Google releases new web browser

Megan's picture

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http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/488716
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/fresh-take-on-browser.html

I was assuming this was built on Mozilla but the google blog post seems to say that it was built from scratch. It's also windows only (for now) - anyone want to check it out? The download is supposed to be available today.

I can't say that I like that name (Chrome), but it's great to hear of another browser that may be able to make an impact in the market. I think that diversity in the browser market is integral to a free, open, and standards based web.

Edit: Oooohhh, it's based on webkit. That makes more sense.

decibel.places's picture

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Here is the official Chrome site - not available now, I hear it may be released 2PM ET

Is Chrome a Mozilla Killer? Who using IE is going to switch to Chrome?

We shall see

JeevesBond's picture

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Well when seeing this topic for the first time I thought, 'They'd better have something really fantastic to break into that market.'

I've gone through the slide-show and it what they have is very interesting. Not sure if it'll catch on, if it does it'll be because it improves the stability and speed of Web applications (heavy on Javascript and what not).

What they've done is make each tab run in a separate process (basically a whole new application on your OS). Then the tab process also runs JavaScript in a separate thread from the rendering engine. Not only that but every time you change URL, the process is destroyed and a new one created.

That sounds very heavyweight, lots of time context switching between tabs, more memory requirements per tab, etc. But what Google are banking on here is that the existing browsers have problems with memory leaks, I found this argument a little disparaging.

What this will mean for normal users:

  • when one tab crashes it won't bring the whole browser down;
  • one tab being busy will not lock up the whole browser (so irritating when this happens);
  • Javascript can no longer cause the browser to lockup for seconds at a time;
  • JavaScript should be snappier and Web pages should render faster;

I think the point isn't to kill Firefox, IE, Safari or even to get much market share. It's to get these improvements into existing browsers, so Google can build better Web applications in turn. Web apps are Google's core business, The slide-show mentioned that the browser is being made Open Source so browser makers can take the improvements and include them in their own products.

It will be interesting to see if the license they choose for the source will be permissive enough for Microsoft to include these changes in Internet Explorer.

There are lots of other things in the slide-show that I haven't bothered to mention, have a look if you're interested. Smiling

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pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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I haven't gotten all the way through the slide show yet, but I like what I see so far.

That sounds very heavyweight, lots of time context switching between tabs, more memory requirements per tab, etc.

Maybe so, but I have found that Firefox fails to take full advantage of my quad core system. The browser will hang and my cpu usage will only be 25%. More threads and separate processes is what modern computer with multiple cores need.

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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I will be interested in how this does on the Acid tests.

It will also be interesting to see if this does anything to their relationship with Mozilla. Google has always been a huge promoter for Firefox. Will that change now that they have their own browser to promote?

It's also windows only (for now)

Well nuts. Guess I can only use it on my laptop.

Megan's picture

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pr0gr4mm3r wrote:
I will be interested in how this does on the Acid tests.

It's based on Webkit so it will do exactly what Safari does...

It is kind of nice that they're building it on an existing rendering engine. It's good to have some variety of rendering engines but quite a pain when there are many behaving differently. 4 is enough!

Michael James Swan's picture

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I am just about to downloaded it, thanks Megan and Decibel.Places.

I shall use it moderatly in conjuction with Mozzila.

IE, can just evaporate since i now have a vendetta against IE.

It has been doing my head in for a while now, the only time i will use IE; is when i am asked to test a website in it and give results back.

Best wishes,

Mike

PS. Decibel.Places, your link does not work...

I have been searching for a workin link for just over an hour and there are none availble at this time of post but i have been advised that http://gears.google.com/chrome/ is where you can download "Google Chrome" browser.

Best luck, I will try again in an or two and see if i can download it...

I have estimated that it is due to be availble in 49 More minutes as of this post. (At the above link)

Michael James Swan's picture

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I have been online looking round for some interesting articles and WOW!, i found out that Google are releasing there own web browser. It has a sleek new interface and some great features.

There has been alot of talk around this new browser, what it holds for the future and also what it can do.

Google Chrome is meant to be availible from 2PM, i have been looking about and checking some of the time zones, i know that many are getting frustrated about it not being downloadable yet,

I have an estimate of anoter 40 minutes and it should be availble to download from:
http://gears.google.com/chrome/

Good Luck and ENJOY!

Michael James Swan's picture

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Google Chrome is now available for DOWNLOAD

Hope that this is a good day for everyone too, My estimate was a little more but heck, it is here now!

http://www.google.com/chrome/

Michael James Swan's picture

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I have it!

Oh yeah, the great Google Chrome Browser is now in my hands and it should be all cool.

I will get back to everyone on my views, and thoughts on the browser after i have had a little play.

