permanently fragmented, at least in their available browser choices. With enough chatter out there about the fragmentation between the different manufacturers and their own takes on Android, do we really want Google to be making their own flagship products a part of that fragmentation?

Did they want to wait for more powerful devices so that the mobile version could be a full representation of everything Chrome instead of a pale imitation? Many of the people who soured on the early versions of Firefox for Android and never went back might actually agree with this part of the plan, not to mention some serious refining of the browser before the actual release. Does that mean that some of the older devices just wouldn’t be able to handle Chrome? Is this a plot to force us to upgrade our devices even sooner?

Was it that Chrome has really only been making serious headway in the desktop browser market more recently, previously being the preferred option for only the seriously tech savvy? Except that the tech savvy Chrome users were also the hardcore of early Android adopters and have been irritated by this disconnect ever since. Ironically, I know a lot of Apple users who have been turning to Chrome as their primary browser, which would make for an interesting marketing tactic for ICS devices. On the other hand, if Chrome moves to the iPad and we’re all left out, there will be some angry Android users. Is a browser ever worth switching phones for? It was a major black mark on my pre-Android BlackBerry, so for some it might. Chalk that up as another reason why Google should make this more widely available as soon as possible.

Whatever the reason for the long wait in the first place, hopefully Chrome will be finding its way to other flavors of Android soon. We know that the modding community is already sinking its teeth into getting this to work on more devices. It requires an ARMv7 processor and Hardware Acceleration to be able to handle it, so that does rule out some older devices that can’t use the Android version of Firefox either.

So while you’re lamenting being left behind, do you want to make yourself feel a little bit better by taking a look at some of the early complaints?

• No Flash – with Adobe deciding to slow down on Flash Mobile, Chrome won’t be winning over the people who saw this as an advantage over the iPad.

• No Desktop – at this point even though you’re using the mobile version of a desktop browser, its forcing you to view the mobile version. If that’s important to you (like it is for certain sites I use), then Chrome isn’t the full solution for you yet.

• Doesn’t Replace the Stock Browser – it may never fully displace it, but for now as a Beta you can understand that Google might not feel comfortable completely removing the backup option.

Of course Google will likely rapidly remove the issues they can control, so by the time you are able to get it on your device you may be working with the browser you really want. With the overall trend for Google being massive integration, I expect Chrome to be a major part of this push. This release is only the very beginning, with a lot more to come.

While you continue to swim with Dolphins, go to the Opera, hunt with Firefoxes, keep things stock, and choose mini,  mobile or HD, your ICS-wielding friends will count my favorite browser among the features that they get to show off, and I don’t. At least until my Transformer upgrades. That wait continues as well.

Are you a happy first day adopter of Chrome? Or are you unhappy out in the cold? Or happily sticking to your browser of choice? Let us know!

A security company announced yesterday that it has discovered a “significant vulnerability in the Google Wallet mobile phone payment system.” The company found that a Wallet PIN is susceptible to a brute force attack – trying all possible key combinations until the PIN is discovered – that can make it possible for thieves to make purchases with a Google Wallet-enabled phone.

But Zvelo, the security company in question, buried the lede; a phone must be rooted ahead of time in order for its hack to work. An attack will not work on a non-rooted device, and rooting the phone post-theft would wipe away the PIN information and be of no use. Google made that important distinction in a statement to The Next Web.

The zvelo study was conducted on their own phone on which they disabled the security mechanisms that protect Google Wallet by rooting the device. To date, there is no known vulnerability that enables someone to take a consumer phone and gain root access while preserving any Wallet information such as the PIN.

We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone.

Zvelo did note in the bottom of its announcement post that root is required for the hack to work. However, the company claims that because Nexus devices are more likely to be rooted, that doesn’t diminish the danger of the way that Google Wallet data is stored on a device. The only solution is to move PIN information into the Secure Element, an area in which all data is encrypted. Google is already working on this adjustment.

So the simple solution here is to not root your phone if you want to use Google Wallet. And if you are rooted, you already know that doing so exposes you to a lot more security risks than the average customer. That naturally means the onus is on you to keep your information secure. Employ a pin code lock screen on your phone and don’t lose your phone.

It’s still safer than losing your actual wallet and credit cards that thieves can use for a shopping spree before you realize its gone.

Google has continued its hot streak of updating Android apps this week. The latest app treated to a new version is Google+, which has added “massive performance improvements across the app” according to its Android Market page. A quick scan of the app reveals that there are a couple other things to rave about as well.

The “What’s Hot” section has made the jump to mobile. The Google+ version of trending topics, which highlights the most shared and commented posts on the network, is now available in the Android app by swiping to the left from the main stream. A key difference here is that it’s easier to keep scrolling to see more popular posts rather than just view the Top 8 as seen on the desktop version.

