Microsoft is trying to persuade HTC to make new smartphones that run both Android and Windows Phone, and it’s willing to cut or eliminate its own license fee to make it happen. The software giant is hoping the move will encourage consumers to try out the Windows Phone platform and eventually make the switch to it — but could the scheme backfire?

Google is rolling out a pretty sold update for its official Chrome for Android application, bringing users the ability to quickly navigate around the web browser without even having to tap any buttons, thanks to the implementation of a mass of new gesture controls.

The Chrome Beta for Android has today been updated to version 30 this week, adding a number of new features, fixes, and improvements. In addition to universal image search, it also adds new gestures for switching tabs, and a helpful easy zoom feature.

Is Google ready to give up on Android and make the Chrome platform its new priority? That’s the question posed by AppleInsider’s Daniel Eran Dilger in a new report that suggests the search giant is looking to distance itself from the world’s biggest mobile operating system and all of the intellectual property issues that come with it.

But I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you. Android’s not going anywhere.

Within minutes of unveiling its intriguing new Chromecast dongle, it looks like the Google Play store is already running out of supply of the cross-platform video streamer.

The new $35 device went on sale during Google’s San Francisco press event this morning with an original shipping estimate of one to two days, but now the ship date has been pushed back as far as August 7 for some shoppers.