Post by El Capitan on Sept 3, 2008 5:48:05 GMT 1
Google have released their new web browser - Google Chrome to challenge Microsoft's 75% marketing Internet Explorer. I downloaded to day to see what the fuss was about: www.google.com/chrome?hl=en-GB . It runs in an interesting window, with the tabs appearing at the top of the browser, which is interesting but demands valuable milliseconds to eye scan. Its apparently simple but very effective, but its advantages to me remain to be seen. So far I've only seen those most visited page thumbnails that appear if you greatly inconvenience yourself when using the Opera browser. Whilst a challenge to Microsoft's hegemony is always welcome, after all, IE 8 is still like firefox catch-up but with added annoyances as it tries to look different, one must wonder what will become of google's latest project. Sure it is open source but there is something more sinister to the project that may see many of google's future developments get sandboxed compatibility wise with Chrome. Given it has yet to build a market share this can only lead to a reverse in browser innovation, after all outside of its search engine and excellent email clients most of googles projects have failed to take off. Google talk anyone? I tried to get into it but gave up, msn seems to have it covered as far as IM's go and it seems that may never change, after all you want to talk with your friends, not sit staring at a screen waiting for others to join the technological revolution. If Chrome doesnt take off it could seriously harm the way the internet develops. Google already supports Firefox with a range of exclusive products and plug-ins that leave all other browsers looking like rattling old men with a fancy suit on, but despite managing to build up an 11% market share, google seem to want to take on Microsoft itself. Does this mean that they will pull their support from the Mozzila projects? If so we will be left with a innovation wasteground with the two heavy weights slapping each other round for market share ahead of just good browsing. Consider that IE 8 has hit back by putting filters that stop googles advert making money schemes y collating data on the most successful adverts. Is there going to be a browser war were either one wins and stagnates or we have to make do hopping between them for various features?
For now I remain cynical on Google Chrome and am sticking squarely with Firefox.
For now I remain cynical on Google Chrome and am sticking squarely with Firefox.