Google Chrome: Is Google planning to release a web browser?

by Brad Linder Sep 1st 2008

Rumors that Google plans to release a web browser have been circulating for years. Personally I've never placed much stock in them, because it's always made more sense to time that Google would continue releasing plugins for existing browsers like Firefox and Internet Explorer to allow users to take advantage of Google's web services. After all, that's what the company has done with the Google Toolbar, Google Gears, and the now-defunct Google Browser Sync.

But Philipp Lenssen at Google Blogoscoped has posted a comic book which he says comes straight from Google which seems to indicate that the search engine giant will indeed release a browser soon. Reportedly called Google Chrome, the browser will be based on the open source Webkit rendering engine. So what would Google Chrome have that you can't find in other web browsers?

Includes a brand new JavaScript virtual machine called V8
Tabs wil go above the window, not below the address bar
Location bar will support auto-complete functions and suggests web pages you've previously visited as well as suggested sites you haven't
Upon launch, you'll see an Opera-like speed dial with bookmarks and thumbnails for up to web sites
There will be a privacy mode that allows you to surf without saving any personal history (Microsoft is building a similar feature into Internet Explorer 8)
The browser will constantly download up to date information about web sites with malicious code

Chrome will also utilize Google Gears to allow you to save many web sites and applications for offline use. And web applications will be isolated from other browser tabs, so if Google Docs or another app crashes, your browser won't automatically close.

While I'm surprised to see Google getting into the browser space, I can't say I'm disappointed. It'll take a lot of work for any company to take market share away from Microsoft and Mozilla. But if anyone can do it, or at least offer some innovative ideas for the competition to copy, it's Google.

Update: It's official. Google is releasing a beta of Google Chrome for Windows tomorrow.

Tags: google-browser, google-chrome, web-browsers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Eric said 2:57PM on 9-01-2008

I'll try just about any free browser I come across, but it doesn't mean I'll use it full-time.

jamespw said 3:35PM on 9-01-2008

This might be hard for us who love both Mozilla and Google.

js said 7:29AM on 9-02-2008

yeah, we love both of you .. (FF & Google)

Quikboy said 4:29PM on 9-01-2008

"There will be a privacy mode..."

'Google' and 'privacy'?! Those two words can't possibly go together! Are we talking about the company that just loves to get info. on users to hand over to the advertisers? Or the search term?

I'd be very surprised. Heck, even Firefox has some Google code and cookies embedded into the browser that Google might use : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox#Relationship_with_Google

As for the other features, I could always just get an add-on or extension on any other browser.

Good luck, Google. Competition is good.

Cal said 6:39PM on 9-01-2008

It's open source. So if there does happen to be malicious code in it, it'll be found.

Imzyos said 4:54PM on 9-01-2008

In my opinion... No recently Google extends the deal with Mozilla for 3 years more

keeves said 5:50PM on 9-01-2008

officially announced - http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/fresh-take-on-browser.html

release date tomorrow (Tuesday)

Gardiner Westbound said 5:57PM on 9-01-2008

If you're concerned about privacy sandbox your browser.

www.sandboxie.com

Thekidslepthere said 9:36PM on 9-01-2008

Anyone else think this will be packaged with Android phones? That might be big.

I wonder if corporate synergy is at work here.

Christina Warren said 9:42AM on 9-02-2008

Android is actually using WebKit (essentially, Mobile Safari, same as the iPhone, with some modification, naturally), but that's what Chrome will be using too, so it'll be interesting to see how similar to the two are.

melancholiac said 9:38PM on 9-01-2008

I think one of the reasons, other than the obvious ones stated above, as to why they want their own browser, is because IE is supposedly putting in stuff that are more Microsoft-centric in terms of search and other features that will negatively impact Google and its apps.

Keith Evans said 9:38PM on 9-01-2008

Another great idea, maybe, perhaps. I think a Google browser will fit in a niche market just like Gmail did/does. I mean, nearly everyone has a gmail account but rarely is it their main account. The Google browser may offer something that Firefox doesn't, who knows? I'm looking forward to it.

Serenity said 9:39PM on 9-01-2008

As much as I like Google, I think I'll be sticking with FireFox.

Hill Billy said 10:10PM on 9-01-2008

U all fail epicly go get a job or get laid

kingkool68 said 10:34PM on 9-01-2008

First images have been leaked - http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2008-09-02-n72.html

Looks very IE7 like.

Chirag Chamoli said 10:39PM on 9-01-2008

I think google is on the verge of becoming microsoft :( , Instead of just working with Firefox and Innovating on the present browser they are creating a new one so that they can utilize the Adsense… ?? Kinda off pisses me off what google is becoming.

Quikboy said 7:31AM on 9-02-2008

Don't you mean on the verge of becoming Apple?

If anyone is looking into getting more control on users, and becoming less partner-friendly, it's Apple. Microsoft has mainly been an enabler for companies by selling its software solutions for other companies to use to work with and sell. Just count the number of hardware companies using Microsoft's OS. Just my opinion.

waqasbadar said 10:44PM on 9-01-2008

From where I can download Chrome browser?

chb said 7:30AM on 9-02-2008

gears.google.com/chrome/?hl=en

I4U says the above will be the download URL for Chrome.

Tinshed said 11:34PM on 9-01-2008

Key point is the applications are increasingly web-based and that the concept of traditional browsers need to be re-thought. We will be accessing applications via the Web and not as desktop computer programs. This I believe is why Google has been working on Google Chrome.

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