Rumours of a Google Browser have been around as long as a Google Phone and a Google Operating System.Recently the Google Phone rumours got some substance with the announcement of Android which is a mobile phone operating system that will part of a new generation of phones.
Now overnight Google Chrome was launched which is Google’s new web browser to take on Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera.Chrome is a very fast, very simple and very powerful web browser. It is very powerful in the new technology under the skin.
With no legacy code to hold it back the designers could write it for today’s applications for instance, its processing of JavaScript is lightening fast and JavaScript is the foundation of Ajax….. more commonly known as Web 2.In typical google style the browser is simple and functional to use and the features it does have it does very very well.
For instance their tab browsing is brilliant. Tabs are now run in unique processes which means when a page breaks it does not take down your whole browser.Drag and drop tabs between windows, duplicate a tab, all is done by the browser not by add-ons. Open a new and it fills it with information like your 9 most visited pages, recent bookmarks and recently closed tabs. Very nice.
Chrome has not got every feature known to man like like Firefox and probably never will have. Firefox is the browser of choice amongst power users because its seemingly endless customisation ability with so many themes and add-ons available. Chrome does not have this, at least at the moment and probably wont have.
Google just re-signed there agreement to 2011 with Firefox which seems at odds with releasing their own browser but it is in typical google style and they seem to be putting their eggs in two baskets, not just one . Google makes money from ads… which are displayed when people use their search and other products. Chrome is just another way for them to segment the market and to decrease the market share of Internet Explorer with its default installation of “Live” search.It is an interesting move by them to leverage an audience no matter what IE does in the future.
There are plenty of Google Chrome reviews out there already so I wont try and join them but if you are looking for a fast and efficient browser it is well worth checking out. I will continue to use it for a while at least, but I am already missing some of my Firefox add-ons…
A quick check of all the major portals and real estate sites and everything looks as though it is working without issues and it will be interesting to watch the web stats to see the sort of traction it can get.Google has come up with an interesting concept to explain the many technical advances and features behind Chrome and that is through a comic book.
28 Comments
Peter Ricci
Got to say that this is fast….very fast. Had a few problems with Javascript in pop ups in admin in some of my systems, but these should iron out pretty quick.
I can understand why they have done this, but to me as a developer just another browser we have to make sure all of our sites work in.
I just wish Microsoft would dump IE6, it is a dog, un-secure, slow, bloated and wastes so much time for developers to get it right in. (and 8 years old), yet Microsoft do not force these users to upgrade.
Craig
The underlying html rendering engine in Chrome is WebKit which is what it used by Safari. So any site tested with Safari is 95% guaranteed to work. It uses a different Javascript engine than Safari though, but assuming you tested your sites Javascript against Firefox, Opera or Safari and not IE, you should not have a problem.
SSSR
When did they say they will be releasing this for Mac? If its based on Safari its strange they did not release simultaneously.
I agree with Peter however, even if it is based on Safari, there are little idiosyncrasies between all browsers that can make life unnecessarily difficult for a developer.
As annoying as it will be, id still want to check it for any customer development to ensure there were no issues.
Glenn
If they really want to get MS someone has to develop an alternative operating system and Google are the ones to do it.
Wait for it.
Mat
An alternative operating systems is already available. It’s called linux which is starting to become more consumer friendly in devices like the eeepc, acer aspire one and distro’s such as Ubuntu.
Whilst the windows version of Chrome is available, the linux port is underway and I would assume the osx version isn’t far behind either. If google expects users to use Chrome, they’re going to have to go multiplatform.
Should be interesting to see how Firefox 3.1 with it’s Tracemonkey javascript engine goes when consumers get a taste for it. Benchmarks are available if you look around.
Glenn Batten
From what I can figure out Google Analytics just turned on Chrome recognition. My testing from yesterday with the browser seems to have been attributed as a Safari Browser, version 525.13.
Its user agent is
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US) AppleWebKit/525.13 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/0.2.149.27
which makes sense I suppose.
Glenn Batten
lets try that user agent again…
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US) AppleWebKit/525.13 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/0.2.149.27 Safari/525.13
Glenn
Yes everyone knows about Linux so why doesn’t business use it more ? Lack of credibility, I know it works etc etc but MS have a huge corporation to back their products and Linux doesn’t, also the MS office suite is heavily engrained into business, there needs to be a real alternative to all this and Google have the resources and know how to do it and no one else does.
snoop
Lets face it.
