Company Google surprised us this summer with novelty that is on verge of sensation – beta version of their Internet browser called Google Chrome. Since all their products are very functional and user-friendly nothing less can be expected from this project. New browser is very elegant, packed with innovative solutions and very usable despite the fact that it is in beta phase of development.
One of the peculiars of this browser is the fact that its development started from zero and because of that graphical interface (GUI) has unusual look and design. Chrome redefines the way we used to browse Internet, offering something new, better. After few minutes of browsing with Google Chrome we noticed that our attention was focused only on content of web pages not on browser itself or its interface. This effect isn’t that unexpected since group of psychologists worked on GUI design.
Installation of Google Chrome is very simple. Installation program downloads all necessary files and installs application while user just needs to confirm his intention to start Google Chrome. Usual installation is present and all inexperience users will welcome this change. Also this way user doesn’t have to search for newest version because installer downloads it automatically. After installation user can import bookmarks, passwords and other settings from Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. In our case, Chrome almost instantly imported bookmarks so users won’t be bothered with this procedure.
Graphical User Interface of Google Chrome is something new when it comes to Internet browsers so far. Design doesn’t follow any established rules of design and confirms rule that rules are there to be broken. Graphical interface has minimalistic design but it doesn’t look unfinished or unpolished. It’s very elegant and easy to use but still all important options are very accessible. User interface of Google Chrome doesn’t confuse user and allows him to concentrate of web content.
One of features that Google Chrome brings is support for drag-drop functions. Drag-drop on desktop of tab with loaded web page in it will result in opening of that page in new window. Drag-drop of link to any file on web to download manager windows will result in saving of that file on local hard disk.
One more interesting detail is, how Google calls it, Omnibar which all of us call Address bar. In Chrome address bar can be used for: typing of URL address, list of visited pages and typing of search keywords. Omnibar also supports auto-completion of typed words.
Since Chrome has inevitable support for opening web pages in tabs, Google also implemented one option that resembles to SpeedDial function in Opera. Upon opening of new empty tab small thumbnails of most visited pages will be shown to user. Simple click on one of them will open that page. Beside those there is also a text field used for history search. Chrome allows user to strictly define what pages will be shown in this section so it is easy to create a functional list of most important pages that user frequently uses (instead of group of bookmarks).
Google Chrome is designed to be very easy to use so settings are a little bit restricting. One of elements of new GUI is Page Control in upper right corner of Chrome window. It holds usual options such as: New Tab, New Windows, Cut/Copy/Paste and Print functions. All users of Google Web applications will find option Applications very useful. It allows starting of Google applications without starting Google Chrome thanks to support for shortcuts created on Desktop, QuickLaunch or Start menu.
Most users will notice how fast Google Chrome is when it comes to page loading speed. This speed comes with the price: for every page loaded in separate tab Google Chrome will take 10MB of RAM. Since this is beta version this is normal and further optimizations are expected. If you open a page that is blocking browser, since every tab is separate, you can easily close that tab without losing all open tabs.
Regardless of problems that every beta version of application brings, Google Chrome is very nice refreshment on Web Browser market and beside that very useful and easy to use internet browser. After few patches since initial release this Internet browser is getting better and better and represents itself as real alternative to great Firefox. Try it.
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