Bits from Bill

Technology thoughts leaking from the brain of "Bill Pytlovany"

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Chrome Steals Headlines back from Gov Palin.

Google Chrome
First it was hurricane Gustav. Today it’s a new internet browser called, Google Chrome. Even with the shocking announcement of VP candidate Sarah Palin other news stories keep taking attention away from the Republic National Convention.


There’s no doubt that everyone will be talking about and evaluating the possible success of Google’s surprise entry into the browser wars. Google’s announcement came in the form of a comic book. Hopefully, it will be a more successful launch than the recent PR disaster from Cuil.


Chrome PR
Comic adaptation by Scott McCloud


At the time I post this, Google Chrome isn’t yet available for public download but according to the Google Blog it should be available today. I was planning on rearranging my office today but instead I’ll be reviewing Chrome and making any needed updates to WinPatrol so it’s completely compatible. WinPatrol v16 is almost ready for release but won’t be coming with its own comic book.


Google Chrome with built in malware fishing
Click Here to Read the Google Chrome Comic book


It will be interesting to see what people think about Chrome. Techies will be pleased that it’s open-source, but so far, no word on a Mac version. I know I’m a geek and this is exciting to me but I still think this is big news. It will be the talk of main stream news media and is definitely more news worthy than another pregnant 17 year old.

Read More/Chrome Easter EggsChrome Proves, No Future in Web OS

Update: Download Google Chrome


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26 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Being a geek, of course I'll download and futz with it. Win only at first, though the Google blog does say Mac and Linux editions are being crafted as well.

As an end user, it doesn't appear all that revolutionary. Sounds like a pretty typical browser experience. Though the Javascript and process compartmentalization sound good for security and performance.

7:58 AM  
Blogger manic marc said...

I was excited at first - but then I realised why Google want to topple firefox. Ad-Block Plus.
It's ironic that most people I know use Firefox because they can block adverts, yet Firefox is mostly funded by adverts.

As far as I know ABP doesn't block Google's search results adverts - but what if future versions did? That surly would be a huge chunk of Google's ad views gone.

This is just speculation on my partof course, who knows what Google is up to.

I like the idea of multiple proceses for tabs.

I spent 4 months studying Ajax techniques and the concluded that one of the main drawbacks was web browsers running Javascript in the same thread as the UI make it easy to lock up a browser. If this can be solved then it has to be a good thing.

6:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

if anyone takes a hit from Chrome getting released it will be Firefox

4:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would recommend using the free VMware Server software to test the betas. Setting a restore point before installing anything will help you keep your sanity and make it much easier to roll back if anything goes wrong. I speak from experience.

4:31 PM  
Blogger Shlomo Skinner said...

I downloaded Chrome, played with it for ten minutes and then uninstalled. I discovered how much I love Adblock Plus. I can take some ads, but when their picture is constantly changing, it is much too distracting for me.

1:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have stopped using it since I learnt Google is logging everything you type into the address bar (even if you don't hit enter) and storing it along side your IP.

I have nothing to hide, I just wouldn't want someone logging what books I read or what I ate for dinner (well I guess Supermarket loyalty cards sort of do this)

9:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Google Chrome Beta installed and worked first time on my Vista system - it seemed quick and easy to use, taking on board all my Firefox favourites and links.

However, that's where the experience ended - my system would thereafter not reboot - shutting down before start-up completed. I had to uninstall Chrome in "Safe Mode" before the system would boot normally.

From this experience, I recommend waiting for the Release version and avoid installing the Beta on your live system.

AKS Devon

5:29 PM  
Blogger acegeezer said...

Ad's are a nightmare.. steer clear until fixed .. god bless adblock at least Firefox has it covered !!

1:17 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I downloaded yesterday and had it on my system for exactly 51 minutes before uninstalling. Suspect GUI issues as it seems to either miss or misinterpret selections from graphic oriented software - had major issues in FB. On the upside...fast! And as Marc commented multiple processes +++

3:43 PM  
Blogger Sheeze Witty said...

I downloaded Google Chrome and encountered problems. So, in less than 30 minutes I uninstalled it. All my icons on desktop would not open normally. I received a message that Windows could not open the file, please use the Web to find the program that created it. I could not even get the link to work, my System Restore failed in normal boot-up. So I had to do it in Safe Mode. Finally, I was able to restore my PC to the state it was in 2 days prior.

I will never try a Beta program again!!!

4:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since being screwed by Windows Vista incompatibility with my othger popular softwares, I said No More Microsoft Crap! So I worked long into the night to finally get Internet Explorer out of my system. I decided to go to Firefox and am glad I did.

Now, Google Chrome comes along and although it does not have adblock.... it is remarkably faster than Firefox. My first thoughts are positive. It does have issues...like Sirius Radio won't play in it and there are weird messages when dealing with some flash sites...But the new kid on the block has promise.

I am not certain if they are going after Microsoft or not but I applaud their efforts!

5:48 PM  
Blogger ahoboe said...

I tried Chrome but was not impressed. It caused some weird things to happen but I did not have to uninstall it. I just stopped running it. I didn't find it that much faster but I have a fast PC. Every notice how fast and lack of function go together? I use several Google products but Chrome won't be one of them.

