Mister Nifty

My initial reaction to Google Chrome (Google’s new web browser) was not so good.  I’m a Mac user and I always take issue with Google shunning the Mac community with their software developments in Picasa and now with Chrome.  With that personal pet peeve aside, here are a few things I see that are positive.   First, the new Google browser has separated processes for each tab.  This means that if one of your websites ‘locks-up’ the rest of your browser doesn’t crash.  You are also able to view the memory usage right from the browser for each tab and each plugin (i.e. Flash, Silverlight, etc…) that are currently running.  You can also terminate the processes for each if they are “misbehaving”.  Anothing thing I do like about Chrome is that it is open source, so it shows Google’s commitment to bettering the internet experience and not being proprietary.

Keep in mind, the more Google products you have, you become a greater part of their audience for marketing.  One of my main concerns is how Google will use their own browser for ad sales.  One of their core features is the smart URL box that gives you suggestions for sites based on keywords.  I can see Google using Adwords to sell spots that will have greater relevance in the URL box.  I’m not too thrilled about that. Also, Google is trying to recapture third-party searches, so they don’t have to pay people like Mozilla or Apple for sending searches their way. (That cute little search screen that says firefox and google, or the browser search bar costs Google money millions of affiliate fees every year!)  The motivation behind this project is all about the benjamins.

My last concern is regarding their “incognito” browsing window.  Basically, a web user can open a ’secret’ window and surf anywhere without leaving a trail in the browser.  Once the window is closed, there is no local footprint of that session.  Parents who download this browser need to make sure their children are not surfing “incognito”.  It presents an easier way to view mature content without being tracked.  Typically, a user has to clear the history, form data, cookies etc. to cover inappropriate content usage.  This also leaves a distinct empty footprint.  With the “incognito” feature, a user will never have to clear history, cookies, etc.  They can browse whatever they wish, and then close the window without ever being detected.  Google, in my opinion has broken down yet another barrier to pornography in the home with this specific feature. If you use Chrome, please make sure you have an adequate content filtering system that will keep your users safe from mature content.

I am an avid Firefox user.  I have used it for years and I have it loaded with all of my favorite add-ons, userstyles, and Greasemonkey scripts to make my web experience more enjoyable.   I personally am not switching to Chrome as it is a first generation product.  I can see where Chrome could overtake the market in the future with it’s core processing features.  Other browsers will certainly have to come on board with this new technique.  (Side note: this is not new technology, it’s new programming technique built on the platform that Safari was created on).  All-in-all, Chrome presents a minimalistic experience that is clean and somewhat elementary in appearance.  It is made to be lightweight, very fast, dummyproof, and they are testing millions of sites on it every month to make it more stable and secure.    You can download your free copy of Chrome here and see for yourself.  I’m interested in your take on Chrome.  Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.

Check out this video for more features and a quick tour from my friend Ray Deck over at MinistryLife.org.  (If you can’t see the video here, use this link http://www.vimeo.com/1660881)