A daily digest of IT news, curated from blogs, forums and news sites around the web each morning. We highlight the key commentary and demystify the real story.
In Tuesday's IT Blogwatch, we watch bloggers get all in a tizzy about Google's super-dooper new browser project, Chrome. Not to mention Assembles Elucidation and other Error'd...
Nancy Weil reports:
Google plans to launch a beta version of its own Web browser on Tuesday in more than 100 countries ... The browser window is "streamlined and simple" ... Chrome will run Web applications "much better" ... with tabs kept in an isolated "sandbox" ... Better speed and responsiveness are also part of Chrome, which features "a more powerful JavaScript engine, V8."
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Components from Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox are part of the open-source Chrome.
John Brandon adds:
Google shut down free dinners at their HQ, and thier stock is nose-diving, so news of thier new Chrome browser - now a direct competitor to Mozilla Firefox - seems like a way to generate buzz again. It's working so far ... the BBC news item is positioned on par with Gustav and election news from the RNC in St. Paul.
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Yet, a three- or four-way race to make the best browser seems like it could be a path of destruction for Google, who was better off letting the little-guy-topple-giant concept work in their favor with Microsoft vs. Mozilla.
Google's Matt Cutts has his hands tied:
I cant wait to talk more about Google Chrome, but Ill hold off until it officially launches. Once people can download Google Chrome, I plan to talk about my experiences using Google Chrome, to lay some truth on you about questions you might ask about Google Chrome, and to give some tips for power browsers.
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In the mean time ... heres a link to the official Google Chrome comic book. Its the best 40-page comic about web browsers that Ive ever read!
But Google's Sundar Pichai has more:
Why are we launching Google Chrome? Because we believe we can add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web.
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Because we spend so much time online, we began seriously thinking about what kind of browser could exist if we started from scratch and built on the best elements out there. We realized that the web had evolved from mainly simple text pages to rich, interactive applications and that we needed to completely rethink the browser.
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This is just the beginning -- Google Chrome is far from done. We're releasing this beta for Windows to start the broader discussion and hear from you as quickly as possible. We're hard at work building versions for Mac and Linux too, and will continue to make it even faster and more robust.
We owe a great debt to many open source projects, and we're committed to continuing on their path. We've used components from Apple's WebKit and Mozilla's Firefox, among others.
Scott McCloud 'fesses up:
Yes, it's true: I drew a comic for Google explaining the inner workings of their new open source browser Google Chrome. Details have been leaking all over the Web since a few copies apparently went out pre-launch by mistake, so here's the skinny.
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It was designed as a printed comic for journalists and bloggers. Lots of people have had fun scanning those advance printed copies and posting them however, which is fine.
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I helped conduct interviews with about 20 engineers who worked on the project, then adapted what they said into comics form. Some paraphrasing, lots of condensation, and one or two late drop ins, but basically it was a very organic adaptation and I had a lot of latitude.
Philipp Lenssen has screenshots:
Their download page and tour was already partly available at gears.google.com/chrome/ just now, as Uval in the forum noticed. While the download itself didnt work when I tried, I was able to extract some screenshots, from the frontpage but also the YouTube videos.
Michael Arrington puts words in Google's mouth:
"We really, really hate Microsoft" ... Make no mistake. The cute comic book and the touchy-feely talk about user experience is little more than a coat of paint on top of a monumental hatred.
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Chrome ... will give them a real foothold on the desktop and way more control over how web applications perform. While it seems that Chrome is aimed at IE and Firefox, the target is really Windows.
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This should make Ajax applications like Gmail and Google Docs absolutely roar. When combined with Gears, which allows for offline access ... Chrome is nothing less than a full on desktop operating system that will compete head on with Windows.
Om Malik muses on Mozilla:
I decide to call John Lilly, CEO of Mozilla Corp., the folks behind the fast-growing Firefox browser ... The open-source browser maker depends heavily on a lucrative financial deal it has signed with the search company. The pair recently renewed the deal to last through 2011. Was Lilly worried? ... Lilly says he isnt worried about Chrome just yet. I really dont know how it will impact us, he says.
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Given that Microsoft still controls about 72 percent of the browser market, Google cant afford to leave that business to chance. Web is its business, and the browser is a necessary weapon for the company ... They feel that they can make a better browser by starting from scratch advances in browsers are good.
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This tussle between Mozilla and Google is going to get more gripping in coming years. Mozilla has a services strategy Project Weave that could eventually compete with Googles suite of services. Whatever it is, it seems like Mozilla is ready for the challenge. And just when we thought the world of browsers was getting boring.
But Charles "onefriedrice" McGarvey waxes sarcastic:
Excellent - I can't wait! I don't think Google has enough of my personal information, so this will be just wonderful.
Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 22 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You can follow him on Twitter, pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.
