Google Arrives Late To Its Own Party With Essential Chrome Update
Browsing the web on Android just got a little more convenient, especially for those with larger phones or smaller hands. After toying with the idea for years, Google is finally rolling out a long-awaited change to Chrome for Android: the option to move the address bar to the bottom of the screen rather than the top.
Several competing Android browsers already offer this feature, including Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Samsung Internet Browser. Apple moved Safari's address bar to the bottom on iOS 15 in 2021, before quickly adding a switch to revert to the top after negative user feedback. Even Chrome on iOS already supports the option.
Now, finally, Chrome users on Android get the same choice, although the rollout hasn't been without hiccups.
Google Chrome Update: How To Move The Address Bar
Chrome users on Android can now place the address bar at the top or the bottom of the screen.
The update doesn't force this change on you—the address bar remains at the top by default, but moving the address bar to the bottom is simple: Just long-press on the address bar, tap 'Move address bar to bottom,' and you're done. Alternatively, you can access the new function from Chrome's settings menu.
If you don't see the feature yet, just keep your Chrome app updates, as it should roll out to everyone soon.
Google Chrome Update: Why The Fuss Over A Bottom Search Bar?
Mobile browsers initially followed their desktop counterparts by placing the address bar at the top of the screen, but many users, especially those with large phones, small hands, or both, can find it more of a stretch to access interface elements located at the top of the screen. Placing the address bar at the bottom brings it comfortably within thumb's reach, making navigation easier.
Google Chrome Update: Why Did It Take So Long?
For such a seemingly simple feature, Google's delay in implementing the feature raises questions.
The idea of a bottom address bar was floated within Google as early as 2016 as part of the Chrome Home project. Having been made available for a short time in beta versions of Chrome for Android, the feature was ultimately shelved.
Chris Lee, former Staff Interaction Designer at Google Chrome, explained the decision. 'The feature gained a cult following among the tech community, but for many mainstream users, the change felt disorienting. Chrome serves billions of users around the globe with varying tech literacy. Over the course of many iterations, I became increasingly convinced that launching Chrome Home would not serve all our users well.'
Google continued to experiment with a bottom search bar in 'Dev' releases of Chrome for Android but hasn't, until now, made the feature available to everyone in the standard release version. This delay has left many users wondering why it took Google so long to catch up to its competitors, having tested the feature so long ago.
Apple's experience may have something to do with that. The company controversially moved Safari's search bar to the bottom of the screen in iOS 15, but was met with significant user resistance, prompting Apple to add an option to move it back to the top. The default setting, however, remains for it to live at the bottom of the screen.
Firefox introduced a similar feature in 2020, while Microsoft Edge rolled out a bottom search bar option earlier this year, leaving Chrome for Android as the only major browser without what has now become an expected feature available from all major rivals. This has effectively compelled Google to finally take a decisive step and release the feature to all Chrome users.
Chrome's New Bottom Address Bar: Issues Remain
It's great to see Chrome finally implementing a bottom search bar, but response from users has so far been mixed. Recent Reddit posts reveal reactions ranging from 'Omg finally. I've been wanting this for years,' to 'Decided to try it out. Set it to the bottom, it's still at the top.'
Some users report that the search bar switches erratically between top and bottom positions, as well as other UI inconsistencies. Google has acknowledged some of these issues and is already working on a fix.
Despite Google's delay in implementing this feature, Chrome remains the dominant mobile browser, enjoying around 68% of global market share. Ensuring Chrome doesn't become the only player not to offer a bottom search bar, will help Google maintain this lead, but If you try it, be prepared for some early teething problems.
Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Arista forecasts upbeat third-quarter revenue on strong demand for networking equipment
(Reuters) -Arista Networks on Tuesday forecast third-quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations, signaling resilient demand for its networking equipment amid growing footprint of data centers. Shares of the Santa Clara, California-based company rose about 13% in extended trading. Demand for the company's ethernet switches and routers, which are widely deployed in data centers, has surged as enterprises accelerate AI-related spending. Arista has projected third-quarter revenue of about $2.25 billion, compared with analysts' estimates of $2.11 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Moreover, U.S.-based firms such as Arista are widely expected to benefit the country's tariff policies, as it may help them win new contracts from hyperscale clients and boost market share. Arista's customer base includes leading cloud service providers, with Microsoft and Meta Platforms accounting for about 20% and 15% of total revenue, respectively, in 2024. For the second quarter, Arista's revenue reached $2.21 billion, compared to analysts' estimates of $2.11 billion. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 73 cents per share in the second quarter, beating analysts' estimates of 65 cents per share. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Tom's Guide
2 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Summer is heating up — but so are these 4 deals on our favorite smart thermostats
Have you looked at your utility bill this summer and grimaced at the total? Between hotter summers and rising electricity costs, everyone's had to dig a bit deeper to pay their bills. One way you can lessen what you fork over to your utility, though, is by installing one of the best smart thermostats. These devices can analyze your habits and suggest ways to modify how you cool your home — maybe you change it a degree or two, or start it a little later or earlier. And while smart thermostats are more expensive than their older, dumber counterparts, you can find some pretty great deals right now, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat is on sale for $204 at Walmart, which is a $75 savings. In fact, all of our favorite smart thermostats are currently on sale. Here are four deals worth checking out. Amazon's no-frills smart thermostat is a great option for those on a budget and who use a lot of Alexa smart devices. It uses Alexa Hunches to keep your home at the optimal temperature. Note: Amazon has it for $79, but you can get it for free in select states via mail-in rebate. Click on "rebates starting at $99" for more info. Read our full Alexa Smart Thermostat review. This is Google's basic-model Nest Thermostat. It doesn't have the "learning" features