Google Chrome Browser

[smac]

New browser was released today for download, I am testing it out on my work computer (just in case it's shit, don't want to stuff up my own computer!).

Works really fast around most sites I use, AFL site included. Seemed to struggle a little with a PDF just before, not sure if that was the PDF or the browser.

Really simple interface, which is good for a simpleton like me.

[Psyber]

I read an article expressing some concern about security given that Google have been challenged in the past for collecting data from peoples' computers without seeking consent via their desktop tools etc. So, I though I'd wait a little longer and watch the tech. site reports.

I tried out Safari for Windows, but I was similarly concerned that I could not find a setting to make it clear cookies on exit, or to let me clear them at all. So, I uninstalled it.
I prefer Opera [or Firefox 3] anyway.

[zipzap]

Not sure if all of Google's motives are altruistic, they seem to have their finger in lots of pies at the moment. The fine print looks a bit dodgy especially in relation to advertising. But I'm keen to give it a go if the speeds are as good as they are saying. IE is solid but slow, FF is faster but flaky. This could be a winner.

Here is some info for the curious:
http://news.cnet.com/Meet-Chrome%2C-Googles-shiny-new-browser/2009-1032_3-6246210.html?tag=mncol;txt

[Psyber]

Be sure to read Chrome's fine print
The software maker reserves the right to install updates automatically, among other things.

Sounds like that may include Adware and Spyware. [Ooops! I hear lawyers... call that "harmless anonymised statistic gathering code"! ]

[Kahuna]

Heaps of discussion here, http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... ?t=1044376

[zipzap]

Well, I couldn't resist. First thing you notice is it looks very clean. Second thing - it's bloody fast! Still won't open my work webmail though - I get the same error message I get with FF, though it works fine with IE. Hmmm....

[Psyber]

Well, I couldn't resist. First thing you notice is it looks very clean. Second thing - it's bloody fast! Still won't open my work webmail though - I get the same error message I get with FF, though it works fine with IE. Hmmm....

Your employers need to be put in touch with Heath Grayson who did the SANFL site, which works properly with any browser.
I rang his company, from my computer company, to say I was impressed, and he spoke to me himself. He codes to International standards and eschews all the IE specific Microsoft script corruptions.
http://www.heathgrayson.com/

[zipzap]

Thanks Psyber

I'm loving Chrome btw and it seems Google has backtracked some of its dodgy privacy-related fine print which is good
http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-10031703-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDailyDownload

One unusual thing I have noticed, and I'm not technically-proficient enough to explain it better, but when you have multiple tabs open in Chrome, your PC treats each tab like a separate program (when you open Task Manager it has multiple cases of chrome.exe open depending on how many tabs you have open). This sounds like it would be a huge memory hit but so far it seems quite the opposite.

Any of you boffins able to explain this?

[Dissident]

Thanks Psyber

I'm loving Chrome btw and it seems Google has backtracked some of its dodgy privacy-related fine print which is good
http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-10031703-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDailyDownload

One unusual thing I have noticed, and I'm not technically-proficient enough to explain it better, but when you have multiple tabs open in Chrome, your PC treats each tab like a separate program (when you open Task Manager it has multiple cases of chrome.exe open depending on how many tabs you have open). This sounds like it would be a huge memory hit but so far it seems quite the opposite.

Any of you boffins able to explain this?

Yup.. It's many instances, with smaller memory - rather than one instance (Like FF) with lots of memory usage.
The more windows you have in FireFox, the larger the area in memory used.

[Psyber]

... I'm loving Chrome btw and it seems Google has backtracked some of its dodgy privacy-related fine print which is good
http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-10031703-12.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDailyDownload

I don't trust them not to do whatever they want, whatever they say, because of the positions they have repeatedly taken in the past.
Their first position as quoted in the original EULA reflects their culture, and the revised version reflects the fact that they have decided to pay lip service to public opinion.

[Psyber]

I had a look at Chrome recently. It works well, for example with BigPond Video.

However, I was not happy with what it appears to do with bookmarks. They appear to be saved to Google's servers. There appeared to be no way to save and edit them in the browser itself. That means they get the data. Thinking maybe something had gone wrong with my installation, I tried again, with the same result.

I uninstalled it using its own uninstaller and it reported a complete uninstall was achieved. Without my having any chance to say yea or nay Internet Explorer tried to open - IE is not my default browser. Zone Alarm stopped it, but I gave one-off permission out of curiosity. There was a questionnaire from Google asking why the uninstall. By then I was in the mood to tell them.

After the uninstall, I noticed Google Setup kept trying to access the Internet. Zone Alarm reported this because I gave it one-off permission only at the initial install. Without Zone Alarm, or if I had given it continuing permission, I would never have known.

Tricky b......s! I cleaned it out of the Registry, and ran a full spyware check to make sure there were no residuals.

[smac]

Thanks for the info - I am still yet to install it on my home laptop but am still using it on the work one. Have been fairly impressed, it works well with all sites I frequent now, although it didn't to start with, their background updates have taken care of most issues.

I'll let the IT gurus at work know your findings for when they clean my laptop as I am giving it back next week on my last day (having a mini retirement, 4 days in duration).