The latest version of Google Chrome now disables Flash content for all users

Why it matters to you

Google’s updated Chrome browser with HTML5 by default support means pages should load faster with Flash-based objects initially blocked.

The latest version of Google’s Chrome browser is out and it arrives with the company’s move to disable Adobe Flash Player by default when visiting web pages. Google warned about this feature last August, stating that using HTML5 by default not only creates a safer web browsing experience but is more power efficient too. The Flash-blocking feature recently appeared in the beta version of Chrome 56 and is now available to the masses in this new stable version.

“Today, more than 90 percent of Flash on the web loads behind the scenes to support things like page analytics. This kind of Flash slows you down,” Google said last August. “HTML5 is much lighter and faster, and publishers are switching over to speed up page loading and save you more battery life.”

More: New functionality could soon lead to Google’s Chrome OS in tablet form

Google began addressing Flash-based content in September with the release of Chrome 42. The update locked down some Flash content, requiring Chrome users to click on the Flash object to activate. The move to disable Flash content altogether actually arrived in the final version of Chrome 55 released in December but the feature was only available to one percent of its users.

According to Google, the new HTML5 by default feature will disable all Flash content on a website unless the visitor specifies otherwise, meaning Chrome users can allow the browser to play Flash on sites they trust and visit frequently. Otherwise, Flash content will require the user’s permission to play on sites they are visiting for the first time.

“Flash prompting will only be enabled for sites whose Site Engagement Index (SEI) is below a certain threshold,” Google states. “For Chrome 55, starting in January 2017 prompts will only appear for sites where the user’s SEI is less than one.  That threshold will increase to 100 through October 2017, when all Flash sites will require an initial prompt.”

In other words, by October, all websites will require Chrome users to initially give permission to run Flash-based content on their pages. Google previously said that just by pushing Flash-based content into click-to-play mode, Chrome users saw “an immediate positive impact” due to faster page loads and reduced power consumption.

In addition to the new HTML5 by default feature, Chrome 56 also signals the arrival of Bluetooth support for web-based apps. This is made possible by the new Web Bluetooth API that uses the GATT protocol to enable web apps to communicate with Bluetooth low-energy devices like LED displays, toys, light bulbs, and more. Adding Bluetooth support means developers can insert just “a few lines of JavaScript” to their web-based apps.

Chrome 56 also now fully supports WebGL 2.0. This is a means for rendering web-based 3D graphics within the browser window using graphics processors located inside PCs and mobile devices instead of their central processor. It’s similar to how DirectX works in desktop gaming in that developers can use the graphics chip to handle most of the work, only WebGL does this within the browser environment. Ultimately, Chrome users will see richer 3D games and other content with WebGL 2.0 than the previous version.

To manually update Chrome, click on the three-dot button to the right of the address bar, and then select “Help > About Google Chrome.” Otherwise, Google Chrome can be downloaded here.

How to set up your Shield Android TV to control your TV, receiver or soundbar

It would be great if all of your entertainment devices just worked together, wouldn’t it?

The new NVIDIA Shield Android TV is stepping up to the plate as a more complete entertainment solution, and part of that process is playing nice with more of the various devices around it. To that point, the new versions of the Shield Controller and Shield Remote that ship with the new box have integrated IR blasters so they can control your TV and receiver, acting in effect as simple semi-universal remotes.

With a little bit of configuration, you can easily use just the Shield Android TV’s controller or remote to turn on your TV and receiver right alongside the box itself, and then control the volume of the receiver instead of just adjusting the Shield’s own volume. While it won’t work for every entertainment center setup, it could be just the fit for you. Here’s how to get it done.

A quick primer: What you need

In order for this setup to work, you’ll need to have the IR ports on your TV, receiver or soundbar visible from a typical remote. NVIDIA has included codes for the Shield Controller and Shield Remote to control “most” TVs, receivers and soundbars, so if you have relatively modern components you should be good to go.

Part of this overall “control your home entertainment setup” story is HDMI-CEC as well. This is the protocol that allows items connected together by HDMI cables control each other’s basic functions. For the most part, this is used by set top boxes to turn on and switch inputs on the TV they’re connected to. It’s a useful piece of this puzzle, for sure, but there isn’t much to set up there — so we’re focusing on IR for the step-by-step porcess.

