Google could introduce a new version of the Chrome web browser app for Android that supports extensions. The search giant recently indicated it wants to evolve Chrome OS to become more like Android.

Chrome browser for Android may get extensions suggests report

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers. It is available for almost every operating system and device. However, the Chrome browser app for Android is slightly different.

Google decided long back to not offer extension support to mobile versions of Chrome. While Google’s reason isn’t clear, some reports suggest the company may be wary of ad blockers, which are available as extensions.

Google Chrome is preinstalled on most Android devices. It is fast, easy to use, and has a lot of features, but it still lacks support for browser extensions.

Third-party Chromium-based browser allows users to install extensions. Google could change this in the near future by allowing the official Chrome browser app for Android to support browser extensions.

According to Android Authority, Google is working on a new version of Chrome for Android. This version is aimed at “desktop” devices like Chromebooks.

When will extensions work on Google’s browser?

Earlier this year, Google announced Chrome OS would become more like Android. Specifically speaking, Chrome OS would use large parts of the Android tech stack. This would include “Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks.”

Google is actively working on a common bootloader for Android, Chrome OS, and even Fuchsia. Chromebooks would also get a new version of Chrome for Android. This version is primarily intended for desktop-grade Chromebooks.

These developments suggest Google intends to unify Chrome builds between Android and Chrome OS. Currently, the biggest differentiator between them is the device form factor.

The biggest indicator of Chrome browser for Android getting extension support is the introduction of “Desktop Android”. This new version is called ‘Chrome for Android’, and it is getting support for browser extensions.

Interestingly, even a Google engineer working on the Chromium project confirmed Desktop Android has extensions support. Google has been actively submitting patches for the “Desktop Android” project to the Chromium Gerrit.

Incidentally, Desktop Android Chrome builds are compatible with devices that support Android OS. Google may not have made any announcements yet. However, the company has been laying the necessary groundwork for a common Chrome browser, presumably with extension support. This browser would work across multiple form factors. Moreover, with Google adopting Manifest V3, this move would significantly help Google.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is back this year, returning on October 8 and 9. The “fall Prime Day” of sorts has served as the online retailer’s unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for the past few years. We expect most of the deals to be Prime exclusives, meaning you must be an active Prime subscriber to get the discounts. There are always a couple of deals available for everyone, though, so it’s worth perusing Amazon’s site even if you don’t pay for Prime. It’s also worth doing so now because we’ve found a number of solid early Prime Day deals already available. These are the best of the bunch; we’ll be updating this post regularly in the lead-up to October Prime Day, so check back for the latest deals.

Prime Day deals: Engadget’s top picks

Prime Day deals on Apple gear

While Apple deals are few and far between right now, you can save a bit on the new AirPods 4. AirTags have a slight discount as well, both in single and multi-packs.

Prime Day deals on Amazon devices

It’s a safe bet that we’ll see even more Amazon gear discounted on October Prime Day, but for now, you can snag a Fire tablet on sale, as well as Ring and Blink security cameras for much cheaper than usual.

• Echo Spot for $45 ($35 off): This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands. You can also grab it bundled with a free TP-Link smart light bulb.

• Echo Buds for $25 ($25 off): These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls.

• Fire HD 8 tablet for $55 ($45 off): Amazon just released this new version of the HD 8 tablet, which includes more RAM, a better camera and new AI features not found on the previous model.

• Fire HD 10 tablet for $75 ($65 off): One of the more advanced tablets in Amazon’s lineup, the HD 10 has a 1080p screen, an octa-core processor, up to 64GB of storage and a 13-hour battery life.

• Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $115 ($55 off): This kids bundle includes the standard Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of RAM, a kid-friendly cover, a two-year warranty and one free year of access to Amazon Kids+.

• Amazon Echo Show 8 for $85 ($65 off): The company’s mid-sized smart speaker has an 8-inch touchscreen, a 13MP camera with auto-framing for better video chats and a built-in Zigbee smart home hub.

• Echo Show 5 + TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulb for $50 ($65 off): This bundle deal knocks 56 percent off a duo that includes one of our favorite compact smart displays and a smart light bulb that can be controlled via Alexa voice commands.

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 ($25 off): Amazon’s most powerful Fire TV dongle supports 4K, HDR content and Dolby Vision, plus Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Atmos audio. A number of other Fire TV devices are on sale right now, too, including the Fire TV Stick Lite for only $18.

