Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
In slightly more than a year, Google Chrome has surprised users and critics alike by leapfrogging to more than 4 percent of the browser market share. That attention and heavy usage is not undeserved. Chrome 4 is blazingly fast, more stable than previous versions, and introduces support for extensions, bookmark syncing, and some HTML5 innovations.
Based on Webkit, the same open-source engine that powers Apple Safari, Google's Android mobile platform, and several other Web-browsing tools, but with a different JavaScript engine, Chrome's interface is a drastic departure from other browsers. Instead of the traditional toolbar, Chrome puts its tabs on top. Moreover, the tabs are detachable: "tabs" and "windows" are interchangeable here. Detached tabs can be dragged and dropped into the browser, and tabs can be rearranged at any time. By isolating each tab's processes, when one site crashes, the other tabs do not.
The search box and the address bar have been fused into a hybrid "Omnibox," which includes suggestions for URLs culled from your browser's history and search suggestions from your search engine. It remembers site-specific search engine results. There's also Application Shortcuts, a feature that lets you create desktop icons for Web-only applications, such as Gmail. The stealth mode, Incognito, lets you surf without the history-recording cookies.
Despite all that's good and new in the browser from Google, it is still a work in development and users are not universally enthralled with Chrome's sheen. Complaints ranging from secure log-in issues to occasional site rendering hang-ups to support for PDFs and some media players. Problems aside, Chrome is more than a surface polish and is well worth using.
More than just speed in Chrome:Publisher's Description
From Google:
Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the Web faster, safer, and easier. Use one box for everything--type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and Web pages. Thumbnails of your top sites let you access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab. Desktop shortcuts allow you to launch your favorite Web apps straight from your desktop.
What's new in this version:
The stable channel has been updated to 4.0.249.78 for Windows, and includes the following features and security fixes (since 3.0):
- Extensions
- Bookmark sync
- Enhanced developer tools
- HTML5: Notifications, Web Database, Local Storage, WebSockets, Ruby support
- v8 performance improvements
- Skia performance improvements
- Full ACID3 pass, due to re-enabled remote font support (with added defense against bugs in operating system font l... See all new features
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All versions:
3.7 starsout of 2,939 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 142 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Amazing, perfect browser!"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
FAST
Customizable
App store
Clean interface
Completely functionalCons
Ummmm......Hmm.....Ah, wait! No.......hmm....I got nothing.
Summary
I've used Chrome since it was first released. I have literally not used Firefox since, and have only used IE a handful of times (because Microsoft DEMANDS you to use their browser for Windows updates and the like...). So, I have not looked back. Being fast and simple are its biggest cons, and since the web store was released (and the extensions thrown in there), you could not ask for any better.
The Web Store allows you to install themes that change the entire look of the browser to your liking. The various extensions will customize web pages drastically (example: my favorite extension pauses Youtube videos when opened, yet lets them buffer).
Now for Chrome OS. To show how amazing this browser is, they've made a laptop that only runs the one program! I have owned a CR-48 for 3 months, and I use it 24/7. I curse when I have to go to my desktop for files and whatnot, because it's so bulky and slow. The cool thing too, is that when I do switch to my desktop and fire up Chrome, my themes, extensions, apps, games, etc., are all synced with my Chromebook!
Really, I see no flaw in this program. Sure, someone else will have gripes, and will gladly point flaws out to me, but for casual web browsing, which 99.9% of people do 99.9% of the time, this is a amazing browser! -
"Really fast!"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
Definitely faster to start up than firefox.
Cons
Not too sure how secure it is.
Summary
If you're in a hurry to surf, this browser loads much quicker than firefox!
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"Unstable and not secure"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
fast and simple
Cons
It crashes several times a day. One cant block individual sites and/or cookies.
Summary
Untill it is more stable and I can block individual sites and cookies I shall not use it
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"Good, but..."
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
Blazing fast!
Faster than a speeding bullet!
Light-speed fast!Cons
Google Installer (GI) installs along with the installation. I finally removed Chrome 4.0+ from both my Vista and Windows 7 because GI kept starting up,, using most of the RAM (3G's!) on both computers until I manually kill the process.
Summary
I love the speed and lightness of Chrome, but can't tolerate the hogging of RAM by Google Installer. Chrome crashed far more easily that FF & IE8. I also had far too many supposedly-cute "snap" pages, especially compared to FF and IE8, which rarely have unloadable pages. I want to throw the computer against a wall when a Chrome page won't load and all I get is a smiley!
The lack of Tools compared to IE8 is a problem for me, too. I rely on the ability to customize my browsing experience, and I want greater control over cookies than just "allow" or "don't allow".
Not quite ready for prime-time. -
"not too bad"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
its fast esp gmail
Cons
used addons in firefox not to be found
Summary
have uninstalled will wait for further development. firefox still ranks 1
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"fast broswer"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
fast and simple to use
Cons
need to improve some compatibility issues.
Summary
Good browser. faster than firefox
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"excellent, fast, compatibility problems"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
Very fast, like real "tabs", is not "flaky" on sites it does work (unlike Firefox)
Cons
Not compatible with some Mafia Wars functions, no dropdown "history" menu
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"Blazing fast browser, a must for PCs over a yr old!!"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
Works great on fast and slower pcs, cut load times for larger websites by 75% over IE.
Cons
Occasional rendering issues.
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"confused user"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
uncertain how to use chrome
Cons
uncertain how to use chrome
Summary
Still trying to become familiar with chrome edition
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"Not up to the hype"
Version: Google Chrome 4.0.249.78
Pros
Looks good.
Is fast, unless you want to add anythingCons
Using Extensions is like throwing an anchor off the side.
Cannot add toolbars.
lots of bugs
occasionally changes or stops your homepageSummary
Ok, I realise this is new, and that one day all the bugs will be ironed out, but for the moment this isn't all its cracked up to be.
I just want to use a browser, I don't want to take a degree in computer speak, I don't care what platform it uses, I don't care that I don't know as much as some of you.
I do care when I try to open a page on Chrome that is meant to be oh so bloody brilliant, that it opens, often it doesn't, yet will open on IE.
I also might want to choose an extra toolbar, such as Stumbleupon, but I cant, instead I have to use an extension, that seems to clog the arteries of the internet.
It really is a big let down.
Hopefully it will improve, because despite that it does look good.
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