September 2nd, 2008
Google's new Chrome browser based on WebKit (updated 3x)
One of the biggest tech news story coming out of the Labor Day holiday here in the U.S. is that Google is going to be releasing an open source operating system in the form of a Web browser.
Google’s new Web browser – Named “Chrome” – is being released in, what else, beta form tomorrow in 100 countries according to a post on the official Google blog. They’ve chosen to announce Chrome with a 38-page comic book illustrated by Scott McCloud.
So why are we launching Google Chrome? Because we believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web.
What’s even more interesting is that the new gBrowser is being using components from WebKit, like the Apple Web browser, Safari.
We owe a great debt to many open source projects, and we’re committed to continuing on their path. We’ve used components from Apple’s WebKit and Mozilla’s Firefox, among others — and in that spirit, we are making all of our code open source as well. We hope to collaborate with the entire community to help drive the web forward.
Update: Google is releasing a version for Windows tomorrow, with the Mac version coming soon, once Chrome is “faster and more robust.” Bah. (Tip TUAW)
Lot’s of additional Chrome coverage here on ZDNet blogs:
- Ryan Naraine: Google Chrome, the security issues
- Larry Dignan: Google to launch browser to battle IE
- Garett Rogers: Chrome–a good idea?
- Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Is Google Chrome an IE/Firefox/Opera/Safari killer?
Update 2: MacRumors gleaned several of Chrome’s features from the comic book:
- New JavaScript engine called V8 for faster performance
- “Special tabs” above the window, not below the address bar (see image above)
- Address bar auto-completion
- Opera-like “Speed Dial” with thumbnails of your most visited 9 websites
- Privacy mode
- Web apps can be launched in their own window without addressbar/toolbar
Update 3: Screenshots
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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