The Official Google Blog has confirmed that Google will release the first beta of its own web browser on Tuesday, September 2. The web browser, known as Google Chrome, will be open-source and is based on elements from WebKit and Mozilla Firefox. It will contain a new JavaScript engine which Google claims will be able to run web applications that aren't possible in existing web browsers.

View: Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser
View: Google Chrome comic book (Yes, a comic book)
View: Google Chrome homepage (available Tuesday)
News source: In-house

Interesting... I'll certainly give it a try. Hopefully it will integrate well with many of Google's services.

I wonder how this will affect their relationship with Firefox. Mozilla receives most of their finding from Google, and I have thought of it as Google's preferred web browser... until recently... as I realized that Google never released a Firefox equivalent of their Google Toolbar 5 for IE.

Wow, looks like it even made Reuters and the Drudge Report. Google better have it really polished up by now.

This should be interesting. Thanks.

Well it's an interesting browser. I like how it seems to be designed with Vista in mind. For example, they made good use of Aero's transparency. And the whole program is installed under AppData, so it does not require UAC elevation during the install. That's really nice! UAC is only activated if you choose to make it the default browser.

But on to the browser itself, so far it looks pretty good. I like how they copied IE8's idea of making the domain name in the address bold. And it includes a built-in realtime spellcheck (unlike IE8). So far I have only noticed a few minor glitches (right here at ieXbeta). From my limited use with it so far, I think what I dislike the most is the lack of AutoScroll (like with Apple Safari). But, I could live without that.

I'm going to give this web browser a try and see how long I can last with it.

No autoscroll?? hmm.. and I dislike Vista.. I´d take XP any day.. I´ve got software that doesn´t work with Vista.. my storage devices don´t work either!

Plain and simple, which I usually like, but this deserves a big YUCK!

Is only beta though.

Well it has been over 24 hours since I made Chrome my default browser. Compared to all other browsers, Chrome's interface is definitely the one I love the most. It has really made me realize just how bloated modern web browsers have become. I was starting to become aware of this by looking at the IE8 betas, but Chrome really makes it clear just how light a web browser should be, while still remaining functional.

Sure, there are a few features that should be added to it. But some of the stuff that I have seen people requesting, like RSS reading for example, are already handled well by web applications like Google Reader. I see what Google is visioning here. The browser's job is to run web apps fast, correctly, and not get in the way. And we have yet to see just what sorts of apps could be created with Chrome's vastly more powerful JavaScript engine.

Actually i just gave it a try, i like its sleek look something really like google or wikipedia, but the problem which will remain for awhile, is comparing it with the firefox add ins which bring a lot of more functions to firefox, and actually about the simple gui, i think u can get them same from firefox it have two or three icons only in the tool bar by default.

I just downloaded this yesterday . . . . It's great . . I like the sleek look and all as well, however, it doesn't offer the addons like firefox offers, which at the moment, for me, is irreplaceable. Does anyone else have a scary feeling that google is taking over the world? Satellites, maps, web searching, and now our browsers . . . where can I buy Google coffee at?!

No, I don't think you can get rid of the old menus like File, Edit, and View. The address bar doesn't give you helpful search suggestions like in Chrome. Chrome does a great job of combining the search bar with the address bar. Tabs are not above the address bar (personal preference, but it does make more sense). And the status bar does not automatically hide when it is not needed. It either stays on or stays off. Also, Chrome lays the tabs along the title bar while the window is maximized, wasting no space.

Well personally i believe that they have the best developers in the world, i have to admit that they come out sometimes with a silly software but in general they are so smart, take gmail as an example, we lived for years close to MS look and feel, and maybe its the time to move to google look and feel.

Google certainly are taking over... maybe Google is like Tesco... THE WAY TO GO - "Google takes over the world..."

There is something seems not just a chance, while Google named its browser chrome, firefox was using this name in its configuration for instance when you check about:config in firefox you will find browser.chrome.favicons, browser.chrome.site_icons, i know chrome word is used sometimes in gui, but its not a usual chance to have it used in two browsers, personally i think google browser is based on ff source code some how.