• Amazon Music Unlimited three-month trial for free (four-month free trial for Prime members): Anyone who has never tried Amazon Music Unlimited before can get a three-month free trial right now. Amazon ups that to four months if you’re a Prime member that’s new to the music streaming service. That’s a great deal considering Music Unlimited typically costs $11 per month without Prime or $10 per month with Prime.

Best Prime Day Lego deals

A number of Lego sets have already been discounted for October Prime Day. Some of our favorites come from the Star Wars, Super Mario and Harry Potter lineups, and you’ll find savings up to 41 percent on those. There’s also a Lego City 2024 advent calendar that’s 20 percent off and down to only $26.

Prime Day deals on Ring and Blink security systems

You may not immediately think of them when you think about Amazon’s own tech, but the shopping giant also owns Ring and Blink. Gadgets from these companies make up most of Amazon’s home security offerings, and you can usually find steep discounts during Prime Day on security cameras, alarm systems and other bundles.

Prime Day deals on tech

Early Prime Day deals on tech include discounts on power banks, webcams, air fryers, smart plugs and more.

• PS5 Slim (Digital Edition) for $400 ($50 off): Both the all-digital model and the standard PlayStation 5 are $50 off right now, so you can get them for $400 or $450, respectively. If you’re not on the market for the PS5 Pro, these are good console discounts.

• Logitech Brio 500 Full HD Webcam for $93 ($37 off): Our top pick for the best webcam you can buy right now is $37 off, a decent discount even if it’s not a record-low sale. If you spend a lot of your day on video calls, this will be a solid upgrade to your computer’s built-in cam. It has a wide field of view, auto-light correction and shoots 1080p video.

• LG 55-inch C4 evo OLED smart TV for $1,297 ($700 off): LG’s midrange OLED sets, the C4 family includes upgraded Alpha 9 Gen 7 chip, improved brightness and a 144Hz max refresh rate. Most sizes are discounted at the moment.

• Marshall Emberton II speaker for $100 ($70 off): One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, this model has an attractive, retro design, a pleasant, balanced sound profile and up to 30 hours of battery life.

• Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer for $85 ($35 off): This newer air fry from Cosori has nine preset cooking modes and a six-quart capacity that makes it just the right size to cook a good amount of food without taking up too much space on most countertops.

• Oura Ring (3rd gen) for $349 ($100 off): In our review, we called the Oura Ring the “perfect wearable for people who don’t like wearables.” It’s an alternative to a fitness tracker or smartwatch that tracks all day activity and sleep.

• Anker Nano Power Bank 10K for $32 ($8 off): This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for this 10K power bank that has a connecting USB-C cable built in.

• Anker iPhone 16 screen protectors for $19.20+ (40 percent off): Clip the 40-percent coupon on the page to get a big discount on Anker’s screen protectors for any of the latest iPhone 16 models. They provide drop protection from up to 5.9 feet and extra scratch resistance thanks to Anker’s ShieldX technology.

• Baseus 30W/10000mAh MagSafe power bank for $28 ($18 off): Clip the 40-percent off coupon to get a record-low price on a power bank that earned a place in our guide to the best power banks you can buy. It quickly refills MagSafe-compatible phones and has a handy built-in cable.

Everything you need to know about October Prime Day 2024

When is October Prime Day 2024?

October Prime Day will be held on October 8 and 9 this year.

What is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day is a members-only sale event run by Amazon in which the online retailer has thousands of sales on its site that are exclusively available to those with an active Prime members.

How long is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day will last two full days.

What is on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Most October Prime Day deals will not be revealed until the days of the event. However, in years past, we’ve seen everything from clothing to household essentials to outdoor gear go on sale during this event. Engadget cares most about tech deals, and in past fall Prime Days, we’ve seen things like phones, tablets, headphones, earbuds, robot vacuums, smart home gear and more receive deep discounts.

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to shop Prime Day deals?

Yes, because most deals will be Prime exclusives. However, there are always a few decent deals available to all Amazon shoppers, so it’s worth checking out Amazon’s site during October Prime Day to see where you can save even if you don’t pay for Prime.

Expired early Prime Day deals

• Apple 24-inch iMac (M3) for $1,100 ($200 off): The discount plus clippable coupon bring the final price for this Apple desktop down to the lowest we’ve seen.

• Apple Magic Mouse (black) for $85 ($15 off): The white version of Apple’s popular accessory is still cheaper at $68, but the black colorway rarely goes on sale. Both mice pair quickly and are relatively light with responsive touch gestures.