Why would the mass market change?
Or your agent customer base?
MS will rule based on complacency and apathy not empathy.
I think for Agentts not going to make a bit of difference.
PaulD
Impressive. I’m thinking MS better sharpen up their act, or they’ll get left behind.
Glenn Batten
Chrome’s initial user base has apparently been coming from Firefox and Safari. Obviously the first chrome users are filled with early adopters which is why FF and Safari got hit first but I would think that because of its speed, ease of use and simplicity that ultimatly the Browsers with most to worry would be Internet Explorer and even Opera to some extent.
I guess web developers have to start considering Chrome when browser testing their sites.
Glenn Batten
PaulD..
I have read reports on IE8 beta giving some quick Javascript processing (but not quite as quick as Chrome and their V8 engine) but apparently it is doing so with very very little cpu usage.
That is certainly good news and will help IE8 somewhat .. and hopefully something that the others can reproduce but unfortunately most people wont notice a 30% load on one of their cores in a quad core machine… but they will notice pages significantly loading and running faster. Most users who would appreciate the cpu processing saving are currently running FF.
Perfect Browsers… Chrome’s latest advances (read the comic book) combined with Firefox’s flexiblity and community support along with IE8’s cpu loading.
Is that too much to ask for 🙂
The comic book link – http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html
Peter Ricci
I have been using this for a few days now. To me there is no defini9ng feature that would make me jump from FF3.
I don’t mind it, has some nice features, but In rely on FF3 or the add ons.
As for IE7 it is in my mind hopeless, better by a mile than IE6, but they lost me years ago. So IE8 would have to be a game changer.
Tony
Changing the subject everyone because I had delivered to our office this week a real estate bulletin and in it is Shane Dale and his Myhome.com.au and our very own Glen Batten. Can I ask you Glen what did you think of this artical about Shanes myhome.com.au?
Glenn Batten
Thanks Tony.. I am still waiting on my copy. We might have the sunshine and the beaches up here in Queensland, but the mail can take an extra day or two sometimes.. I have the proof of my article but have not seen the rest of the mag. If it is not in today’s mail I will look at the online version at http://www.areb.com.au tonight when I get a chance.
Melissa
Even though MS has a huge market share in regards to its office aplications, it should be noted that open source is fast catching up. When you download the latest Java applications from sun – they now incourage you to download the the latest open source option (I think google is doing the same but might be wrong). It’s free and works with all current MS office applications. If you do a word document, for example, it can be saved into the .doc format for MS users. So no reason not to use it basically – and saves you huge $$$. Might as well drop MS! I’m so glad your an open source guy Peter – it’s refreshing to see. My developer dump MS many years ago as well and is a huge Linux fan. He consitantly complains about the problems with IE6 and how MS do not comply with internation web developer standards – I see you have the same problem.
Robert Simeon
Glenn,
Just read AREB at lunch and an interesting read. If you like I can sell you my copy (it does come with breadcrumbs and soup stains though) so let me know 🙂
Robert Simeon
As for the article Under Renovation my advice to Shane Dale would be to remove all electricity to his Myhome website until such time that 100 per cent sure of its accuracy. It is a joke to look at the listings he has in our area some years old.
Myhome remains as accurate as a NSW government budget projection. It will be very difficult for myhome to be treated seriously when the oxygen to the business (agents) find it a laughing stock as it remains riddled with inaccuracies.
SSSR
It would have been good to get a bit more out of article than we have regarding MyHome. Understandably they would want to keep key items close, but its a feature magazine, tell us how your portal will be better!!
Its free, that is a good start for the agents. It doesnt have major franchise ownership, another plus. So providing the user interface is improved, it should be a good portal.
The real question is… how to get eye balls. How deep are your pockets?? That is the real question. Some people know MyHome and will continue to visit, but without the distribution channels, and taking into account people’s habits, unless they can get the message out far and wide, better than before and under new management, its going to be tough.
Glenn Batten
Robert… thanks mate… but my copy should be here tomorrow hopefully sans any crumbs 🙂
Given the couple of comments on it, I am very much looking forward to reading the myhome article.
I know its only the second edition but how is everyone finding the AREB magazine in general?
