Spring Break
The Daily OrangeGoogle's new web browser brings Internet back to basic
By Matthew Bellezza
Posted: 9/7/08, 11:23 PM EST Section: Feature
Google announced the release of its new, home-brewed Internet browser, dubbed Google Chrome on Sept. 3.
This seemed a bit strange because Google backs Firefox, one of the more popular browsers on the Web today. So why the sudden desire to make an Internet browser of its own? Is it even all that special?
As always, curiosity got the best of me, and even though I'm running Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari, what's one more browser? So download I did - on the day it was released, no less.
It's important for everyone to realize this is a beta release, meaning it's in the testing phase and only released for people to give Google feedback. Since it's based on open source code, it can be edited by anyone.
In other words, expect to see tons of third party add-ons and fixes for it in the near future and for the rest of its lifespan.
First thoughts: Great install; quick, easy and painless. The installation allows for easy importing of bookmarks and even quick buttons from Firefox and Safari, while providing the option to keep your original default browser instead of Chrome taking over.
Aesthetically speaking, it's nothing special - except for a few features that caught my eye right from the get go.
It was meant to be simple, and Google succeeded again.
The search bar and address bar are one in the same, saving plenty of space for the hundreds of buttons and links that don't yet exist.
The search/address bar can be configured to be run by whatever search engine Chrome supports. So if for some reason you don't like Google (even though you're using their browser) and you want the search bar to be a Yahoo! search bar, you can have it.
Interestingly enough, the tabs feature provided is set up opposite of the standard tabs view for, let's say, every browser known to man.
For example, Firefox's tabs show up under your toolbars and just above the actual site you're viewing. However, Chrome tabs are at the very top of the window above the toolbar, address bar and quick buttons. It looks great, and makes navigation much easier.
This seemed a bit strange because Google backs Firefox, one of the more popular browsers on the Web today. So why the sudden desire to make an Internet browser of its own? Is it even all that special?
As always, curiosity got the best of me, and even though I'm running Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari, what's one more browser? So download I did - on the day it was released, no less.
It's important for everyone to realize this is a beta release, meaning it's in the testing phase and only released for people to give Google feedback. Since it's based on open source code, it can be edited by anyone.
In other words, expect to see tons of third party add-ons and fixes for it in the near future and for the rest of its lifespan.
First thoughts: Great install; quick, easy and painless. The installation allows for easy importing of bookmarks and even quick buttons from Firefox and Safari, while providing the option to keep your original default browser instead of Chrome taking over.
Aesthetically speaking, it's nothing special - except for a few features that caught my eye right from the get go.
It was meant to be simple, and Google succeeded again.
The search bar and address bar are one in the same, saving plenty of space for the hundreds of buttons and links that don't yet exist.
The search/address bar can be configured to be run by whatever search engine Chrome supports. So if for some reason you don't like Google (even though you're using their browser) and you want the search bar to be a Yahoo! search bar, you can have it.
Interestingly enough, the tabs feature provided is set up opposite of the standard tabs view for, let's say, every browser known to man.
For example, Firefox's tabs show up under your toolbars and just above the actual site you're viewing. However, Chrome tabs are at the very top of the window above the toolbar, address bar and quick buttons. It looks great, and makes navigation much easier.
Be the first to comment on this story