If you still have an original Shield Android TV, don’t worry — once the box is updated to the new Android 7.0 software, you can purchase the new Shield Controller to enable these functions. If you didn’t know already, that new controller will also enable always-listening voice control once Google Assistant rolls out later this year — two for one bonus.

Setting up IR control on the Shield Android TV

Open up the Settings on your Shield
Find Display & Sound
Under Display or Sound select Power control or Volume control
Select Setup IR for TV and follow the steps

• Make sure your controller or remote are close to the device and visible to the IR receiver on it
• The interface will walk you through a basic process by which you determine that the controller or remote can control your TV, receiver or soundbar

Once complete, repeat steps 3-4 for your TV, receiver and/or soundbar as necessary until all of your components are set up

Once you’ve set up the devices, you’ll be able to quickly determine if things are properly configured by adjusting the volume on your Shield Remote or Controller. Now when you adjust the volume, the TV, receiver or soundbar’s volume should adjust rather than the Shield Android TV’s own volume.

Customize your IR and HDMI-CEC controls

After going through the process of actually having the Shield Remote and Controller configured to control your devices, you’ll have to go through a bit of trial and error to get everything just right. Inside the Settings area of your Shield, you’ll see there are separate options when it comes to both power and volume for each of the devices you’ve set up — everyone will have a different combination of settings that works for them.

For example, you can configure your TV to turn on and off via your Shield over HDMI-CEC control which is more reliable than IR, but if your TV doesn’t accept volume over CEC then you can do that over IR. Play with the toggles and see what works best for your setup, including using different combinations of IR and CEC for each component in your entertainment center. Chances are, between some combination of HDMI-CEC and IR control, you could have your TV and receiver working flawlessly with a single remote whenever you power up the Shield Android TV.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

• Read our Shield Android TV review
• The latest Shield Android TV news
• Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
• Join the forum discussion
• Complete Shield Android TV specs

Amazon

Google Maps now factors in parking time for your trip

The perpetually late can easily see how long they’ll be circling around the block for a spot.

Be honest: when you’re factoring how long it takes somewhere, you sometimes forget that parking your car is actually a part of the equation. This is especially an issue if you live in a giant metropolitan area, which is why Google has introduced a parking difficulty featurette to Maps.

Now when you look for directions or driving time to your Friday soiree, Maps will factor in the usual parking time in that particular area based on historical data. Unfortunately, the feature is only available in 25 areas right now. They are: San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Portland, and Sacramento.

The parking ability will arrive in a Google Maps software update on your mobile device.

BoomTouch first impressions: The ‘As Seen on TV’ speaker isn’t … horrible?

There’s no way something this inexpensive and lacking any real tech can be any good, right? RIGHT?

You can spend a lot of money on a speaker. Or you can spend a little. But you’ll forgive my skepticism of a cheaply produced commercial that lauds the merits of a speaker that lacks Bluetooth, or even a line-in option.

See at Amazon

No, BoomTouch is one of those things that you see on on TV — As Seen on TV!!! — and think “there’s just no way this thing can be any good, right?” I mean, it’s a $20 speaker that uses magnets to transmit sound from your phone to the speaker. No wires. No Bluetooth. Just magnetic magic.

Well guess what. It sorta kinda works not too horribly! I know, right, that’s not exactly a glowing endorsement. But have a listen. It’s surprisingly good! Or at least surprisingly not horrible. Is this the sort of thing I’d want in my living room? No. Is this the sort of thing I’d send with my kids to the beach, to be baked in the sun and buried in sand? Absolutely.

More: The best portable Bluetooth speakers

Make the switch to Bluetooth headphones for just $8 right now!

Right now Aukey is offering a set of its great Bluetooth headphones for just $8 with coupon code 6MHX7EOV, a savings of $12. Featuring a design that wraps around your ears, the headphones will stay in place when you are being active, and with around 7 hours of playback per charge, you won’t have to worry about the battery life. The lightweight headphones have built-in volume controls to easily adjust while on the go, and the noise isolation will help improve audio quality.