It's absolutely not based on the Firefox source code. Then it wouldn't be so much better.

It is however based on webkit, Apple's rendering engine used by Safari.

Well I would say that going by speed and standards, WebKit is actually better than Firefox. That's why Mozilla hasn't been able to create a good mobile version yet. Their page renderer isn't small and efficient enough. Check this out: http://blog.chromium.org/2008/09/chrome-3s-webkit.html

By the way, a minor update to Chrome is available. Just click "About Google Chrome," and the update is listed at the bottom. Current official build is 1798.

Not bad, but where is the home page icon?

Yeah, I totally love WebKit. I use Safari on my Mac and Chrome in Windows now. Opera may be in the past, if they don't do anything miraculous in their tenth release. Firefox/Gecko has been way behind ever since version 1.0 I think, and well, in my Windows world there is nothing but Chrome and a wee bit of Opera right now.

I found a link to nightly builds of Chrome over at IWinUX, check it out:
http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapsho...hromium-rel-xp/

Personally, I do not like monopoly. Google is too big, it's like the third major company running the IT world these days. Prefer when there are lots of competition, to be frank. But still, one can't deny what Google offers is currently the best.

You could enable it in the settings if you think you really need it.


I like Google's products. And though they are the biggest player in their market, I still support them because I don't want Microsoft to gain too much power in that area. Over the years I have supported Microsoft, lately it seems like they're trying to gain control in too many markets.

I agree. I don't have anything against Google, I understand expansion is part of every financial corporation.

But in the end, when these companies actually are that big, they will control everything. Internet, IT, is the present and future. It already controls most "modern-life" individuals, and with a little help, it'll continue.

But let's save my philosophical discussions for other times. I seem to go off-topic more frequently now - not good, right?


Do you know of any sort of "hidden" settings panel though? Like opera:config or about:config. Always fun to play around a little.
And let's hope for that OSX version soon...

Not really settings panels, but interesting enough:
about:version
about:plugins
about:cache
about:memory
about:stats
about:histograms
about:dns
about:network
about:crash
about:hang
about:internets

What's with the really need it comment? Man you really are getting to be an arrogant bugger these days chug.

Anyway if you must really know, I have my own home page which contains links to all my favourites and a google search box. It's how I like to browse.

But Google provides this for you on the "New Tab" page. Along the center you see your most visited pages. Your bookmarks are along the top, and you can even search your history. The address bar combines as a Google Search bar, so there's no need for a separate one.

I mean... A "home" button! Next thing I bet you'll be asking for is a "print" button. And then an "email" button. Google provides to you the buttons that they think you need!

lol

Now it's sarcasm.

I told you why I want the homepage I made up. Now if I can do without it using both methods then I'll change my habits.

I think it won't be long now though as I'm getting used to the new functionality quickly

Interesting that no one is mentioning the security issues that seem to be running rampant in Chrome. Sure it's fast (whoopie), but at what cost? It still contains the same download bugg that got Safari smacked in the forehead. ...The "It's a beta" excuse doesn't fly on that one.

Frankly I wouldn't touch this thing with a 10 foot pole.

Who cares for security anyway? I have hardware firewalls and a brain, no need for additional security. Now, let's talk about that speed...

If you want to see an example of the so-called "serious security flaw," this is it:

http://raffon.net/research/google/chrome/carpet.html

If the browser is not set to ask which folder it saves downloads to, then it would download the Java application automatically. The attacker would then have to try and trick the user into opening the file. It's not something that I would have to worry about. And I suspect it's not something that you would have to worry about either.

Is there a way to enable "Grab N' Drag"? I use it on a Tablet PC and would love this feature. I feel lost since FF has a plugin for it and I can't find an option in Chrome.

Using it for a day or two now, my only huge gripe is the wheel-click. it just doesn't. that and I've had a few times where it's been 'clogged' and needs a moment to figure things out. but other than these kinks, I really like it.
the title bar tabs and the homepage are pretty nifty as well.

