I don't know much about computers, but I am sure about one thing: Google is the best thing that has happened to the Internet since Al Gore. Recently, Google has added to its greatness by releasing a new Web browser, Google Chrome.
The new browser, which became available last week, can definitely compete with more established browsers such as Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. However, the browser is only a beta, meaning Google still has some kinks to work out. Currently, only Windows users can use Google Chrome, but Web developers are working on versions compatible with Mac and Linux.
The new browser offers several useful features not provided by other browsers. Google's Web site boasts that Google Chrome "combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the Web faster, safer and easier." Who doesn't want that?
One useful aspect of the browser is a toolbar that doubles as a search engine and as a place to type Web addresses, which makes browsing more convenient and eliminates the need to have more than one toolbar. Users can also perform other common tasks, such as creating bookmarks, from this same toolbar. The result of the consolidation is a less cluttered, easily manageable Web browser.
Additionally, Google Chrome gives users the option to create application shortcuts. This allows people to access to their e-mail or any other Web program from their desktops without opening their Web browser, making the lives of lazy Internet users even easier.
The browser also lets people to surf the Web in "incognito mode." This feature gives users the ability to prevent the Web sites they've been visiting from appearing in browsing and downloading histories. Basically, it makes hiding any suspicious Web sites much less of a hassle, which is good news for porn aficionados and wannabe terrorists.
Hopefully you're getting an idea of how innovative and useful Google Chrome is. It has many other features too technical for me to understand or explain, but it is definitely a quality addition to the Google family.
Some people speculate Google had an ulterior motive in mind when it released Google Chrome. Heather Havenstein, in her article for Computerworld "Google Chrome set to take on Windows," considers the new Web browser as the "latest (move) by Google Inc. to rid the world of Microsoft Windows." Microsoft analyst Matt Rosoff believes the "he potential threat that Microsoft has been worried about since the 1990s."
Without a doubt, Google has developed several programs that surpass those of Windows in terms of quality. Take VU Gmail, for example. The new Gmail-based Webmail now available to Vandy students is a huge improvement over the old Webmail. It has more storage space, a calendar and even allows people to access their e-mail accounts on their cell phones - all features the old Webmail didn't include.
In particular, using the calendar can make disorganized or busy people's lives much easier. Students can add classes, club meetings and other events to their calendars and can receive reminders about them via cell phone. It even works for people with really obscure phone companies (in my case, U.S. Cellular).
In my opinion, Google just makes life easier. By using its products, people can do almost all of their Internet-based tasks. I wouldn't be surprised if Google ruled the world in a couple of years.
-Aimee Sobhani is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at aimee.f.sobhani@vanderbilt.edu.
Chrome comic
The news of Google's browser came forth after a comic book describing the browser was leaked. It looks like the main feature that distinguishes the browser from IE or FF is the way it handles applications within the browser, and thereby memory and processing power. It starts up and ends processes separately so that more memory is freed to handle the others (like java, flash, html, plugins). But I only read the first 10 or so of 38 pages--it's detailed. Sadly I have to wait for the Linux version to really find out what it does.
Read the comic!
Incognito Mode
Incognito Mode has long been available to Mozilla Firefox in the form of an add-on along with every other "innovative" feature in Google Chrome.
Perhaps the computer articles in The Hustler should be left to people who know something about computers.
@Google:Good Job with ripping off the open-source community! Go you!
It's cool but...
While I do agree with you Aimee, it is a pretty cool browser, nothing you mentioned (other than Incognito mode, which the beta of Internet Explorer 8 also has) is unique. In IE7 and Firefox you can type a phrase into the address bar and have it run a web search (Firefox tends to on use Google's "I'm feeling lucky" feature though). Also, you have always been able to click on the icon next to the address and drag it onto your desktop accomplishing the same goal as the "desktop shortcut." You are right, it is still in beta, but so is Gmail and that's been nearly ubiquitous for the past 4 years. Google's development model (and Web 2.0 for that matter) means that they keep things in a permanent "beta" phase. Because it is brand now, I’ll give it a break, but as it stands, it takes Chrome at least 3 seconds longer than IE to load most pages and lacking any earth-shattering features, I’ll stick with my browser from the software industry’s 800lb gorilla.