Game progress is saved locally in most cases. And even if it is possible to retrieve the save file, it can be a confusing (or unworthy) process for many users. Especially when one is formatting devices often, or purchasing new ones every few months (which is now very common). Some users also have multiple devices, sometimes with different operating systems. I fall under all mentioned categories, and honestly, I would rather not go through the trouble of downloading and transferring all the data.

This is what the cloud is for, and developers could take great advantage of it. For example, I already went through all the Angry Birds levels a long time ago. I haven’t played the game since then, mostly because I also lost my progress… a long time ago. It would be much more enticing to re-download games to new devices if one knew that all those levels don’t have to be played all over, again.

I have just started using the Chrome App for Dark Legends. Sure, it may look like a simple port from the mobile version. It also needs controller support and more PC-friendly settings, but there is one thing where it beats most of the competition. It is the perfect example of what the future of gaming could be. Not only can I play this game on my Chrome Browser, but I can also enjoy it with any Android or iOS device. And the best part? The multi-platform game is synchronized among all devices and operating systems.

No matter what device I use, I start where I left off last time I played. And regardless of how long I don’t play it, I know I can come right back to it. Even if it is multiple months or phones later.

This MMORPG is played completely online, but the features it offers don’t necessarily require that. Multi-platform game progress saving could be more than possible if developers allowed us to have the records in their servers. If that would be too much of a load for them, another option would be to make the app compatible with services like Google Drive or Dropbox. We could simply save the files in our own cloud storage.

It is a small feature that would make a huge difference. But it seems not many developers are taking this route. I won’t stop playing all those games, as I surely enjoy them. In the long run, though, I am sure developers like Spacetime Studios (Star Legends, Pocket Legends and Dark Legends developer) will keep me around for much longer. What about you?

Dark Legends Chrome App

Pocket Legends Chrome App

Star Legends Chrome App

One of the biggest flaws of the Chrome OS is that files are very hard to manage on the devices as the built-in file manager leaves a lot to be desired. Sundar Pichai, the Vice President of Chrome has today confirmed that Google will be integrating Google Drive into the latest version of Chrome OS, thereby hoping to alleviate this problem.

“We’ll…effectively integrate [Google] Drive into the native file system of Chrome OS, all the core OS functionality will use [Google] Drive as a place to store data — if that’s what you opt in to.”

Of course, this marries you to Google Drive as your main cloud service instead of any other option such as Dropbox or SkyDrive, but we figure if you’re already using a Google product, you won’t mind too much.

[via PandoDaily]

One of the many complaints lodged at the original launch of Chrome OS was that it looked too much like Chrome the browser. Of course, that’s the point since the operating system is designed to be used entirely online with minimal offline function, but it seems Google has taken notice of these complaints and has revamped Chrome OS to look more like a traditional operating system.

The most telling new feature is that you can have multiple windows open, with each of these new windows supporting multiple tabs. A bottom bar that looks like a hybrid of Windows 7 and Mac OS X has been added as well, presumably to better keep track of the Google apps that you use.

Obviously Google made these changes to appeal to users who feel a computer should look and feel a certain way, but how to do you feel about the changes? I prefer them, since using multiple windows has always been part of my internet repertoire.

[via CNET]

We’ve been hearing a lot about the Firefox version for Windows 8, but what about our beloved Chrome? A Google rep has told Mashable that a new version of Chrome will be designed to work with the Windows 8 Metro interface. The new version will have improved touch interaction, and it will still work in the regular desktop interface as well. There is no word on when we can expect this version to arrive. It’s always good to hear Google is developing it’s apps for many different platforms.

[via WinSource]

If you’re a fan of Google eBooks, we’ve got good news for you. Offline support for all of their eBooks have been added to Chrome and Chrome OS so you can continue reading your favorites even if you don’t have an Internet connection.

Google announced the launch of offline support for Google eBooks for those using Chrome or Chrome OS, so they can continue reading books even when they’re not actually connected to the Internet.

