- Softonic rating:
- Excellent:9/10
- License:
- Free
- Added:
- September 3, 2008
- Updated:
- September 16, 2009
- Publisher:
- Website
- File size:
- 557 KB
- Downloads:
- 50,117
“Google enters the Browser Wars”
by Elena Santos
After having successfully launched their own webmail service, RSS reader, online suite and many other apps, having a Google web browser was only a question of time.
Google Chrome has joined the so called web browser battle with a neatly designed web browser which, in spite of not being as popular as its direct competitors, shows a lot of potential.
The first thing that catches your attention in Google Chrome is its minimalist design. Besides a couple of bars and a couple of buttons, there's nothing else on the interface to steal screen space from the websites you visit - not even a status bar, as it automatically shows and hides whenever it's necessary.
Another feature I love is the fact that Google Chrome uses the same keyboard shortcuts and mousewheel combinations as Firefox. With a zero learning curve, you immediately feel at your element and there's no need to start testing new shortcuts or reading the documentation. Other similarities to Firefox in Google Chrome include a complete download manager (which reminded me a lot of the Download Statusbar extension) and a handy password manager.
If you don't want Google Chrome to track your browsing movements, try the incognito window. This special window won't save anything about your session (no browsing history, no cookies, etc.), so no breadcrumbs will be left after you close it.
But if there's a feature that makes Google Chrome really stand out, that's having separate processes for each one of the tabs you open. That means that you can check the amount of system resources used up by each tab, and close any of them in case of trouble without having to shut down the whole browser.
That said, Google Chrome is still far from perfect, and has plenty of room to grow and improve. The latest version includes support for themes and HTML5 tags, as well as an improved speed rate when loading webpages. However, I think I'd miss Firefox plug-ins too much, and I'm looking forward to the day Google Chrome supports some kind of add-ons as well. Despite these flaws, I really liked Google Chrome and I think it may become a serious option when choosing your web browser. Only time will tell.
Google Chrome, Google's web browser, mixes a clean, minimalist interface with a variety of powerful tools that can easily turn it into a great web browser.
Languages:
English
Recent changes in Google Chrome:
- This new release of Google Chrome is faster than ever
- New Tab page has been redesigned
- Ombibox has been improved: new little icons help you distinguish between suggested sites, searches, bookmarks, and sites from your browsing history
- HTML5 capabilities
- Support for themes
OS requirements for Google Chrome:
- OS: Win95/98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP/2003/Vista/7

- Clean, attractive design
- Uses the same keyboard shortcuts as Firefox
- Incognito browsing mode
- Independent tabs
- Complete download manager
- Doesn't support plug-ins
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Google Chrome screenshots
Previous versions of Google Chrome
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EnglishFree
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EnglishFree
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EnglishFree
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EnglishFree
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EnglishFree
Posts about Google Chrome in our blog
- Customize Google Chrome with themes by Elena Santos
- Google Chrome arrives on Mac by Nicholas Mead
- Backup Google Chrome by Nicholas Mead
- Tips for Google Chrome power users by James Thornton
- Today's downloads for Windows, Mac and Mobile by Nicholas Mead
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User opinions about Google Chrome (8)
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Reviews for Google Chrome in other languages
- Google Chrome (Opinião do editor em português)
- Google Chrome (Testbericht auf Deutsch)
- Google Chrome (Review in English)
- Google Chrome (Análisis en español)
- Google Chrome (Le test en français)
- Google Chrome (Recensione in italiano)
- Google Chrome (Recenzja po polsku)
Google Chrome in other platforms
- Google Chrome (Mac)
User Rating
25 ratings- Usability
-
- Currently 8/10.
- Stability
-
- Currently 8/10.
- Installation
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- Currently 9/10.
- Functionality
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- Currently 8/10.
- Appearance
-
- Currently 9/10.
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creepy: use Iron instead
about Google Chrome - 26 Nov 2008RLZ : enough reason to NEVER install Chrome If you must try the underlying tech install a fork of Chromium, like Iron, that has privacy minded folk in mind... read more
Good Browser But Needs Improvement
This is the latest browser to hit the net.After giving it a try,I liked it.It offers rock solid security even better than Firefox.If you try to go to a malware site,Chrome will block that site inst... read more
speedy browser
I like Google Chrome as for its better speed and easy browsing. But some improvement should be done on plug-ins.... read more
OK, but no world beater
Google Chrome is a decent browser but it doesn't offer much that's better than Firefox 3, and loses out when it comes to addons.... read more
excellent
about Google Chrome - 15 Sep 2008it's nice and fast,I is one of the fastest and simplest browser.... read more
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