The rise of Google Chrome
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Google's Chrome accounts only for about 4 percent of browser usage worldwide, but in 2009, it exerted outsized influence.
Google launched the open-source browser in 2008, prompting many to ask why anyone needed another after Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, and Apple's Safari. But over the course of 2009, Google answered that question: with Chrome, the company wants not just to speed up the Web but to rebuild its foundations.
Chrome started out as one of Google's efforts to accelerate the Web--launching faster, loading pages faster, and running Web-based JavaScript programs faster. Google's argument: a faster Web experience means people will spend more time online, do more things, and, naturally, click more Google search ads.
JavaScript was the first step, showcased in Google's processing-intensive Chrome Experiments site. It's lost on no one that Google Docs and Gmail are written in JavaScript, so faster performance helps expand their capabilities.
Next came integration with Chrome and two technologies for accelerating Web applications, Google's O3D for 3D graphics, and Native Client software for accelerating general-purpose processing.
But the most ambitious change came with July's announcement of the open-source Chrome OS operating system. It uses Linux under the covers, but Chrome OS applications all run in the browser. That design today has serious practical limitations, so it's fitting the first incarnation of Chrome OS, due in 2010, is for "companion" Netbooks rather than full-fledged replacement PCs. Google released the rough Chrome OS source code in November.
On a more down-to-earth note, by year's end, Google had released a beta version of Chrome for Mac and Linux, not just Windows, and added a long-awaited extensions system.
Many Chrome ambitions are still far from any practical reality, but the browser had effects. One: Mozilla programmers have improved launch speed in the Firefox 3.6 beta.
Although Chrome stole some hearts among the techies who historically embraced Firefox, Mozilla's browser was hardly pushed aside. Indeed, Firefox usage crept steadily up to about 25 percent worldwide over 2009. That's a large enough population to make Mozilla's effort to "upgrade the Web" more than posturing.
Mozilla is aggressively adding new features to Firefox, and a host arrived with Firefox 3.5 in June, notably the ability to embed video directly into Web pages without requiring a plug-in such as Adobe Systems' Flash. HTML5 video remains hobbled by differences in opinion over the best video format to use, though. Ultimately, browser companies want to make the Web a foundation for applications, not just static sites, and the work includes interfaces for file handling, multitasking, Webcams, geolocation, and WebGL for 3D graphics.
Some of these improvements are spreading to multiple browsers through development of version 5 of the Hypertext Markup Language. Even Microsoft, whose Internet Explorer is derided as a laggard by techies and Web developers, climbed aboard with direct participation in HTML5 standardization work.
Those plans advanced in July when the World Wide Web Consortium threw its full weight behind HTML5 rather than the comparatively unsuccessful alternative, XHTML 2.0.
Microsoft and Apple, who enjoy the privilege of packaging their browsers in their operating system, released major new versions, Internet Explorer 8 and Safari 4, respectively. Safari took the 64-bit leap, and Apple boasted of its big JavaScript speed boost. IE 8 brought a number of user-interface refinements, but notably, Microsoft lists better security and privacy as primary features.
Attention now is shifting toward IE 9, though, which Microsoft previewed in December. Hardware acceleration dramatically speeds up some elements of its display, and the new version will comply better with Web standards. Microsoft hasn't announced a ship date for the new version, but it's clear the company is feeling more comfortable with its re-engagement in the browser wars.
--by Stephen Shankland
Featured coverage
Google project promotes Chrome, JavaScript
Chrome Experiments is designed to showcase how Google's browser can handle sophisticated Web applications.
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Internet Explorer 8 takes another large leap forward for the world's most-used browser, but is it enough to make devoted Firefox, Chrome, and Safari fans switch?
Google plugs PC power into cloud computing
First with Native Client, and now with O3D, Google releases software to let Web-based apps tap into local computers' power.
Google: The browser is the computer
HTML 5 technologies will allow Web developers to build applications almost as cool as anything found on the desktop, according to Google executives and engineers.
Safari 4 fast, but only minor tweaks from beta
If you used the Safari 4 beta, you knew what everybody else has now realized: Safari is now a serious browser for serious Windows users, and its position on Macs has been bolstered.
