Google just released a new beta version of Chrome, Google's first web browser, which addresses a number of issues we had noticed in earlier releases. Besides improving the performance and stability of a number of plugins, including Flash, Sliverlight, and Quicktime, as well as fixing some security issues, Google also finally added the ability to add words to the built-in spell checker.
Other updates include fixes to scrolling with laptop touchpads and better reliability for those users who access the web through a proxy server.
If you are using Chrome, your browser will update itself in the next few days, or, if you are impatient, you can also just download the new version directly or go to "About Google Chrome" and see if the update is already available for you.
Earlier this month, we also wondered if Google was positioning Chrome as a Trojan horse for indexing password protected sites. Earlier versions of Chrome would take a snapshot of every site you visited, whether it was password protected or not, which gave rise to some speculations about Google's motivations beyond creating a searchable index of those sites on a user's desktop. Now, Google explicitly states that Chrome no longer stores data from secure sites that use https: and show a lock in the address bar.
Google also addressed a serious security flaw that was discovered just after the first release of Chrome in September. This flaw had the potential to trick users into opening potentially malevolent files, but now, Google will ask users for permission to open these files. Chrome now also saves every executable file with a .download extension and only converts them to their real file names after you confirm that you want to save them.
We also tested this new version of Chrome with the SunSpider and Dromaeo benchmarks. In both cases, Chrome showed a clear improvement in performance over the first beta version, even though Google did not mention any performance improvements in the release notes.
Comments
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That's what she said!
Posted by: Michael Scott | October 30, 2008 10:43 AM
Yes, but is there a mac version?!?
Posted by: Nic | October 30, 2008 10:48 AM
Google Chrome is rocking!
Posted by: Rich Internet Applications | October 30, 2008 9:22 PM
I love Chrome - love it for its speed at loading and joy to use. If it could support the firefox plugins (especially fire-bug) then there would be nothing else I use.
I like the the 'inspect element' feature but it doesn't come close to firebug.
Chrome crashes for me a lot - but only when I'm navigating sites on my local network from my local dashboard, on the web, the thing is solid.
Actually really like using the url field as a search bar now - really is no need for two separate fields up there. I find myself trying to do searched in firefox there (usually end up at wikipedia..which is not what I want).
Cheers to Chrome!
Posted by: emulator man | October 30, 2008 10:02 PM
Linux version? Mac version?
No?
Sorry, Chrome doesn't do it for me. When I can run it on my Fedora Core laptop *AND* my Mac, it's a contender. Until then, it's Firefox for me.
Posted by: Ben | October 31, 2008 12:52 AM
I am still waiting for the Google Toolbar with Chrome !!! Let's see how long will it take...
Posted by: Brist | October 31, 2008 3:45 AM
Chrome is crashing for me and very slow not handling flash websites ,I hope these will be fixed in Beta of Chrome
Posted by: venkat | October 31, 2008 4:52 AM
epic fail, they are going to record everything you do..
Posted by: Michael Jones | October 31, 2008 6:34 AM
They definitely had a lot of work to do after the original version. I downloaded it the day it came out and after about 2 weeks, it became extremely slow and got held up by many websites. I may have to try the new version just to check it out.
Jesse W.
http://www.subprimeblogger.com
Posted by: Jesse W. | October 31, 2008 6:40 AM
I think I'll just wait for the final version to come out.
Posted by: Free Xbox 360 Elite | October 31, 2008 7:44 AM
Chrome rocks.
It is fast and it is minimalistic, allowing the user to concentrate on websites, not the browser. I loaded the first Beta on day one and fell in love with it immediately.
However, there are still stability issues in Vista (requiring the need to go into the Task Manager to shut down the Chrome process, then restart) but given its lean and mean nature, the advantages far outweigh the occasional hiccup. If only it would accept mouse gestures and something similar to the GoogleWiki feature, Chrome would be perfect.
Posted by: ChromeFan | October 31, 2008 10:10 AM
If you have issues with flash, remove all existing versions of flash using the flash uninstaller available at Adobe's website. Then install latest flash 10.x. It solves all issues with high cpu usage with flash
Posted by: Jacob | October 31, 2008 11:00 AM
Before I bought my new macbook, I was a fanboy of google chrome... Not anymore... I'm now content with Flock.
- Scott from http://venturedig.com
Posted by: Scot | October 31, 2008 11:39 AM
It is not complete... FF is still better.
Posted by: Diamonds | October 31, 2008 12:22 PM
More faster?
I think ya..!
[but still wait the final version]
Posted by: eshape | October 31, 2008 9:14 PM
Google Chrome is rocking. Its is very fast. Only this thing I am missing is password saving and master password option.
Rest I enjoy Chrome.
Thanks
Posted by: Small Business Accountants | November 1, 2008 3:06 AM
Much more faster than any other browser right now.
Thanks
Posted by: Accounting Practice Manangement | November 1, 2008 3:11 AM
"Now, Google explicitly states that Chrome no longer stores data from secure sites that use https: and show a lock in the address bar."
In other words, they will still index the pages I put on my website behind a single username/password without using https. Not good.
Posted by: Els | November 1, 2008 4:04 AM
I recommend our insightful article about the information sent by chrome
http://blog.nektra.com
Posted by: srw | November 1, 2008 4:57 PM
Oh! I love Google chrome. I just wish I can have the firefox plugin,fireftp with it. This will complete it for me.
Posted by: Salihu | November 2, 2008 9:21 PM
I am really enjoying chrome at its features best except one of its bugs similar to Fire Fox as it crashes under load.
Posted by: junaid | November 4, 2008 10:23 AM
If Chrome is open source, why hasn't some über nerd programmer created a plugin system for this already? Or at least convert Firebug and Adblock on over to it, then I'll switch permanently.
Dwayne.
http://probablysucks.com
Posted by: Dwayne from Probably Sucks Blog | November 5, 2008 7:28 PM