Google Chrome
If anything sets the internet community buzzing it’s rumours about new programs and services, especially from the big players such as Apple, Google or (heh) Microsoft. With Apple we usually have a few months of leaked information to speculate about. However Google’s Chrome browser, expected out in the next hour, was only leaked around a day or so in advance.
That’s not really stopped the gossip though. Fueled by a 38 page web comic Twitter and the Blogosphere have been going all day long as the release of the browser aproaches.
Judging by the content of the comic this browser could stir the browser wars back into full assault. I particularly like the focus on performance that Google seems to have worked hard on. If I have any gripes about Firefox then speed is certainly it. Version 3 has certainly improved things slightly but it’s still no match to Opera or Safari in both starting the application and loading pages.
Firefox killer? Perhaps. I know that Google has been in a relationship with Firefox’s development for a while and whether this will continue is a sketchy point. However, Chrome is also going to be Open Source so many of the winning features are likely to make there way across.
Unfortunately they’re not releasing a Mac or Linux version today. How long I’ll have to wait is anyone’s guess but hopefully soon. What will really make my mind up though is the ability of Chrome to do the many features I expect from Firefox, particularly through plugins.
On the face of it though, I can’t wait to give it a try and see just how it goes. This could be the beginning of even more interactive and advanced web applications. Web 3.0 anyone?
Looks like the video announcement is kicking off soon, I’m off to watch. (Currently playing “Another one bites the dust”, interesting choice).
Update: Ok, so it is a lot faster than I expected. I’m going to have a little bit more time playing with it tomorrow. I would like it on the Mac though. Before Christmas please Google.
I’m not too excited for it, honestly. I am anxious to see what it has to offer, but I highly doubt it’s going to have anything that will make me switch from my current browser. I’m not too excited about the fact that we’re going to now have Firefox fanboys, Opera fanboys, IE fanboys, and Chrome fanboys… *sigh*
Also watching the video….
Spoil sport! I think this could have potential implications on the web in general. We could be seeing more AJAX rich applications, especially if they can be run without the current limitations.
By the way, comments on the theme change?
Yeah I know it’s going to handle websites a lot better than what the current browser market offers, but I still have a bunch of things in Firefox that I cannot live without. It’s going to take a lot to make me switch. Plus from the screenshots I’ve seen of the application, it’s not that appealing to me.
I like the new theme, a little different than what I’m used to though. It will take me some time to get used to this one lol I do really like the index though. Less space taken up but more information displayed.
Well… They weren’t lying when they said that load times would be faster. It’s the fastest load times I’ve ever seen. It’s very lightweight too … sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. I’m very lost with finding all the options and stuff without a menu bar. Looks like CTRL + B opens a bookmarks toolbar instead of a bookmarks window. hmm…
Not sure if I like it or not.
Loving the theme change.
Google Chrome is really fast!
Now I can sort 200,000 records inside of Browser (Chrome) just in 1 sec. (Faster than Microsoft Excel):
http://www.ardentedge.com/ex_if.htm