10:30 PM  
Blogger Murty BVNS said...

Judging a browser on its first day of launch is wrong. Google search and social web plays predominant role in its reach. Google is aggressive and learning. There are enough bugs in it now to keep away from it for a while. It has some serious rendering issues including its own services.It has some very good intuitive features to use it as a spare browser without addins to check some frequent sites to load faster. We have adopted Firefox and soon get addicted to Chrome. Who knows. Now the question is not whether Chrome will succeed or not, it is how fast it will capture the major market share. So far it is crash proof as they have told. I have loaded heavy websites in multiple tabs and it stood like rock. So far no flash support. No addins. More spacious and fast. May be we can use it other than Firefox and not touching IE as alternate browser.

10:46 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Have been using Google Chrome for a few days under Win XP SP2. Seems to be very stable and causing dramatically fewer lock ups than IE Explorer. At this point only positive comments to make for farilty heavy real world usage.

4:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been testing Google Chrome Beta against IE for about the last week. Major differences are, IE crashes more often, IE requires a bunch of tool bars to keep up with the functionality of google chrome wich slows IE down significantly, Google Chrome better remembers the latest pages you go to, Google chrome loads much faster ( even without the extra toolbars in IE), Google Chrome takes a little more processing power (especially at pages like youtube the shockwave player maximized in Chrome takes a little extra processing power) and thats the ones I found so far. All in all Google Chrome impresses me. Now this is for XP SP2 so I would like to hear more about how it fairs on Vista.
Cheers
Truevil

10:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I use Vista Home Premium. the only problem i have so far with Chrome is the Synaptics touch pad driver on my laptop isn't working correctly on side scrolling. It is still working on my other applications, but will not work within Chrome. Otherwise, I am pleased, so far.

10:47 AM  
Blogger Taher Kagalwala said...

What really surprised me is that there is no Google Toolbar with the Chrome browser. I should have expected it to be loaded by default since it is from the same developers. Without the toolbar utilities and with no ability to customise its looks, I think Google Chrome will not climb fast in popularity. Give me FF 3 any time!

12:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi all.

I installed Chrome today, and is viewing this blog post from it. :) Nice and simple (well so far). Let's request our browsers to be Web 2.0 :p

Thanks!

2:06 PM  
Blogger dark41 said...

I've been comparing Firefox 3.01 against IE8 Beta 2 and Chrome for the last several days. (Actually used FF 3.01 since it came out and IE8 Beta 2 for a few weeks now.)

Chrome lacks the ability to manage the Favorites/Bookmarks as Firefox does. That's a big deal for me with 40+ folders and 50 links that I like to keep out of folders. How hard can it be to add button to save by folders first, in alphabetical order, and then stray links in alphabetical order? Apparently too hard for FF or Chrome to mess with.

I'm also quite disappointed with the history being kept and last browsers opened on new tabs. No security in that situation. It feels more like a ploy to go after me for marketing than a protection of my privacy.

So far, I'm most impressed with IE8 beta 2. The crashes of IE7 seem to be fixed with many tabs and pages open. It seems faster than anything else too. The tools are still easy to find and it's quite simple to keep my system secure.

Then Firefox. Although FF still feels more like a concept than a final product, it is fast and has many addable features. It also feels pretty secure.


Chrome: I don't see changing to Chrome unless something changes drastically. It doesn't feel at all secure. I'm not comfortable with how visits to web pages can easily be seen by anyone, and how it keeps cookies and history.

No crashes yet by any of the 3 browsers on XP Pro SP3 system.

8:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i tried the google browser it is true it is much fater but .i do not like it .i have been using firefox for about 6 or 7 years now .i will not use another browser

6:29 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Found it to be sluggish with frequent "page not found" messages which IE7 opened without a murmur. Tried to access my company webmail page virtually unreadable. All the other browsers I use IE, Firefox,Safari had no problems. Stick to search engines no competition there.

1:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I tried Chrome and found it inferior to IE7. Less functionality, only a silly superfluous "bookmarks" bar you can move up and down slightly but which does not tie in with the normal Favourites. Worse: several sudden misfunctions in starting the program and even in other programs. I had expected a lot better from Google.

5:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Marc, this seems like an invasion of privacy.

That's why I try not to use Google's web search if I can help it.

Instead I use scroogle.org, which scrapes results from Google, and doesn't save cookies, does not save search-term records and access log deleted within 48 hours.

Also, if you go to scroogle.org, and you want to encrypt (Secure) your searches, just click on the little yellow padlock at the bottom of the webpage.

Remember: scroogle.org

NOT: scroogle.com


Thanks for your time.

10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why is everyone so attached to this Adblock Plus thing? I don't really see the point. I use IE, and it's just fine with ads. You do realize that you don't have to click on the ads, right? Why don't you just read the text and relevant images on the screen? I usually just load up a page, possibly glance at an ad or two for half a second, and continue reading the page.

4:52 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Anyone know why Chrome uses Yahoo!s search engine rather than Google's own?

4:33 AM  
Blogger manic marc said...

Roy it probably imported your IE defaults.

12:19 PM  

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