Google Shines with New Browser, 'Chrome'

Google recently unveiled a brand new web browser that may very well revolutionize your Internet experience.

Called 'Chrome', Google claims it presents a fresh approach to web browsing: "In the early days of the Internet, web pages were frequently little more than text...But today the web has evolved into a powerful platform that enables users to collaborate with friends and colleagues through email and other web applications, edit documents, watch videos, listen to music, manage finances and much more. Google Chrome was built for today's web and for the applications of tomorrow." (Source: google.com)

Chrome's main features include a combined address and search bar, a home page that includes snapshots of your most visited sites, and a Firefox 3-style awesome bar. However, the big revolution for Google is found underneath the hood. Most browsers treat each tab as one component of a larger whole, while Chrome treats each tab as a separate component -- meaning that if one tab freezes the entire program doesn't have to be restarted. Chrome also has a new JavaScript engine called V8 that Google claims can actually speed up web applications.

However, as with any new software, tech wizards have discovered a flaw in Google's shiny veneer. According to Read Write Web, Chrome is at risk for the so-called 'Carpet Bombing' flaw that Apple's Safari was susceptible to earlier this year. Chrome is based on Apple's WebKit as well as Mozilla's Firefox, so it's not surprising that it had a similar flaw to Apple's browser, but the fact that Google didn't patch it before release shows a serious oversight on their part. (Source: readwriteweb.com)

Chrome has been anticipated for some time, but word of the new browser set the blogosphere afire earlier this week after Google's comic book explaining Chrome was released ahead of the scheduled launch. (Source: blogspot.com)

So far the reviews have been fairly positive, however Chrome's lack of an RSS reader and bookmark management has led some to ponder whether or not it's ready to compete with Firefox, Opera, Safari and Internet Explorer. (Source: arstechnica.com)