Will new browsers really upgrade the Web?
The latest browsers sport many hot new features. But the avant-garde must reckon with inconsistent standards, lagging IE, and slow adoption.
Mozilla releases Firefox 3.5
A major update to the open-source Web browser has arrived. Next challenge: getting Web programmers to employ its features.
Google plans Chrome-based Web operating system
Watch out Microsoft: Google's browser project is the foundation for a Web-based operating system. Chrome OS Netbooks are due in 2010.
An epitaph for the Web standard, XHTML 2
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Google building 3D hardware boost into Chrome
By building its O3D plug-in into Chrome, Google is laying more groundwork for faster Web applications in its browser--and later, for Chrome OS.
Microsoft joins HTML 5 standard fray in earnest
The developer of the market-leading browser has become more actively engaged in hashing out many details of a proposed revamp of the Web page standard.
Native Client in Chrome: Google flexes Web muscle
Google has built into its browser the ability to tap directly into a computer's native processing power through software called Native Client. Also: more extensions work.
New Firefox 3.6 beta aims to cut crashes
The third beta imposes a new restriction on how third-party software can interact with it. And a feature called Resource Package could speed up Firefox 3.7.
With IE 9, Microsoft fights back in browser wars
By showing its first glimpses of technology in Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft also is showing it's serious about building a competitive browser.
Google releases Chrome OS source code
Ahead of an event designed to show off the OS for the first time, Google has released source code for the project. More is expected, including a demonstration.
Google brings Chrome beta to Mac, Linux
Search giant issues the first beta versions of its browser for Mac OS X and Linux. Maturity could spread adoption, and the stable version is due in a month.
With draft standard, 3D Web closer to reality
WebGL has moved from an idea at Mozilla and the Khronos Group to a draft standard for the 3D Web. Don't expect a browser-based Call of Duty just yet, though.
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- I'm confused why Google Chrome (and this article is no exception) is referred to as an "open-source browser" when I don't believe Google has ever released the full source code to its Chrome browser. Yes, there is source code to the *Chromium* browser at http://www.chromium.org/Home but this is not the same as the Chrome browser (the latter of which contains some closed source code and has a differently colour icon).
BTW, I recently tried the Chrome beta for Linux (I used the official beta RPM in Fedora 12) and was surprised to see that, by default, no SSL sites worked at all - they returned error 107 and didn't load. Maybe it's my setup, but that left me less than impressed with the Chrome/Chromium progress on Linux at least. - Reply to this comment
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- I personally use Firefox. I have used Firefox since two names before it was actually released. That whole trademark battle, and trademark battle 2.0 were a stitch. I am comfortable in it, but I am incredibly glad Chrome was released. Mostly because it lit a fire in Mozilla's pants to fix a lot of long standing issues.
On a basic level Google NEEDED to build chrome. Microsoft had every motivation to stymie the internet. It is an obvious threat to their business model, and they successfully neutered it for years with IE 6. Firefox, which awesome is written by a project that grew out of Netscape. A browser for the browser's sake was certainly an upgrade from IE, and a needed jumpstart to the whole browser market, but the fact is we need someone with the motivation to make the internet a platform writing browsers. Google is the right company to write a browser because they have an eye on the internet. Microsoft was dragged into the internet kicking and screaming. Mozilla has been busy staring at the browser talking about how cool it is without really seeing the platform it was accessing as much (this is why their extensions were always so awesome, but before chrome their rendering became abysmal). Google on the other hand obviously stepped back, looked at the internet and asked "what is the best way to use this tool?". Then they tried to answer that question with Chrome.
The response they got from Mozilla is proof that even with 4% market share they are leading the pack. The definition of leader is the one everyone else follows. Right now even without market share that's them. Personally I hope they don't end up with dominant market share, because I like the leader being in a place where they can't be complacent. It drives innovation. The web is at a good point right now. We'll see where it goes from here. - Reply to this comment
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- I tried Chrome on my Win 7 laptop. Unfortunately, the Chrome did not work with my Roboform app (although Chromium does), and xmarks (bookmark synchronization) does not work with Chromium or CZhrome (except for a beta version of Chrome). Therefore, I remain a Firefox (and I.E., if necessary) user for the immediate future. Maybe some day...