Tony
Hello Robert, Peter, Greg, Glen and all the loyal members.
If you are here somewhere, I don’t want to bore anyone/everyone/ all of the loyal r/e bloggers but ! Could you please give me your ideas/thoughts of the best real estate portal at this very moment in time and then add some……some of your thoughts on all of them/ the R/E PORTALS.
Now this would be good to know, even though it may be very critical to them. The R/E Portals theat us as fools/the payer/agents as if we are all dough dough Birds . NNNNOWWW !!!!! IF SOMEONE WAS TO BUILD SUCH AN R/E PORTAL, WOULD.. US/WE, MY R/E FRIENDS?/ENERMIES/COMPETITORS, SUPPORT SUCH A REAL ESTATE PORTAL, EVEN IF SUCH A PORTAL WAS ACCURATE WITH DIRECT HITS TO THE VERY PROPERTY YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR , WITH UP TO DATE PROPERTIES….. I DONT THINK SO.
BUT IF IT COULD HAPPEN.
WHAT SHOULD SUCH A SITE HAVE TO DO? TO GET MAJOR SUPPORT FROM US THE THICK HEAD USERS!!!!!
Glenn Batten
Tony,
I did get my own mag in the mail so did not have to rely on the crumb covered version from Robert. 🙂
I have responded to your initial question but have done it as a new post which is up for approval and should be up over the weekend or Monday at the latest.
Shane Dale
Seems like this is turning into a sideline myhhome discussion – so here are a few more tidbits to keep things going.
The interface is changing as fast as we can manage it. Every week we will be releasing changes – the timeline is flexible. I have kept my cards close to my chest, as everyone has an eye on us. Sorry the article is a little lightweight and feelgood, but they say – forewarned is forearmed – so I prefer my competitors unwarned.
Unfortunately i will be keeping the electricity on Robert, anyone with outdated info can simply call for a manual password and update their stock directly and we have renewed the loader system – its working fine, ( the changeover didnt help continuity its true) but realistically focus is on getting the site right before we go chasing more agents. At the end of the day – agents are responsible for accuracy of listings – how would I know if they are old? I think thats a reasonable duty of care for agents to manage their listings on a free site.
Everyone is waiting – and there are tests afoot to prove my concepts, I will know the results over the next few months.
Its been a big job migrating the entire system from PBL in SA to us in Sydney. However am very happy with progress, and hoping to pick up speed very soon.
Once again, my thanks to the honest and constructive opinions of everyone. The renovation is in progress!
Shane Dale
One more thing – regarding the “how deep are my pockets” its worth noting that google, youtube, facebook and others havent spent cast sums on advertising – the interface is key combined with a great proposition and thats where I am starting.
The battle isnt always won by deep pockets. I hope you are all cheering this project on! The agents will not lose from my efforts.
SSSR
Shane, I certainly support the free listing format. I think it is good for the subscribers and therefore its good for the consumers like myself.
My comment about the $$ factor is more out of interest in how your organisation will go changing consumer habits.
You may have a better portal and be offering free listings, but habits are hard to break. Unless people know the site is new and improved, their favourites bar is not going to change quickly. Deep pockets also are a referral in keeping the lights on long enough to get that incremental traction.
That all said however, I will be certainly amending my favourites list to include your site.
Robert Simeon
Shane,
Thanks for the update – but why not shut the site down until you are ready to launch? If I look at Mosman houses (you have 33) prices are all over the place like a dogs breakfast and I noticed mistakes on every page.
Just like when PBL owned it – customer service is out the kitchen window.
Good luck
Robert Simeon
Tony,
I will wait for Glenn’s thread to appear – so that this discussion can remain relevant to this topic. The landscape is changing very fast as I see it with the online exploration of new markets most diverse from the traditional property portals. This is just now emerging within the last few weeks.
Cheers
Dorthea
I write a leave a response each time I especially enjoy a post on a blog or if I have something
to contribute to the conversation. It is triggered
by the passion communicated in the post I browsed.
And after this article Google Chrome Browser Launches |
Business 2Business 2. I was actually excited enough to drop a comment 🙂 I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s allright. Is it just me or do some of the remarks come across as if they are left by brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are writing on additional online sites, I’d like to keep up with everything
fresh you have to post. Could you list the complete urls of all your social pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page
or linkedin profile?