• Apple iPad Air (13-inch) for $720 ($80 off): The large model of our favorite iPad returns to one of its frequent sale prices. It’s about $20 more than its record low, but it’s still a good deal if you’ve been eyeing the 13-inch Air.

• Apple Pencil (1st gen) for $69 ($30 off): If you have a 10th-gen iPad or older, this is the stylus to get. We’ve seen this discount for a couple of weeks now, but it’s still $10 below the average sale price. It’s also discounted at Walmart.

• Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for $100 ($20 off): This newly released, 1TB variant is down to its best price yet. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards.

• Beats Fit Pro earbuds for $159 ($41 off): Our overall favorite pair of earbuds for running are on sale for $41 off. They’ve hit this price point often over the past few months, but it’s a decent discount on buds we found to be comfortable with a secure fit and great audio quality.

• Beats Studio Buds for $99 ($51 off): They’re a tad old at this point, but the Studio Buds remain a decent buy at under $100.

• Amazon Echo Show 5 + Sengled smart light bulb bundle for $60 ($50 off): This bundle gives you one of our favorite smart displays (which makes an excellent alarm clock) and a top pick in our best smart light bulbs guide at a 45-percent discount.

• iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $170 ($80 off): This affordable robo-vac is only $10 more than it was during July Prime Day right now, making it an even better option if you want a robot vacuum without spending a ton.

• 8BitDo Ultimate C wired gaming controller for $15 ($5 off): Now at $1 cheaper than it was during Prime Day in July, this 8BitDo accessory is an even better option for PC gamers or folks looking for a more comfortable Steam Deck controller.

• ASTRO Gaming A40 TR wired gaming headset for $100 ($30 off): Our pick for the best gaming headset is $30 off, a discount we’ve seen a few times this year. We found these to be comfortable with better sound than many headsets, but the mic performance is only OK.

• Anker 633 10K magnetic power bank for $40 ($40 off): This MagSafe-compatible charging bank has a built-in kickstand for propping up your iPhone, plus a 20W USB-C port for high-speed, wired charging.

• Anker MagSafe Charger Pad for $19.19 ($4.80 off): This Qi2 charging pad is back on sale for its all-time-low price, and it works with the latest iPhone 16 handsets.

• Anker Prime Power Bank 200W 20K with 100W charging base for $140 ($45 off): The top premium pick in our best power banks guide, this 20K brick can recharge most mobile devices and has a handy screen that shows you the power flowing out of it, as well as the remaining charge.

• Elgato Stream Deck+ for $170 ($30 off): Combine the discount with the clippable coupon to get a record-low price on this upgraded version of the standard Stream Deck.

• TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $20 ($30 off): Our top budget pick in our best Wi-Fi extenders guide is more than half off right now. While not a rare deal, it’s still a record-low price on a handy device that could help eliminate dead zones around your home.

• Samsung Pro Plus microSD card (512GB) with adapter for $30 ($54 off): Now 64 percent off, this high-capacity microSD card is a great buy for anyone who needs extra storage for their camera, tablet or Nintendo Switch (or other handheld gaming console).

• Google Pixel Buds A-Series for $64 ($35 off): This is one of the best prices we’ve seen on Google’s budget-friendly wireless earbuds, which we praised for their solid sound quality, deep Google Assistant integration and small, comfortable design.

• Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian headphones + 2 years of AppleCare+ for $279 ($100 off): If you’re really into the muted colors in this collection, this is one of the best deals we’ve seen on Beats’ pro-level headphones with AppleCore+ protection.

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $689 ($110 off): This is a record-low price on the Ultra 2, which remains Apple’s most premium smartwatch and the one best for adventurers, ultramarathoners and the like.

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 + $30 Amazon gift card for $229: The brand new Pixel Buds that are a solid choice for Pixel phone owners include a free $30 Amazon gift card in this bundle.

• Google Pixel 8a smartphone for $399 ($100 off): If you’re looking for an Android phone with a ton of advanced features and a reasonable price tag, the Pixel 8a is the best midrange smartphone you can get right now.

• Apple iPad (10th gen) for $299 ($50 off): The base iPad didn’t receive a refresh this year (yet), but Apple did cut the price to $349. It’s still selling for a record low right now.

• iRobot Roomba Vacuum and Mop Combo for $206 ($69 off): This Roomba can vacuum and mop floors all in one go, and it will automatically return to its charging base when it needs more juice.

