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Google's browser hasn't quite been out for a year and a half and it has just surpassed Safari according to one online bean counter's stats. It's now the number three browser, behind Internet Explorer and Firefox right behind it.

Both Chrome and Safari have mobile versions to bolster their numbers, and Safari has to date been emblematic of Apple's comeback. Those Apple stores are still humming along happily, but the Google juggernaut can't be underestimated. The mobile version of Firefox, code named Fennec, is in development and can be found for the Nokia tablets, but those devices are so niche -- I should know, I own one -- I don't expect them to make any kind of dent in Firefox's numbers.

In the end I imagine this just makes the folks at Opera really angry. All of these years of putting out quality browsers for all sorts of platforms and they haven't been able to reach the number four spot. One possible way to boost Opera's numbers? Promote the Internet Channel on the Wii that uses the Opera browser. It seems like everyone owns one of those now.

Seen on CNet.

This January 2010 I will have had my Nokia N800 tablet for two years. It's something of a little Debian Linux device that could, this chunky little internet tablet, since it can do a terrific number of open-source focused things, but it's a complete failure as a commercial mobile platform. Its developer community, however, while nowhere near something I would call "vibrant", is slowly and steadily plugging away at Linux-oriented applications of varying usefulness.

The tablets to date have occupied a rather strange niche, though. Nokia's stance on DRM -- namely, not shipping any way of locking software on the device, and not even providing any kind of central storefront for selling applications for the device -- made commercial developers never give it a shot. One of Michael Mace's quotes I like to keep in mind when it comes to mobile devices is (source):

Symbian happens to be Nokia's older phone OS now becoming open source. Maemo is considered its successor, but the lesson still applies. Read more »

It turns out that Verizon's pact with Google about Android is going to bear fruit with the Motorola Droid. The big red carrier has just kicked off an ad campaign that cements that the iPhone isn't coming to the CDMA carrier by attacking it head-on, citing better features on the upcoming Droid. While it doesn't show the Droid, it hints at a November release, perhaps sooner.

Engadget seems to think it'll actually be running Android 2.0, something notable since handsets only very recently got Android 1.6. Being this cutting-edge would be a complete 180 for Verizon, a carrier long known for moving slowly when bringing new, feature-rich handsets to market. It's also surprising to see Verizon embracing open development in the commercial -- but to be fair, open development doesn't mean open deployment.

Excitement over a Google Android phone on Verizon should be tempered first and foremost by Verizon's data plans. Their pricing on both voice and data plans are universally bemoaned by consumers, and recent changes to their plans have only made things less appealing.

Over one million T-Mobile G1 phones have been sold in North America, which is pretty good for a six-month run.

Engadget has the details.

Google has decided to cut off the Unlocked G1 phone from the newest feature of the Android Marketplace -- the ability to buy software. The reason for this is pretty simple. Since the developer G1 can get full access to the folders that store the apps, piracy is super-easy for those with the not-too-unreasonably priced phone. Read more »