CobraA1

Join Date 09/2006

+26

Google Chrome

Shiny new Browser

Well, we have FireFox, Internet Explod - er - Explorer, Opera, and now: Google Chrome.

That's right, Google has created a browser.

Amazingly enough, it's actually pretty good.

Installation is painless. Accept a license agreement, go through the normal download and run process, click "next" a few times, and you're done.
It uses WebKit, so it does a decent job at rendering, especially on web pages created for standards compliant browsers.
It's sandboxed like crazy. Every tab is put into its own process, and even whenever you go to a new domain name from the same tab, it wipes the old process and creates a new process.
Talking about tabs, they are at the very top of the browser, above everything. In Vista, the tabs are placed in Aero's glass where the title bar should be. In XP, it adopts a solid blue theme that is a cross between Vista's Aero and XP's Luna, and does the same thing. A small "Google" is placed near the controls on the right side.
The tabs can be dragged and dropped outside the window to create new windows, and tabs from other windows can be dragged into the current window. The tab bar does not dissappear when there's only one tab.
There is a single bar that handles both URIs and searches.
It's fast. Not just because of WebKit, either: They claim it uses some JavaScript engine that compiles JavaScript. Looks like they want to be #1 for AJAX apps.
Skinning using WindowsBlinds makes it revert to a Windows Basic theme, and the tabs stop being part of Aero's glass. The word Google in the title bar remains at its position. Controls become like Windows 9x. Borders are skinned, but nothing else is. Glass skins may overlap the tabs, and borders seem to create gaps at the sides.
Currently only available for Windows.
Works fine with these forums . This post was created in Chrome.

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Now instead of just mining your email for marketing data, they can now follow all of your movements. I guess they didn't get enough marketing guinea pigs from the email alone.

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Yes, it does ask about usage statics when installed. Interestingly enough, it's opt in: By default it won't collect the statistics.

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Interesting. Don't like the interface all that much. And not enough customization for my taste. (I'm an Fx extension fan.)

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I think I like it. The "tear off" tabs are pretty cool, and it's a nice mimimalistic UI. But yeah, I'd miss some of my extentions. I don't think it'll replace Firefox for my primary browser.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

Not very skinnable yet. Fail

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1153

Now instead of just mining your email for marketing data, they can now follow all of your movements. I guess they didn't get enough marketing guinea pigs from the email alone.

Precisely the reason I'll never use it... ever!

Yes, it does ask about usage statics when installed. Interestingly enough, it's opt in: By default it won't collect the statistics.

Don't let the 'opt in' thing fool ya... like the Googke toolbar, this browser is quite likely to have a phone home device to track your movements.

Oh, and for FF users, take a look in the bottom left corner where is says 'connecting to this or that site... you will frequently notice that you're being watched by Google Analytics while surfing the net, whether or not you have the Google toolbar or other products/services. I refuse to have anything Google on my rig, yet I'm frequently being connected to Google Analytics while I'm visiting web sites. If I knew of a way to block it I would.

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If I knew of a way to block it I would.

Try the Customize Google extension. Under their Privacy options, they have an option to not send any cookies to Google Analytics.

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If you guys are that scared of the internet then perhaps you should disconnect from it, permanently! You guys are small timers and no one want's to get you through the pc trust me! Really, if you don't like it then don't use it, why all the drama?

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Ever gotten a virus? They don't discrimate.

Do you use sensitive data such as credit card numbers and online banking on your computer? It's very convenient, but you need to be sure it's secure.

Besides, if things keep sending info to Google, it's wasting my bandwidth.

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Quoting Kitkun,

reply 9

Ever gotten a virus? They don't discrimate.
Do you use sensitive data such as credit card numbers and online banking on your computer? It's very convenient, but you need to be sure it's secure.
Besides, if things keep sending info to Google, it's wasting my bandwidth.

You're kidding right? I have never had a problem with any of that, but then again, I know how to protect my investments correctly. Oh, and it's not you're bandwidth, you just rent it!

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Try the Customize Google extension. Under their Privacy options, they have an option to not send any cookies to Google Analytics.

Adblock does the job as well.

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1153

If you guys are that scared of the internet then perhaps you should disconnect from it,

I'm not scared of the internet... I'm pissed that Google wants to know everything it can about me, from when I blow my nose to taking a dump, so they can target me with tissue and toilet paper ads.

OK, that may be a bit extreme, but Google IS INTRUDING into my life cos I certainly never invited them to monitor my net comings and goings for marketing purposes or otherwise.

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You're kidding right? I have never had a problem with any of that, but then again, I know how to protect my investments correctly.

Neither have I. And I attribute that to the same thing you do.

Oh, and it's not you're bandwidth, you just rent it!

