Google Prepares to Turn on Chrome Extensions

Good news for Firefox users who want to switch to Chrome but cant live without extensions, the good news is here or at least coming soon. Google yesterday announced that it was turning on extension support in Chrome by default in all the new developer builds (in Windows) from now on.

Of course, as extension support was largely hidden before, there aren’t many extensions you can use yet with Chrome. But Google has complied a list of a few examples here. These include simple things like a Gmail inbox checker, and an auto-subscribe in Google Reader button for URLs.

Google says this is the first step in its “launch process” for the feature in Chrome proper. Of course, it’s worth noting that regular (non-dev) Chrome users are stuck in version 2.x while the dev releases are in 4.x now, as ReadWriteWebpointed out yesterday. So it’s not clear if extensions will be in Chrome 3.0, whenever that becomes official (it’s available in the beta channel right now).

Google also notes that it has enlisted some help to get extensions up to speed on the Mac and Linux builds of Chrome. In the latest builds of Chromium for Mac, extension support is not highlighted, but you can get to it by putting “chrome://extensions/” in the URL box.

Google's Latest Update: A Larger Search Box

Google is continually updating its search experience via the algorithms and the way results are displayed. But when it comes to the search box itself, its been left alone. Offcourse, it has added drop downs for suggested results, but the box itself has stayed a thin input field. But now it looks like Google may be thinking about a change.

Yesterday, while I was using the Safari browser, I noticed that the search box has been made bigger, and the buttons made square. I am not the only ones who have noticed the change. It may seem like a trivial update, but don't forget, this is Google, millions of people use it every day to do searches, and a UI change, however small, is not trivial.

Just look have a look how big the input box now is compared to the Google logo.

But do remember that Google goes over data for every little change it does, to determine if the change is worth it. So this might be what it is doing now, as a lot of people are not seeing this change yet.

Gel could block HIV like a condom

ONDON: Scientists have created a gel that could prevent the transmission of HIV by physically stopping the virus in its tracks.

The 'molecular condom' was designed by scientists at the University of Utah in the United States. If it passes clinical trials, it will enable women to protect themselves against HIV without approval from their partners.

Patrick Kiser, assistant professor of bioengineering at the university, says the gel would act in a similar way to a condom. Women would insert it before intercourse and the acidic conditions of the vagina would ensure it remained liquid, allowing it to coat the vaginal walls and therefore the cells vulnerable to HIV infection.

Virus barrier

The presence of semen makes the vagina less acidic, and it is expected that this change in pH will cause the molecules within the gel to interact and turn semisolid. The resulting mesh would be so small, virus particles would be unable to penetrate.

Unlike existing microbicides, Kiser's molecular condom appears not to be affected by high temperatures, making it potentially suitable for use in hot developing countries.

A paper describing the HIV-blocking properties of the gel was published this month in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

"We have shown that the gel prevents the movement of HIV," said Kiser, but noted that the gel's ability to trap HIV has only been shown in the laboratory and clinical trials are at least three years away.

He hopes the gel will eventually work in conjunction with existing technologies. "We would want to put an antiretroviral agent in the gel, to act as another level of protection," he said.

Smart material

Salim Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), said he likes the idea of a "smart" material that responds to pH.

But he added that Kiser's team will need to demonstrate the gel's genuine effectiveness as a barrier to HIV its and ability to withstand the force applied during sex. He adds that Kiser's team may benefit from seeking advice from others with experience in microbicide research.

Karim says that if the gel proves effective against the spread of HIV in humans, it could have a substantial impact on women's ability to protect themselves against infection. This would be particularly welcome in those developing countries where women are unable to discuss preventative measures with their partners.

Kiser aims to develop the gel into a product that remains active for 20 to 24 hours after a single application.