The Internet is buzzing with the unofficial, official announcement from Google that they are planning to launching a new browser called Chrome.
The browser has been rumored for a very long time, and on the surface sounds like a great idea, but do we really need another web browser?
Google has long supported the Mozilla foundation and recently extended its agreement for search integration support until 2011, a deal that provides (some speculate) upto 85% of Mozilla’s revenue. Why then would Google see the need to build its own Web browser, built with competing technology no less. The new Chrome browser is said to be built on the Apple Webkit, the library that powers the Safari and IPhone browsers.
Just when Firefox seemed to be making serious headway into Internet Explorers dominant positions, we as developer will have another browser that we will need to build for and all the cross browser headaches that that brings. Thankfully they decided to use an existing rendering engine, rather than develop their own, which would have caused even more nightmares.
Consumer will have another serious option to consider for their browsing needs, and yes since many users make user of Googles search and other online products they will move to Chrome in droves. Will this be at the cost of Firefox or Internet Explorer?
From Googles standpoint I see how this makes sense. The north of $70M the search integration generates for Mozilla, would find a home with Google, and as Google moves everyone to using its web based applications, it needs to provide a better more controlled experience of those applications via a browser that it controls.
My fear comes from the story of Microsoft (yes Google is no Microsoft) who after it won the browser war with Netscape essentially abandoned its browser application, and only recent growth in Firefox has spurred it to innovate once again. What will Google do, when and probably if, it gains the market share it hopes. Will they continue to develop Chrome or will it too abandoned. I realize this is less likely with Google as they make all their money from the Internet, unlike Microsoft, and so unlikely to abandon their potential cash cow.
With most large companies though we’re never quite sure what we’re going to get, did anyone forsee Microsoft abandoning Internet Explorer after is battle with Netscape, and what will Google do after its battle with Firefox and Internet Explorer.
Update
The beta release of Chrome for Windows users is now available for download. I’m updating this post with said beta. So far I’m reminded of when I switched from Mozilla to Firefox. The browser is fast, lightweight, and very clean (yep no clutter). All things that Firefox has lost as its become more mainstream. Will Chrome suffer the same fate, or will Google keep things in check. If Google can keep Chrome as a simple browser not a development platform, or OS that others are calling for I can see myself using Chrome when I’m not developing, but perhaps that has been the problem with other browsers, they try and be all things to all people instead of serving a specific audience.
Web developers are whining that they have yet another browser to support, as if they were now supporting every browser out there..
Chrome will take time to become popular enough that anyone cares to support it. I’m guessing at least first of 2009, probably more like a year from now.
It will be buggy at first, a fun toy, but nothing more. As people actually begin to use it, the stats go up, we’ll see. I assume it will be a great mobile browser first, and optimized for that use pattern first. So most users of Chrome will come from the gPhone initially because it will be the native browser to that OS.
And web dev folks, ever use a toolkit or frameworks that allow for write-once functionality across browsers? While mainstream web sites might not move to these kits soon, web apps are moving there fast and browser support is an afterthought with something like ExtJS. I rarely worry about browsers any more if I’m using it..
And I read so many falicies from commenters, it’s just amazing how little browser development is understood by most people. I guess I’ve got a good living ahead for the next 10 years, at least.
Wow-ee interesting developments, I hadn’t heard of this at all —in one ear and out the other more likely…
Your link seems to be broken Mubs for the official Google page.
Here’s a link to a comic book style presentation on the subject, it’s some 30-pages in length, grab a beverage for this one!
http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html
Microsoft’s recent releases of the IE8 Beta, have really been less than encouraging, much to their chagrin and the not so silent celebratory bliss of Apple Web Kit fans.
I’m not quite sure i like the idea of having another browser competiting, front-end developer will have yet more job on the compatibility side.
As for innovations, can they really push as far as there cartoon say.. I only see blogger , youtube and all google crap integrate in the browser. My fear that they take a good market share comme from there.
And I’m afraid that firefox will lose more than ie on this. IE user do not switch of browser easily, they just want to browse and don’t bother.
Google say that there javascript engine is 4x faster than firefox, but firefox 3.1 implement a new engine 6x faster.
Anyway, trouble in heaven is coming, I feel it.
@Jeff: I see where you’re coming from, but isn’t that the root of the problem there are so many different browsers that we can’t possibly support them all, and adding more into the mix isn’t going to help the problem.
The idea of Frameworks and Libraries are fine in principle, but try and do something that isn’t vanilla with them and you’ll run into the same problems as when you’re not using them.
@Ty: The link was to the Chrome download page, which wasn’t functional yet, thanks for the link to the Comic book.
@Cedric: Agreed! I’m trying to be excited about Chrome and having used the beta now, I think we all have cause to be, but there is a nagging suspicion that all may not be as it appears.
I think its great they are developing a new browser. Its even better they picked webkit over Gecko. I downloaded the beta about an hour ago and love it. Its really fast, lightweight and already see features that firefox doesn’t have in all its bloat. Even with add ons.
I was wondering when they would develop a browser. The world is slowly merging desktop applications with internet apps and a browser that is set up to handle this from the start will eventually dominate the market.
The fact that it is open source is even better, I really think that is one of the reasons Opera hasn’t taken off like firefox. Opera is far better then Firefox IMO but since its not open source it limits developers from giving that personal feel they can give to firefox.
I think its only natural that Google has gotten into creating software for the browser. I’m sure they can bring plenty to the table in terms of speed and innovation. I’m really pleased to see they chose WebKit as well. I wonder if Google will go the same route as Apple has by embedding Chrome as the default web browser in Android.
For web developers, I think this will really help us all as it will take share away from IE (which is a mess), is Open Source, and also uses WebKit which is pretty similar standards wise with Firefox and Opera. I don’t really see how people can think this is a bad thing…..unless you think its another browser to support which is untrue. As long as you support Safari, you’re good.
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@chris thanks for the reality check. more people using webkit is great news for web developers.
Do we need another webbrowser? Why not, if the browser is 100% W3 valid, bring it on. We don’t need another IE6.
NOOOO!!!!! Everyone who knows how to install a 3rd party browser uses firefox.
Chrome is not really intended for day-to-day browsing, as it is bundled with Gears and is targetted towards js heavy apps with its V8 javascript engine…i find it really speeds up Google Apps (Gmail, calendar, Docs) and also Adwords
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I like Chrome, but it doesn’t have much extensions…