Whether you need a spare set of headphones to keep in your travel bag or want to see what all the hype is about, you won’t want to miss out on this deal. Remember, you need coupon code 6MHX7EOV for the full savings.

See at Amazon

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Which should you choose?

It’s not long to go until the new Nintendo console is released and the Japanese gaming giant starts to prove once again that it has what it takes in the field.

The Nintendo Switch is a different kind of machine to the Wii U, being able to play at home on a TV and out and about in handheld mode. It is also different to other currently available options – most notably the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

But because it’s roughly the same price, it will ultimately come down to a straight choice between them if you’ve got a few hundred quid spare.

That’s why we look at the three major games consoles to see which would best suit you.

• Nintendo Switch preview: Return of the king?
• 5 Nintendo Switch games to pre-order first, and one well worth the wait
• Nintendo Switch vs Wii U: What’s the difference?

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Hardware

The Nintendo Switch is markedly different from the other two in hardware terms. Without going too deep into the specifications, mainly because Nintendo is yet to officially release the specs for the Switch, we do know that it has a mobile processing architecture, while the PS4 and Xbox One S opt for more conventional computing power.

What this means in real terms and how the games will run is yet to be seen, but from actual hands-on experiences so far, we’ve seen Switch games running at sub-1080p on a big screen (Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs in 900p we are told) and 720p in 60 frames per second in handheld mode. Most Xbox One S and PS4 games run at 1080p these days, with some achieving 60fps.

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 are capable of high dynamic response (HDR) graphics these days too. The Switch, as far as we know, is not.

Where the Switch has a distinct advantage over its direct rivals is in portability. Because it doubles as both a home console and handheld games machine it is the only one you can take on your travels with you, to play the exact same games on its built-in 6.2-inch screen.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Disc drives and storage

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 both have physical disc drives, with the Xbox One S even able to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays. Weirdly, Sony, even as a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, decided against adding a 4K deck to its latest PS4 or PS4 Pro consoles. They are still able to play conventional 1080p Blu-rays, however.

The Nintendo Switch can do neither. The Japanese firm has opted to dispense with discs altogether, with games coming on cartridge instead, much like the 3DS and Nintendo consoles of yore.

Games will also be available via download stores, but considering how stingy Nintendo has been with on-board storage, you’ll have to invest in microSD cards to store more than a couple at a time.

The Xbox One S can be spec’ed from 500GB to 2TB, although the 1TB version is the max you’ll really find in stores. The latest PS4 and PS4 can be spec’ed up to 1TB. Both also have the ability to increase the storage through third-party hard drives – the Xbox via external USB 3.0 HDDs, the PlayStation through 3.5-inch internal drives.

The Switch, on the other hand, comes with 32GB of built-in storage. 32GB. The new Zelda takes up around half of that if you buy it from the Nintendo eShop. 

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Games

When it comes to quantity, the Xbox One S and PS4 clearly win hands down thanks to being around for more than three years apiece. The Nintendo Switch is only just starting its life cycle.

Even with that considered, the Switch’s launch line-up is meagre and the confirmed games list for the rest of 2017 is looking thin. Plenty of developers and publishers have committed to the console though, so we expect that to swell considerably over the coming months.

Quality is more subjective. Nintendo has some bone fide triple-A titles coming up that you won’t find on any other platform, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Karts 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey. The former will be on Wii U too, but it won’t appear on any non-Nintendo machine.

Of course, both Xbox and PlayStation have their own exclusives, with Halo Wars 2 and Sea of Thieves coming this year for the Xbox One and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Horizon Zero Dawn coming in 2017 for PS4.

The area where Nintendo Switch needs to improve upon, over the Wii U anyway, is in having some of the same big, multi-platform games as the others. FIFA is coming, for example, but there’s no sign of a Red Dead Redemption 2 or the like.

