Google enters the browser biosphere

Google Chrome

Google announced yesterday that they are entering the delicate ecosystem of web browsers.  Google Chrome is an open-sourced java based web browser that is in development currently by Google. 

What makes Google Chrome special?

Google Chrome is the newest browser that is written from the ground up.  When browsers were initially developed the web was new and unexplored.  Internet Explorer was originally written for plain HTML coding and could not support many new features that modern web pages use.  The web has evolved so far since its creation.  Browsers have updated their versions again and again to try to keep up, but Google is taking a different approach.  Chrome is being built from the ground up and will be made to accomodate the modern web users. 

The launch page

Chrome will have a launch page that will feature your most visited items, as shown above.  The launch page will also have recently closed tabs and your bookmarks.  The final item wrapping up the launch page is a search box.  I wonder if you can use MSN live search as the default.  

More reliable

Google has explained that the browser will be more functional and more stable than current browsers on the market.   It handles information and addons differently.  Each tab will be a seperate process.  Google Chrome handles its tabs much like modern operating systems like Vista and Leopard handle their processes.  If a single tab crashes it will bring down only that specific tab instead of ruining every tab you have open in your browser.  Long emails and blog posts are often composed in browsers so shielding these entries from a website crash will be a welcomed change. 

"Incognito" mode

Chrome will allow you to set up a privacy tab where no information will be saved on your computer when using this tab.  It will not record any information from your browsing session which can be useful if you are purchasing a gift for someone that uses your computer.  Many are already commenting that this feature can be used to hide more nefarious activities from others using the computer as well.

The "Omnibar"

The omnibar is Google's take on Firefox's url bar, which is nicknamed the "awesome bar".  The omnibar will function similarly to the awesome bar.  You will be able to input the title of the page or many other terms in the bar instead of just a URL.  This is very handy if a page has a complicated URL but you can easily remember the title. 

We'll see how the omnibar stacks up against Firefox's awesome bar.

New Tabs System

Google Chrome will handles tabs a little differently than other browsers.  Their tabs will be at the very top of the window and will supposedly include the address bar and other bars in the tab.  I'm not sure how this will change how we use the web very much, but it may be a nice feature.  Its too soon to tell without using the browser. 

Malware Protection

Google Chrome will help to better protect the user from devious websites by contantly downloading and updating a list of known phishing and harmful websites.  Other browsers do this but Google will apparently do it more aggresively. 

My thoughts

Google Chrome seems like it could be a stable and solid browser.  Google unfortunately has a history of releasing projects and keeping them in beta for ages.  The candy blue color of the browser is a little loud for my taste.  I hope it can be skinned or themed. 
Competition in the browser market will always be a good thing, though.  I welcome anything that can start to take away some of Internet Explorer's 70% market share.