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Google has provided a new battery life comparison that shows that the latest version of its Chrome web browser for Windows obtains about two hours of additional battery life on the same hardware when compared to a year-ago version.

Google updated Chrome for Windows this week, enhancing the browser's user experience with a flat, Metro-like Material Design look and feel, improved support for increasingly-common high-DPI displays, and better battery life. It's almost like they've read my mind.

One year ago, Google announced its OnHub home routers, offering consumers a simpler and more elegant solution for home connectivity. Today, the search giant is subtly expanding OnHub's capabilities into home automation courtesy of new Philips Hue light compatibility.

Users of Google Chrome may have noticed an interesting change to their browser over the past week: Google Cast capabilities are now built-in and no longer require an extension.

Back in May, Google announced two innovative new mobile messaging apps, Allo and Duo, which are aimed at text and video messaging, respectively. And today, Google delivered the first release of its Duo video calling app for both Android and iPhone.

In the spirit of making the transition to Android easier for Windows phone users, I present Google Nearby. This new Android feature works like Local Scout did on Microsoft's mobile platform, offering quick access to nearby places of interest.

Google this week announced the one-year anniversary of its My Account hub, which lets the search giant's customers manage their account security and privacy. But it also revealed two new features for My Account: Find Your Phone, which works with both Android and iPhone handsets, and OK Google integration.

Google today confirmed that it is adding Android apps to Chrome OS, it's lightweight desktop OS for laptops and other PC form factors. So what does this mean?

Going into Google I/O this year, I was most interested to see where the search giant would take its dominant Android mobile OS. And not surprisingly, there were many Android-related announcements in the day keynote. Here's a quick rundown.

While Google Home understandably received the most attention from the Google I/O day one keynote, the search giant also revealed a stunning array of other products and services it will deliver throughout 2016. Two of the biggest are Allo and Duo, two new mobile solutions for Android and iOS.

On Wednesday, Google broadcast the day one keynote for its 10th annual I/O conference, with most of the announcements pertaining to products and services that won't ship for many months. The biggest was for a product called Google Home, which brings its conversational digital personal assistant technologies to your home for the first time.

Tech tidbits from around the web: You can now preorder some cool new Lumia cases from Mozo, FTC could be taking a second look at Google Search, Google Chirp to compete with Amazon Alexa, Cardboard VR is available in Canada, the UK, France, and Germany now, and Google provides its Gboard keyboard on iOS.

Google has announced a set of interesting updates for its Google Translate apps for Android and iOS, adding Tap to Translate, Offline, and Word Lens in Chinese features. These improvements will be particularly useful for the over 500 million people who use Google Translate outside the United States, Google says.

With Windows 10 Mobile now shipping, it's time we revisit a long-standing issue with Windows phones: Is it possible to access Google services from Microsoft's mobile platform?

This one seems kind of obvious, but Google this week is updating Google Calendar for Android and iOS to support to-dos and reminders for those to-dos.

Here's what else is happening today: I'm back home, a crazy deal on Office 365 Personal, Marissa Mayer can't save Yahoo, a look at Google Maps offline.

Google has announced that its Google Maps mobile app for Android (and, soon, iOS) is finally getting true offline capabilities with downloadable maps.

Here's what else is happening today: A great use of Microsoft Sway, Microsoft's Band problem, getting Black Ops III on launch day, and Bond. James Bond.

Here's what's happening today: I'm flying home from Colorado, 25 percent of Steam users are on Windows 10, and Microsoft/Google patent settlement questions.

Here's a quick peek at what's happening today around the web: Cortana on Xbox One, Xbox One Fallout bundle, Skype for iOS and Office Delve updates, and more.

In a big day that was partially ruined by leaks, Google announced two new Nexus-branded Android handsets, a new Pixel C tablet, and new Chromecast devices.

I'm a bit surprised this took so long, but Google announced a YouTube Gaming service today that will go head-to-head with Twitch, which was purchased by Amazon.com last year.

Looking at this week's Google I/O announcements, it's hard to miss the ways in which Google is undercutting Microsoft's mobile efforts.