Everything Great is *Nixbased

As many of you have probably been reading Google has released a web browser called “Chrome”. It first caught my attention due to the innovative way in which Google accidentally announced the launch on September 1st, via a comic book illustrated by Scott McCloud and designed to show the positive features and architecture of their new product. The 38-page comic landed in the mailboxes of a few Europeans due to a “mailroom error”, was scanned and then uploaded to the unofficial Google blog Google Blogoscoped for all to see. As if a browser by Google wasn’t enough to get people talking, using a new approach like a comic book to make product announcements and explain it’s features is great for visibility in the blogosphere. Google released a blog entry later the same day confirming that “Chrome” was not a hoax and in fact would be released on September 2nd.

The browser which can be downloaded from Google’s Chrome page, is based on the open source web browser engine WebKit, the same browser engine that Safari uses. It is a browser truly fashioned with the Google mindset as it is light weight, using a smaller memory footprint than both Firefox and Internet Explorer (this can be compared by typing “about:memory” into the address/search bar)  and is very clean  from a user interface perspective.

The install process is straightforward with almost no need for user intervention, only needing the user to to close their current web browser so it can import bookmarks and passwords which is an inspiration to other developers when it comes to install processes, not to mention it lends it’s self well to those whom are new to computers.

The only thing I am REALLY missing with Chrome is the Add-ons and Greasemonkey scripts I have become so accustomed to in Firefox, well that and the fact it doesn’t have a Linux or Mac version. It is however much better than IE 8. All and all considering it has only been out less than 24-hours I think Chrome has an amazing shot at consuming a large part of the web browser market if the ability to use add-ons is incorporated. To see a more in depth (and informative) first look at chrome visit the Lifehacker entry titled Google Chrome First Look.