shalin_hitter
03-09-08, 10:14 AM
http://search.live.com/imagenewsfetcher.aspx?mkt=en-us&q=http%3a%2f%2fmos.techradar.com%2fimages%2fgoogle-chrome21-218-85.jpg
FIRST tests of Google's "faster, safer" browser have revealed embarrassing glitches which prevent basic web features from loading.
Online speculation suggests that the errors are based on the Javascript foundations of the browser, which can affect everything from pop-up windows to login modules.
The free browser has been made available in a "public trial" version following a premature press release yesterday on the new service, which came in comic book form.
Google Chrome is being touted as a sleeker and more reliable alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, with Google saying a sophisticated testing system was used to prevent bugs from occurring on popular websites.
However this morning, some computers running Chrome failed to load Google services such as iGoogle and Google Docs, and others – such as GMail's login page – only loaded part of the text, without images or a login form.
One user told news.com.au that a YouTube video had crashed the whole browser in a matter of seconds, contrary to Google's promise of isolating crashes. Yet an exclusive pre-release version of the browser seemed to load Google Docs fine, according to CBS News.
The Chrome browser is designed to automatically update itself without user approval, Google said.
Bloggers have speculated that the errors are based in the browser's open-source foundation, known as WebKit, which Apple's browser Safari is also based upon.
Aside from this significant issue, Chrome can load large websites much faster than other browsers.
While today's release is a test version, the problems with it and the PR fiasco would suggest Google did not originally intend to release the browser today.
Google's announcement comes as Microsoft is set to release a beta version of IE8, the eighth major version of its Explorer. The new version is said to be faster, with more graphics and allows users to easily get updates from their favourite websites.
"This (Chrome) is a straight shot over the bow of Microsoft, which has tightly integrated its Live Search offering into its dominant Internet Explorer browser (and which, surprise, is in turn tightly integrated into Windows)," said Mark Hendrickson in a posting on the technology website TechCrunch.
"It also makes for an awkward relationship with Mozilla, whose Firefox browser Google basically funds."
However, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said he planned to continue to work closely with Mozilla and hoped to see future versions of Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox become more unified over time.
"It is probably worth noting that they (Mozilla Corp) are across the street and they come over here for lunch," Mr Brin said of Mozzilla employees visits to cafeterias at the Google headquarters.
"I hope we will have more and more unity over time."
Google also gave a nod to Apple's web browser Safari, with Google spokesperson Sundar Pichai saying if a website worked well in Safari, it would work well in Chrome.
Chrome was designed to take advantage of multi-core chips, recently offered by Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices, which allowed computers to handle multiple processes simultaneously and with greater speed, Google engineers said.
Brian Rakowski, group product manager for the browser project, highlighted the significance of offering a faster browser and forcing greater competition in the market.
"You actually spend more time in your browser than you do in your car," he said.
- with Reuters and AFP
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24286707-2,00.html?from=public_rss)
FIRST tests of Google's "faster, safer" browser have revealed embarrassing glitches which prevent basic web features from loading.
Online speculation suggests that the errors are based on the Javascript foundations of the browser, which can affect everything from pop-up windows to login modules.
The free browser has been made available in a "public trial" version following a premature press release yesterday on the new service, which came in comic book form.
Google Chrome is being touted as a sleeker and more reliable alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, with Google saying a sophisticated testing system was used to prevent bugs from occurring on popular websites.
However this morning, some computers running Chrome failed to load Google services such as iGoogle and Google Docs, and others – such as GMail's login page – only loaded part of the text, without images or a login form.
One user told news.com.au that a YouTube video had crashed the whole browser in a matter of seconds, contrary to Google's promise of isolating crashes. Yet an exclusive pre-release version of the browser seemed to load Google Docs fine, according to CBS News.
The Chrome browser is designed to automatically update itself without user approval, Google said.
Bloggers have speculated that the errors are based in the browser's open-source foundation, known as WebKit, which Apple's browser Safari is also based upon.
Aside from this significant issue, Chrome can load large websites much faster than other browsers.
While today's release is a test version, the problems with it and the PR fiasco would suggest Google did not originally intend to release the browser today.
Google's announcement comes as Microsoft is set to release a beta version of IE8, the eighth major version of its Explorer. The new version is said to be faster, with more graphics and allows users to easily get updates from their favourite websites.
"This (Chrome) is a straight shot over the bow of Microsoft, which has tightly integrated its Live Search offering into its dominant Internet Explorer browser (and which, surprise, is in turn tightly integrated into Windows)," said Mark Hendrickson in a posting on the technology website TechCrunch.
"It also makes for an awkward relationship with Mozilla, whose Firefox browser Google basically funds."
However, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said he planned to continue to work closely with Mozilla and hoped to see future versions of Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox become more unified over time.
"It is probably worth noting that they (Mozilla Corp) are across the street and they come over here for lunch," Mr Brin said of Mozzilla employees visits to cafeterias at the Google headquarters.
"I hope we will have more and more unity over time."
Google also gave a nod to Apple's web browser Safari, with Google spokesperson Sundar Pichai saying if a website worked well in Safari, it would work well in Chrome.
Chrome was designed to take advantage of multi-core chips, recently offered by Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices, which allowed computers to handle multiple processes simultaneously and with greater speed, Google engineers said.
Brian Rakowski, group product manager for the browser project, highlighted the significance of offering a faster browser and forcing greater competition in the market.
"You actually spend more time in your browser than you do in your car," he said.
- with Reuters and AFP
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24286707-2,00.html?from=public_rss)