Today, September 2nd, 2008, Google released their Chrome browser project. Google is aiming to reboot the browser experience by using updated technology to speed up JavaScript, provide safeguards to crashes, and other improvements.
Currently the first beta is only available for Windows. Mac and Linux versions will be forthcoming. Upon first installing the browser, it asks to import any Firefox profiles it finds. The interface is very minimal, and themed for Vista. Under Windows XP, the minimize, maximize, and close buttons resemble that of Vista. The tabs are build into the titlebar, and resemble file folder tabs. Back, Forward, Refresh, Location, a modifiled “File” menu, and an options menu round out the top of the screen. The remaining window real estate is reserved for browsing.
Chrome is bundled with Gears from the get-go. Enabling Gears for WordPress was as simple as clicking the Turbo link on the administration panel. Gmail seemed to automatically load its Gears components as well. However, after these two tabs were loaded, a little slowdown was noticed. This could be psychological or the result of the releasing being a Beta.
Google has done a great job integrating newer technology into a capable browser. However, as time passes some features will hopefully be added that some users find indespenible such as the ability to use plugins similar to Firefox. Hopefully other browsers will see the new kid on the block as a learning tool, helping to add the newer technologies into its mix, such as the V8 JavaScript interpreter.
If there is a feature you’d like Chrome to see in an upcoming release, post a comment here. All feature requests will be rolled up into another posting once the next beta is released and hopefully google will listen.
