Google Browser

[BOAC]

Well, someone has to start this:). I'm just amazed no-one has posted ANYTHING about Chrome yet! Out TODAY

Not one of the 'you should be using Firefox/Linux/etc/etc/' broadsiders has piped up:confused:

Someone must have some gossip/rumours/'useful advice'?

This from Google's B**g


A fresh take on the browser (http://googleblog.*************/2008/09/fresh-take-on-browser.html)

9/01/2008 02:10:00 PM
At Google, we have a saying: “launch early and iterate.” While this approach is usually limited to our engineers, it apparently applies to our mailroom as well! As you may have read in the blogosphere, we hit "send" a bit early on a comic book introducing our new open source browser, Google Chrome. As we believe in access to information for everyone, we've now made the comic publicly available -- you can find it here (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/). We will be launching the beta version of Google Chrome tomorrow in more than 100 countries.

So why are we launching Google Chrome? Because we believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web.

All of us at Google spend much of our time working inside a browser. We search, chat, email and collaborate in a browser. And in our spare time, we shop, bank, read news and keep in touch with friends -- all using a browser. Because we spend so much time online, we began seriously thinking about what kind of browser could exist if we started from scratch and built on the best elements out there. We realized that the web had evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, interactive applications and that we needed to completely rethink the browser. What we really needed was not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that's what we set out to build.

On the surface, we designed a browser window that is streamlined and simple. To most people, it isn't the browser that matters. It's only a tool to run the important stuff -- the pages, sites and applications that make up the web. Like the classic Google homepage, Google Chrome is clean and fast. It gets out of your way and gets you where you want to go.

Under the hood, we were able to build the foundation of a browser that runs today's complex web applications much better. By keeping each tab in an isolated "sandbox", we were able to prevent one tab from crashing another and provide improved protection from rogue sites. We improved speed and responsiveness across the board. We also built a more powerful JavaScript engine, V8, to power the next generation of web applications that aren't even possible in today's browsers.

This is just the beginning -- Google Chrome is far from done. We're releasing this beta for Windows to start the broader discussion and hear from you as quickly as possible. We're hard at work building versions for Mac and Linux too, and will continue to make it even faster and more robust.

We owe a great debt to many open source projects, and we're committed to continuing on their path. We've used components from Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox, among others -- and in that spirit, we are making all of our code open source as well. We hope to collaborate with the entire community to help drive the web forward.

The web gets better with more options and innovation. Google Chrome is another option, and we hope it contributes to making the web even better.

So check in again tomorrow to try Google Chrome for yourself. We'll post an update here as soon as it's ready.

*Update @ 3:30 PM: We've added a link to our comic book (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/) explaining Google Chrome.

Posted by Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management, and Linus Upson, Engineering Director

[preduk]

I'm really excited about this browser, I've yet to come across a product I hate from google.

[frostbite]

If it's up to the same standard as Picasa and Google Earth it should prove popular.

[BOAC]

Launch scheduled for tonight UK time

[Background Noise]

Only for windows today though. Mac later apparently.

[BOAC]

Err.... why would a raincoat need a browser...?:)

[Background Noise]

I'll get my coat! :rolleyes:

[Dop]

Give us a chance, it's not even out yet!

[Bushfiva]

It's just a browser. They're all just browsers. Most websites work in most browsers most of the time. It's nice to have an alternative, but it'S still just a page rendering device. It's not going to change anyone's world.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Another browser will keep the others on their toes, that's for sure. However, I'm curious if the Google browser will compromise the users privacy in any way, as some of their products to date have been a little bit too penetrative than is necessarily healthy. Agreed that GEarth is pretty good for a free app.


Regards


SHJ

[Bo Nalls]

Chrome now installed and being used to view pprune :ooh:

More later.


Oooh, there's an incognito mode where pages that you view won't appear in your browser history or search history, and they won't leave other traces, like cookies, on your computer after you close the incognito window. Now what can I go in search of?

Talking of searching, I cannot get google toolbar running with chrome :ugh:

[Gertrude the Wombat]

B****r

I suppose lots of people are going to start using this, so yet another browser to test everything in. Just how much is the cost of this to the world's economy??