PS. I know to be fair, Decibel.Places had it before me...
Not sure about anyone else..

decibel.places's picture

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Mozilla/5.0 Applewebkit 525.13 (KHTML like Gecko) Chrome AND Safari 525.13

One browser to rule them all!

decibel.places's picture

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One thing - Firefox 3.0 chokes on YouTube - (my Spore videos)- Sticking out tongue - Chrome no problem...

Michael James Swan's picture

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This is great. I am here using the New Chrome Broswer.

The view is sleek and it is easy to use, a little bit like Safari and Mozzila put together.

I like its design, although it could have a slightly better design.

Good work guys, Thanks for the information.

demonhale's picture

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Yeah Read about it a week ago from a friend, that time it wasn't confirmed yet. I'll have a stab at trying this...

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I assume it will be a success with google powering it.

Hope it wont muddy the waters still further in respect of website/appearance browser compatibility issues.

JeevesBond's picture

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Hope it wont muddy the waters still further in respect of website/appearance browser compatibility issues.

It's based on Webkit (what Safari and others use), so rendering Web pages should be fine. The Javascript engine is new, but as Google own many JavaScript heavy Web apps I expect it to work well.

Also, the slideshow mentions that they've been using Google's own index of the Web for testing, so common compatibility issues should not occur. This is more about creating a new interface and speeding up Javascript execution, than the usual problem areas of HTML and CSS support. Speaking of speeding up JavaScript: just have a look at this comparison chart. Unfortunately Opera wasn't included in the comparisons though. Sad

According to several sources, Chrome already has a browser market share of between one and three percent!

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I used it but i don't like it, Mozilla is best

James's picture

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This new browser is very well. But I think there is a bigger issue which must be seriously considered.

Google already owns a chunk of the net. It's trying to own every web services sector now. There must be some laws to prevent them killing smaller businesses.

If I give you a example, share hosting providers are now worried about the development of Google's website services.

I personally think that their ambitions and greed will eventually be harmful for them.

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Megan's picture

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James wrote:
Google already owns a chunk of the net. It's trying to own every web services sector now. There must be some laws to prevent them killing smaller businesses.

You'd think, right? Unfortunately any such laws are often very poorly enforced, if they exist at all. Just look at all the Microsoft cases.

One benefit I see in this, at least in terms of market share, is that Google is widely known enough and respected enough to actually compete with Microsoft. They can reach those users who don't even realize that different web browsers exist and that they do have a choice. That's one thing I'm hoping to see happen with Chrome.

I share your concern about Google getting too big and into too many markets. We know that Microsoft has plans to take over the intenet. Google could do the same thing which wouldn't be any more beneficial.

Michael James Swan's picture

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I have also heard and read about Google & Microsoft trying to take over the web.

Google is a good search engine, Don't get me wrong; but to try and take over the whole business aspect of the internet is just plain and greedy.

They will be offering their own website hosting next, i can bet on it.

James's picture

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Yes, and I know for a fact shared hosting owners are afraid. They feel that anything they build up now on is in jeopardy to the sheer power of global brands.

When you really think about it, the more all these end-of-internet-freedom conspiracies become more believable!

I do think google is a bit different from Microsoft though. But then again what's Google's opponent on the net? Nothing.

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decibel.places's picture

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I, for one, find Google stand-offish

Have you ever tried contacting customer support? "We won't respond to your inquiry but we will consider it to improve our products" (my paraphrase)

Couple of years ago I developed a link-back widget that did not violate a careful reading of AdSense TOS: It was triggered by the page unloading (if the mouse was hovering over the AdSense ad) - not by the click on the ad (a few milliseconds difference, but significant in operation)

The JavaScript code is separate from the Google code.
The Google JavaScript is not modified in any way.
Magic Return launches when the page unloads -
not when the ad is clicked.
It's not activated by the Google code.

The "direct link from an Ad to an Advertiser Page" is not affected.
The end user is referred to the Advertiser Page without interference.
The end user may choose to close the Magic Return window at any time.

I corresponded with Google AdSense customer service, to gain pro-active approval, but their bottom line was "a click on our ad generates a pop-up" (technically, not true).

fantastvik's picture

They have: 28 posts

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after reading the post
http://www.webmaster-forums.net/webmasters-corner/big-problems-google-ch...
iam too scared to use it now.
interesting fact is we use
gmail for mails,
google for search,
analytics for SEO,
i hope the free information is not going to cost too much to us in the future...
i have shifted back to chrome

They have: 5 posts

Joined: Sep 2010

We should thanks to Google team that they releases a new searching web browser, were as Google is more than enough for me to search my data related to studies and learning but its good to see Google creativity. It is super and very easy to follow. I have bookmarked you and will be back regularly. Thank you

Term Papers

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woow, thats great i just listen about it,,, i never have been seen it.. did u check that, hows it working, and is it providing tool bar services.??

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