Google Chrome – Review

Google has released their own beta web browser, Google Chrome, but not without the BETA tag. Seeming to be going against current web browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, Google promises safer web browsing, faster load times, and secure internet.

Main Features

• One box for everything
• New Tab page
• Application shortcuts
• Dynamic tabs
• Crash control
• Incognito mode
• Safe browsing
• Instant bookmarks
• Importing settings
• Simpler downloads

Speed / Reliability of Browsing

I have to say, that I was very surprised at the speed of the browser. I was originally a Firefox user, before starting to use Chrome, and I thought Firefox was fast. Google claims that, by tests, Google Chrome is about twice as fast as Firefox 3, and Safari 4 beta. I would have to say this to be true. Not only do pages seem to load fast, but the browser itself opens quickly.

Sad Tab of Death error

Also, unlike most other browsers, if one page tab becomes unresponsive (for example, it freezes up), then it won’t affect other open tabs, or the browser itself. Infact, Google implemented a task manager specifically for the browser. Simply kill the process of the tab, and it will close. As a bit of a joke, you get the “Sad Tab of Death”.

Interface

The interface I found very interesting. One major difference between this browser and other browsers: there are no menu toolbar. Infact, there is only two menus, one for the page, which offers your basic page functions (printing, text search, text zoom, etc.), and your browser settings (options, downloads, history, etc.). Both are located to the right of the address bar, as two boxes.

There’s no bottom taskbar, showing stuff like the page loading status, which I kind of miss, however the other features make up for it. Other than the two main menu buttons, the only other buttons showing are the page refresh, back and forward navigation, and the homepage button (optional). Not including your bookmarks, that basically sums up the interface, as there is literary almost nothing else on there.

Another awesome thing I thought was cool was the “New tab page”. Set as the default homepage, or shown when ever you open a new tab, instead of a blank page, you get the new tab page. It shows your Top 9 most visited sites (both the name and a picture of them), as well as recently closed tabs, and your previously visited sites. I imagine this will help out a lot, especially as a start page.

Security and Privacy

Like the Google Search Engine, if you try to access a website that’s flagged as containing malware or phishing, it will present a warning. Also, tabs are unable to communicate with each other, in an attempt to keep malware from installing itself, or using what happens in one tab to effect the other.

Incognito Mode can be used on new pages, also known as “stealth mode”. Anything accessed (such as web pages, history, or downloads) won’t be recorded. Cookies will be deleted aswell, basically erasing any proof that you visited that site. It doesn’t keep the websites themselves from recording your presence, however no one else that uses the browser would know you were at a specific site. Incognito mode can help for different occasions, from buying a gift to finding secret information.

Compatibility

Most, if not all web pages work with Google Chrome. The only issue is the compatibility with web plugins, and applications. Basic flash applications seem to work, however the problem comes for plugins with specific compatibilty requirements. For example, ironicly, Google Lively, a 3D social chat community by Google, is not compatible with Google’s own web browser. Google claims that until these types of things are fixed, and more compatibility is added, Google Chrome will appear as Firefox with most pages.

The browser type using JavaScript is displayed as this:

You are using Netscape Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) AppleWebKit/525.13 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/0.2.149.27 Safari/525.13

Javascript seems to work mostly, however there are some limitations. Testing out some things at Javascript Kit, most worked, however a few more advanced scripts didn’t work, including “Background previewer“, Statusbar Effects (as there’s no status bar). DHTML was a different story. Scripts specifically for Internet Explorer did not work correctly, however those that supported Firefox did seem to work, suggesting that Google Chrome is a more advanced version of Firefox.

I sometimes had problems playing YouTube videos on external sites, however no problems playing them on YouTube.com itself.

Transitioning to Chrome

It only took me a little while to learn about the new features and layout of Google Chrome, and what helped me most was the introduction videos that google gave. Located here, Google gives you several videos highlighting the features of Chrome, and how to use them. The browser was obviously setup for quick and easy web transitioning, without you having to find out how to do things your self.

On first start up, Google Chrome can instantly transfer your bookmarks from other browsers. Infact, Bby default, your browsing history, passwords, and saved websites from your previous default browser are transfered immediately, so that you can instantly start using the browser without having to reenter information.

Downsides

There really weren’t many downsides to the Google Chrome browser.

• The browser needs to be developed just a bit more (which is why it’s in BETA!)
  • There are some options I expected to see that I didn’t see.
• More download options
  • I love how simple downloads are, however I wish there were more options, such as easily deleting downloads, or to open files instead of downloading them. (see next)
• Viewing Files, Not Downloading Them
  • No matter what the file, it doesn’t seem you can just view them in the browser. For example, if you want to view a PDF file, you must download it, and cannot view it in the browser, outside of Adobe. NOTE: There is an alternate way to open PDF files: http://www.pdfmenot.com/

Other than those, I think everything elese is great. And remember, the status is still in BETA, so that means there’s more on the way!

Conclusion

I think Google Chrome is an excellent browser, and the fastest and safest out. I do think it has a little work to do to catch up with the big browsers, however I think it should have no trouble doing so. I expect the compatibility issues to be fixed overtime, and I beleive everyone should download it to check it out, and try it for a few days. I guarrentee that you will be captured by the quickliness of the browser, and its great, organized layout. Check it out!