[Bo Nalls]

Hmm, can't get flash player to work at all through chrome ::hmm: I've no access to streaming video at all so I guess it's back to IE7 for the time being.

[Background Noise]

Oooh, there's an incognito mode where pages that you view won't appear in your browser history or search history, and they won't leave other traces, like cookies, on your computer after you close the incognito window. Now what can I go in search of?

Do we know this to be true - or is some record kept somewhere, or worse, sent somewhere. Or am I just paranoid.

[four_two]

A little paranoia is a good thing!

Google already keep your search requests and have access to all your emails if you use gmail. Using their browser just adds to the information they can hold on you.

Firefox will delete all your cookies and search history if you require it when you close it down.

And don't forget that your ISP can use deep packet inspection to have the complete picture of your surfing habits. There isn't a great deal of privacy on the internet any more.

[The late XV105]

Chrome loaded earlier this evening just out of curiosity, so this is my first ever Chrome post. :ok:

So, I now use IE7 and Firefox 3.0.1 on work laptop plus IE8 beta, Firefox 3.0.1, and now Chrome on home PC. Just hope one of them rises above the rest to simplify life ;)

[BOAC]

Sadly it does not work around the sites that 'need' IE.

However, installation quick, easy and efficient.

Now I can hide my 'history', back to 'EweBook'..................:)

[Keef]

I tried it, but the text input box did some very strange things. Basically, backspacing and editing resulted in random stuff on the screen - or even blank bits. What appeared on my screen wasn't what I got when I pressed "submit".

It said it would import my settings from Firefox. It did that, but from Firefox 1, presumably somewhere in an archive. I use Firefox 3, but still have FF2 on the machine (just in case). The settings weren't even the FF2 ones.

It decided the default location for file downloads should be my Word documents folder. I've never done that, so where that idea came from, I dunno. I have a perfectly good "Internet Downloads" folder.

I'm back to Firefox until they come out with Chrome Final Release.

[126,7]

I use FF3 and Chrome imported all the settings. Runs smoothly and seems ok so far. Even the dictionary and spell checker I have on FF3 works in Chrome. Or at least it highlights the spelling mistakes I've made so far while writing this post.....

[hailstone]

installed this morning (kept FF as preferred browser for the time being, though).

Has a few nice features to it, such as a new tab opening up next to the one that you are in and not all the way on the right.

@Bo Nalls
Flash does not seem to be a problem, however

[green granite]

It's fast I'll give it that, shame it only imported some of the bookmarks from FF though. I think it might have potential.:ok:

[Notmyreallogin]

No option to sort bookmarks and the only way I could find them is to have a whole extra bar across the top of the screen.

It was fast though, so sort these bits out, google, and you may have a winner.

NMRL

[crewmeal]

I'm curious if the Google browser will compromise the users privacy in any way, as some of their products to date have been a little bit too penetrative than is necessarily healthy.

Google already keep your search requests and have access to all your emails if you use gmail. Using their browser just adds to the information they can hold on you.

Does this mean it would be unsafe to do your online banking? I will leave it alone for that sort of thing until I get some proof that it doesn't compromise security

[Gonzo]

I use FF3, and it imported all settings...although I only have one install of FF on my machine; those who have had problems are those with more than one FF install.

However, no plug ins or addons (Google toolbar included - where I have all my bookmarks) are currently supported.

I played about with it this morning, I like the UI, but PPRuNe looks horrible with all those adverts plastered all over the place (AdBlock Plus is another must have addon).

When Chrome supprots addons, I currently use twenty with FF3, I'll consider switching.

[green granite]

For info, it puts a program called 'google update' into the start up folder.

[four_two]

I don't think the Register were too impressed with this aspect of Chrome.
Granting Google 'a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content that you submit, post or display on or through' Chrome is coming it rich.Burned by Chrome | The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/03/google_chrome_eula_sucks/)

For owners of web sites it seems that to use their service you sign away all your copyright to your own website.

It's small wonder now that Google have been suspiciously quiet about Phorm / BT and their alleged illegal interception of search requests by internet users when they are up to something very similar.

It might be worth reading some of the links provided on the end of the above article for more background details.

