| Google spins web browser |
Sep. 02, 2008
 Google launched an open-source web browser claimed to feature "enhanced stability and security." Downloadable now for Windows and expected soon for Linux and MacOS, Google Chrome features a new JavaScript engine, a private browsing mode, and tabs whose memory areas are protected from one another.
(Click here for a larger view of Google's Chrome)
Google Chrome employs WebKit, an HTML rendering engine derived from the KHTML rendering engine maintained by the KDE project. Best-known for its use behind the scenes in Windows, OS X, and iPhone versions of Apple's Safari browser, WebKit has also been used by Adobe, which based its AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) toolsuite on it. WebKit is also available for Windows Mobile via Torch Mobile's Iris Browser and Google's Android software stack for Linux-based smartphones.
WebKit has earned a reputation for fast performance, advanced support for "Web 2.0" features such as AJAX (asynchronous Javascript), and a small footprint. However, there is more to Chrome than just that, Google claims. For example, the company's new browser has a tabbed interface (pictured below), in which each tab is said to operate as a separate process. Even if one tab crashes or otherwise misbehaves, the browser will remain stable and responsive overall, the company says.
Google Chrome's interface protects tabs from one another, and previews most-visited sites
(Click to enlarge)
Initially available for Windows XP and Vista desktops, and scheduled for Macintosh and Linux later in the year, Chrome might potentially be too memory-hungry for some embedded devices, though no figures were cited by Google. Its appetite for RAM comes from the fact that each process is said to have its own dedicated memory and copy of global data structures. This approach requires more memory up front, but ultimately eliminates memory fragmentation, Google claims.
In WindowsForDevices.com's own testing, however, Google Chrome loaded quickly on Windows XP-based devices, including one with just 384MB of RAM. It also appeared to have no trouble opening multiple browser tabs. For more information on the memory consumed by the application, see the screen shots below.
 
Google Chrome offers a Task Manager (left) and about:memory display (right)
(Click to enlarge)
Google Chrome includes a Task Manager feature (above left), intended to track the use of memory, CPU, and network resources by each tab. Google Chrome also includes more detailed statistics (above right), accessible by typing about:memory into the browser's URL bar.
Also touted by Google is Chrome's use of V8, a high-performance JavaScript engine that "not only speeds up today's web applications, but enables a whole new class of web applications that couldn't exist on today's browsers." V8 complies JavaScript source code directly into native machine code, the company says. Additionally, Chrome is said to be compatible with Google's Gears API (applications programming interface), giving browser-based applications the ability to store data locally and "interact naturally with your desktop."
Google Chrome has only a single, unified address bar ...
(Click to enlarge)
Ironically given its name, the browser sports little "chrome" in the way of user interface (UI) add-ons. Instead, a pared-down UI features tabs located at the top of the screen. Chrome defaults to a "most visited" display that shows thumbnails of a user's favorite websites, similar to the "Speed Dial" feature already present in Opera. Meanwhile, a unified address bar (above) lets users enter URLs and search queries, or view their browsing histories.
... and an "incognito window" for stealth browsing
(Click to enlarge)
Finally, Chrome also offers an "incognito window" (above), designed for use on public computers or "to plan surprises like gifts or birthdays," according to the company. In this browsing mode, no history information is stored, and cookies are discarded as soon as the window is closed, the company says.
Stealth browsing is also a feature of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8 (IE 8), a Beta 2 edition of which was released last Wednesday. As with Chrome, IE 8's "InPrivate" mode automatically throws away all cookies, history, or other temporary files, says Microsoft.
As mentioned above, Google says Chrome will be available in versions for Mac OS X and Linux operating systems. No information was released on whether the browser will be released for mobile phones and other devices that do not include x86 processors. However, says Google, it intends to "integrate its patches back into the main line of WebKit development."
Further information
A beta version of Google Chrome for Windows XP or Vista desktops is available on the Google website, here. For more coverage of Google Chrome, see our sister website, eWEEK, here.
The Beta 2 version of Internet Explorer 8 is available on the Microsoft website, here. eWEEK offers a "first look" at IE 8, here.
Finally, source code for Chrome is available from Google's "Chromium" website, here. More information on the V8 JavaScript optimization techniques is available from the Chromium blog, here.
-- Jonathan Angel
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