“We’ve all been there: the Internet is suddenly down, and you can’t keep on reading your ebook to see what the character decides to do next,” says Google Books Product Manager Xinxing Gu. “Or you’re about to head to the airport and want to be able to dive into a newly-purchased ebook during a long flight. Whether you are flying through the air, backpacking through the European countryside, or simply facing intermittent network connections, you can always read your Google eBooks in your Chrome browser or on your Chromebook,”

In order to take advantage of this new feature, you’ll need to download the Google Books app that is available in the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, simply mouse over the cover of the book and tick “Make available offline”. Currently this feature is only possible for eBooks in the EPUB and PDF formats.

[via Web Pro News]

Google has struggled to get the Chromebook into the hands of the consumer, even going so far as to offer them as an in-flight convenience and later opening a Chromezone section inside of a PC World in London. It’s no secret that the search giant is having to fight tooth and nail for public awareness about its little cloud computer that could, which is why it should come to no surprise that the company is now teaming up with the city of Palo Alto to offer Chromebooks on lease from the city’s library.

21 Chromebooks were made available for use within the library in addition to the many Windows laptops that are already available, but upon seeing how the notebooks work, the library committed these 21 Chromebooks to a take home for a week lease model. The unique set up for the Chrome operating system allows for it to be set up and customized completely by the person borrowing it, while making it extremely easy to wipe and start the customization process over again once their period is up.

The biggest problem Google seems to have is breaking the misconception that the Chromebook is incapable of performing every day tasks we relegate to “normal” laptops, such as word processing and photo editing. Most users who tried the laptops at the library mentioned they would love to own a Chromebook if it was capable of those things, despite that being the case.

The Chromebook lending initiative is set to start up in January.

[via The Verge]

You can retrieve this screenshot by:

• Pressing CTRL+M
• Clicking File Shelf > Screenshots

There you have it… your full window screenshot with Chrome OS on your Chromebook!

Happy Chromebooking!

• CTRL+ALT+T to open command prompt
• Type “Shell” and hit enter
• Type “arecord > hello.wav”
• Hit enter
• Press CTRL+C to start recording
• Press CTRL+C to stop recording
• Type “aplay > hello.wav” to playback your recording

It’s not exactly groundbreaking, but it’s a fun little feature to test out. I’m sure, based on how far Google has come with voice on products like Android, that voice recording on Chrome will get caught up to speed very, very quickly.

Maybe not. A Kaspersky Labs expert has reported a finding that Chrome OS runs on an outdated version of Adobe Flash Player. If Adobe Flash Player has security risks, flaws, and holes – which it often does – then Chrome OS users, too, are left exposed.

Ina Fried from AllThingsD reported on the potential issue, citing a Google employee who claims additional measures have been taken to account for these unique situations.

Regardless of this particular situation, it certainly calls into question the bulletproof security of Chrome OS. Are we a bit more vulnerable than we initially cared to believe? So far so good… hopefully Google is keeping an eagle close eye on this.

Google is claiming that “Chromebooks have many layers of security built in so there is no anti-virus software to buy and maintain. Even more importantly, you won’t spend hours fighting your computer to set it up and keep it up to date.” It simply doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to think of another company that has made similar claims. Those claims have finally come out from Windows vs. Linux vs. Mac forum threads and under real world scrutiny. And that same Rocket Surgeon would see that it wouldn’t take much for Google’s promise of “no security needed” to go up in flames.

So what are these features that Google is touting?

•”Sandboxing”. Which, in a layman description, prohibits apps and processes from interfering with one another.

•Automatic updating. Which is great on paper until one of the updates sneaks in a security hole that wasn’t detected by the Chrome team before release.

•Reversion. The saving grace feature that allows the system to rollback to a safe state when an issue has been detected. See automatic updating.

While Google is making great steps and seems to have a decent plan when it comes to protecting their netbooks, perhaps they should tread a little more lightly when it comes to making claims that seem more like old west snake oil than honest to goodness fact.

[via Crunch Gear]