Google Chrome Beta

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What is Google Chrome Beta

Google Chrome is a free web browser released to the public in 2008. It was originally released for Windows XP. Later, it was released for Max OS X and Linux platforms. The initial reaction to the browser from Google was not so great. Today, Google Chrome runs on all the major operating systems including iOS and Android. The market share for Google Chrome has surpassed its nearest rivals in recent years. Today, Google Chrome commands more than 40 percent of the Internet usage among all desktop and mobile browsers.

Major Features

Google products appeal to the masses due to their minimalistic interfaces, performance and ease of use. The success behind Google Chrome is also attributed to the same user centric philosophy behind Google products. A quick review of the features of Google Chrome reveals the major reasons behind its success.

Speed: Google Chrome loads pages much faster than Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Most users always consider speed as the single most important factor in selecting a browser.

Stability: Everyone hates a browser or app that crashes all the time. Regardless of the number of tabs opened, users expect the browser to perform with stability, and Google Chrome satisfies the demands of today's Internet users.

Security: Google Chrome is much more safer than many other browsers. It does not infect your desktop with malwares. It also provides controls to minimize the risks of phishing. The auto-update feature keeps Google Chrome always current with the latest security updates.

User Interface: The user interface includes all the typical features such as Back, Forward and Refresh buttons. In addition, the tabs feature allows opening and maintaining multiple browsing sessions.

Omnibox: This unique feature combines the address bar and search bar into a single URL box. It also provides suggestions based on previous searches. The autocomplete feature reduces the amount of typing needed while searching or opening a web site.

Privacy Mode: The privacy mode, also known as Incognito, allows users to privately browse web sites. Google Chrome does not remember the browsing history in this mode. This adds extra privacy on shared computers.

Customization: The large number of features allows the users to customize their browsing experience. The Settings feature under the Preferences sub menu allows users to change the options such as privacy, home page selection and appearance.

Advanced Settings: The Advanced Setting under the Preferences sub menu offers sophisticated users to further customize their experiences. In addition to various privacy settings, Google Chrome provides the options to auto-fill passwords, setup fonts, select a wireless network, setup languages, select the download location and configure cloud based printing.

Extensions: The Extensions feature under the Preferences sub menu provides the ability to add extensions to Google Chrome. The Google Docs extension is included with the Google Chrome downloadable.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

?Speed

?Stability

?Incognito Mode

?Tabbed browsing

?Crash-proof

Cons:

?Beta mode

?Potential data sharing with advertisers

?Too many features

?Increased learning curve

?Increasing market share leads to less competition