Google 12 Update

Google Chrome 12 is now stable release : http://usat.ly/mFDOcR

Chase Mobile for Android

The latest Chase Mobile app for the Android OS is a very handy tool for those of us where money is an object. It allows you to securely login and provides a convenient "remember user name" feature for future logins. Use this with caution if you're not locking your phone with a passcode or pattern. Once you're logged in you can see a nice account summary of all accounts associated with your login. You can drill into each account to see all transactions, pending and cleared. The app comes with a handy ATM locator that works well with GPS enabled and disabled. The handy deposit functionality will save you a bunch of time and gas money since you'll no longer have to travel to an ATM to deposit checks. Just snap a few shots of the front and back of the check, confirm the dollar amount and account number, and submit the deposit by clicking on a button. Chase does a nice job of sending emails when the deposit is submitted AND when it finally clears. Checks deposited using this method seem to clear in about 24 hours.

Favorite Feature: Depositing checks by taking pictures. Fewer trips to the ATM. No more envelopes.

Biggest Complaint: Logging in with a full account password can be cumbersome with the tiny mobile keyboards. Especially for a guy with Fred Flintstone thumbs.

Suggestions for Improvement: Utilize a pin number or another creative, faster security technique without compromising security

Download Chase Mobile from the Android Market

Google Growth

Google I/O is going on right now in San Francisco and I wish I was there. I did have the luxury of watching the two keynotes. Can you believe that over 300,000 Android devices are activated each day? I wonder how many iOS devices are activated each day. Google also announced that the Chromebook will be available through BestBuy.com and Amazon.com starting June 15th. A boot time of 8 seconds and all-day battery life are just two of the main perks of one of these devices.  They'll also have Wi-Fi and 3G models with Verizon internet service available.  Google is now banking on the fact that you can do ANYTHING on the web including things like photo and video editing sharing, CAD, music management, word processing, email, calendar, etc.  There are now over 160,000,000 Chrome installations worldwide. For those of you who don't know what Chrome is yet go get it! It's a browser alternative to Internet Explorer and Firefox. Faster, lighter, more compliant with current standards, and simply awesome.

Don't forget one of the biggest announcements of the day...  Angry Birds is now available for Chrome.  Download it now at the Chrome Web Store.

The Shallows: Nicholas Carr

I met the author of a book called The Shallows last summer that I still have not read. The premise of the book is basically that, because of the convenience of technology and information, the brain is becoming more adept to forgetting and more inept at remembering. I was always bad at remembering historical events, dates, and names to begin with. Now I don't have a prayer. I've actually acquired the nickname "Captain Google" because of how often I go to my smart phone to Google the unknown.