Either way, I'm paying for a certain amount, and stuff I don't even like is using it.

Also, what Starkers said.

Adblock does the job as well.

Didn't know that. Has to be set manually?

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When I maximize the browser the address bar gets blocked by the minimize,maximize,close bar. Anyone have this problem?

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I think I will put it in my own sandbox and give it a whirl. When I get the time, I will load wireshark and sniff it to see if indeed you can turn off the phone home features. If so, I think it looks worth switching!

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It looks ok, but it doesnt seem to have enough of anything special to convert me from FF. I will look into to see how much of a resource hog it is tho...might be something to use on a lesser machine.

Anyone tested it's ram usgae yet?

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Quoting starkers,

reply 6

Don't let the 'opt in' thing fool ya... like the Googke toolbar, this browser is quite likely to have a phone home device to track your movements.
Oh, and for FF users, take a look in the bottom left corner where is says 'connecting to this or that site... you will frequently notice that you're being watched by Google Analytics while surfing the net, whether or not you have the Google toolbar or other products/services. I refuse to have anything Google on my rig, yet I'm frequently being connected to Google Analytics while I'm visiting web sites. If I knew of a way to block it I would.

Yes, Google Analytics is available to webmasters, which doesn't need the toolbar because it's part of the web page and not part of the browser. It's no secret.

Yes, Google has a "phone home" built in - it's no secret, and it can be turned off. It won't stop Google Analytics, however, since that is code in a web page and not in the browser.

This is all very well known stuff. It's not a secret.

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Really like the browser. Good to work with.

Birger

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Yes, Google Analytics is available to webmasters, which doesn't need the toolbar because it's part of the web page and not part of the browser. It's no secret.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for you Starkers, but Wincustomize also uses Google Analytics.

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Okay.

Personally, I don't mind too much, but I can understand it. Perhaps in the future somebody will make some sort of plugin for it similar to NoScript and AdBlock.

That being said - I do miss my Firefox plugins. Chrome isn't going to replace Firefox as my primary browser.

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DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002

+4052

Quoting CobraA1,

reply 17

Quoting starkers, reply 6Don't let the 'opt in' thing fool ya... like the Googke toolbar, this browser is quite likely to have a phone home device to track your movements.Oh, and for FF users, take a look in the bottom left corner where is says 'connecting to this or that site... you will frequently notice that you're being watched by Google Analytics while surfing the net, whether or not you have the Google toolbar or other products/services. I refuse to have anything Google on my rig, yet I'm frequently being connected to Google Analytics while I'm visiting web sites. If I knew of a way to block it I would.
Yes, Google Analytics is available to webmasters, which doesn't need the toolbar because it's part of the web page and not part of the browser. It's no secret.
Yes, Google has a "phone home" built in - it's no secret, and it can be turned off. It won't stop Google Analytics, however, since that is code in a web page and not in the browser.
This is all very well known stuff. It's not a secret.

If that was all, then fine. If you think the Gov't. isn't tracking data also, you're naive.

Face it: in the Post 9/11 (and almost, Thank G-d, Post Bush) Corporate America your data is going to be looked at by folks (some of whom) you'd scrape off your shoe so as not to drag into your house. Do you honestly believe: POTUS can't get a fence built between Mexico and the US while he's telling us he's "A war time POTUS concerned with our security" (and not cheap labor for Corporations) ? WMD's existed in Iraq and we invaded not for oil? Predator isn't at work on your email? Our wonderful young men and women returning from Iraq are getting all the care they need in suitable facilities? and on and on?

In the face of all the lies, deceit, character assassination (and on and on) mining our data is preventable by using one browser or another?

Wake up call: Browsers are made by Corporations who make a profit every time you draw a breath of the air they polluted.

I know I'll catch hell for this one! Soooo....."Lay on, MacDuff!".

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Here's an interesting something from the license:

11. Content licence from you

11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights that you already hold in Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content, you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content that you submit, post or display on or through the Services. This licence is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.

(My emphasis)

So Google also gets to do what it wants to everything you upload using Chrome? Great.

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Walt Mossberg's take on Chrome and Explorer8.

http://online.wsj.com/public/page/8_0004.html?bctid=1770021405

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I've been using privoxy as my adblocker, works well with Chrome.

However, I need it to not do something on Impulse or something because that keeps crashing with it!

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I got quite a kick out of this comment from Peter Cullen, head of privacy for Microsoft, in his reaction Chrome.

"Cullen expects Google to sharpen its approach to privacy in the future as Google's dominance of search advertising--exactly where Microsoft would like to make its mark--continues.

"The thing is, any time you get a provider in the market that has a predominantly large share of that market, questions start to get asked about their practices, about what their motives are," he said."

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

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