• Samsung T7 Shield (4TB) for $280 ($220 off): If you’re looking for a high-capacity portable SSD that can take a beating, this deal is the best price we’ve seen on the 4TB T7 Shield since June.

• Kasa Smart Plug EP25 (4-pack) for $34 ($16 off): These are our top pick in our guide to the best smart plugs available right now thanks to their compatibility across all four of the main smart home ecosystems, their easy setup process and reliable connection.

• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle for $203 ($55 off): This bundle includes one of the best Kindles you can get right now, along with its fabric cover and wireless charging pad. This is the lowest price we’ve seen all year on this trio.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

Johnny Monsarrat helped initiate the era of the massively multiplayer online game with Asheron’s Call in 1999. He hopes to establish a new category of games again with an outdoor role-playing game called Landing Party.

Los Angeles-based Monsarrat, a company named after its founder, launched the game earlier this summer as a mobile game played with augmented reality tech, using a smartphone’s camera and superimposing animated graphics on the real world. It’s been done before, but Monsarrat has filed for patents for features like being able to move the gaming landscape when real world obstructions get in the way.

Monsarrat was previously one of the founders of Turbine, the maker of MMOs including Asheron’s Call, Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings Online. Warner Bros. bought Boston-based Turbine in 2010 for $160 million.

Now Monsarrat is moving gaming to the outdoors. Such outdoor walking games were defined in 2016 by Niantic’s Pokémon Go, which has earned a staggering $8 billion, including $566 million just in 2023. But Monsarrat said that Pokémon Go gameplay has nothing like the creativity and community of powerhouse MMO games that Monsarrat knows so well.

And while outdoor games can be challenging, they’re not as physically taxing as sports, which are too athletic for a lot of people, Monsarrat.

“Some people don’t want to get exhausted or sweat, or they just want something more creative,” he said. “I think about roleplaying games like what I used to make on PC. They tend to make more money per player. The KPIs are better for role playing games. People get caught up in the story,” he said. “If you join a team, it has team goals. You’ve got to keep playing the game. That improves player retention. You make some friends. You want to see your friends. You’ve got to keep playing the game.”

He added, “MMOs are more efficient on PC, on console, on mobile. And I mean, this is my hypothesis. I think the MMO or RPG games should be more efficient outdoors. So what I’m saying is I don’t have to be a massive Pokemon Go hit to make serious money because the economics should be more efficient.”

Live demo

I played a demo of Monsarrat’s game multiple times during its development. Recently, I played the Landing Party game in a parking lot in my hometown.

During the demo, the game started up and I could see an image on my camera screen. I could help it identify the planet of the ground, and then it was ready to go. It has to know where the ground is so it doesn’t put objects that should be on the ground in the air. It’s easy to move the game map if you encounter an obstacle like a parked car or fence. You simply hold a button down and turn your body, moving the game world as your body moves. Then you reposition it so you can walk in a different direction. That’s one of the patented features.

“It’s like you aree in the park and you have a family playing frisbee. There’s a park bench in your way, and you can move the game around,” Monsarrat said.

With one feature, there is a two-dimensional game zone on the map. You walk through it like the Holodeck in Star Trek. You have to shoot a gun at some big monsters and navigate through rocky or jungle-like areas. It’s meant to be immersive.

If there is a character in the game and you walk right into the character, the whole character and the world gets pushed backward. So you can’t walk through virtual walls. Some monsters appear and you shoot them with the gun and escort a couple of characters to a landing ship so they can escape.

In another quest, you have a Geiger counter and you’re searching for a source of radiation. The sound of the counter gets louder as you near the radiation, and it grows faint if you move away from it. You can play this game with other players, and you can also play via remote multiplayer as well. Eventually, all of this could be a full MMO.

In Monsarrat’s games, there are no fixed locations. Players can enjoy the game anywhere where there is some room to walk.

“Even a small space, if you can walk around, you can play it. Also, the game is more creative. It’s got real community.”

The Landing Party game has around 12 quests. It can be played in a relatively short time. But Monsarrat believes any game can be divided into a number of small quests. The company is in talks with licensors about securing intellectual property for games.

The success of AR and location-based games

Niantic has had some successes like Monster Hunter Now, which has generated $150 million in revenue. But Niantic has struggled to evolve its entry level Pokémon Go, where you collect stuff, into mature products with better performing player retention and monetization.

