Google has filed at least four patent applications for technology it’s building into its Chrome browser to try to make the Web a more powerful foundation for applications. Three patent applications concern Google’s Native Client , a technology for letting downloaded software modules run directly on a processor rather than more slowly through on-the-fly decoding as with the commonly used JavaScript. And one patent application involves O3D , a technology to let browser applications take advantage of 3D acceleration of graphics hardware.

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Google seeks to patent new Web app tech – CNET