New browser: Google ‘Chrome’
So Google have just announced that they’ll be launching their own browser at some point today: Google ‘Chrome’. So what does this mean for us (‘us’ being the vigilant, awesome, honourable and every-so sexy web users)?
Well, I can’t speak for everyone but – upsettingly, perhaps – my first reaction is one of suspicion. The browser will provide unfettered access to user habits that Google were perhaps missing from monitoring the performance of Adwords, Google Analytics, Google Toolbar and iGoogle. I’m not sure if I want them to know all that!
But…well, they already know all that stuff. So one could argue that giving them this final bit of insight is rather a moot point, surely? And if it helps give us better results, then that’s not a bad thing…is it? Read on!
Put simply, I’m not 100% happy about giving Google all this information about my browsing habits. As such, I probably won’t be using this browser for anything other than testing how sites look when developing them. However, therein lies another point…
What it also comes down to (for me, at least) is who this browser is aimed at. Like every other bugger on the planet, Microsoft seem to be in Google’s sights with this one. So what about the other browsers out there? “Wait!” I hear you cry: “Doesn’t Google also support Firefox by being the default search engine and consequently supplying them with giant revenues? What will happen to that relationship if they’re aiming at the browser market?”
Yeah, I heard you cry that. You must’ve taken a big breath, frankly.
Anyway yes, they do. AND they (Google) have just signed up to extend this relationship with Firefox well into 2011 – when it was due to expire in November this year. So what’s going on there?
Well, I think they’re aware of the loyal following of Firefox users – so that’s not who Google are targetting. The question is, are they aiming for the remaining IE users who maybe haven’t the technical need for a fully-featured and extendable browser such as Firefox…but who also recognise that, at a base level, Google supply their search results…so a browser from them is probably a good idea too?
I honestly don’t know.
I’ve just given Chrome a go, and I must say it is extremely fast. Only time will tell how good it is at being a browser, though…watch this space.
George
George Rosier runs this blog. It's somewhere he can vent his spleen about web design, usability, SEO, and other such nonsense that will no doubt mean nothing in 5 years' time.
i’m willing to try it out just to see if it works more efficiently than FireFox… if it’s faster than Firefox, has tabs and isn’t IE, then i’ll use it