of the more premium model, but you can control it remotely and connect it with other smart home devices, so it can automatically adjust the temperature when you leave or return home. It's available in four colors, all at the same discount. Note: You can get it for free in select states with mail-in rebate. Click on "rebates starting at $99" above the color options for more info. Read our full Nest Thermostat review. The savings on this thermostat aren't huge, but every dollar counts, right? As with Ecobee's other thermostats, this one works with remote sensors (sold separately) so you can monitor the temperature in rooms all over your house, so you can more effectively keep it cool. Read our full Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential review. Google completely reimagined its iconic smart thermostat, and we love the new look. It works with every smart home platform, shows you more info at a glance, and is even smarter about setting the temperature just right. It comes in three colors (black, gold, and silver) to best match your decor. Read our full Google Nest Learning Thermostat review. Depending on the smart thermostat you buy, you may be able to get it for even less. That's because many utility companies offer rebates on smart thermostats and other energy-efficient appliances. To check for rebates, follow the links below:
Forbes
3 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Clock Is Ticking On AI Security In A Quantum World
AI now runs in courtrooms, hospitals, airports, banks and several industries, becoming the crown jewel of many modern enterprises. However, protecting these AI systems in a quantum future is becoming increasingly difficult. Somewhere between the optimism of generative AI and the acceleration of quantum computing is a growing risk that few organizations are addressing today. While many worry about adversarial prompts and model hallucinations, experts say those are the least of our problems. David Harding, CEO of Entrokey Labs — a cybersecurity firm building quantum-resistant key infrastructure — warned that the real risk lies in how AI systems handle sensitive data. He argued that AI systems, and the massive volumes of sensitive data they ingest, may soon be the first victims of quantum-enabled cyberattacks. And most companies are walking into that future blind. The Quantum Threat Isn't Theory Anymore Earlier this year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described quantum computing as reaching 'an inflection point.' While that statement sparked interest among investors, its implications for cybersecurity — particularly for AI-driven systems — haven't fully sunk in. As researchers push closer to building scalable quantum machines, long-standing encryption protocols such as RSA and ECC could be broken, making previously secure data fair game. In other words, the data feeding your AI today may be tomorrow's biggest liability. This isn't some distant sci-fi scenario. The groundwork has already begun. Nation-state actors are believed to be stockpiling encrypted data using what's known as a 'harvest now, decrypt later' strategy. Think of it like thieves stealing locked safes today knowing they'll get the keys tomorrow. Once quantum machines become powerful enough, they could retroactively decrypt troves of corporate secrets, defense communications and medical data, including everything passed through AI models today. 'Any electronic data is at risk from harvest now, decrypt later if it is not using digital keys resistant to today's AI attacks and near-term quantum attacks,' said Harding. 'Several countries including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have well over 100,000 individuals solely focused on hacking our systems. Add automation into the mix, and the scale becomes nearly unmanageable.' Quantum threatens all digital systems, but AI amplifies the risk. These models don't just generate content — they ingest patient records, financial models, intellectual property and legal data. In autonomous systems, they make decisions. In others, they write code and trigger workflows. That puts entire AI pipelines — from training data to deployed agents — directly in the crosshairs. 'Quantum and AI-safe encryption has the same level of importance as the foundation of a building,' explained Scott Streit, Entrokey Labs' chief scientist. 'Without it, the structure collapses. There'd be no protection for customer data, IP or communications. In national security, satellites or precision weapons could be taken over.' Falling Behind The Curve Despite these risks, many enterprises still treat quantum computing as a future problem — something to solve by 2030. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has laid out a path for adopting quantum-safe cryptography by 2035. But according to Harding, that timeline no longer reflects how fast both AI and quantum capabilities are evolving. 'The timeline is increasingly out of step with the pace of AI and quantum advancements,' said Harding. 'Some believe AI is already breaking into encryption systems.' And yet, most organizations continue to treat quantum-readiness as a long-haul IT project, involving years of consultations, infrastructure upgrades and vendor reviews. Harding refers to this pattern as 'cyber inertia' — an outdated playbook for a much faster threat. 'We're trying to solve a smarter threat with outdated answers,' Harding said. Streit added that 'AI can already create math that top mathematicians can't explain,' arguing that 'the only way to win is by using AI to secure AI.' To make matters worse, regulatory frameworks haven't caught up. Neither the EU AI Act nor NIST's AI Risk Management Framework say much about defending AI systems against quantum cryptographic threats, leaving a critical vulnerability unaddressed at the policy level. What's At Stake The financial fallout from a breach caused by quantum decryption is hard to estimate. But the principle is simple: What's considered secure today may not be tomorrow. That includes confidential model outputs, internal prompts, logged agentic decisions and sensitive metadata. Any of it could be exposed or tampered with. 'Think about how we respond to weather warnings,' Harding said. 'If there's even a 10% chance of a tornado, you don't wait. You get to shelter.' He added that this level of risk isn't something CISOs can handle alone. 'Quantum is a boardroom issue now — not just an engineering one. The scale of impact makes Y2K look like a warm-up act.' If Trust Fails, AI Fails While companies double down on AI performance, many remain dangerously naive about the risks embedded at its roots. As Harding put it, 'The question is no longer whether quantum will impact AI systems, but how quickly organizations can adapt before it does.' AI security depends not just on encryption, but on anticipating how fragile the entire ecosystem becomes when that encryption fails. If attackers can retroactively decrypt, reroute, or manipulate those systems, the blow to public confidence could rival or exceed any previous cyber event. Trust is what gives AI its power. Lose that, and even the smartest models would collapse. 'We've built an entire era of decision-making on architectures that might be more fragile than we thought,' Harding said. 'While companies chase optimization, adversaries are chasing the keys.'