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- I'll begin using or even considering to use Chrome and/or Safari when they have extensions similar to Firefox to block Ads and scripts like Adblock Plus and NoScript.
As for Speed, maybe Chrome or Safari are fast but I am not working for NASA or any rocket science that 2-5 secs delay on Firefox would be the end of the world to me. As long as the Ads are blocked and I don't get any annoying popups, I am happy with the browser. Speed is the secondary factor to me because the way I look at it, if I can block the Ads and popup the webpage will automatically load fast because it doesn't have to load the whole screen - maybe I might be wrong in my assumption but who cares. - Reply to this comment
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- Rise of the Chrome (Google promoter). Microsoft Bashing (yet another Google promoter). Comon, aren't we tired of these tricks at labeling Microsoft as the evil empire.
Some of you hate Microsoft simply because it has a dominant position in certain software segments. If that is the case, what about Google? It has 90% market share in Web searches. Shouldn't we bash Goggle? We should. I'm sick of all the praises: Goggle this, Goggle that. What is wrong with Hotmail or Bing? Nothing, perfectly usable and sound software that work just like those put out by Google, yet Gmail and Google Search somehow are labeled as better software.
There is an eerie similarity between promoting Google by techies and those snots who promotes Apple products. Somehow Apple IMacs and its OS are way better than the stodgy PCs with Windows. Oh brother, Apple is so cool! Screw that, MAC OS crashes as often as the Windows. IMacs share the same hardware (Intel) as Windows PCs yet cost 30-50% more. Hmm, I think those Apple commercials would like people to overlook these facts.
Rise of the Chrome? Give me a break! Cnet.com should stick with plain reporting, like CNN, and not following the "opinionated programming" like Fox News. - Reply to this comment
- Rise of the Chrome (Google promoter). Microsoft Bashing (yet another Google promoter). Comon, aren't we tired of these tricks at labeling Microsoft as the evil empire.
Some of you hate Microsoft simply because it has a dominant position in certain software segments. If that is the case, what about Google? It has 90% market share in Web searches. Shouldn't we bash Goggle? We should. I'm sick of all the praises: Goggle this, Goggle that. What is wrong with Hotmail or Bing? Nothing, perfectly usable and sound software that work just like those put out by Google, yet Gmail and Google Search somehow are labeled as better software.
There is an eerie similarity between promoting Google by techies and those snots who promotes Apple products. Somehow Apple IMacs and its OS are way better than the stodgy PCs with Windows. Oh brother, Apple is so cool! Screw that, MAC OS crashes as often as the Windows. IMacs share the same hardware (Intel) as Windows PCs yet cost 30-50% more. Hmm, I think those Apple commercials would like people to overlook these facts.
Rise of the Chrome? Give me a break! Cnet.com should stick with plain reporting, like CNN, and not following the "opinionated programming" like Fox News. - Reply to this comment
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- I think Chrome has the potential to be a GREAT web browser, provided third-party extensions don't slow the browser down and Google allows the use of other search engines like Yahoo!, Bing, etc. easily.
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- Though it still feels a bit incomplete (execution, not extensions), Chrome was a pleasant surprise from Google. It lit a fire under MS, Apple, Mozilla and all other companies who make web browsers (i.e. Opera) and Chrome is definitely worth the hype it got. It's not perfect, it's not the best out there in terms of extendability. But it does what it's supposed to do, and does it with finesse.
Hopefully, as it sheds the beta tag, we see more functionality while keeping performance. - Reply to this comment
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- The biggest headache in my life is when my computer becomes slow. My browser is a frequent source of that headache. Why is my browser slow?? Because of some poorly written Flash app running hidden on some thoughtless website in one of my tabs. Which browser allows me to find that tab? Only Chrome and its task manager, which seems to have been written as an amusing afterthought.
There are many features I miss from Firefox (and probably a few from IE). But, I will not be switching back to Firefox or IE, without a task manager in the browser. My loyalties are as simple as that... - Reply to this comment
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