Google+ also allows users to see who +1′d a post or comment. Before, the app revealed only the number of people to do so. And when you’re browsing through those comments, the stream has improvements. Posts are “Shortened to fit more per scroll,” the stream doesn’t jump back to the top of the screen every time a user refreshes, and photos now continuously scroll when browsing the “From your circles” section.

Download the update from the Android Market. If you’re unable to see an update on your phone, click the Install button from the Market website to force an update.

Vonage kept home phone service providers on their toes when it launched an alternate calling serve, and now the company is trying to do the same for the mobile industry.

The new Vonage Mobile app enables free “high-definition calls” and text messages to other Vonage Mobile users throughout the world. Whether in Athens, Georgia or Athens, Greece, the app will let users speak to other Vonage Mobile users over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi. And to sweeten its appeal, calls made to a Vonage or business phone number is also free.

This is not the first Android app that Vonage has released, but those apps were previously limited in scope or required a Facebook plugin. Vonage Mobile removes that minor hurdle and enables simple calling. There’s even a limited-time offer to make free calls to any phone in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico, though there’s a cap at 3,000 minutes per user

When the time comes to call a number not covered by the free offers, Vonage offers international calling rates that are “on average 70 percent less than major mobile carriers and 30 percent less than Skype.” Users will add $4.99 to $9.99 to their accounts and then have the cost of each call deducted according to number of minutes used. The app may use data rates when used over 3G/4G, so monitor for differences in your first carrier bill following using Vonage.

Microsoft may prefer that everyone use Windows Phone 7, but Microsoft Android products are vital considering that the Redmond-based company needs to be wherever its users of other services congregate. That means releasing a One Note Android app, and that’s exactly what users can go grab.

One Note Mobile is now live in the Android Market, available for users on Android 2.3 or higher. Now you too can use OneNote as your daily planner, memory aid, and note taker. The app creates multiple notebooks for keeping track of the things you need to do or wish to remember. Whether that consists of recipes, travel itineraries, or notes from a meeting, all the information is stored in one place and organized according to your preference. One supports more than just text, so you’ll be able to take photos with a camera and embed them in notes, as well as maintain formatting when saved.

Other features include:

• Text formatting, images, and bulleted lists
  
• To-do lists with clickable checkboxes
• Quick photo capture with your phone’s camera
• Quick access to recent notes
• Store and access multiple OneNote notebooks
• Sync to your free SkyDrive account for access anywhere
• Offline access to your notes
• Option to sync notebooks only over a Wi-Fi connection
• Built-in spelling checker
• Support for external hyperlinks
• Table editing

Microsoft did a good job designing One Note. The app is available for free and works with Windows Live ID and Skydrive, allowing users to sync their notebooks across devices. Users can store up to 500 notes for free, but a $4.99 USD monthly subscription is required to go beyond that. Prices may vary depending on your location, but the app should be available in the following countries.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The plethora of social networks can be great for providing interaction with different audiences and formats, but it can also be a lot of work. Seesmic Ping is designed for users who have multiple accounts and want to post to them all at once. It’s quick, efficient, time-saving, and much more.

Seesmic Ping is the simplified vision of Ping.fm, which sought to do something similar. With the just launched Android app, Seesmic Ping can broadcast to multiple accounts and networks. So a social media manager or chatterbox could post an update on their Twitter and have that same message instantly sent to Facebook, LinkedIn, or Salesforce. The app can even send to multiple accounts and fan pages, so your personal and website accounts could be updated simultaneously.

Aside from being a multi-platform sidekick, Ping can also be an assistant for saving drafts and scheduling. For instance, imagine if you want to make a post at 4:30 PM in four days but don’t want to remember or return to your accounts to do so. Ping can save a draft – including text, photos, and links – and post at the designated time. Users can do this for multiple tweets or status updates, and then cancel or publish immediately by going to the Pending section of the app.

As someone who manages multiple social media accounts on multiple networks, this is something that I can definitely get behind. Heck, this is even useful if you just have one account but want to be able to schedule posts. I love the simplicity of the design and how easy it is to post to all linked accounts or pick and choose based on each post. A free Seesmic.com account will keep track of all those accounts, so download Ping from the Market to start managing them in one place.

Many Android users mistakenly think of the standard Android browser as Chrome. It would seem natural that Google’s browser would be on Google’s mobile operating system, but that’s not the case.

This is Google Chrome. Announced a short while ago as a beta application for Android 4.0 devices, Google has finally delivered Chrome actual to mobile devices. The same mission to “make the web better” has been ported over to the smaller screen, and with it comes some of the same benefits.

• Speed – Chrome is faster at loading, scrolling, and browsing pages. Google says that Chrome has accelerated all of those features.
• Search – The Omnibox has gone mobile, meaning users can visit an address or make a search term directly from the address bar. It can also search within a webpage.
• Navigation – Tabs are now unlimited and easily accessed by pressing the button next to the address bar. Users can close or switch to them, and it works fairly well on an Android phone or tablet. There’s a vertical scrolling card view that shows each open tab.
• Sync - Information from Chrome desktop – including bookmarks, open tabs, autocomplete suggestions, and history – will sync if you sign-in with a Google account and choose to enable it.

