A few days ago a friend of mine asked me if I had tried out Google's new web browser. I didn't know about the release yet, and asked him to make sure he wasn't mistaken (as I had heard about several hoaxes). Well, he was right! Google released a browser last Sunday called Google Chrome.

I wrote a few notes from what I've read on the web, and decided to blog about it. Here we go:

Google Browser...Why?

The idea behind the creation of YAWB (yet another web browser), by the hands of the gargantuan company is pretty simplistic - The Web has changed over time; but browsers have not. Google says, "Why not start from scratch and design a web browser that accommodates the current state of the web?" And they have done just that.

Speed

Google implements several open source packages into their browser including:

1. V8 - A faster, lighter version of Javascript
2. Webkit - A small, quick web browser rendering engine (Also used by Safari).

Stability and Security

Chrome was built in such a way that each tab runs in it's own designated "sandbox", so if a site malfunctions then it won't interfere with your other tabs, just the one that's affected. The built in "Tab Task Manager" allows you to administer these hiccups.

Space

The developers at Google wanted to make sure the design for Google Chrome adhered to the following rule: "Maximize Content / Minimize Chrome." They wanted to make Chrome GUI 'invisible'. Not sure about you but I personally like the idea of implementing Occam's Razor.

Best of all - Open Source!

That's right, the new browser is totally open source. This means that anybody can download Chrome's code, tinker with it, and redistribute the output - As long as it adheres with Google's BSD License.

Weird Stuff

Despite all the stability marketing I have noticed some serious hang time while using the new browser. Chrome has crashed several times, albeit while using highly intensive web sites.

Other Stuff

I've aggregated some links to articles/videos that should aid in the education of the new browser. Enjoy!

• Lifehacker - Screenshot Tour - Google Chrome First Look
• Google Chrome Features (accompanying tutorial videos)
• Google Code - Chromium Project Page
• Webmonkey - What Chrome is made of
• Webmonkey - How Chrome Changed the Web Overnight

Google Chrome - Introduction Video

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGmO7Oximw8]