Google to launch a browser

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 09:39:24

The BBC is reporting that Google is launching a browser called Chrome.

I'm not sure how much more Google I can take.

Gary · Sep 02, 2008, 09:40:59

Quote from: Rik on Sep 02, 2008, 09:39:24
The BBC is reporting that Google is launching a browser called Chrome.

I'm not sure how much more Google I can take.

I think its how much more google want to take from you Rik

Inactive · Sep 02, 2008, 09:45:31

I spotted that yesterday, I think I will give Google a miss on this one.

Gary · Sep 02, 2008, 09:49:48

Quote from: Inactive on Sep 02, 2008, 09:45:31
I spotted that yesterday, I think I will give Google a miss on this one.

Have to agree with you there In, browser and privacy linked by Google do not sit well with me saying that if they bring these features to the table it has potential

"Stability
Each browser tab will run in its own process. These processes will be completely isolated from each other, will be killable from the operating system's process manager, and will be sandboxed to prevent them from accessing information on the user's computer.

This architecture should lead to a more stable and more consistent browsing experience: performance of the browser should not degrade over time.

Google is using its search index to prioritise testing of the browser: the pages that are linked to the most results from Google Search are getting the most automated hits to make sure Chrome is behaving correctly on them.

Speed
The browser is being written with WebKit, the open-source engine at the core of Apple's Safari and Google's Android. The browser is also getting a new JavaScript virtual machine, V8. It is claimed to be a better solution for complex and rich web applications; it should yield better performance as well as 'smoother drag and drops' in interactive applications.Chrome's architecture lends itself to secure browsing. Each web page, or tab, runs in its own process, and is blocked from accessing other processes on the computer. "We've taken the existing process boundary and made it into a jail," the comic states. Different and more flexible permissions are being developed for plug-ins, however.

A database and API to access phishing and scam sites will be used in Chrome (and made public), which will hopefully reduce 'zero-day' scam exploits. The browser will be constantly updated with this information.

Standards
The browser will be released as an open-source project. Google will also build the open-source local runtime Gears into the browser, and is hoping that it will be taken up widely to "improve the base functionality of all browsers".

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 09:55:29

Same here - if it's true to Google of late, it will be recording everything for onward transmission.

kinmel · Sep 02, 2008, 09:56:45

Quote from: Rik on Sep 02, 2008, 09:55:29
Same here - if it's true to Google of late, it will be recording everything for onward transmission.

.......to the U.S. Government

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 09:57:11

Exactly.

vitriol · Sep 02, 2008, 09:57:40

You can't beat the Fox imo.

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 09:58:52

I agree, Vit. I've tried most browsers over the years, but I still like Fox best.

Gary · Sep 02, 2008, 10:00:39

Quote from: vitriol on Sep 02, 2008, 09:57:40
You can't beat the Fox imo.

If Firefox take on board the sandboxing features of the google browser it would be great the feature set of the google browser read well, its just privacy which will stop me ever having it in on my pc

Gary · Sep 02, 2008, 10:02:05

Quote from: vitriol on Sep 02, 2008, 09:57:40
You can't beat the Fox imo.

The reviews for IE8 will make it a catchup to FF3, so the browser wars are back on it appears

Inactive · Sep 02, 2008, 10:02:14

Quote from: vitriol on Sep 02, 2008, 09:57:40
You can't beat the Fox imo.

Agreed, I do use IE6 on occasions, and Opera now and then, but I like Fox the best.

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 10:09:03

I wonder if Jill's a foxy lady?

vitriol · Sep 02, 2008, 11:24:16

The Aurora bowser from Mozilla looks interesting but is not available as of yet. At the end of the day competition between the browsers is good as it leads to innovation and more new features for us all to use and abuse.

john · Sep 02, 2008, 11:40:03

Quote from: vitriol on Sep 02, 2008, 11:24:16
The Aurora bowser from Mozilla looks interesting but is not available as of yet. At the end of the day competition between the browsers is good as it leads to innovation and more new features for us all to use and abuse.

I still use IE7 because I've tried other browsers and they don't offer me any features that I need, pages are more likely to be displayed propery in IE, it's better integrated into Windows and also I've got used to it.

Inactive · Sep 02, 2008, 11:44:10

Quote from: john on Sep 02, 2008, 11:40:03

I still use IE7 because I've tried other browsers and they don't offer me any features that I need, pages are more likely to be displayed propery in IE, it's better integrated into Windows and also I've got used to it.

Strange that John, that is the one browser that I cannot get along with, I reverted to IE6.

kinmel · Sep 02, 2008, 12:23:26

Google's Chrome Comic describes the new browser in detail.

Simon · Sep 02, 2008, 13:32:05

Yup, another cunning plan for Google to watch you even closer.

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 14:24:07

I thought of a response, but decided to self-censor.

Suffice to say I don't think Google could watch any closer without access to my alimentary canal...

vitriol · Sep 02, 2008, 16:05:32

I'll give it a try when it's released, supposedly tomorrow.

Rik · Sep 02, 2008, 16:09:26

My alimentary canal is being released tomorrow.

Stand well back!

Simon · Sep 02, 2008, 21:12:47

That's an image I could have well done without!

kinmel · Sep 02, 2008, 21:36:42

Well the new browser is lightening fast, it out performs FF3 by a big margin.

It imported FF3 bookmarks after a fashion, no the live bookmarks and just a few such as TTB are missing for no apparent reason.

There are very few options to change, so there is much less control over how tabs work etc.

It's speed alone means that I will keep trying it and see if I can adapt to it's foibles.

Simon · Sep 02, 2008, 21:48:13

I'm also trying it, out of curiosity, and I have to admit, it's fast, but I see nothing yet to draw me away from Sea Monkey / Firefox. One thing I have noticed is the lack of tweakable options, and particularly, smooth scrolling is conspicuous in it's absence.