Most of these features are available in the standard Android browser, but Chrome makes those features more powerful and adds on to what you can do in the process. This is a beta app, so we can expect rapid development before Google starts pushing this more as the browser of choice.

Chrome is available in the Android Market in select countries an languages: (English, Français, Deutsch, Español, Português, ??? and ???). You must have an Android 4.0 device in order for it to work.

FedEx and UPS are at my house on a weekly basis, but I’m accustom to getting phones, tablets, and accessories sent to me from PR companies, not swag.

That’s what happened to me a short while ago when I received a bundle from EA Mobile. To my surprise, the box featured a pair of paper speakers, a scarf that will get plenty of use when I go to New York soon, and a mug that I can use to drink my morning tea. Um, thanks for the gifts EA, but why on Earth would you send this to me?

All of the swag EA sent is branded with The Sims Free Play, a popular freemium game based in the Sims universe. Players live virtual lives by building and decorating homes, interacting with other avatars, completing goals, and the like. The game is free, but users can access in-game purchases for upgrades. It’s highly-rated on iOS, so maybe EA is finally bringing the party over to Android?

It would appear so because Taylor from AndroidAndMe got the same curious bundle of promo materials. I’d imagine some of our other friends at Android blogging sites will report receiving the package as well, so this must be EA’s way of teasing us that the game is coming soon. How soon? Very soon most likely, but I’ll keep an eye out. For now, I have some mint tea on the stove to tend to while listening to my new paper speakers.

Cameras on Android phones have come a long way since the T-Mobile G1, but as we’ve seen with any kind of camera, there’s always room for improvement once an image is captured. Aviary Photo Editor is a new plug-in for Android that does more than just improve an image; it transforms it into something better looking or completely new.

Aviary is known on the desktop for a suite of image editing products, and the mobile version of the app is smooth entrance into a new format. The app works by taking an image that has already been captured with a camera, or imported from a gallery, and sets to changing things with adjustments or filters. The Enhancements section has auto-correction that fixes imbalanced lighting, and Saturation and brightness can be adjusted to increase or decrease color intensity. Changes are applied by swiping a dial to get just the right effect, which can create the perfect image when combined with other fixes.

Aside from merely editing an image with enhancements, crops, orientation changes, or red eye correction, Aviary also includes a set of filters in the Effect section. Popularized by apps like Instagram and Magic Hour, filters apply retro or highly stylized effects to your images. The “Vivid” effect raises contrast and brightness, “Singe” adds a sunset-like glow, and “Soft Focus” brings back that classic mall photo booth appearance.

There are 11 effects included in the app, but users can purchase “Grunge” or “Nostalgia” upgrade packs for $0.99 each. Aviary lacks the filter customization options of some other apps, but the included packs look beautiful if you are into this style of mobile image creation. (Plus, you can use standard adjustments to make further changes.)

After playing with Aviary for a few days and testing several images, I found it to be on par with most of the style camera apps I’ve reviewed. The only problem is that this isn’t an “app” in the traditional sense – it’s a plugin. Aviary can only launch by going to a camera/gallery app and pressing the edit or share/export buttons to begin editing. This can creates headaches if errantly pressing the back button too many times or switching to another app and being unable to return to your in-progress image. Users have to make changes right away because pressing the back button too many times loses all progress and there’s no way to return to it should you go home or get an incoming call.

With that said, this is still something that I’d recommend people try. While some image editors focus on filters, others on color/lighting adjustments, and others on adding fun things like stickers or text, Aviary manages to do all three. And do them very well.

Last week I said that mobile security companies should focus less on trying to scare users about malware, and spend more time plugging holes that Google isn’t addressing. Mobile security firm Lookout was apparently way ahead of me because it has released Push Ad Detector, a utility that determines which apps are advertising in your notifications menu.

Yes, notification ads are one of the most annoying things about Android, and they are increasing in popularity as more companies and developers start embracing it. We’ve covered how users can opt-out of AirPush, but that’s no longer the only company employing this practice. That’s why Push Ad Detector can prove useful to users looking to sniff out which apps are sending the ads, as well as how to make them stop.

Push Ad runs a scan of apps currently installed on a phone, searching for signs of known ad networks that advertise outside of the app. It then returns a list of apps with that capability and links users to a path to opt-out of those ads appearing again. At the moment, six known networks are detectable: Airpush, Appenda, LeadBolt, Moolah, Startapp, and TapIt!

This is the kind of thing that companies should be looking for. While technically not against the rules of the Android Market terms of service, this form of advertising is annoying. Anyone who has seen these ads pop-up can download the free beta of Push Ad Detector and put a stop to the practice.