Earlier today I came across an article on Google Blogoscoped written by Philipp Lenssen called Google Chrome, Google’s Browser Project. Lenssen cites a series of comic book like illustrations he received in the mail that was drawn up by Scott McCloud.
The post on Blogoscoped highlights a number of features, including:
- An open source platform including Google Gears integration
- JavaScript Virtual Machine called V8
- Special tabbed browsing functionality
- Autocompleting & search powered address bar (similar to FF3?)
- Incognito mode where “nothing that occurs in that window is ever logged on your computer”
- Ability to launch web applications in browser windows
- Advanced privacy / malware / phishing protection
Until I see anything along the lines of a beta level release, I will be cautiously optimistic on Chrome. Google Chrome, assuming the name is in fact real, would make sense though as a logical extension of Google’s web based services.
I have believed that the gOS, a Linux based operating system was the first signs of a Google endorsed operating system becoming available to PC users. A web browser platform like Chrome may be one of the few missing ingredients to a completely open source, Google endorsed environment. With GoogleDocs becoming an online version of OpenOffice, my money would be on Chrome saving much of its user settings online… tied to your Google accounts of course.
With Google’s evolution into more web based products and services - a browser would simply make sense. The question is… Is it real?
Investigating the story a bit more I find myself more curious about the browser and more willing to accept these rumors as truth. While it would be easy to say that Philipp Lenssen or Scott McCloud are having some fun with this, Slashdot has picked up the story and is running with it.
Furthermore, Google Browser Sync is something I never knew about. Apparently it was a FireFox 2 Add-On that, as Google explains:
Google Browser Sync for Firefox is an extension that continuously synchronizes your browser settings – including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords – across your computers. It also allows you to restore open tabs and windows across different machines and browser sessions.
With all the Beta tools Google has created only to watch fail, I’m willing to bet that Browser Sync has legs to stand on. While only speculating, the fact that Google Browser Sync is no longer available for download could mean that Google has pulled public efforts on the tool as they continue to tweak things behind closed doors. It wouldn’t be the first time they worked on Mozilla modifications privately.
Edited by Author: Google Browser Sync was a FireFox 2 Add On, not a FF3 Add On as I initially reported.
Comments
20 responses so far ↓
Qazster on Sep 1, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I hadn’t heard about gOS but this really shows Google’s power over the web.
Fact Checker on Sep 1, 2008 at 3:10 pm
gOS isn’t endorsed by Google.
Google Browser Sync never worked on Firefox 3, it was an add-on for FF2 and Google discontinued support for it in FF3
chris on Sep 1, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Can’t wait. It’s already Tuesday lunch in Sydney, but it’s not here yet.
Would incognito mode cause problems with cookies used in analytics tracking?
Just wondering if return visitor counts, or affiliate cookies would be affected?
cheers
Corey Creed on Sep 1, 2008 at 8:54 pm
The whole thing stinks. Why does Google have to do everything Microsoft and Apple does?
Why can’t they stick to organizing the world’s information? I wrote on my blog today that I think they are just trying to “stick it” to Microsoft.
Farhan on Sep 2, 2008 at 3:16 am
Its very interesting that Google has decided to take on a project like this. They obviously have such an interest in how people access the web, it was only a matter of time before they took things into their own hands. It is going to be very interesting to see how this pans out.
Google Chrome browser Screenshots
http://www.tonesall.com/computers-internet/google-chrome-screenshots.html
poot on Sep 2, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Co-worker and I tried this thing. It is actually a IE skin. Each time you open a tab, it is slow like IE7 and it launches a new chrome.exe in the background. Just like ie7 does. Even the connection settings are 100% IE…All google did was make a skin for IE7 lol
Navjot Singh on Sep 2, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Google Chrome is available for download from http://www.google.com/chrome/
But you will get access only to 474KB online crappy installer.
Download complete offline installer from http://rapidshare.com/files/142129854/chrome_installer.exe
Andy on Sep 3, 2008 at 6:18 am
Just trying it now.
I believe the new exe for each tab is so that if one crashes it doesn’t pull down the whole thing - which is nice.
Seems to be a lot more than just a skin but it does sit directly on top of the IE’s network settings for routing, proxy etc which is a little disappointing & makes you wonder just how independent it is. Cookie management & viewing seems a little clunky and no option to view temp files. There is little or no control over content management, certainly compared to IE which again makes me think it’s just sitting on the back of IE’s settings. However it’s just a beta so maybe in time…
All in all not too bad so far though and certainly comparable to IE & Firefox on my laptop…
Socks on Sep 3, 2008 at 11:52 am
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time started as 100% Mario 64 engine. Hopefully by the end of development we’ll get an equally impressive, independent browser.
Glenn Davey on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I am typing this via Google Chrome, and so far, I’m impressed! I would recommend everyone read the informative Chrome comic strip (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/) for an insight into what value Google has actually brought to the web browser table.
To those who say that Chrome is nothing but an IE skin, or even just based largely on the IE framework (like Opera), or that it is just a way to muscle in with Microsoft and Apple — sorry, you’re wrong! Google are innovators, and I believe they’re on the right track with this new browser.
Corey Creed on Sep 4, 2008 at 7:08 am
You drank the Google Koolaid, didn’t you?
“Google are innovators”? They’ve got you right where they want you.
I do like the browser. But make no mistake, Google is a business and is in it for the money (and world dominance).
Martin Lock on Sep 4, 2008 at 8:28 am
That would make the best plot line in a movie… “Honey my serach engine is taking over the world”…
Im just glad they made this, stick it to the big dogs, and grab some cash while doing it… works for me, and if you dont like it, go back to monopolysoft’s excelent ie7, this is just another option, and “incognito mode” will be nice for keeping the girlfriend unaware of whatever…
john on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:13 am
the beta is out today, but i cant find the fuxxor source!!! i want to compile on linux.
Corey Creed on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:43 am
I love it. “Stick it to the big dogs” That’s almost exactly what the title of my blog post the other day was. Like it or not, that really is what Google is doing.
John Kaz on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:29 am
What about the user rights with Google Chrome?
I’m referring to the ‘Terms of Service’.
“By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any content which you submit, post or display on or through, the services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the services and may be revoked for certain services as defined in the additional terms of those services.”
When you submit information on your medical,financial or ANY forms you also are submitting it to Google.And it looks like they can do anything with it that they want.
Corey Creed on Sep 4, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I think those are going to change soon. See http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10031703-56.html
mehrdad on Sep 6, 2008 at 1:23 am
can I download softwar chrome?
Chrome on Sep 7, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Porn mode. End of.
Software Testing Training on Dec 17, 2008 at 12:02 am
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Carolyn Godfrey on Apr 4, 2009 at 10:45 am
how can i get chrome search engine. i now have exporer
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