Philip · Sep 02, 2008, 21:52:50

I'll stick with the Monkey, thanks

Simon · Sep 02, 2008, 22:03:12

Well, it's been and gone. Didn't import Bookmarks properly, but I liked the Bookmarks bar, and the generally uncluttered interface. It may well develop into something better, but for now, I'm sticking with what I've got.

sobranie · Sep 02, 2008, 22:06:16

It's fast! That's about it I think!

Sebby · Sep 02, 2008, 22:31:35

Google and Tesco should join forces, then they really would control the world!

I certainly won't be using Google's browser; can you imagine the kind of information they'll be collecting?!

Simon · Sep 02, 2008, 22:43:24

Not even curious, Seb?

kinmel · Sep 02, 2008, 23:21:27

Quote from: Sebby on Sep 02, 2008, 22:31:35
Google and Tesco should join forces, then they really would control the world!

I certainly won't be using Google's browser; can you imagine the kind of information they'll be collecting?!

I uninstalled Chrome and then reinstalled it and it remembered all my passwords, most visited sites, cookies et al, so it likes to gather stuff and then never delete it.

I know it's a Beta, but It needs a fair bit of work, the tweakability is dreadful and the Tab function is best described as primitive.

Google had put a lot of tutorials on YouTube and those have been taken down now, even though their support site only offer of guidance is links to the missing clips. Go figure !

It can stay on this one PC and I will occasionally give it a run, but I don't think it will rule the world anytime soon

D-Dan · Sep 02, 2008, 23:58:17

I'm posting this from a chrome browser window - so better be careful what I say since it's likely to land on George Bush's desk, and then he'll declare war on me.

Anyhoo, I hate the interface. But as others have said, it's bloody quick. My first niggle came on the second site I went to, which is fully java, and just didn't want to play.

Maybe when they start skinning, and implement java properly - oh - and respect my privacy - I'll try again.

For now, the fox is still king.

Steve

Edit:

I know it's beta - but that's no excuse for Windows to have to close it forcibly on exit.

Sebby · Sep 03, 2008, 01:17:22

Quote from: Simon on Sep 02, 2008, 22:43:24
Not even curious, Seb?

I was, so I installed it. Like others say, it seems fast, but that's where the positive aspects end as far as I can see!

Inactive · Sep 03, 2008, 01:28:28

Quote from: Sebby on Sep 03, 2008, 01:17:22
I was, so I installed it. Like others say, it seems fast, but that's where the positive aspects end as far as I can see!

You couldn't resist the temptation could you Seb?

Sebby · Sep 03, 2008, 01:33:18

drummer · Sep 03, 2008, 01:56:16

When people report that Chrome is fast, can they confirm whether they mean graphics load quicker or the whole page finishes loading earlier?

Just had a flashback to the early days of Opera Vs IE when one loaded graphics interlaced and the other used progressive loading of images.

Think I'll sit this one out, bored and indifferent, albeit with a slightly sniffy attitude Oscar Wilde would be proud of.

'Tis interesting though zzzzzzzz

Gary · Sep 03, 2008, 06:33:02

Quote from: drummer on Sep 03, 2008, 01:56:16
When people report that Chrome is fast, can they confirm whether they mean graphics load quicker or the whole page finishes loading earlier?

Just had a flashback to the early days of Opera Vs IE when one loaded graphics interlaced and the other used progressive loading of images.

Think I'll sit this one out, bored and indifferent, albeit with a slightly sniffy attitude Oscar Wilde would be proud of.

'Tis interesting though zzzzzzzz

To be honest Drummer, this browser could make toast and Blue Mountain coffee, whistle Dixie then parade around my domicile reciting Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, and still this abomination that advocates privacy, yet is created by the overloads of data gathering themselves would nere touch my harddrive

Inactive · Sep 03, 2008, 08:08:29

I take it, you will not be using it then Gary..

Nor me..

Gary · Sep 03, 2008, 08:34:55

Quote from: Inactive on Sep 03, 2008, 08:08:29
I take it, you will not be using it then Gary..

Nor me..

What gave you that idea, In

kinmel · Sep 03, 2008, 09:08:36

Quote from: drummer on Sep 03, 2008, 01:56:16
When people report that Chrome is fast, can they confirm whether they mean graphics load quicker or the whole page finishes loading earlier?

Just had a flashback to the early days of Opera Vs IE when one loaded graphics interlaced and the other used progressive loading of images.

Think I'll sit this one out, bored and indifferent, albeit with a slightly sniffy attitude Oscar Wilde would be proud of.

'Tis interesting though zzzzzzzz

It starts instantly, it swaps to incognito mode instantly and pages load very quickly - for example El Reg is fully loaded in a new tab before you can start to time it.

Fortunately Chrome is open source, so perhaps Mozilla will be able to improve FF's speed.

Chrome won't replace IE8, FF3, or Opera without a lot of changes though.

Gary · Sep 03, 2008, 09:13:58

Quote from: kinmel on Sep 03, 2008, 09:08:36
It starts instantly, it swaps to incognito mode instantly and pages load very quickly - for example El Reg is fully loaded in a new tab before you can start to time it.

Fortunately Chrome is open source, so perhaps Mozilla will be able to improve FF's speed.

Chrome won't replace IE8, FF3, or Opera without a lot of changes though.

I like the idea of inbuilt sandoxing of tabs, thats a really good security feature, so hopefully Mozilla can look at putting these into Firefox sometime and the newer javascript engine Chrome uses, but I just will not let google get onto my system as a browser, I really do not even trust Chrome's privacy mode

we are talking about Google here