One area that Switch does trump its rivals is in motion gaming. While the other two have largely shunned the format, the Switch embraces its Wii heritage with its clip-on Joy-Con controllers also doubling as motion remotes. This could bring families back to Nintendo in their droves.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Media

Both the Xbox One S and PS4 are great media streamers as well as games machines. They each have Netflix and Amazon Video apps, with the Xbox One S offering both in 4K HDR. The PS4 Pro offers Netflix in 4K HDR too.

BBC iPlayer and other terrestrial TV catch-up services can be found on the consoles too.

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have any of the services available, at least not at launch. Nintendo said that it is concentrating on games primarily and could introduce media streaming somewhere down the line.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Price

As both the PS4 and Xbox One have been around for a while, prices have dropped dramatically since their original launches in 2013.

You can buy an Xbox One S for around £230 these days and a PS4 Slim for around £220. What’s more, they both come with at least one game.

The Nintendo Switch, at launch, is £280. And it doesn’t come with a game.

Game prices for all three consoles range between £40 and £60. But if you shop around you can make some significant savings, even for brand new Switch games. Check out Amazon.co.uk, for example, it has many of the big titles for as much as £15 off.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Availability

Both the Xbox One S and PS4, in both its new and PS4 Pro guises, are readily available.

The Nintendo Switch will be released on 3 March and if you haven’t already it’s not likely you’ll get yours on day one. You might be lucky if you’re willing to queue outside a high street store though.

Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Conclusion

When and if Nintendo releases the actual specifications of the Switch, we’ll be better placed to make a direct comparison but even now it is clear to see that it is a very different games console to the other two. In many ways, it could be seen as an ideal second machine for hardcore gamers.

If anything, from what we’ve seen so far, it could be a Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita replacement as much as a home console alternative. We’re leaning towards a purchase for that exact reason ourselves.

The motion gaming aspects could be a big draw, especially if there are plenty of family-oriented games available. This is an area where Nintendo excelled with the Wii and it therefore offered something different to the Xbox 360 and PS3 of the time. The same could be true again.

The biggest barrier is price, with the Switch considerably more expensive thanks to being the new kid on the block. It might be worth waiting until Christmas, therefore, when Super Mario Odyssey is due to join the fray. But then, Microsoft’s Project Scorpio will be looming large around the same time.

Square Enix is making an ‘Avengers’ game for Marvel

Yesterday morning, Marvel and Square Enix teased in separate tweets that they had an announcement to make. The internet went into overdrive: A superhero world for Kingdom Hearts 3? Wrong. Very wrong. Today, the two companies revealed a multi-game partnership that starts with “The Avengers Project.” A teaser trailer shows a pair of cracked glasses, Thor’s hammer and an Iron Man gauntlet lying in the dirt, discarded. A sombre voiceover explains how “the world will always need heroes,” even if people think “that if you’re different, you’re dangerous.” It’s all very doom and gloom, buts ends with the hopeful tagline: “We just need to reassemble.”

It’s a surprising partnership. Square Enix is mostly known for Final Fantasy and other Japanese role-playing games. For this particular project, however, it’s turning to its pantheon of Western developers — both Crystal Dynamics (Rise of the Tomb Raider) and Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided) are referenced in the teaser. These teams are known for producing big, expensive action games, with dollops of open world and RPG customisation. Together, they have the pedigree to produce a title comparable to Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham series. There’s no word on what the games will be like, however, or when they might start coming out.

Source: Marvel (YouTube)

Amazon is now managing its own ocean freight

Amazon has been working for a while now to build out its shipping and distribution network. Now the online retailer has started coordinating its own shipments from Chinese merchants to its warehouses in the US via ocean freighters. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company doesn’t own any ships, but it’s working as a freight forwarder and logistics provider. These are the companies that reserve space on freighters and handle trucking shipments from port to a warehouse. WSJ says that Amazon has coordinated shipment of 150 containers from China since October.

News of Amazon’s intent to get into shipping freight across the ocean first broke last year when the company gained approval from the Federal Maritime Commission to act as a Ocean Transportation Intermediary. During the 2015 holiday season, the retailer bought extra trailers to beef up its shipping capacity at the busiest time of the year. Earlier in 2015, Amazon began leasing planes for the so-called Prime Air that gave it more control over shipping logistics here in the US.

Source: The Wall Street Journal