You do realize that once the file is on the local hard drive executing it is almost trivial, right?

The severity of the flaw isn't the issue, the fact that it preexisted the project & still wasn't addressed however bothers me. Also the commentary of some of the Google spokes people is troubling regarding a "Don't worry Vista will stop anything the browser misses" Attitude.

Hay man, I have never been in the Tin-Foil hat club ... but this thing really shaves all the hair of my warm fuzzy feeling. It being handed to the general public with great fanfair (in an Apple-ish fashion) and it's no where near secure, it's not even trying to be. ...I just gota a hunch it's going to make a huge mess at some point.

Yes, by the user though. It's not very much different from a virus coming in as an email attachment. I have seen quite a few of those lately at work, and most of the time the anti-virus software deletes it. These are the various layers protecting you from this issue in Chrome:
1. Common sense
2. Anti-Virus software
3. UAC
4. "Ask where to save each file before downloading"


Really now, over the years we have seen plenty of instances where Microsoft has been slow at patching a security hole. And that has bitten them a few times also. I really don't have much reason to believe that Google would be generally slower at it. And Chrome, being open-source, is subject to peer-review also. I'm not worried about the browser itself. Where I become paranoid is with plug-ins.

Except for the simple fact that most (proper) Email clients are heavily sand-boxed which prevents any scripts from getting to the system ... this is why most of the current batch of exploits in the wild require the user open the attachment. Not to mention it actually required little to no action from the user to fire the DL'ed file.
Email clients are heavily guarded
Browsers are watched carefully
A file on the desktop isn't checked at all.
Oops...!


Key phrase there is "Most of the Time". This is compounded by the rampant rash of FP caused by over zealous AV companies using a shoot first definition update strategy ... Which only inspires "End Users" to turn off or ignore the AV software in an attempt to see their "Prize"...

You are Kidding Right?!?

1. Doesn't even exist in the "average End User's" world.
2. may or may not be aware of the issue in time.
3. is kinda my point as they're playing it fast-and-loose assuming that UAC (which is already being faked/exploited) will clean up the mess ... Leaving XP users hanging.
4. isn't (or wasn't the default) and completely left .jar file handling up to fate.


Ah! So if it's Monkey see Monkey do it makes it all Okay?!? Let's try to remember that it's the marketing companies that got us into most of this mess in the first place. ...And Google is one huge market giant hell bent on taking over the web/desktop with their Cloud Computing concept. The suits lean on the coders and the shiny stuff flies out the door regardless of how many holes are in it.

Yes MS has been slow at times, but they're also the BIGGEST target, so they have to be damn sure that their updates work without breaking something else. Google on the other hand is just making a wild grab at the "Brass Ring" and is exhibiting no concern for "Collateral Damage".

Great of Google to release another browser, but Google are constantly expanding out quicker and faster. While this means more Google products are being released, the quality drops. I wouldn't use Growser (my name for it ) if you paid me to. I like the idea of a very minimal client, but even on an average PC this isn't need. Now if you have a web-book/net-book/UMPC then this thing is create.

Now if they released a fully featured web browser - one that could actually compete with FF/Opera/IE then I would be interested.

I did read that this had a very old security hole that was left unpatched - that in itself speaks volumes about Google's dropping quality standards.

I prefer "Goowser" myself. I've tried it and it definitely has potential there but it is unrealized potential. I'm still hooked on Firefox.

What on earth is "Goowser"???? :-/

A new update is out. You can install it from the "About" window. Here's a list of what it fixes:
http://groups.google.com/group/chromium-an...31790607dd10472

Also, there is a way that you can set Chrome's automatic update feature to receive development builds. These builds are updated more frequently, but may contain more bugs. Instructions on how to enable that are available here: http://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev...ved/dev-channel

Yuck, is still the only thing I have to say about this thing!!

I've been using it since pretty much when it came out and I love it. Like chug said, it reminded me of how bland browsers have become.