sundar pichai

How Chromebook Pixel could ride a Google I/O surge

It's time to find out the raison d'etre of the Chromebook Pixel. I refuse to believe that all that high-end hardware is meant to run a really fast Web browser, and I have a conspiracy theory about the secret mission of the Chromebook Pixel. I'm going to be looking for clues coming out of Google I/O this week to see if they support my theory.

I'll confess that I'm infatuated with the Pixel. I shouldn't really like the world's most overpriced and overengineered Web browser -- that's truly what the Pixel … Read more

Android chief working on smoother updates, fine with Facebook Home

Android head Sundar Pichai might be new to the job of leading Google's mobile operating system, but he's already working at improving the update process for that software.

In a Wired interview published Monday, Pichai acknowledged that update paths to new versions of Android can be difficult, but that he and his team "are thinking about how to make Android handle updates better."

"We see ways we can do this," he told Wired. "It's early days. We're talking with our partners and working our way through it. We need time to … Read more

Google to split mapping, commerce ops, WSJ reports

It appears that Google's "spring cleaning" is even broader than thought.

The online search giant is splitting its mapping and commerce unit into two separate businesses, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing its sources.

Jeff Huber, who led the mapping and commerce business, is stepping aside from his role and will be moving to the Google X unit, the Journal said. That business is run by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and works on projects such as self-driving cars and Google Glass.

Google confirmed to CNET that Huber is shifting roles.

"Jeff is an extraordinary executive,&… Read more

Meet Sundar Pichai, the new head of Android

Sundar Pichai, a Google veteran fond of fast browsers and computers, will have to move quickly himself as the newly named head of Android.

CEO Larry Page announced Pichai's new role in a surprise blog post today. Pichai assumes the responsibilities of Andy Rubin, who is stepping down as head of Android to "start a new chapter at Google."

As the man who shepherded the Chrome browser and operating system from concept to their current, more refined iterations, Pichai has a record of defying skeptics and building projects from the ground up. But with Android, Pichai inherits … Read more

Google shakeup: Chrome head Sundar Pichai takes over Android

Andy Rubin is out as the leader of Google's Android efforts.

"Andy's decided it's time to hand over the reins and start a new chapter at Google. Andy, more moonshots, please!" CEO Larry Page wrote in a blog post this morning.

Rubin is handing the reins to Sundar Pichai, a nine-year Google veteran who is the senior vice president for Chrome and Apps. This move may be an indication that Android and Chrome OS will grow closer together, as they compete with Apple's iOS and Mac OS and Windows.

One possibility is allowing Android … Read more

Google exec: "Surface is a very complicated strategy to pull off"

Google's senior vice president of Chrome and Apps, Sundar Pichai, gave Microsoft some credit for innovating with its new Surface platform. "I think form factors need a lot of innovation," he said in reference to Surface. "It looks like they put serious effort into it."

But he was more dubious about Microsoft's odds for success, and seemed to welcome the potential disruption Windows 8 might cause among long-time Microsoft users. 

"The Surface is a surprising announcement, to say the least," Pichai said at the GigaOm Structure conference in San Francisco. He … Read more

Chrome for Android to come out of beta 'in weeks'

Google expects to bring its Chrome browser for Android out of beta testing "in a matter of weeks."

So said Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome and Apps, in an interview yesterday, shortly after Google released a Chrome for Android update that lets people view the desktop version of a Web page and add bookmarks to the browser's home screen.

"We launched beta 2. We addressed a few things," Pichai said. "Mainly right now, I'm driven by bug quality and stability. We are triaging, tracking, and trying to make it very stable. … Read more

Chrome kingpin Pichai promises Android upgrades

When Google introduced Chrome in September 2008, people laughed at the bare-bones browser--no extensions, no bookmarks, no Mac version, and who needs yet another browser anyway?

Nobody's laughing now.

Under the leadership of Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai, though, Chrome dramatically extended its reach. One in five people use Chrome, according to Net Applications. Google uses the browser to push its technology agenda, even when its ideas are unpopular with colleagues in the Web standards world. Chrome is the foundation of the Chrome OS operating system, Google just released Chrome for Android, and under Chief Executive Larry Page, Chrome … Read more

Google Chrome will see greater expansion on mobile devices

SAN FRANCISCO--The mobile Web is in its infancy, according to Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome and Apps at Google, adding that this market will flourish over the next three to five years.

Pichai sat down for a chat during the closing keynote discussion of the 2012 Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference on Thursday afternoon.

For critics who would ask what is there left to innovate with a browser, Pichai retorted that even though browsers have been around for 15 years, if you make the experience better, people will respond.

There are roughly 200 million Chrome users worldwide, … Read more