Friday, September 5, 2008

Google Chrome

So I just downloaded the new web browser from Google. It's called Chrome, and I think I dig it. I'm still feeling my way around, but so far, so good. It's one of the most elegant (and least intrusive) applications I've ever used... as I would expect from Google. I love that I could easily import my bookmarks and passwords from Firefox.

But the coolest thing is this 38 page comic introducing Chrome, by none other than Scott McCloud, the genius behind Understanding Comics (LOVE that book!). It's probably longer than it needs to be, but it's engaging, informative, and a brilliant way to not only introduce the new browser, but also to introduce the team and the design philosophy behind it. It's a master class in software design principles, in a mere 38 pages. I highly recommend it.

I'm not ready to abandon Firefox and endorse Chrome just yet - gotta kick the tires and see what this puppy can do. But I can tell you the very first thing I did after downloading and installing Chrome was write this blog post.

6 comments:

Tori said...

Disappointed, so far. Clicking on Get Directions after a search for a local business in Google maps, of all things, brought up the starting address box, but fails to render anything at all when I click GO!
Switching over to IE (on my work machine, where I resisted Firefox since my last new laptop but couldn't resist Chrome) and it worked just fine.
Very strange that their extensive testing of millions of web sites wouldn't have caught a bug on Google Maps?

Anonymous said...

I'm still hesitant to jump on board as well. Haven't downloaded it yet, but waiting until Google gets their privacy policy in order. They have a reputation for statements that basically say, "we can use all the information you put in our program for whatever we want". Okay, not quite that explicit, but not far off.

I'm actually doing fine with the new IE8 beta.
Eric

James Skylar Gerrond said...

You may want to check out the 'Ubiquity' extension for Firefox. It lets you do some really cool tricks, especially if you run gmail through your browser (vice Outlook).

There is a good movie @

http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/08/introducing-ubiquity/

Unknown said...

I'm still getting used to the things that aren't there in Chrome, buttons and stuff I've become accustomed to (like the "Home" button, to take me back to my start page).

I'll continue to check it out and will report back later.

James Skylar Gerrond said...

On Chrome:

click the 'wrench'

click 'options'

click the box for 'Show Home button on the toolbar'

Now you have a home button again.

Unknown said...

Hey, thanks Sky! I hadn't explored that wrench / Options thing yet...