Google releases Chrome browser for iPhone, iPad

— -- Google's popular Chrome Web browser is coming to Apple's mobile devices.

Chrome on Apple's iOS mobile operating system (though only iOS 4.3 and higher) allows Chrome fans to use the search browser across all their devices.

Google announced the new Chrome apps Thursday at the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. On Wednesday, the company announced a new 7-inch Android tablet, the Nexus 7, that will retail for $199. Google also unveiled the Nexus Q, a home entertainment device, and gave a preview of the much-buzzed-about Project Glass .

While the Chrome browser can now be used in iOS devices, it cannot be set as the default browser. URLs in an email will still take you to the default Safari browser. The apps for iPhone and iPad will be available in Apple's App Store later Thursday.

Also announced Thursday:

— Google Drive, Google's cloud-storage service, is now available on iOS devices and Chrome OS. You will also be able to edit documents from Drive offline, meaning you can edit during those brief periods between Internet connectivity. The app will be available at some point on Thursday.

— Chromebook, Google's browser-based computer, will soon be available in 100 U.S. Best Buy stores. It's the first time Chromebooks will be available in a brick-and-mortar store. The Chromebooks cost between $349 and $549.

Contributing: The Associated Press.