[WALSue]

Been using at home and work all day, rather like it!
A lot cleaner than a lot of browsers and I like the developer/nerdy bits
The incognito browser window is quite handy at work too :}

Be interesting when they tie it in to the do the full OS release

[Shunter]

Oooh, there's an incognito mode...Or, as it quickly became known in the office: Porn Mode.

[oldbeefer]

Be careful for now, though. Google Chrome vulnerable to carpet-bombing flaw | Zero Day | ZDNet.com (http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1843&tag=nl.e539)

[Mac the Knife]

Google have now changed that EULA

See the original link

The original was so unconscionable that I suspect it was a piece of legal boilerplate that got put in there without thinking by some eager beaver clerk

:ok:

[frostbite]

There's another (potential) catch too:- Chrome lets Google log user keystrokes - ZDNet.co.uk (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39484276,00.htm)

[NRU74]

Anyone else having difficulty opening pdf documents whilst using Chrome ?
My screen's frozen a number of times and I've had to use Task Manager to shut it down ?
Any ideas ?
No problem on same sites with Firefox

[Tolsti]

So obviously designed by/for Merkins..... few words and lots of pictures!!

Having said that.... I quite like it. Then again, as I have the technical abilities of a hamster....

[Old Grey]

I downloaded Chrome last night, and installed it.

First impressions were that it was spartan, but nonethless effective.

After playing with it for about 20 minutes, I closed it down and opened Outlook to review the day's emails.

Ten minutes or so later, my firewall reported that Chrome was attempting to access the Internet - apparently of it's own accord. :ooh:

It isn't on my PC any more.

[call100]

Downloaded it, Used it, deleted it.....Wiped all traces from the registry.....Don't think I'm trusting it at the moment.......Maybe in about a year when the open source guys neuter it.....:}

[Keef]

I spotted that "GoogleUpdater is trying to access the Internet" from ZoneAlarm.

I'd removed Chrome (didn't really "do it" for me) - but the "updater" was still there and trying to do something. Strangely, although "Search" could find the GoogleUpdater.exe file, Explorer - with "show hidden files" turned on - couldn't see it, or even the folder where it lurked.

It was still present in msconfig and in the registry, too.

I did the full "manual virus removal" process on it - which took quite a time. No way is that ever coming near my PC again.

[BOAC]

It appears that caution is necessary at the moment.

Keef - I cannot recall, but was there an option to disable the updates in install? If there was I probably did :) and the only update.exe I have is dated 14/2/2007 so I suspect it is from an older Google function? Also no sign of it in MSConfig nor 'Run'/'Run Once' and it is set to manual start in Services.

What I am getting now, however, is ZA warning me of Macromedia Shockwave updater 'PostUpdate.exe' which is a new call. This file in its various guises can be problematic but this version 'appears' clean to my various virus check bits. However - it is trying to visit 66.132.186.162 which appears less healthy and is actually onlineservicesidm.com which seems to be linked to SEO stuff. I have submitted a new website to Google etc so maybe that is it? I think I'll nuke it anyway:ok:

[Loose rivets]

This was on the BBC's site today.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Spin around Google's decade (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7599277.stm)

[four_two]

Just another little problem to concern one when using Chrome.

I think I'll stick with Firefox for the immediate future.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39176/108/

[BOAC]

Whoops! Wrong thread!

[Keef]

Keef - I cannot recall, but was there an option to disable the updates in install? If there was I probably did :) and the only update.exe I have is dated 14/2/2007 so I suspect it is from an older Google function? Also no sign of it in MSConfig nor 'Run'/'Run Once' and it is set to manual start in Services.

I didn't notice - but I probably wasn't looking for it.

I've now removed Chrome and its hidden residues from my laptop and my desktop. I've done the same for my friend round the corner who tried it, didn't like it, removed it, and then had the same "attempting to update" messages from ZoneAlarm.

I wonder what it was trying to update, given that it was supposed to have uninstalled itself. I was a bit surprised when it said "Was it something we said?" when I went to remove it. I didn't get the "Removed" message afterwards - just back to the Control Panel remove software page.

Anyway, I'm now very wary of it, and hence of Google in general - which I wasn't before.

I suspect your 2007 updater is for Google Earth.