Monsarrat’s new launch, Landing Party, is backed up by four patents. It’s an outdoor RPG inspired by its founder’s background in MMOs. Instead of placing one creature at a GPS point, Landing Party lays out a fantasy world across an open map space, like a park or a parking lot, where the player walks through to play. The game has no fixed locations, allowing players to set their next game mission in a backyard, a local park, or any other open space, even a small one.

“In the global crisis of loneliness, people are craving a reason to go outdoors,” said Monsarrat. “But some people aren’t drawn to sports. They want an alternative outdoor activity that’s more creative and less athletic. That’s what we’re building, and we see three key market drivers: creativity, community, and convenience.”

Landing Party is so far just a demo game, but it’s free and has 12 missions that could be the future of outdoor video games. It is now available on Apple App Store and Google Play.

Monsarrat is now seeking business partnerships, and funding to build out the future full game. Monsarrat believes that current outdoor games are just focused on collecting and get boring quickly. That’s why he wants to take roleplaying, a strong game type that has proven key performance indicators on PC, console, and mobile — and bring it outdoors.

He noted that Pokémon Go’s technology is a database of fixed map points, which can only support “collecting stuff” gameplay. Its popularity speaks to the power of the intellectual property and the need to get people going outside in the global crisis of loneliness, Monsarrat said. He thinks later Niantic games like Harry Potter, NBA and Marvel failed as fans wanted deep stories and roleplaying adventures which Niantic’s fixed GPS points didn’t support.

Even so, Pokémon Go persists as a top 10 mobile game even though it’s eight years old. That suggests that AR walking games can still be hits. Besides Pokemon Go, other hits include Jurassic World Alive, Monster Hunter Now and Dragon Quest Walk.

As a market, such games are earning nearly $1 billion a year in revenue. Roughly 90% of smartphones now support AR, compared to less than half in 2019. Disney is making a Kingdom Hearts game and Disney Step.

And Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, recently showed off a new pair of AR glasses, dubbed Orion, as a new product coming soon. Monsarrat believes consumers aren’t waiting for AR headsets, as 30% of Americans already use AR for face filters, shopping, and games. Apple Vision Pro didn’t sell well to consumers, but it also cost $3,500. Apple is still investing for the future products.

Monsarrat believes the power of storytelling and more player interaction can help outdoor gaming. And people are already playing AR games.

Origins

Monsarrat was a mentor at a college and met a contestant who had an AR application. Monsarrat saw an opportunity to make tools to make AR games. That summer, Pokemon Go came out and it became possible to raise a small amount of funding.

“They thought like a mapping company. It turned out their fixed map points were not good for storytelling,” he said. “I’m not trying to copycat Pokemon Go. With my background in gaming, I want to build a different type of game. I think of outdoor gaming as a platform. It’s funny that there’s only one type of outdoor game — collecting games. Well, there’s dozens of different game types. Why shouldn’t there be more game types for this new platform, outdoor gaming? So we’re making the role playing part of it.”

Monsarrat started the company back in 2016 and rebooted it in 2021. To date, the company has raised $2 million in funding, after securing some key patents. He has added advisers such as Yucheng Chiang, CEO of Top Golf, Jenna Seiden of Skydance Interactive, ex-Blizzard chief Mike Ybarra, former PlayStation head Jack Tretton, Sandy Kleinman of Universal Studios and Brad Bao, head of scooter maker Lime.

The game has been cooking for a while. He showed the game off at Augmented World Expo and has shown off versions of its at the Game Developers Conference and GamesBeat events.

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“Now that we have a demo game, I’m starting to ramp up. I’m looking at making a Hollywood deal and we’re looking at going to launch,” he said. “With a full game, we hope to do it within a couple of years.”

The company has 12 people, with developers based mostly in Poland. Back during the development of Asheron’s Call, the development team took over his mother’s house. During that time, Monsarrat was hit by a car in an accident while he was walking on the sidewalk. He wasn’t seriously hurt, and he took the $30,000 and put it into the company. He changed careers and became a human genome expert and also became a travel writer. But he was drawn back to games and got an MBA.

“I was drawn back because of Pokemon Go,” he said.

But the gameplay has advances that make it easier to play outdoor games, where obstacles can get in the way.

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“The most important features we have are all about ease of use. Most players don’t need to live next to a big park. They can live next to a small park, or they want to play in a very small space, like their indoor living room or their own backyard,” he said. “Making the game practical in small spaces is really what it’s all about. And our four patents, and also two that are coming in the pipeline, all relate to that.”

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